The TIME Dealer of the Year Award has been called the most prestigious honor a new-car dealer can receive. In partnership with Ally and in cooperation with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), this program honors new-car dealers in America who exhibit exceptional performance in their dealerships and perform distinguished community service.

Now in its 56th year, dealers are nominated by members of the ATAE (Automotive Trade Association Executives), and the winner is acknowledged during the opening business session of the NADA convention. TIME, Ally and NADA honor outstanding new-car dealers across America and their unyielding commitment to improving their communities.

For 2025, the board of directors of the New Car Dealers Association San Diego County selected Gary Kaminsky of K Motors for their nomination for the TIME Dealer of the Year award. The following contains excerpts of a recent interview with Gary, demonstrating why he was chosen by his peers to represent San Diego County.

As the owner and general manager of Toyota of El Cajon, Gary Kaminsky is proud of the organizational culture that has developed over time — a culture where employees feel like they’re cared about and given the resources to be successful. “Creating a supportive work environment for our associates, where they can thrive and advance, has been deeply fulfilling,” Gary explained. Equally as gratifying to Gary is improving the customer experience so that clients enjoy buying a car in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. 

“I read a book years ago when I was first starting in the business called ‘Triple Net Profit.’ It explained the three things needed for long-term success — associate satisfaction, customer satisfaction and net profit — in order to get the best associates and keep them happy, and then they take care of your customers.” That made a lot of sense to Gary, and that mindset is at the heart of everything he does today. 

Having been mentored by both his father and mother, was a blessing. “My father taught me about the overall operations of a dealership,” Gary recalled. “He led by example: honest, optimistic and hardworking.” To this day, Gary makes it a priority to keep the workplace both positive and productive. “I was young when I started in the industry, so I had a chance to make a lot of mistakes and learn along the way.” Gary continued, “There were days when I let my stress show outward, and on those days, my dad would say, ‘What, did your dog die today?’ I’d reply, ‘What are you talking about?’ In his wisdom, my dad would explain, ‘You look really down like you’re unhappy, and everybody’s looking at you, they’re judging you and how you’re feeling.’ My dad always pushed me to try harder, reminding me that a positive attitude is everything.” 

Gary’s mother worked in the business office of another dealership around the time she first met Bob. She was good with numbers and knew her way around a balance sheet. “My mom taught me the financial aspect of this business, and I am forever grateful for that,” Gary said.

Gary remembers the challenging time when his late father, Bob, bought the first store: “He kept trying to bring in a top performer from the outside. Someone who could come into the store and find great success, quickly. I watched this happen time and time again. Eventually, it came down to my brother and me. We came to work every day doing what was best for the company. I realized then that there were no quick fixes to make a business really successful.” He continued, “There’s nothing wrong with going outside and getting a really talented person, but even better would be to promote somebody from within your organization. An employee who has been given the tools to grow and the resources to succeed.”

Today, Gary and his brother, Greg, run the dealership that was acquired by their parents in 1990. “My brother and I are deeply entrenched in the automotive industry, we work hard every day to live up to and honor the family legacy of dedication and hard work that my parents passed along to us,” he said.

In 2000, Gary was entrusted to manage Toyota of El Cajon and has been dedicated to upholding the high standards and values that have defined his family’s legacy ever since. The store has received numerous honors, including the coveted Toyota President’s Cabinet Award multiple times. “This distinguished accolade is awarded to only the top 12 Toyota dealerships in the United States and acknowledges overall exceptional performance in sales, customer satisfaction and overall operational excellence,” he said.

The Kaminsky brothers’ K Motors auto group also includes new car dealerships, Honda of El Cajon and Puente Hills Toyota in City of Industry, California, as well as two satellite stores, Toyota Certified Center of Santee and Honda Service Center, both in Santee, California.

In addition to creating a positive culture for both customers and employees, giving back to the community is something that is important to Gary. His company’s philanthropic programs include community outreach and dealership events. One significant collaboration is with the San Diego River Park Foundation (SDRPF), for which the dealership has committed to planting a tree for every vehicle sold.

“This initiative has led to the planting of more than 50,000 trees across our local area,” Gary said. “Notable projects in the Boulder Creek Preserve Habitat, Eagle Peak Ranch and Santee Lakes Recreational Preserve have helped to enhance the natural beauty of our region and contributed to preserving the environment.”

The dealership also supports the future SDRPF River Center at Grant Park, a new 17-acre complex in Mission Valley that will offer hands-on nature learning experiences about the river and its wildlife to children and adults from urban communities. 

Toyota of El Cajon proudly sponsors the local National Night Out event, a free, family-friendly gathering aimed at building strong bonds between the community and law enforcement agencies and the Helen Woodward Animal Center’s signature events, including the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon and Pawmicon, which raise funds for the organization’s educational programs and humane care and adoption of homeless animals.

Gary has also given his employees and residents the opportunity to give back to the community by collaborating with the San Diego Food Bank annual food drive and the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program which fulfills holiday wishes for children. And he has partnered with Toyota and the Kids in Need Foundation for the “Big Summer Giveback” which provides filled backpacks with school supplies for children in low-income communities.

“Through these diverse initiatives, our employees not only cultivate a strong community spirit but also significantly enhance the well-being of our local area, embodying our core values of service and engagement,” he said. 

It’s easy to see how much Gary cares about his employees, his customers and the community. Because of this, Gary was named as the 2025 TIME Dealer of the Year nominee. When asked what that meant to him, he humbly replied, “In San Diego, we have a great group of dealers. Even though we’re all competitors, we have a respectful relationship amongst everyone. For my fellow dealers to nominate me as a peer, it is a big honor. I’m very appreciative of them, and this means so much to me. Thank you for giving me this honor.”

When Gary is not at work, he spends his free time with his wife and two teenage daughters. “Family is everything; children grow up fast, and time with them is fleeting. I want to be there for them, even if it’s watching TV together. I try to spend as much time with my family as I can,” Gary said.