Dave Kring grew up in Petoskey and has been working his way up in the industry since his chance meeting with Budd Tallberg owner of Tallberg Chevrolet in Petoskey. The Central Michigan University graduate came to the dealership to buy a car and walked out with a job.

Kring began working at Tallberg’s as a bookkeeper and by 1987, purchased the dealership. In 2005, Kring opened a new facility on U.S. 31 North and renamed it Dave Kring Chevrolet-Cadillac.

The dealership has won several automotive rewards, including the Oldsmobile Elite Dealer (2003), Chevrolet Genuine Leader (1997-2001) and GM Mark of Excellence (2004-06). In addition, Kring received the Petoskey Area Chamber of Commerce Mission Award in 2005 for his “undying spirit promoting Petoskey and its mission programs”.

In December of 2008, Dave Kring was nominated for one of the most prestigious awards in his industry - TIME Magazine Dealer of the Year. The National Automobile Dealers selected Kring as one of 49 finalists out of 19,500 dealers nationwide for this 40th annual award. The program calls attention to new-car dealers exhibiting exceptional performance in their dealerships, combined with distinguished community service.

On a larger measure of who Dave is, when the TIME announcement was made “I don’t think it should be dealer of the year, it should be dealership of the year- it’s all of our people that work here who put it together, it’s not just me.”

While Dave Kring wasn’t named The Dealer of the Year, being among the nations leaders is an achievement backed by pride of those who Kring and his team have served locally with top-notch customer and community service.