“Laura is an experienced advocate for new car and truck dealers and a demonstrated organizational leader capable of building on NJ CAR’s reputation as one of New Jersey’s most active and respected business advocacy organizations,” according to NJ CAR Board Chairman, Eric Nielsen. “We are thrilled that we were able to recruit her to come run NJ CAR.”

In her current role as President of the American Truck Dealers (ATD), Ms. Perrotta leads a division of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) that represents more than 3,200 franchised medium- and heavy-duty truck dealers nationwide holding nearly 5,600 separate franchises, domestic and import. ATD membership overlaps NJ CAR’s in the State of New Jersey and the organization shares the Coalition’s mission providing programs and services to advance the interests of its members.

“Laura Perrotta has done an outstanding job for medium and heavy-duty dealers across the country, and she will be a tremendous asset to the dealers in New Jersey as President of NJ CAR,” according to Mike Stanton, President of the NADA. “We look forward to working with Laura in her new role.”

“I am very honored to have the opportunity to lead NJ CAR. I have had the pleasure of working with many outstanding New Jersey dealers over the years and have the utmost respect for NJ CAR, its fierce advocacy and innovative member service programs. I am extremely excited to step into this very important role and look forward to taking the helm,” stated Laura Perrotta.

Prior to joining ATD, Ms. Perrotta served as President and CEO of the American Highway Users Alliance, a nonprofit 501 (c)(6) advocacy organization serving as the united voice of the transportation community promoting safe, uncongested highways and enhanced freedom of mobility. She has worked in the association world for the past twenty-one years and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE). Prior to running the Highway Users, Laura was the Senior Director of Legislative Affairs for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), where she handled financial services, transportation, truck, and safety issues.

“I am thrilled that the NJ CAR Executive Search Committee was able to recruit such a well-qualified candidate to take over for me as I step down as President of NJ CAR,” said Jim Appleton, who has served in the role since 1997. “I’ve known Laura for more than a decade and her demonstrated advocacy and organizational management skills make her a phenomenal choice to lead NJ CAR.”

Ms. Perrotta is originally from Elmira, NY and received her B.A. in Political Science from Salisbury State University in Maryland. Her career in DC began in 2001, when she relocated to work on Capitol Hill for Congressman Amo Houghton of New York. Ms. Perrotta has family in New Jersey and is looking forward to relocating to the Trenton area this fall.

About The New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers

The New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR), founded in 1918, is a non-profit organization serving approximately 520 neighborhood new car dealerships throughout New Jersey. Auto retailing is a $43 billion per year industry in the Garden State, employing more than 37,000 men and women in good paying local jobs, selling and servicing new and used cars and trucks. NJ CAR’s mission is to promote the principals of commercial honor and integrity in the sale and service of motor vehicles and to keep its members informed about regulatory compliance matters and industry best practices, as well as to advocate for government policies that benefit auto retailers and consumers.