2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25101120D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 577

Offered January 31, 2025

Commending Dave Perno.

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Patrons—Cherry and Coyner; Senator: Sturtevant

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WHEREAS, Dave Perno, president of Loyalty Automotive in Chester and Williamsburg, was named the Time Magazine Dealer of the Year nominee for Virginia in 2025; and

WHEREAS, Dave Perno was introduced to the automobile industry at the age of 14 when he took a job as a porter in his father's Ford dealership in Chicago, and he learned every facet of the trade, from accounting to car repair, while also attending what is today Northwood University and DePaul University; and

WHEREAS, after relocating to Northern Virginia in 1977, Dave Perno worked at several dealerships in the area and rose through the ranks until he became the partner and operator at Priority Toyota and Priority Used Car Supercenter in Richmond in 2003; and

WHEREAS, after assuming full ownership of Priority Automotive in 2014, Dave Perno rebranded the company as Loyalty Automotive and oversaw its expansion into new markets, with the dealership today operating five new car stores in Chester and Williamsburg that represent the car brands Cadillac, Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen, in addition to its used car center and repair centers; and

WHEREAS, Dave Perno has advanced the automobile industry and advocated tirelessly on its behalf as a longtime member of the board of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association, which he served as chair from 2020 to 2021; and

WHEREAS, in response to an industry-wide technician shortage, Dave Perno spearheaded the creation of a scholarship program at Reynolds Community College that provides participants with the opportunity to apprentice at Loyalty Toyota's service department, enabling many to develop the skills they will need to excel in the automotive repair trade; and

WHEREAS, Dave Perno has supported a number of local charitable initiatives and organizations for the benefit of the community, including the Kids in Need Foundation's Supply A Student program, the Colonial Heights Food Pantry, the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society, and the Chesdin Landing Women's Association, while also donating funds to support area high school athletic programs and other noteworthy causes; and

WHEREAS, Dave Perno has given generously of his time to mentor his fellow automobile industry professionals, including his sons Shaun and Ryan, contributing to the growth and success of the industry for years to come; and

WHEREAS, Dave Perno's nomination for the Time Magazine Dealer of the Year, one of the automobile industry's most prestigious honors, is a reflection of his work ethic, his commitment to his industry, and his unwavering dedication to his community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Dave Perno, president of Loyalty Automotive, for being named the 2025 Time Magazine Dealer of the Year nominee for Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Dave Perno as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his legacy of service and best wishes for his future endeavors.