2026 TDOY Nominee
Matthew Helmkamp
Dealer Principal of Gates Chevy World
Mishawaka, Indiana
Matthew Helmkamp 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. Helmkamp was chosen to represent Indiana in the national competition — one of only 47 auto dealers nominated for the 57th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.
A fourth-generation leader at a fifth-generation family enterprise founded in 1928 as L.O. Gates Chevrolet, Helmkamp literally grew up in the business — starting as a lot porter and advancing through every department before graduating from the NADA Dealer Academy in 2003 and becoming dealer principal. He holds a B.S. in Theology from Wheaton College (1990) and an M.A. in Counseling from Colorado Christian University (1994) — credentials that shape his people-first leadership style.
“Really, for me, it’s not about the cars — it’s about the people,” Helmkamp said. “After much prayer and counsel, I realized the dealership could be a place to serve — caring for employees, customers and our community. When a parts driver’s husband got cancer, I could pray with her and support her as her employer. That’s when it clicked: this is meaningful work.”
Reflecting on career risk, Helmkamp added: “The biggest risk was simply staying in the car business — then growing it. We’ve opened new stores, closed old locations and added about 100 jobs in the last 20 years. Those decisions required faith, humility and a commitment to do right by our people.”
“We were among the first Chevy dealers to complete the 2010 image upgrade after the Great Recession and we refreshed again in 2017,” he said. “Since then, we’ve kept paint, carpet, ceilings and lighting current, and we’ve added the special tools and Level 3 charging stations needed for EVs. Our building dates to 1961, so it means a lot when guests tell us how clean and professional it looks.”
Helmkamp prioritizes team well-being with complimentary health screenings and coaching, wellness incentives tied to the company health plan and virtual counseling for employees and their household members.
“We want teammates healthy in every way — body, mind, and spirit,” he said. “That’s why we’ve expanded counseling access for issues from mental health to addictions. Caring well for our people helps them care well for our guests.”
Helmkamp’s hallmark initiative is the employee-driven Community Support Team, which mobilizes all five Gates locations each fall for “Community Support Days.” In 2025, 178 employees (60%) pledged $64,000+ to seven local, child-focused nonprofits; the company complemented those gifts with additional contributions to 50 area charities.
“Generosity is contagious,” he said. “One of the first causes our team rallied around was a local Down syndrome family-services group after a teammate welcomed a child with Down syndrome. That personal connection turned compassion into tangible help for families.”
“Our motto during COVID was ‘cautious but not fearful,’” Helmkamp said. “We met three times a week as an executive team, bonused staff and offered extra vacation rather than layoffs. The clarity and care helped us capture market share and produce some of the best financial years in our 97-year history.”
“In July 2023 we opened a new Chevy store within our APR,” he noted. “The convenience and culture of that location are expanding our bottom line and improving market share. At the same time, we’re intentionally developing next-generation leaders as valued veterans retire — and I’m convinced we’ll be even stronger.”
Inside the store, Helmkamp continues to teach mission, vision and leadership — every week. “Andy Stanley says, ‘Vision leaks.’ So we keep teaching it — customer care, core values and great habits. Twenty years later, those meetings still shape who we are and how we serve.”
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.”
Helmkamp was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by the Automobile Dealers Association of Indiana. He and his wife, Michelle, have four children: Mitchel, Alyson Greenwood, Josiah and Scott.
