IADA - The Idaho Automobile Dealers Association, Inc.

2009 TIME Award Winner

For his outstanding leadership role in his industry and community Grant L. Petersen Jr., President and CEO of Bronco Motors Inc., has been nominated by the Idaho Automobile Dealers Association for the 2009 Time Magazine Dealer of the Year Award.

As the ofﬁcial submitting the nomination, Trent Wright, EVP of IADA, describes the candidate as “a member who is well aware of a franchised auto dealer’s responsibility to his community. His proactive approach to business and the auto industry continues to be a true asset for both the state of Idaho and the IADA.”

After tearing apart the family lawnmower, Grant’s father realized how intrigued he was with all things mechanical, so he put him to work as a lot attendant at the age of 11. Grant served in many positions on his father’s lot until he graduated from high school. In 1993, he graduated valedictorian from the University of General Motors. His passion for cars and people motivated him to want to become the best independent dealer in the state of Idaho.

After a business expansion of Bronco Motors in the early ’90s, Grant became the GM and part owner. The new expansion supported a large sales staff and full parts and service department allowing Bronco Motors to become one of Idaho’s only independent dealerships with a comprehensive service department that accommodated all makes and models. Grant later purchased the Hyundai and Nissan franchises with the same goal in mind and within one year became the largest Hyundai dealership in Idaho and one of the most successful in the country. Since then, Bronco Motors has been the #1 new Passenger Car Dealer in Idaho for the last eight years, as well as, nine-time recipient of the Hyundai Board of Excellence Award. In 2005, Bronco Motors built their new Nissan facility in the heart of the Treasure Valley auto mall. This new store has become a three-time recipient of the Nissan Owner First Award of Excellence and is Idaho’s largest volume Nissan dealer.

In addition to his professional success, Grant has worked with many organizations to improve the quality of life for everyone in the communities in which he lives and works.

Grant has been the exclusive sponsor of the Boise Holiday parade, ofﬁcial car company of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and recently became the largest contributor to the Idaho food Bank. Since 1971, his father and then he, have provided cars and scholarships to the BSU Athletic Association. Grant, along with his wife Connie, are actively involved with the Meridian Valley Humane Society and in 2008 donated a Nissan Titan to the society for pulling their Adopt a Dog and Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic trailer that travels all of southern Idaho. He supports the Make a Wish Foundation and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk with the Hyundai Hope of Wheels Campaign. (On a cold and rainy night this past October they helped raise $118,000, setting the record for this society.) Grant has also served as President and board member of the BBB of Southwest Idaho and Eastern Oregon.

This high industry honor will be awarded to Mr. Petersen and other dealers from across the U.S., at the 2009 NADA Convention in New Orleans on January 24. The Idaho Automobile Dealers Association salutes Mr. Petersen on the well-earned recognition.