Five Years In, NPDA Says Dealer Alignment Matters More Than Ever

Falls Church, VA | May 29, 2026 — Five years after its founding, the National Powersports Dealer Association (NPDA) is marking a significant milestone in its evolution from a small group of eight founding dealers into a national network of dealers and industry partners united by a shared commitment to strengthening the future of powersports retail.

Founding Board Members

Back Row:Robert Kay, Bob Althoff, Bob Kee, Mark Peterson

Front Row:Gail Worth, George Gatto, Dia Matteson, Kim Harrison

What began as a conversation among eight dealers has become a national association representing hundreds of dealerships and supported by dozens of industry partners. That growth reflects not only the need for a unified dealer voice, but also the confidence that dealers and industry stakeholders have placed in NPDA's mission to advance dealer profitability, competitiveness, and professional excellence.

The association's growth has been matched by remarkable continuity of leadership. Five of the NPDA's original founding dealers remain actively involved in guiding the organization today, helping transform a startup association into a respected national voice for dealer advocacy, education, and industry collaboration. While founding members Robert Kay, Dia Matteson and Bob Althoff have since stepped away from active service, their contributions helped establish the foundation, the leadership and vision established by the NPDA's founding board continue to shape the association's direction and priorities.

The NPDA's first five years coincided with one of the most transformative periods in modern powersports retail. Dealers navigated supply-chain disruptions, inventory fluctuations, inflationary pressures, rising floor plan costs, staffing challenges, accelerating digital retail expectations, evolving manufacturer relationships, and increased regulatory scrutiny. As those challenges reshaped the retail landscape, the need for dealer communication, business education, and industry alignment became increasingly apparent.

Originally founded to provide dealers with stronger representation and greater access to business resources, the NPDA has spent the past five years building the infrastructure, relationships, and educational programs needed to support dealerships through a rapidly changing business environment.

"Five years ago, the NPDA was founded on the belief that powersports dealers needed a stronger voice and stronger connections across the industry," said NPDA Chairman Jayson Davis. "Today, dealers are facing increasing pressure from every direction—operationally, financially, and regulatory. The need for communication, education, and dealer alignment has never been more important."

Over the past five years, the NPDA has increasingly positioned itself as a leading advocate for dealership profitability, transparency, and fair business practices throughout the powersports industry. Through a series of position papers, white papers, dealer resources, webinars, industry discussions, and advocacy initiatives, the NPDA has consistently championed policies designed to strengthen dealer competitiveness, improve business operations, and foster healthier long-term relationships across the industry.

These efforts have included initiatives such as It's Time to Sunset Surcharges, which challenged practices that increase costs and erode consumer trust; Floor Plan Expense Reductions, focused on helping dealers address one of their most significant operating expenses; Realigning Focus: Prioritizing Common Goals in the Powersports Industry, which encouraged greater collaboration among manufacturers, dealers, and industry stakeholders; On the Use of Long-Term Contracts and Evergreen Clauses in Vendor Agreements, which highlighted contractual provisions that can place dealerships at a disadvantage; and Pricing Transparency Under FTC Scrutiny of Advertising Compliance, which helped dealers understand and prepare for evolving federal regulatory requirements.

Together, these initiatives addressed issues affecting dealership profitability, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, customer trust, and long-term business sustainability. In each case, the NPDA sought to elevate dealer voices, encourage constructive industry dialogue, and advocate for practical solutions that support a stronger retail powersports marketplace.

One of the NPDA's most visible accomplishments has been DealerConnect, the association's annual dealer conference focused on networking, business education, and peer-to-peer collaboration. Attendance and partner participation have continued to grow, reflecting both the demand for dealer-focused professional development and the value dealers place on learning from one another's experiences.

DealerConnect has become a cornerstone of the NPDA's mission to strengthen relationships, share knowledge, and foster meaningful industry engagement.

"Dealers are having more serious conversations today about profitability, staffing, operational efficiency, regulation, and the long-term future of their businesses," Davis said. "The business environment is changing quickly, and there is real value in dealers learning from each other and staying connected to larger industry conversations."

As the NPDA looks ahead, the organization remains focused on expanding dealer education, strengthening industry relationships, supporting dealer profitability, and creating new opportunities for collaboration throughout the powersports community.

"The first five years were about building the foundation," Davis said. "Now, the focus is on continuing to strengthen dealer relationships, expand education, and create opportunities for dealers to come together around the real challenges and opportunities affecting this industry."