2026 TDOY Nominee
Bert Lindsay
President of Lindsay Honda
Columbus, Ohio
Bert Lindsay is one of a select group of 47 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 109th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas, NV on February 5, 2026.
The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Lindsay was chosen to represent the Ohio Auto Dealers Association in the national competition — one of only 47 auto dealers nominated for the 57th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.
A respected leader in the Columbus community, Lindsay has spent more than 50 years building not only one of the largest Honda dealerships in the U.S. by size, but also a dealership rooted in faith, transparency, and service.
He launched his career after being let go in 1972 from a dealership he helped build. “I was fired — for making too much money,” Lindsay recalls. “That experience taught me that if you want security, you build it yourself.” A year later, he founded Honda East — now Lindsay Honda — and expanded into Acura by 1989.
His 188,000-square-foot dealership, formerly a regional shopping mall, features indoor vehicle displays, live trees and 50 air-conditioned service bays. He also invested over $7 million into a state-of-the-art Acura facility — an effort that he says has paid off in more ways than one.
“I didn’t just want to sell cars — I wanted to build something lasting, something good for people,” Lindsay said. “That’s what the Lindsay Difference is about.”
Lindsay’s dealership is a vital part of the Columbus community, employing nearly 200 people and offering an on-site gym, employee wellness programs and technical career development through partnerships with local trade schools.
In 2020, he founded The Ultimate Resource Network (T.U.R.N.) to revitalize East Columbus spiritually, socially and economically. From converting a showroom into a supervised learning space for students during the pandemic to hosting back-to-school fairs, litter cleanups and public safety events, Lindsay is committed to meeting real needs in his community.
“We’re not just in the car business — we’re in the people business,” he said. “If you take care of your team, your customers and your community, everything else will follow.”
His dealership's service-first reputation is rooted in everyday actions. A customer once came in after being quoted $3,000 elsewhere for a transmission replacement. Lindsay’s team fixed the issue with a simple $387 fluid flush and update — building loyalty that turned into long-term business.
“You never forget where you came from,” he added. “That’s what keeps you grounded — and focused on doing good work.”
Dealers are nominated by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country. 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. Three finalists will receive $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity, donated by Ally.
In its 14th year as exclusive sponsor, Ally also will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will be recognized on ally.com/go/tdoy , which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.
“At TIME, our commitment to recognizing the exceptional contributions of automotive dealers remains as strong as ever,” said Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME. “The TIME Dealer of the Year award continues to celebrate those who not only excel in their profession but also make a meaningful impact in their communities. We are thrilled to continue this legacy in partnership with Ally.”
Doug Timmerman, Ally president of Dealer Financial Services, said, “Auto dealers are the backbones of their communities, providing civic support and significant business leadership. Ally is proud to recognize the unwavering commitment these TIME Dealer of the Year nominees are living every day through their volunteerism, sponsorships, and support of charitable causes. They are the epitome of community heroes, making important and positive impacts in the lives of the people they serve.”
Lindsay was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by the Ohio Auto Dealers Association. Lindsay and his wife, Stephanie, live in Columbus and are the proud parents of Stephen Lindsay, Ashleigh Lindsay-Behnke, and Dustin Lindsay—all of whom are involved in the family business.
