Northwood University has recognized seven leading supporters of educational initiatives and learning within the automotive marketing industry with its prestigious Automobile Dealer Education Award during the annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention in San Francisco. The list of honorees includes dealers from the United States, Germany and the Netherlands.
These professionals have received their honors during a special awards breakfast in San Francisco. The dealers have been recognized for their individual contributions and efforts to improve education at all levels.
Since 1972, Northwood has recognized individuals in the automotive marketing field who have made noteworthy contributions to public or private education inside or outside of the industry.
"Northwood University established this award to offer a singular mark of recognition for the dealer who makes a worthwhile contribution to education, his or her community, and his or her nation," notes Keith A. Pretty, president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Northwood University. "These honorees have devoted immense energy and time to promoting and supporting education in the automotive marketing sector and beyond."
This year's winners, tapped for their "substantial dedication" over a number of years to the educational process and the field of automotive marketing, include:
Sylvia Gerl, Principal, BFC Northeim, Northeim, Niedersachsen, Germany
Gerl began her professional career with BFC (Bundesfachschule), a Federal College of Business, as a professor of economics and marketing. BFC is one of Germany's premier automotive management schools and is a partner school to Northwood University.
Gerl became the director of BFC in 1999, traveling extensively to visit training schools, institutions, dealerships and automotive manufacturers throughout Germany to market the attributes of BFC to potential students.
BFC's partnership with Northwood has resulted in more than 400 students graduating from the Automotive Marketing or International Business Programs on the Michigan and Florida campuses.
In 2013, Gerl and the BFC board implement a two-year, distance-study program for an "Automobile Economist" degree. This flexible program allows young people in dealerships who want to advance their education and training but are not able to forgo employment to complete their degree via the distance learning model.