Tamare C. Darvish

Washington, DC--November 27--Marking a first in its 90-year history, the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA), has elected a woman chairman--Tamara C. Darvish, vice president of DARCARS Automotive Group.

Darvish will be inducted as chair of the venerable regional trade association that represents more than 225 member dealers on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at WANADA's annual meeting and luncheon at the McLean Hilton. In a special program "celebrating the 90th year". sponsored by AutoTrader.com, the event will feature one of Washington's favorite couples – political pundits James Carville and Mary Matalin.

"For her considerable work on the WANADA Board, chairing key fundraising events along with her success in one of Washington's premier automotive groups, Tamara Darvish is a natural leader for WANADA. I am proud to pass the baton," said current chairman John J. Fitzgerald, Jr. of Fitzgerald Auto Malls.

As vice president of DARCARS, Darvish oversees daily operations in all of the company's divisions and develops and maintains relationships with its many vendors.

In 1984, she began working at DARCARS, a company built by her father, John R. Darvish. She took on a range of roles there, from body shop assistant to financial services and sales manager. By working from the ground floor up, I learned about the many complexities and challenges that make up this industry and what it takes to build a strong, efficient and confident company team," Darvish said.

Her managerial prowess and natural leadership skills have been recognized in myriad ways. She was the regional winner representing WANADA, and one of five national winners of TIME Magazine's Quality Dealer of the Year Award in 2005. Darvish is a graduate of Leadership Greater Washington, class president of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Dealer Candidate Academy and was elected by area Toyota dealers to the boards of the Toyota Dealer Advertising Association and the Toyota Dealership Council.

In 1995, Darvish was elected to the Board of Directors of WANADA and, in 2003, to its executive committee. In these roles, Darvish broadened the reach of her managerial talent. "My goal was to encourage dealers to have a bigger impact by combining our talents and strengths in support of major civic and charitable events," she said. Chief among them are two events Darvish has chaired: The Washington Auto Show Gala, the fund-raising gala of The Washington Auto Show, which raises more than $600,000 for local children's and health charities, and the Bobby Mitchell/TOYOTA Hall of Fame Golf Classic, which raises more than $700,000 annually for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of the National Capital Area.

Of her plans as WANADA's incoming chair, Darvish said, "I am grateful for the opportunity to share a spirit of service, generosity and excellence with our community of dealers."

WANADA represents dealers in the District of Columbia, Suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia.