Colorado Auto Dealers Association

CADA dates back to 1914, when it was initially formed (although not incorporated) to run the Denver Auto Show. Jackson picks up the story. “In the 1930s, the state auto dealers association started getting involved in legislative and regulatory issues like establishing franchise laws. In 1938, CADA was incorporated as a legally recognized association primarily focused on dealership advocacy.” This advocacy role has resulted in multiple long-standing legislative and regulatory changes, some of which have remained unchanged for decades. “One example is the Sunday closed legislation, present in only 18 states in the country,” says Jackson, “which will be turning 70 next year.” Over the years, the association has kept up its advocacy momentum, sometimes sponsoring up to seven-part bills to the Capitol for lobbying. Leading advocacy is Matthew Groves, VP of Legal, Regulatory and Compliance at CADA. Groves’ role is deeply entrenched in championing issues like consumer privacy, licensure guidelines, and monitoring regulatory agencies in the Department of Revenue, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Attorney General’s Office. Kim Jackson, Marketing and Communications Director at CADA (and no relation to Tim Jackson), supports Groves’ efforts through her primary role of getting the word out on various legislative and regulatory changes to members. CADA’s governance structure comprises a peer- elected board of directors with five officers, twelve district directors, six at-large directors, and a NADA Director. Reporting to the CEO and COO are nine full-time staff working out of the association’s Denver HQ. All these parties focus on helping the association deliver its mandate of regulatory and compliance advocacy, education and training, and event organization and coordination. “Once a year, we hold the Innovative Dealer COLORADO AUTO DEALERS ASSOC I AT ION