The nomination of Pat Shields, dealer principal at Shields Motor Co., Inc. in Chanute, Kansas, for the 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year award was announced today by TIME.
Shields 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 Feb. 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. Shields was chosen to represent the Kansas 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.
“When we opened in Chanute, people were constantly asking us, ‘How long are you guys going to be open?’” said Shields. “My quick response was always, ‘We’re going to be here a long time!’ That was a motivating factor to me to make it happen. I bet we were asked that question several times a week for the first year.” When the oil crisis shuttered the Chanute dealership in the early ‘80s, his father saw a second chance. The store had a poor reputation and a shaky history, but Shields trusted his father’s vision—and took the leap. “I was scared to death, but sometimes fear of loss isn’t a bad thing. It pushes you to rise to the occasion,” he said. “That was 40 years ago—and I still remember every challenge, every prayer, every milestone.”
This year, Shields Motor Co. celebrates 40 years in business, making it the longest-standing new car dealership in Chanute. Pat Shields owns 100% of the business, which includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram franchises and employs 24 people.
“As a youngster I followed my father to and from the dealership,” he recalled. “He eventually bought a GM store in Osage City, and from then on, if I wasn’t at school or playing sports, I was in the service bays, learning everything I could. I even detailed cars alongside my dad in his 3-piece suit—he could wash a car and not get a spot on him.”
His father later convinced him to join him in reviving a defunct Chrysler store in Chanute in 1985—at a time when the local oil economy was collapsing, banks were failing, and the store had a poor reputation. “I was scared to death, but sometimes fear of loss is not a bad thing,” Shields said. “That leap of faith turned into a 40-year legacy.”
Over the past five years, Shields has led extensive renovations to the dealership, including expanding the body shop, installing air conditioning in the shop, updating the detail area, and upgrading the lot with new asphalt and LED lighting. The results have been transformative: “Our parts gross went up over 30%, and our body shop gross has more than doubled,” he said.
The store also puts employee wellness first. Shields offers paid access to a local rehab and fitness center, emergency air transport insurance, and a unique spiritual and motivational program called “The Fight Club”—a weekly morning meetup at a local coffee shop that’s now going on seven years.
“We read, reflect, pray, and leave inspired,” Shields said. “Most of the guys who attend never stepped inside a church before this, but now they bring their friends. It’s created a bond that goes beyond work.”
Giving back is core to the Shields Motors mission. Shields has served as a deacon board member at First Baptist Church for over 30 years. Through his church and dealership, he helped raise over $7,000 to fund a new commercial kitchen to provide meals for the community—feeding more than 35,000 people over the last three years.
The dealership also supports youth leadership in agriculture through Neosho County 4-H. This year, Shields Motors sponsored two livestock auction animals for more than $2,500, a tradition that strengthens customer loyalty and community pride.
“We probably sell an additional 15 vehicles a year just because of our support at the 4-H fair,” he said. “You see those kids light up when they come in to thank us. That’s the kind of impact you can’t put a price on.”
Shields is also deeply involved in local organizations including Relay for Life, Fields of Faith, the Chanute Housing Authority, Rotary Club, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, among others. In his words: “If you help enough other people get what they want, you’ll get what you want. That’s how we operate here.”
He has served as chairman, vice chair, treasurer, and director for the Kansas Automobile Dealers Association, and has been a NADA member since 1985.
Pat and his wife Starla Shields have two children: Derrick Shields and Cortney Shields Miller.
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 15th 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 AllyDealerHeroes. com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.
“The TIME Dealer of the Year award honors automotive dealers who set the standard for excellence and community impact,” said Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME. “Each year, we spotlight those whose dedication uplifts and inspires their communities. At TIME, we are proud to continue celebrating these extraordinary contributions in partnership with Ally.
Doug Timmerman, President of Dealer Financial Services, Ally, said, “The TIME Dealer of the Year award honors those exceptional dealers who not only excel in their business endeavors but also demonstrate a profound commitment to uplifting their communities,” Timmerman said. “These nominees embody the spirit of leadership and service, making a lasting impact both in their dealerships and beyond.”
Pat Shields was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Ted Smith, president of the Kansas Automobile Dealers Association.
