2026 TDOY Nominee
Everett Hellmuth
President of Passport BMW
Suitland, Maryland
Everett Hellmuth 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, Nevada, 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. Hellmuth was chosen to represent the Maryland Automobile 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 lifelong car enthusiast turned entrepreneur, Hellmuth found his path early —reconditioning used cars with a Chrysler factory representative during high school, refurbishing classic Mercedes in college, and selling cars in Alexandria, VA, after graduation.
“I planned to return for an MBA, but within months I was a sales manager earning more than many new MBAs,” he said. “That’s when I realized this wasn’t just a job — it was the career I wanted to build.” After 14 years in retail leadership, he made the leap to ownership.
The defining risk came in 1991, in the shadow of the Gulf War. Then-general manager of Martens BMW, Hellmuth purchased the dealership by leveraging everything — selling a small vacation home, personally guaranteeing loans (even the advertising bill), and limiting family compensation to essentials — all while welcoming newborn twins that July.
“BMW was selling 15 to 20 new vehicles a month and luxury competitors were surging,” he recalled. “But we believed we could build something special.” That leap became Passport BMW and eventually the broader Passport Auto Group.
Hellmuth’s investment mindset extends to facilities. After opening a ground-up flagship in 2008, Passport BMW undertook a comprehensive renovation and expansion in 2024–2025 to align with BMW’s latest design standards. For 13 months, most staff operated from 10 onsite trailers while the dealership expanded the interior service reception and pickup areas, created a five-star lounge with multiple seating zones (café, quiet reading, TV), and added six technician stalls to its 50-bay service center.
“We spent far more than required to deliver a world-class facility again,” Hellmuth said. “Our goal was to enhance every moment of the ownership experience.”
Employee well-being is central. In spring 2025, Passport BMW added a wellness room and expanded lunchroom featuring Farmer’s Fridge healthy meals. Market-leading CareFirst PPO medical benefits include a robust Wellbeing Program, with Conifer care management, PrudentRx for specialty medications, and True Life Care diabetes support. Growth from within is prioritized; managers recently completed the Stagen Leadership Academy to deepen long-term leadership skills.
Community impact is a Passport hallmark. Each holiday season, the company doubles employee and customer donations to Central Union Mission — and the Hellmuth family matches again. In 2024, $7,289.75 in donations grew to $36,448.75, funding 11,345 meals. Passport BMW launched Passport Cares, a community initiative dedicated to supporting local families and highlighting acts of giving. During the pandemic, the dealership extended its efforts beyond the showroom by providing over $16,000 in free fuel in a single day to drivers in underserved neighborhoods. Passport BMW also funded warehouse staffing for Project Bridges to help deliver essential goods to those in need, donated a new truck with complimentary maintenance to Central Union Mission to support job-skills training and neighborhood cleanups, and partnered with Bikes for Kids to ensure every third grader at a Title I school received a new bike and helmet.
“When you remove a barrier — food, fuel, transportation — you restore dignity,” Hellmuth said. “That’s the kind of impact we want our team to feel part of.”
Over the past 18 months, the dealership completed its renovation and rolled out a new DMS and a cutting-edge CRM with AI-enhanced tools. Laptops and iPads now power mobile, modern workflows, enabling sales professionals to meet customers anywhere. Daily 7 am cross-functional huddles, parts staff embedded in the shop and a dedicated warranty manager keep throughput high so same-day service is often available —differentiating Passport in a market where weeks-out appointments are common.
Customer care is baked into the model. In 2007, Passport BMW launched a VIP Service Pick-Up Program, providing complimentary valet pickup, BMW loaner delivery, and return.
“Many of our owners buy from us because of valet,” Hellmuth said. “When friends ask each other where Passport BMW is, they say, ‘In my driveway.’”
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.”
Hellmuth was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by the Maryland Automobile Dealers Association. He and his wife, Robin, have four children: Cameron, Ashton Ryan, Zachary and Eleanor Floyd.
