A Message from VADA President and CEO Don Hall
November 2025
After 11 months of hard-charging work and busyness of our family lives, Thanksgiving is one of those times of the year where you can truly stop, take a breath, eat a lot — and think about those things you’re truly grateful for.
I want each of you to take a moment to show your gratitude for those who work in your dealerships at all levels and the contribution that they make to the team. To recognize that your customers have many choices today, and to make sure they understand we are well aware of this fact — and that we appreciate they choose to frequent our businesses. And you wouldn’t be there supporting your employees and customers if it wasn't for your families who support your long hours (most of the time, anyway).
A simple note or Thanksgiving greeting goes a long way in reinforcing that appreciation.
This spirit of gratitude is especially relevant as Virginia turns the page on a major election.
This month, VIrginia voters delivered decisive results: Abigail Spanberger will be our next Governor, Ghazala Hashmi the next Lieutenant Governor, and Jay Jones the next Attorney General. All 100 House of Delegates seats were also on the ballot, resulting in a strong Democratic majority.
All elections have consequences, and when the people speak, that’s the end of it. We respect the will of the voters, and our job now is to work constructively with those elected. I encourage you to check out our latest VADA Live podcast, which features two VADA partners, Greg Habeeb of Gentry Locke and Tripp Perrin of Lindl Corp., who share their insights on what this election means for Virginia dealers and businesses.
We have a solid relationship with Governor-elect Spanberger and look forward to continuing it. We also know Lieutenant Governor-elect Hashmi from her Senate work on transportation issues. And I want to note my long-standing relationship with Attorney General-elect Jay Jones, whom I believe will be fair to both consumers and the businesses that serve them.
VADA Marine veterans Don Hall (center) Michael Allen (right), and Bruce McGeorge (beside Michael) hosted fellow vets from the automotive and local business community at the VADA headquarters to celebrate the U.S. Marine Corp.'s 250th birthday on November 10.
We will also continue our strong partnership with Speaker Don Scott as we navigate franchise protections, consumer issues, and transportation policy in the coming session.
The political landscape has shifted, but our mission remains the same: to protect Virginia’s dealers and the consumers who rely on them.
As you gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on our good fortune and to express that gratitude to the people who make your work meaningful.
Members of the VADA Lobbying team, Gentry Locke's Greg Habeeb and Lindl Government Affairs' Tripp Perrin, joined Dan Carrigan on VADA Live to talk the 2025 Election and what that means for the 2026 General Assembly session and beyond.
