Morty Zetlin inducted into Arlington Business Hall of Fame

Morty Zetlin inducted into Arlington Business Hall of Fame

Morton J. Zetlin, longtime dealer principal atMercedes-Benz of Arlington, was inducted into the Arlington Business Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Arlington Chamber of Commerce last week.

A longstanding leader of Arlington™s vibrant business scene, as he has been in Metropolitan Washington™s automobile business, Morty Zetlin and two others joined ten former Hall of Fame inductees over the years to be so honored by the Arlington Chamber.

Indeed, he began his car business career in the 1950s at American Service Center, the forerunner of M-B of Arlington, selling Studebakers and used cars for the dealer, his father-in-law, Saul Brooks. In those early years, Zetlin was also attending classes at the prestigious Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

When the dealership was franchised to sell Mercedes- Benz in 1957, Zetlin opted for a career in the automobile business as opposed to diplomacy, sticking with Mercedes-Benz and the store where he became a general partner and dealer principal in the 1970s.

Subsequently, he became active in WANADA™s leadership, serving as a founding member of the Automotive Consumer Action Program (AUTOCAP), where, among other things, he and other dispute resolution panelists were featured in a Parade Magazine article in the late 1970s. In the mid-1980s, Zetlin chaired WANADA™s Board and The Washington Auto Show; then later became NADA director for Metropolitan Washington.

As referenced above, Zetlin is now one of 13 Arlingtonians to be inducted into the Chamber’s Business Hall of Fame, an honor he can add to being named a TIME Magazine Dealer of the Year, which, like this most recent recognition, salutes not only business success, but leadership in industry and community. Others so honored by the Arlington Chamber were Joseph Wholey and the late Kenneth Haggerty, DDS, both of whom were recognized for distinguished service on the Arlington County Board of Supervisors.

WANADA wishes Morty Zetlin all the best on the well-deserved recognition!