2026 TDOY Nominee
Jason Zoellner
Dealer Principal of Zoellner Ford of Beatrice
Beatrice, Nebraska
Jason Zoellner 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. Zoellner was chosen to represent Nebraska New Car and Truck Dealer 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 Ford enthusiast, Zoellner traces his career back to age 13, when he and his father brought home a 1950 Ford F-1 in “Robin Egg Blue.” “Driving that truck lit a fire in me that never went out,” he said. By 21, he had bought, sold and traded 22 vehicles, parlaying a love of hands-on work — starting as a Texaco station mechanic and driveway detailer — into a decades-long automotive career.
Mentored by his father-in-law Bill Summers (Nebraska’s 2013 TIME Dealer of the Year nominee), Zoellner partnered on his first Ford franchise in Ogallala in 2003, then acquired Zoellner Ford of Beatrice in May 2020 — at the height of the COVID-19 disruption. “Any store buyout is intense; doing it during a global shutdown took perseverance,” he said. “We focused on clarity, culture and communication — and built trust that might’ve otherwise taken years.”
The biggest career risk, he notes, came earlier: selling every asset, including his family’s newly built home, to buy a small rural dealership and move “all in” to western Nebraska. “It was the scariest decision of my life,” Zoellner said. “That $5 million store with 15 employees became the foundation for a business that now generates about $40 million annually with more than 55 team members.”
Since taking the helm in Beatrice, Zoellner has invested continuously in the guest and employee experience. The facility was redesigned to Ford Trustmark standards (2015) and has since added six service stalls, a drive-through car wash, a full detail shop, EV chargers, new hoists and equipment, refreshed restrooms and furniture and paved lot upgrades to replace gravel — modernizing operations and preparing for the future of Ford’s electrified lineup.
People and process have powered performance. With guidance from NADA best practices and his Dealer 20 Group, Zoellner reworked service scheduling, pricing and marketing, moved the right people into the right seats and built a culture of servant leadership. The service department, once at the bottom of the composite, now consistently ranks in the top third.
Employee wellness is woven into daily life: honor-system time off for family priorities, on-site flu-shot clinics, monthly team lunches and chiropractic clinics, plus robust professional development — paid technician training, Ford Top Tech, ASSET and NADA Dealer Academy sponsorships. “Benefits should strengthen our people and our community,” Zoellner said.
That community focus shows up across Gage County. During winter storms, employees volunteer their 4x4s to deliver Meals on Wheels. The dealership supports Beatrice Public Schools through speaking engagements, youth leadership activities, paraeducator awards, and memorial events. A signature effort is the Beatrice Backpack Program, where Zoellner’s support has funded over 80% of the program’s needs to ensure local children have food for the weekend. “No child should wonder where their next meal will come from,” he said. “The numbers matter — but the impact on a child’s life matters more.”
Customer care remains personal. The store’s free Pick-Up & Delivery program brings hometown service to farms and front doors alike. “Don’t sell anything you wouldn’t sell to your own grandmother — that’s our standard,” Zoellner said. “For some customers, pick-up and delivery is convenience; for others, it’s independence and peace of mind.”
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.”
Zoellner was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by the Nebraska New Car & Truck Dealers Association.
