2026 TDOY Nominee
Mike Mahalak
President of Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram FIAT of Winter Haven
Winter Haven, Florida
Mike Mahalak 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. Mahalak was chosen to represent the Florida Automotive Dealer Association in the national competition — one of only 47 auto dealers nominated for the 57th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.
Mahalak learned the business from his father, Ralph E. Mahalak, founder of Mahalak Auto Group in Monroe, MI. Mike’s career spans service, parts, sales and executive roles — from porter and service advisor to dealer principal and owner.
“My dad taught me that strong dealerships are built on strong communities,” Mahalak said. “Do what’s right, treat people fairly and invest where you live — that’s the blueprint we’ve followed in Winter Haven for 34 years.”
A NADA member since 1989, Mahalak serves on the Florida Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) Executive Board (2023–present) and previously on the FADA Board of Directors (2017–2022).
“Whether it’s new regulations or manufacturer programs, our job on the board is to keep dealers informed and advocate for solutions that are fair and balanced,” he noted.
Since 2010, Mahalak has led a series of strategic upgrades: expansion of the sales lot (completed 2020), a new retention pond, and a dedicated Heavy Duty Repair facility (completed 2024) to better serve fleet and commercial clients. In 2023, the dealership installed solar panels, significantly reducing power consumption and environmental impact.
“These investments improve the guest experience, boost efficiency and reflect our commitment to growth and sustainability,” Mahalak said.
The dealership offers comprehensive well-being resources through UnitedHealthcare —including Rewards, One Pass Select fitness access, Real Appeal weight-management and Quit For Life® tobacco cessation—plus in-house chair massages and yoga. Education programs include Degrees@Work (Strayer University, tuition-free for employees and their immediate family), a NADA Education subscription, Leadership Winter Haven and Leadership Polk participation and ongoing manufacturer training for technicians.
“When our people grow, our community wins,” said Mahalak. “We’ll keep investing in education, wellness and leadership pathways.”
During COVID-19, Mahalak committed to no layoffs, cross-training teams and reworking schedules to maintain service to the community. “We stayed transparent, protected our people and got creative,” he said. “The result was a stronger, more resilient team.”
Over the past 18 months, the dealership piloted Virtual F&I (with e-signature/e-contracting), then evolved the model to a floating business manager structure across stores — retaining the efficiency gains while preserving a personal touch. “We cut time from ‘yes’ to delivery and made the process simpler for our clients and our accounting office,” Mahalak said.
A simple but powerful CX standard now anchors the showroom: every guest is greeted immediately. “What’s fair is fair — and what’s right is right,” Mahalak added. “A prompt welcome sets the tone for trust. Our CSI and word-of-mouth reflect that.”
Mahalak and wife Janine founded Fore the Love, an annual golf and tennis event with the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation to support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Winter Haven Women’s Hospital. Now in its 10th year, the event has raised $770,000, funding Angel Eye cameras, Giraffe incubators, fetal monitors, bassinets, blood pressure cuffs, phototherapy and breast-milk equipment for a unit that cares for 200+ patients annually.
“Three years after we started, my nephew Ziggy arrived eight weeks early,” Mahalak shared. “Seeing him benefit from the very equipment we helped fund brought our mission home.”
The Winter Haven dealership has been named a CARFAX Top-Rated Dealer (2020–2024), received FCA US’ Customer First Award for Excellence (2020) and earned Haven Magazine’s Best Auto Dealer honors (2023, 2025).
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.”
Mahalak was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by the Florida Automobile Dealers Association. He and his wife, Janine, have three children: Delaney, Savannah and Maguire. Plus, one grandson, Harrison.
