2025 TIME Dealer of the Year award goes to Indiana dealer Raymond Farabaugh

Each year, during the annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Expo, TIME Magazine selects one standout dealer from a group of 49 that exhibits outstanding business performance and above and beyond community involvement. 

Driving the news: This year’s TIME Dealer of the Year winner, and the 57th recipient, is new car franchised dealer Raymond Farabaugh, president of D-Patrick, Inc., located in Evansville, Indiana. The group has several locations and represents brands like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen, Nissan, Honda, and Ford.

Climbing the ranks: After starting his career at Electronic Data Systems in Texas, Farabaugh joined his father-in-law’s auto group in 1989, working his way up from finance manager to co-owner. Today, he and his brother-in-law run D-Patrick, overseeing multiple franchises.

• Farabaugh’s leadership style focuses on growth and opportunity. Most of his management team started in entry-level roles, and he’s committed to mentoring the next generation of automotive professionals.

• He’s also an advocate for Indiana’s auto dealers. Farabaugh has modernized the state’s dealer association by amplifying its legislative voice and pushing for fairer competition against big manufacturers.

• Farabaugh empowers his team to get involved locally, whether it’s leading a $5.1M fundraising campaign for a children’s museum or supporting causes like the Boys & Girls Club and Tri-State Food Bank.

How it works: Dealers are nominated by members of the Automotive Trade Association Executives. Finalists from each of the four NADA regions are selected by a panel of faculty from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan, which also determines the national winner.

The other 2025 TIME Dealer of the Year finalists included:

• Sean P. Baxter: Kayser Ford Inc., Madison, Wisconsin

• George Haddad: Haddad Toyota, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

• Con Paulos: Con Paulos Chevrolet, Jerome, Idaho.

• Cathy Stender: Woody Anderson Ford, Huntsville, Alabama.

Next steps: Ally, the sponsor of the award, will donate $10,000 to the charity selected by Farabaugh and contribute $5,000 to the charities chosen by each of the four regional finalists and $1,000 to the charities selected by each of the 49 nominees.

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