Farmington auto leader Steve Melloy, dealer principal of Advantage Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep Fiat, has been nominated for the 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year Award, one of the highest honors in the automotive industry.
Representing the New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association, Melloy joins just 47 nominees nationwide who exemplify outstanding business leadership and community service.
Farmington auto leader Steve Melloy, dealer principal of Advantage Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep Fiat, has been nominated for the 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year Award, one of the highest honors in the automotive industry.
Representing the New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association, Melloy joins just 47 nominees nationwide who exemplify outstanding business leadership and community service.
The national winner will be announced on February 5, 2026, during the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas.
Celebrating Leadership in New Mexico’s Automotive Industry
The TIME Dealer of the Year Award, sponsored by Ally Financial, honors auto dealers who combine professional excellence with community commitment. For Melloy, that combination defines his career.
He began working at his family’s Albuquerque dealership at just 14 years old, eventually moving through every department before becoming dealer principal at Advantage Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep Fiat in Farmington in 1982.
Under his leadership, the dealership has grown to nearly 90 employees and completed major facility upgrades, all while keeping customer service at the heart of its mission.
“Our philosophy is simple: do the right thing and do it quickly,” Melloy said. “We measure success by how well we serve people.”
Supporting the Farmington Community
Melloy’s passion for giving back is evident across the Four Corners region. Each July, the dealership hosts a community sale & charity event, donating $100 per vehicle sold to local nonprofits, including the Farmington Boys & Girls Club and Childhaven.
In 2025 alone, the event raised $12,300 for Childhaven, contributing to a total of more than $100,000 donated since the program began 13 years ago.
The dealership also runs holiday food and gift drives, delivering meals for local nonprofits and gifts for local teens, an annual effort that brings employees and customers together in service.
Investing in Local Talent and Workforce Development
Advantage also supports local education through San Juan College’s Chrysler College Automotive Program (CAP) program, offering paid internships for aspiring technicians who alternate between classroom learning and real-world dealership experience.
Graduates are guaranteed full-time positions at Advantage, a model that helps keep skilled talent in the community.
“The technician pipeline doesn’t build itself,” Melloy explained. “Paid training, real mentors, and a guaranteed job keep talent here at home.”
A Legacy of Service and Family
Melloy’s career is part of a family legacy spanning more than a century. The Melloy family’s involvement in New Mexico’s automotive industry dates back to 1923, and Steve continues that tradition with the support of his wife, Anita, and their five children.
A U.S. Navy Reserve veteran and University of Albuquerque graduate, Melloy also served as chairman of the New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association, where he advocated for policies that strengthen operations and consumer choice statewide.
Driving Innovation and Growth
Under Melloy’s leadership, Advantage has expanded its reach to younger drivers through digital marketing, Connected TV advertising, and community events like Jeep Jamboree USA, where team members serve as trail guides and instructors. These efforts helped the dealership achieve its highest-grossing month in five years and reinforced its reputation as a trusted local dealership.
“This industry built my life,” Melloy said. “Giving back — to our employees, customers, and community — is the best way I know to honor it.”
About the TIME Dealer of the Year Award
Each year, state and metro dealer associations nominate dealers nationwide for the TIME Dealer of the Year Award. Finalists are chosen by the University of Michigan’s Tauber Institute for Global Operations, with Ally Financial donating to each nominee’s charity of choice.
The program recognizes the country’s most dedicated auto dealers, those who lead with integrity, strengthen their communities, and elevate the industry as a whole.
Congratulations to Steve Melloy
Please join Hutton Broadcasting and the Advantage Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep Fiat team in congratulating Steve Melloy on his nomination for 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year.
His leadership, generosity, and lifelong commitment to the Farmington community continue to set the standard for excellence in the automotive industry.
