Kalamazoo Auto Dealer Nominated for National Award
Former Maple Hill Auto Group leader Jim VandenBerg is a finalist for the 2027 TIME Dealer of the Year honor.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Buying/Selling
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Former Maple Hill Auto Group general manager Jim VandenBerg has been named a nominee for the 2027 TIME Dealer of the Year award. He is one of 48 dealers nationwide selected to represent the Michigan Auto Dealers Association at the upcoming national awards ceremony.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights a longstanding local dealership operation that served the Kalamazoo community for over three decades. The award focuses on balancing business success with community service, impacting the charitable initiatives supported by area dealership leaders.
VandenBerg, who sold Maple Hill Auto Group in August 2026, oversaw operations that employed 125 people. The dealership moved 1,327 new vehicles and 685 used vehicles in 2025.
The players
Jim VandenBerg
The former general manager of Maple Hill Auto Group and current TIME Dealer of the Year nominee.
Maple Hill Auto Group
A prominent Kalamazoo-based dealership formerly led by VandenBerg that sold 2,012 total vehicles in 2025.
University of Michigan Tauber Institute for Global Operations
An academic institution that provides the faculty panel responsible for evaluating and selecting national dealer finalists.
National Automobile Dealers Association
The national trade organization representing franchised new-car and truck dealers that hosts the annual industry show.
Fox Motors
The automotive group that purchased Maple Hill Auto Group from Jim VandenBerg in August 2026.
The details
Dealers are nominated by executives of state and metro dealer associations based on their business performance and commitment to service. A panel of faculty from the University of Michigan Tauber Institute for Global Operations then reviews candidates to select finalists and the national winner. Each nominee receives $1,000 to donate to a 501(c)3 charity of their choice, with the winner earning an additional $10,000 for charity.
Timeline
1988: VandenBerg began his career as a district manager for Mazda Great Lakes.
1995: The Maple Hill Auto Group was established in Kalamazoo.
August 2026: VandenBerg sold the dealership to Fox Motors.
October 2026: TIME officially announced the 2027 award nominees.
February 19, 2027: Nominees will be honored at the National Automobile Dealers Association Show in Orlando.
The Home Front
The transition of Maple Hill Auto Group to Fox Motors follows a period of consolidation in the regional dealership landscape. This award nomination highlights how long-standing local leadership impacts community charitable commitments even after ownership changes.
If you are a customer of the dealership, your service and sales experience remains under the current ownership of Fox Motors. Residents looking to track the philanthropic results of this nomination can review the TIME Dealer of the Year nominee profiles for updates.
The takeaway
This nomination recognizes the legacy of a local business leader who managed significant sales volume while maintaining a commitment to community service. Kalamazoo residents can track the final award results when they are announced at the NADA Show in February 2027.
What happens next
The 110th annual National Automobile Dealers Association Show is scheduled to take place on February 19, 2027, in Orlando, where the national winner will be honored.
Further reading
Learn more about local vehicle market trends in our Buying/Selling section.
More information
View the complete list of TIME Dealer of the Year nominee profiles on the official program website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WWMT.
Live Poll
Should local businesses prioritize community service commitments as highly as their financial performance?
