2026 TDOY Nominee
David Moore
Dealer of Moore Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram
Hartford, Kentucky
David Moore 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. Moore was chosen to represent the Kentucky Automobile Dealer Association in the national competition — one of only 47 auto dealers nominated for the 57th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.
Moore joined the family enterprise after earning a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky (1987) and became a dealer in 2000. Today, his Hartford store of 32 employees leans into transparency and culture — introducing Moore Value Pricing, paperless transactions and a streamlined digital delivery experience to modernize the process while preserving the personal touch Ohio County customers expect.
“My career has been a family journey from day one,” Moore said. “My dad was a man of few words, but the one that stuck was: ‘You have to work for someone — it might as well be your brother.’ I didn’t realize then how much that simple advice would shape a lifetime in this business.”
Looking back on a pivotal moment, Moore added: “On April 1, 2000, I took the biggest risk of my career and bought a Ford–Chrysler–Dodge–Jeep–Ram store. I wasn’t chasing a title; I wanted to build a dealership that reflected my values and served a small Kentucky community. That leap changed everything — our store became a true community cornerstone.”
As chairman of the Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association (2024–2025), Moore helped lead the passage and implementation of electronic titling statewide, coordinating County Clerks, Sheriffs and industry partners. “Modernizing titling in Kentucky took a coalition,” he said. “We brought stakeholders to the same table to make transactions faster, cleaner and more secure for every Kentuckian.”
His store also invests in workforce pipelines. Moore helped relaunch the automotive technician program at Owensboro Community & Technical College, contributing $75,000+ and partnering on interviews, placements and advocacy — work that has produced dozens of working technicians regionally. “The technician shortage won’t solve itself,” he said. “We put real dollars, real time and real opportunities into young people — and the impact is showing up in shops across the tri-state.”
Moore prioritizes team well-being with local wellness center memberships, open dialogue around mental health, paid volunteer time, scholarship support, and matching employee giving. “Wellness isn’t just a gym membership,” he noted. “It’s a culture of respect, balance and listening — because the way we care for our people is the way they’ll care for our customers.”
Customer care is personal at Moore Ford CDJR. Recently, a local family’s daughter had trouble with an “as-is” pre-owned vehicle late on a Friday. The team brought the car in, sourced parts locally, and a technician stayed after hours to complete repairs — at no charge — so she could get safely back to work. “Paperwork matters, but people matter more,” Moore said. “Our advisors and techs saw someone in a tough spot and chose to do what was right. That’s who we are.”
Moore credits lessons from past crises for the store’s steady hand today. “In 2008, many dealers held their breath waiting for a FedEx envelope to decide their future,” he recalled. “We were spared, and it cemented a mindset: every day we earn our place by meeting goals, serving customers and taking care of our people.”
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.”
Moore was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by the Kentucky Automobile Dealer Association. Moore and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, Kaitlyn Cunningham and Kendall Jagoe.
