The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) has honored the Fitzpatrick Dealership Group owner Ed Fitzpatrick with the 2015 David F. Mungenast Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award is presented to only one of 10,000 import dealers nationwide each year, and only to those like Ed Fitzpatrick who embody Mungenast’s commitment to the auto industry and his philanthropic, community-oriented spirit.

Fitzpatrick owns California’s largest African American-owned dealership group, which includes Valley BMW and Valley Lexus of Modesto, and Coliseum Lexus of Oakland, the fastest growing Lexus dealer in Northern California.

As chairman of the National Association of Minority Auto Dealers (NAMAD), founder and president of the Toyota/Lexus Minority Dealers Association, and chairman of the California New Car Dealers Association, Fitzpatrick is a positive force and leading voice in the auto retail industry.

Like David F. Mungenast Sr. before him, Fitzpatrick is widely recognized for generously supporting his community. He has donated significant time and funds to the East Oakland Youth Development Center, Shelter Cove Community Church, California State University Stanislaus, Modesto Black Men and Women’s Association, the Junior Golf Association of Northern California, and the Modesto Salvation Army.

In recognition of his contributions, he has already received the NAMAD Lifetime Achievement Award, the California New Car Dealers Association Dealer of the Year Award, and the Time Magazine Quality Dealer of the Year Award. “I’m honored and touched to receive this prestigious award,” Ed Fitzpatrick said. “Doing whatever I can to help support Oakland and Modesto communities has been and will continue to be my privilege.”

Ed Fitzpatrick’s combination of generous spirit and business acumen make him an ideal recipient of the David F. Mungenast Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award. He looks forward to continuing to support his beloved communities and to growing Valley BMW, Valley Lexus, and Coliseum Lexus of Oakland along the way.

Fitzpatrick Dealership Group is the largest African American-owned dealership group in California. Founded by Ed Fitzpatrick in 1986, the Modesto-based company owns Valley BMW, Valley Lexus, and Coliseum Lexus of Oakland. For more information about each dealership, please visit their respective websites: valleybmw.com; valleylexus.com; and coliseumlexusofoakland.com.

Established in 1970, AIADA is the only association whose sole purpose is to represent America’s 10,000 international nameplate automobile franchises that sell and service the following brands: Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Maybach, Mazda, Mercedes, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Scion, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

These retailers have a positive economic impact both nationally and in the local communities they serve, providing more than 500,000 American jobs. Visit AIADA online at www.aiada.org.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post