IADA - The Idaho Automobile Dealers Association, Inc.

2010 TIME Award Winner

Trent Wright, IADA Executive Vice President, says, “Anybody who knows Kim knows why he was nominated. He’s been an outstanding dealer for many years and a generous contributor of his time and resources to the community. That’s what qualified him for selection.”

Growing up in the family car business, Kim has done it all. He’s been everything from “wash kid” (car detailer), mechanic and radio installer, to salesman, parts department manager, and dealership manager. Kim’s father, after owning his first dealership for 10 years in Montpelier, Idaho, moved his family to Brigham City, Utah and purchased the GM store where Kim spent most of his earlier years. He worked at the dealership during summers and through college. Kim graduated from the University of Utah in Business Management and Finance, served six years in the Utah Air Guard, attended GM School of Merchandising and Management in Detroit and became the general manager of his father’s Brigham City dealership, Hansen Motors, for a few years. Then it was time to make the jump. At age 25, Kim sold his house and everything else he owned to purchase a Chevrolet Oldsmobile Buick store in Soda Springs, Idaho. “My oldest brother had bought his own GM dealership in central Utah, so I figured I needed to do the same,” said Kim

In 1984, after seven prosperous years, Kim sold the Soda Springs store, partnered with GM’s Motors Holding Finance and purchased his current store, the Burley Chevrolet- Oldsmobile Dealership, after merging with a Rupert Chevrolet-Olds-Buick store. After earning college degrees, Kim’s two oldest sons, Adam and Luke, now work at the dealership. Kim also co-owned with his brother Uinta Auto Sales in Evanston, Wyo. from 1978 to 1982 and had his own Satellite sales store in Rupert from 1988 to 2009.

Throughout his life, Kim has owned a number of cars, but is always eager for the latest and greatest. “I’m not a collector of antique cars,” said Kim. “I instead love the newest innovation and technology that comes every year in the auto business. My favorite car? Same as every other red blooded male in America… the Chevy Corvette, but I have never justified the ownership of one. I bought a new Corvette, owned it for one month, then decided to sell it. It just didn’t fit my personality. I figured my airplane ownership was adequate for personal go-fast vehicles!” While in high school, Kim developed an interest in flying airplanes, took flying lessons during college, and finished training in Texas with the Air Force. He bought his first older airplane, a Piper Cherokee, in 1975 and has owned several more throughout the years. Kim went on to earn his IFR (instrument) rating, which authorizes him to fly a plane using only the aircraft’s instrument panel for navigation, when nothing can be seen outside the cockpit windows. “Next time you drive into a fog bank and hit the brakes… think about accelerating to over 170 mph and driving by only looking at the instruments and you’ll get the idea,” said Kim. Kim currently owns a single engine, six place Cessna high performance airplane and has flown it all over the west in his business.

Aside from being a car dealer and private pilot, Kim also considers himself to be an amateur cowboy. His family owned a large cattle ranch in eastern Idaho for many years, making cattle drives and calf brandings an annual occurrence to maintain the thousand head of cattle.

Kim has served IADA several times as the District Four vice president and as IADA President in 2005-06. During that time, he replaced the old computer accounting system to provide better management oversight of expenses for future presidents. Kim also chaired the committee to rewrite the bylaws allowing the president’s term to return to a one year term rotated around each of the districts in Idaho. Changes made also allowed executive managers as well as dealers to hold IADA office. Kim’s accomplishments increased optimism and strengthened dealer confidence in the state of Idaho. In addition to his service to IADA and Idaho dealers, Kim has been involved in many other areas of the community. He has served as PTA VP and Carnival Fundraiser Chairman in 1985, and various other school board and PTA positions, was appointed to the Idaho Dept. of Transportation Dealer Advisory Board from 1996 to 2006 (serving as 2004 president of the board) and other GM dealer councils, and was the 1998-99 Burley Rotary Club President as well as a Paul Harris Fellow contributor. Kim has held several other positions with the local Chambers of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America, church, service clubs and city committees. He was a charter member of the GM “Genuine Leader” for CSI and Market Leadership in 1979 and was awarded the 25 Year Dealer Award by Chevrolet and Oldsmobile in 2002.

Of all the community service he’s participated in, Kim considers the most rewarding to be his work with the youth. He has served with the Boy Scouts on numerous committees and assignments, has led many whitewater trips and outings throughout the west with young men in the Boy Scout programs and is currently an Aviation Merit Badge counselor. Kim has been married 36 years to Patricia Martin and together they raised five children, and now have 14 grandchildren.

As the automobile industry’s most prestigious and coveted award, this honor will be awarded to Kim Hansen and other dealers from across the U.S. at the 2010 NADA Convention in Orlando, Fla. on February 13. The Idaho Automobile Dealers Association is proud of the high standards Kim has met and surpassed, and salutes him for the w Dad’s GM store in Montpelier, Idaho, purchased in 1952 ell-earned recognition.