by Someone previously informed me that the letters CIADA stand for “Conversation Inspiring Automobiles and Dealer Adventures.” It might not be official, but if you go to any member event or dealership mixer from Murphy to Manteo, you’ll see how true that joke is. The Ciada, the Carolinas Independent Automobile Dealers Association, is more than just a name, a logo, or a plaque on the wall. It’s where dealers from all over the world park their egos, tell the craziest sales stories, and throw their hats in the ring—part friendly rivalry, half family reunion.
Let’s put the brakes on if you believe the independent auto game is all about shiny chrome and airbrushed muscle vehicles. There are a lot of papers. There are license plates all over the office. It’s making agreements during hurricanes and explaining GAP insurance for the hundredth time. It’s also hanging around with people who remember when Dodge built Neons.
This is the not-so-secret sauce: Ciada harnesses the crazy independent auto spirit and shapes it. They deal with confusing state forms, figure out DMV changes that sound like they were created by a group, and throw instructive parties where you’ll meet both new people and old pros. Think of an afternoon that includes a town hall meeting, a TED Talk, and a swap meet, with barbecue if you’re lucky.
A short narrative, because you wouldn’t believe it otherwise. A dealer I know, let’s call him Earl, came to a summer networking night. He was sweating through his tie and acting like a fly at a frog convention. He asked some old-timers, “Did I pay too much for that Mustang?” He left with a smile on his face after hearing three auction war stories, getting an advice on how to fix titles, and spending fifteen minutes there. What was Earl’s secret weapon from then on? Being there. It functions like jumper cables do.
Policies change quickly down here, like in a game of telephone. Have you ever read a government report before you had your first cup of coffee? Now picture doing that while ignoring two antiquated dot-matrix printers that are making noise. Ciada handles the changes and splits them down. New rule for compliance? There is a webinar with a question-and-answer section. DMV modifies its hours? Before you even unlock your desk, you’ll get an alert. The staff acts as translators, cheerleaders, and sometimes even therapists.
People talk about the yearly conference all the time. There were two days of breakout sessions, chatting in the hallways, and making deals over cold coffee. The panelists have the war stories, and the vendor booths have the free stuff. Everyone gets a pen or a stress ball before they leave. It’s a meeting that operates on caffeine, honesty, and the constant hope that this year’s regulatory update won’t be as confusing as last year’s.
There is no one like any other member here. You can discover shops with third-generation mechanics and up-and-coming mechanics running their businesses from their iPhones while their kids slumber in the back office. What do they all have in common? Tenacity.
Ciada members are like mechanics who won’t give up on a tough lug nut. They work together, share their tips, and keep the Carolina roadways buzzing with new offers and second chances. The lanes are always filled, the stories get better, and there’s always another cup of coffee brewing. It might not be glamorous, but it is. That’s how you live the Ciada life. And honestly, who would want it any other way?
Carolinas Independent Automobile Dealers Association
5643 Harrisburg Industrial Park Dr, Harrisburg, NC 28075, United States
+1 704-455-2117
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