The
award is named for dealer Robert P. Mallon, former owner of
Mallon Ford, Tacoma, who served as WSADA President in 1966/67,
is a past President of the National Automobile Dealers Association
(NADA), served 30 years as the NADA Director for Washington
State, and is founder and Chairman of the National Automobile
Dealers Charitable Foundation.
The award recognizes the recipient's contributions
to the auto industry, quality dealership operations, and outstanding
community service.
Rock Peterson Named 2011 Dealer of the Year
May 31 – Rock Peterson, Brien Ford, Everett, received the “Robert P. Mallon Dealer of the Year” award on May 19 at the Washington State Auto Dealers Association (WSADA) annual convention. Selected by a committee of his peers, the award recognizes Rock’s contributions to the auto industry, quality dealership operations and outstanding community service.
A 1965 graduate of Everett High School, Rock Peterson began his auto career as a salesperson for Bellevue Datsun Mazda in the mid 1970’s, before ultimately acquiring Brien Ford Lincoln Mercury in 1980. Over the years Rock has earned many manufacturer awards including Ford’s prestigious President’s Award, as well as the loyalty and respect of his employees. The tenure of his employees is one of Rock’s proudest achievements and is part of his company vision.
As one colleague stated, “Rock sees opportunity through his employees and know that his success is predicated upon the success of his people. He surrounds himself with professionals, sees talent in the people he works with, and helps them develop their abilities.”
In fact, Rock has helped long term employees pursue their own opportunities in the auto industry - he split off Lincoln Mercury from Ford and partnered with Jim Roosma in Winner Lincoln Mercury, and also founded Brien Hyundai, later selling it to Gary Micallef, thus creating other successful businesses in the Everett community.
Rock currently serves on the WSADA Board of Directors, and frequently advocates for auto dealers and their interests to members of the state legislature.
Like most car dealers, Rock is very active in his community. Most notable is his association with the Boys and Girls Club of Snohomish County of which he was a board member for over 20 years. He was also a major contributor to the Edmonds Arts Center, and has given generously to numerous charities in the Everett area and beyond.
In recognition of Rock’s receipt of the Association’s most prestigious award, WSADA made a contribution in his name to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Snohomish County – an organization he and his wife Maggie continue to actively support.
The award is named for former Tacoma dealer Robert P. Mallon who was WSADA President in 1966/67, is a past President of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), served 30 years as Washington State’s NADA Director, and is founder and Chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation.
Founded in 1920, the Association’s 300 dealer members serve 75 communities in Washington and are responsible for annual sales volume totaling nearly $9 billion. Together, they employ over 17,000 people with a combined payroll of more than $850 million. Their dealership sales total 10.2% of the state’s retail sales, generating hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenue for state and local governments through sales, corporate, and payroll tax revenue.
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