“It’s very exciting and unexpected,” said Saum, chairman of the board of Beltway International, LLC. “This recognition is really a tribute to my dealership, family and employees. Without the employees we have, we would not have been even considered for this award.”
When asked how it feels to win the award, Saum said, “I’m going to Disney World. Really, I’m taking three of my grandkids there tomorrow.” The announcement was made at the 47th annual ATD Convention and Expo in Orlando, Fla., which runs through April 26.
Saum has been active in several community and civic organizations. He was awarded Navistar’s International Truck Dealer of the Year in 2004. The dealership is a 15-time winner of Navistar’s Circle of Excellence award for dealership performance; 10-time winner of Navistar Financial Corps President’s Award for financing excellence; nine-time winner of Navistar’s Diamond Certified dealer for operations excellence; and 11-time winner of the Idealease, an award for lease and rental operating excellence.
The award recognizes excellence in dealership performance, industry leadership, civic contributions and community service. The winners were chosen by a panel of professors from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Founded in 1970, the ATD division of the National Automobile Dealers Association is the only organization representing dealers selling new medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the United States. More than 2,000 members of ATD receive full association services from NADA.