Actor/producer Mark Wahlberg is one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world. In 2018 he partnered with Jay Feldman of Feldman Automotive Group to open Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet, the first of four stores they now own in Columbus, Ohio. Wahlberg’s franchises include Chevrolet and Buick-GMC. A former singer and model, Wahlberg also has interests in an investment group, a chain of fitness centers and Wahlburgers restaurants.

Jay Feldman is chairman and CEO of Michigan-based Feldman Automotive Group, which employs more than 1,000 people and includes multiple franchises, including Chevrolet, Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram, Hyundai, Kia and Genesis. A graduate of Northwood University, Feldman worked at his father’s Chevrolet dealership and opened his first store at 25. In 2018 Feldman partnered with actor/producer Mark Wahlberg to open Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet in Columbus, Ohio. They now own two Chevrolet stores, a Buick-GMC store and an RV dealership in the Columbus area. 

About the Speaker

Jim Farley is president and chief executive officer of Ford Motor Co. and a member of the company’s board of directors. As CEO, Farley is focused on accelerating Ford’s transformation through operational excellence that benefits customers and delivers sustainable profit growth. In his previous role as COO, Farley worked to strengthen Ford’s automotive operations, overseeing all of Ford’s global markets and automotive operations including Product Development, Purchasing, Enterprise Product Line Management, Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, Marketing, Sales and Service, and Quality and New Model Launch. Since joining Ford in 2007, Farley has held multiple top-level positions, overseeing various aspects of operations around the world. 

About the Speaker

Bob Woodward is an associate editor of The Washington Post, where he has worked since 1971. He has shared in two Pulitzer Prizes, in 1973 for coverage of the Watergate scandal (with Carl Bernstein) and in 2003 as lead reporter for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Robert Gates, former director of the CIA and Secretary of Defense, said of Woodward, “He has an extraordinary ability to get otherwise responsible adults to spill [their] guts to him...his ability to get people to talk about stuff they shouldn’t be talking about is just extraordinary and may be unique.” 

About the Speaker

Rhett Ricart is CEO and owner of Ricart Automotive Group, in Columbus, Ohio. Ricart Ford was founded in June 1953, by his father, Paul Ricart Sr. It was his father's philosophy that in order to lead, you have to work alongside the employees first so he started out washing cars and worked in every aspect of the business.

In 1982, Rhett and his brother, Fred, assumed ownership of the dealership. Today, they employ more than 500 and annually sell approximately 14,000 new and used vehicles across six new product lines. Ricart served as 2020 chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association and represents Ohio's franchised new-car dealers on the board of directors.

About the Speaker

Paul Walser is CEO of Walser Automotive Group in Bloomington, Minn. He started in the automotive business in 1974 selling new cars at Town's Edge Ford. Walser served as 2020 vice chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association and represents Minnesota's franchised new-car dealers on the board of directors.

Walser also is a board member of the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association Charitable Foundation, former president of the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association, former president of the Greater Metro Automobile Dealers Association of Minnesota and serves as CEO of the Walser Foundation, which provides cash grants to organizations that strengthen communities through support of families, women and children.

About the Speaker

Mike Stanton is president and CEO of NADA as of Jan. 1, 2021. Previously, he served as NADA executive vice president and chief operating officer, overseeing strategy and operations across all areas of the association and developing new business opportunities. Stanton was also previously vice president and COO of the NADA Used Car Guide, which was sold to J.D. Power in 2015. Before taking over the Guide, Stanton was NADA’s executive director of Industry Affairs.