2026 TDOY Nominee

Rusty Drewing 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. Drewing was chosen to represent the Missouri 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. 

Drewing owns and operates Rusty Drewing Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac, a heritage store founded in 1936 (originally Riley Chevrolet). After earning his B.S. in Business from Truman State University in 2005, Rusty built his career across variable and fixed operations, leading large teams and co-owning multiple rooftops before returning to Jefferson City to acquire and reimagine the GM campus that today bears his name. 

In addition to his nominated dealership, Rusty Drewing Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac, Drewing also owns and operates Rusty Drewing Toyota, Mercedes-Benz of Columbia, and BMW of Columbia, representing a distinguished portfolio of premier automotive brands across mid-Missouri. Drewing’s dealerships consistently hold a 4.9-star Google rating, reflecting their focus on quality, trust and care.  

Customer care often shines brightest in the small moments. As Rusty shared, while a five-star Google review is always rewarding, it’s the three- and four-star reviews that deserve a closer look. These come from customers who genuinely like your business and had a positive experience — but something small kept it from being perfect. Those moments hold the greatest opportunity to listen, learn and grow. 

“While I was in college, every week my dad would send me a manila envelope,” Drewing said. “Inside was a little money — and copies of Automotive News or Motor Trend. Those articles weren’t just reading material; they were subtle hints, his way of planting seeds about the path he believed I was meant to take.” 

He added, “This stage isn’t just about expansion or numbers; it’s about legacy — leading with purpose, honoring the example my father set, and showing my children what it means to work hard, stay humble and care deeply.” 

Under Drewing’s leadership, the dealership employs 135 team members and has earned multiple manufacturer honors, including GM Mark of Excellence (2022, 2023, 2024) and Cadillac Master Dealer (2023). Facility investments center on people and the guest experience: a fully climate-controlled campus (including the shop and body shop), upgraded lounges with family-friendly amenities and a “friction-free” service model.  

“I believe in best-in-class facilities — spaces that make employees proud and create an exceptional experience for customers,” he said. “We added touches like a popcorn machine, three kinds of ice cream, and a modern kids’ club. In 2025, we air-conditioned the entire facility, including the shop.” 

In the last 18 months, Drewing’s team launched a Service Concierge to personally rescue abandoned online appointments, improve scheduling accuracy between the main shop and Quick Lane and lift CSI while freeing advisors to focus on guests in the drive. “Our turning point was asking, ‘What if abandoned online appointments weren’t failures, but opportunities?’” he said. “We created a new Service Concierge role to contact each customer directly. The impact was immediate — customers felt heard, quick-lube visits grew and our CSI climbed.” 

“Our goal is to create the kind of experience customers feel proud to recommend to family and friends,” Drewing said. “When people walk through our doors, we want them to feel seen, supported and confident that we’ll do what’s right.” 

Drewing steered the business through the pandemic without layoffs or furloughs — keeping doors open as an essential service and converting a potential crisis into record performance by protecting his team and inventory pipeline. “At no point did we consider layoffs, furloughs or restructuring,” Drewing said. “What could have been a crisis quickly turned into one of our most significant opportunities — our team set all-time store records while many others were trying to survive.”  

His industry service includes president, Kansas City Toyota Dealers Association (2021–2024), where he modernized media strategy with data-driven accountability, expanded outreach to Hispanic and African American audiences, and aligned local partnerships with high-impact sponsorships, including Mizzou Athletics. 

Reflecting on his biggest professional risk, Drewing noted, “The biggest risk I ever took wasn’t opening a new store — it was walking away from growth. We owned 10 dealerships and were doing well, but I decided to sell eight of those stores. It wasn’t a business decision; it was a personal one... That decision allowed me to reinvent myself. Today, my name on the building is a reminder of the risk that defined me and the values that guide me.” 

Deeply committed to mid-Missouri, Drewing’s organization is a proud Pacesetter for the United Way of Central Missouri, matching employee gifts and volunteering across Days of Caring projects and Missouri River Relief cleanups. 

“With such a large organization, it’s likely that at some point one of our employees or their families may rely on the services of a United Way Partner Agency,” he said. “That’s why this work matters so much.” In 2024, his team helped Special Olympics Missouri host An Evening with George Karlaftis, supporting a free football camp for more than 75 athletes and raising $150,000+ for individuals with intellectual disabilities.   

Employee wellness is prioritized through dealership-paid HSA contributions, an Employee Assistance Program with online therapy, and on-site mental-health support. “We believe caring for our employees goes beyond the workplace,” Drewing said. “After we tragically lost a coworker to mental health struggles, we brought in an on-site mental health specialist so support was available to anyone who needed it.” 

Drewing encourages his team to bring their whole selves to work, offering support for family priorities, community involvement and work-life balance. “You only get one chance to be a parent,” he said. “We want to make sure our employees never have to choose between doing great work and being present for the people they love.”  

Drewing was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association. He and his wife, Shannon, have two children, Rory and Rowan.