Longtime NHADA Leader Dan Bennett Named As President

“Dan provides us a seamless transition of leadership for a grounded stability in tackling issues, challenges and priorities both in-house and in the automotive field in New Hampshire,” explains John Sawyer, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors for the NHADA (Portsmouth Ford Inc.). “Dan is a dedicated, loyal, and trusted team leader who understands the mission of the NHADA and can lead us to achieve our goals.”

“I am committed to leading an organization that adds value to its members,” says Dan Bennett, President of NHADA. “We are strong because our over 500 members are responsible business and community members, charitable givers, and gracious employers in cities and towns in every corner of New Hampshire. I look forward to helping further that reputation for NHADA into the future and promoting to industry our valuable association and its benefits.”

Dan Bennett has been a Certified Association Executive (CAE) since 2016 through the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and has intensely studied, learned, and observed how non-profit trade associations should be led and managed. He is a graduate of the Institute of Organizational Management (IOM), where he spent 4 summers (’12-’15) at Villanova University being taught by trade association industry leaders through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Bennett is a master's level graduate from Vermont Law School, where he learned the depths of legal background, study, writing and interpretation.  He has served in NHADA leadership for the past 15 years, leading strategic efforts around regulations and operations and representing the association at the New Hampshire legislature.

“Dan’s institutional knowledge, along with the professional relationships he has built throughout the state, will serve the NHADA well in the coming years, says Shawn Hanlon, Director Secretary for NHADA (Nucar Automotive Group). “For years, we have relied on him to guide us through landscape changes in regulation, business, politics and simple day-to-day challenges of running a non-profit. I can’t think of anyone better qualified or suited for the job than Dan.”

In addition to his educational background and his role in various other non-profit organizations, Bennett’s service to NHADA taught him about board governance, non-profit financials, leadership and management, dues and non-dues revenue structures and other skills necessary to lead a successful trade organization. Bennett currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Granite State Children’s Alliance as well as the Vice President of a local youth sports organization.  

“It has been an honor to build a career foundation at the Association and I am excited to take on this new role” explains Bennett. “I want to thank the Board, member businesses and all of my colleagues for this vote of confidence.”