TIME AND ALLY FINANCIAL HONOR TILTON DEALER

Dagesse is one of a select group of 49 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 108^th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 25, 2025.

The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Dagesse was chosen to represent the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition – one of only 49 auto dealers nominated for the 56^th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide. 

“I am not formally trained in the auto business, but I learned a work ethic, a sales technique, and an instinct for success in the small-town life of New Hampshire’s North Country,” nominee Dagesse said. “I followed my heart and used a heavy dose of common sense to build long-term relationships with customers that continue to this day.”

A 1970 graduate of Colebrook Academy in Colebrook, New Hampshire, Dagesse’s first job in the auto industry was selling cars at a Ford dealership in his hometown. When the owner passed away, Dagesse bought the store and doubled sales before selling the business within two years.  He then invested in dealerships in Berlin, New Hampshire, acquiring stores and building new showrooms for his Berlin City Auto Group. 

“No one was trying to centralize multiple franchises under one roof at that time,” Dagesse said. “The Berlin markets were so small, that I convinced manufacturers to let me cross-pollinate.”  

And after consolidating his dealerships, Dagesse instituted another innovation and developed a system to deliver cars to customers in his region, recruiting senior citizens for the project. He also established an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) within his company, so when he sold the auto group in 2006, his employees benefitted greatly.

Dagesse then moved to Florida but his passion for the auto business inspired him to get back into the game. He bought and sold a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Florida to AutoNation after turning it around substantially. Then he acquired a Chevrolet store in Delaware and was given the opportunity to purchase Boch Automotive, a dealership group in the Boston area.

Today, Dagesse and his son, Christopher, who has taken on most of the day-to-day management activities, lead the Nucar Family of Dealerships, which includes 30 stores in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

“I am proud that our North Country dealership, which I acquired again a few years ago, continues to serve customers who bought from me all those years before,” he said. “I still offer lower prices and ship vehicles statewide as I know it is the way to keep clients happy.”

Dagesse’s Nucar dealerships have received numerous awards from manufacturers for sales, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence. And along with those successes, he strives to make each dealership an integral part of its surrounding community.

“Whether it is offering a vehicle at a discount to a family who needs a lift up or reinvesting in the local area, giving back to the community is what motivates me most,” he said.

Dagesse is extremely generous with his charitable giving, donating millions of dollars to various organizations. He has paid partial tuition for college students; stocked local food banks; renovated an ice rink; and has supported White Mountains Community College; Boys & Girls Club of the Lakes Region; Granite United Way; CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of New Hampshire; and many others.

“It’s more fun giving it away than making it,” he said.

Dealers are nominated by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country. A panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan will select one finalist from each of the four NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year. Three finalists will receive $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity, donated by Ally.

In its 14^th year as exclusive sponsor, Ally also will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will be recognized on AllyDealerHeroes.com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.  

“At TIME, our commitment to recognizing the exceptional contributions of automotive dealers remains as strong as ever,” said Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME. “The TIME Dealer of the Year award continues to celebrate those who not only excel in their profession but also make a meaningful impact in their communities. We are thrilled to continue this legacy in partnership with Ally.”

Doug Timmerman, Ally president of Dealer Financial Services, said, “Auto dealers are the backbones of their communities, providing civic support and significant business leadership. Ally is proud to recognize the unwavering commitment these TIME Dealer of the Year nominees are living every day through their volunteerism, sponsorships, and support of charitable causes. They are the epitome of community heroes, making important and positive impacts in the lives of the people they serve.”

Dagesse was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Dan Bennett, president of the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association. Dagesse and his wife, Elaine, have two children.