Welcome from our new Chairman Luis Somoano
Dear Ford MDA Members, Supporters, Industry Partners, and Friends,
As I begin my service as Chairman, I want to thank you for the trust you have placed in me and to recognize the solid foundation built by Chairman Anthony Gordon and the Ford MDA Board. Our mission remains clear: to sustain, strengthen, and grow our membership—so we can amplify our collective voice with Ford Motor Company, expand resources for our dealers, and increase engagement across our network.
I am excited to invite you to our 13th Annual Ford MDA Conference, taking place May 13–15, 2026 at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego, California. This year’s gathering is designed to do what Ford MDA does best: bring minority dealers, candidates, spouses, and partners together to learn, connect, and move the business forward.
Across three days, you can expect meaningful time with Ford leadership, practical workshops led by trusted partners, and the peer-to-peer conversations that only happen when we are in the room together. We will also continue our tradition of celebrating excellence—culminating in our Awards Dinner and our “Conversation with Legacy Dealers,” where we honor the pioneers whose perseverance opened doors for future generations.
In keeping with our conference theme — “Honoring Our Legacy, Driving Our Future”— we are launching new storytelling moments that preserve Ford MDA history while inspiring what comes next. Look for tribute videos and special recognitions that spotlight Legacy Award honorees, and for a new member-story compilation that reflects the many paths that brought us to dealer ownership.
If you have not already done so, I encourage you to register early and reserve your room at the conference hotel. Your presence matters—not only for what you will take back to your dealership, but for what our unified participation signals about the strength and momentum of Ford MDA.
Thank you for your continued commitment to this association and to the communities you serve. I look forward to building the next chapter — together.
