TIME & Ally Financial Honor Cape May Court House Dealer

Bill Kindle Wins National Recognition for Community Service and Industry Accomplishments at NADA Convention
NEW YORK – The nomination of Bill Kindle, president and treasurer of Kindle Ford Lincoln Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, for the 2016 TIME Dealer of the Year award was announced today by TIME.
Kindle is one of a select group of 50 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 99th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention & Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 1, 2016. The announcement of this year’s nominees was made by Meredith Long, publisher, TIME, and Tim Russi, president of Auto Finance for Ally Financial.
“The TIME Dealer of the Year award nominees are business leaders and pillars of their communities, who have each given generously to support important charitable causes,” said Russi. “Ally is proud to honor these dealers and to recognize their commitment to making a difference.”
In its fifth year as exclusive sponsor, Ally will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will also be recognized on AllyDealerHeroes.com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.
The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Recipients are among the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Kindle, 62, was chosen to represent the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers in the national competition – one of only 50 auto dealers from 16,000 nationwide – nominated for the 47th annual award. The award is sponsored by TIME in association with Ally Financial, and in cooperation with NADA. 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.
“It’s enough for any father to see his son grow up to be a healthy and productive member of the community,” nominee Kindle said, “but it’s especially rewarding to see our family legacy continue as my son, Steven, comes forward with the interest, talent and dedication to help carry on our dealership.”
And Kindle himself carried the torch for his father, Bob, who first opened Kindle Ford in southern New Jersey in 1957. Kindle, a 1971 graduate of Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, attended La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, graduating in 1975 with a B.S. in zoology. He entered the family business in 1976, holding positions in sales and service before running the entire operation. His son now serves as vice president. “Steven has worked hard to become deeply engaged in all aspects of the business at every level,” Kindle said. “He has brought forward fresh ways to build the Kindle brand, improve the sales and service experience and increase customer satisfaction.”
One innovative program that Kindle’s son has initiated is the Kindle Community Challenge, which allows customers to decide where the company’s charitable contributions are directed. “We’ve highlighted more than 50 charitable, educational and civic organizations doing good work in our community,” Kindle said. “With a public pledge of ‘You Decide, We Donate,’ we gave more than $100,000 last year to 100 organizations in a public celebration.” Recipients included the Wounded Warrior Project, American Cancer Society, Cape May County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center, Love of Linda Cancer Fund, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlantic & Cape May Counties and the John R. Elliot Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers.
“The bottom line is I just like helping people,” Kindle has said. “I think that was inherited from my father. He was always looking to help somebody; in fact, we used to call him ‘Red Cross Bob.’”
Kindle, a pilot, also contributes by working with Angel Flight Northeast to transport cancer patients and others seeking life-saving treatment to medical facilities. He has flown more than 50 patients and is at the ready to help those in need. He also has used his zoology training to save marine life in peril through the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, New Jersey, providing trucks and expertise to rescue stranded whales, dolphins, turtles and seals. Each year, he sponsors the Turtle Run, a motorcycle ride that raises money and generates awareness for turtles that are killed crossing roads during the hatching season in Cape May County.
In addition, he donates two cars annually to local driver’s education classes and has been an active member of the Cape May Chamber of Commerce. He has received numerous awards for his community involvement and business leadership, including Business Person of the Year from Middle Township Chamber of Commerce in 2011 and Cape May County Chamber of Commerce Betterment Award in 2014. Kindle is most proud to have been selected by Ford Motor Company for its “Salute to Dealers” program last year. “Each year, Ford honors six out of approximately 5,000 dealerships globally for outstanding products, services and community involvement,” he said.
Kindle was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by James Appleton, president of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers. He and his wife, Dona Leider, have three children and two grandchildren.