News Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Auto Show® (WAS), the automotive industry’s annual public policy show and the largest public show held in Washington, D.C., is pleased to announce that Geoff Pohanka, President and CEO of Pohanka Automotive Group, a long established company of automotive dealerships located throughout the greater Washington region, and member of the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA), will chair the 2016 Washington Auto Show.

“Not only is Geoff Pohanka a successful business executive who is passionate about the future of the automotive industry and the Washington D.C. community, he is also an industry leader with the experience and vision to lead the Washington Auto Show into 2016 and beyond,” said John O’Donnell, CEO of WANADA.

As board chairman of WANADA in 1998, Pohanka put Washington on course to become a world premier auto show when he encouraged WANADA leaders to systematically interact with OEM exhibitors at their headquarter locations and at the tier-one industry auto shows in the U.S. and Europe.

“Washington is the only auto show venue in the world with the U.S. Congress down the street, which for better or worse, is the partner of the OEMs in automotive design,” Pohanka said. “Leveraging itself into the “public policy show” on the auto show circuit was as logical as it was natural for Washington, and that affords a thoroughly unique annual opportunity for OEM exhibitors everywhere,” he said.

Committed to public service, Pohanka has returned to the Board of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) representing Metropolitan Washington dealers.  He previously served on the NADA Board for two terms from 2002-2008.

He is a recipient of the American International Automobile Dealers (AIADA) All-Star Dealer Award, the Time Magazine dealer of the year award, and the Community Foundation of Prince Georges County Vision Award. He currently serves on the board of the Prince Georges County Business Roundtable, as a Trustee of Saint James School in Hagerstown Maryland, Honorary Commander of Joint Base Andrews in Clinton MD and as a United States Air Force Air Mobility Command Civic Leader.

SHOW DATES:

Jan. 20:  Public Policy Preview Day on Capitol Hill.

Jan. 21:  Public Policy Preview Day at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center - daylong schedule of events for government, industry and media capped off by a Sneak Peek Reception

Jan. 22-Jan. 31: Consumer Days - Ten-day show at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

About WANADA and the Washington Auto Show

The 2016 staging of the Washington Auto Show in Washington, DC will offer a showcase of more than 700 vehicles from over 42 domestic and import auto manufacturers and a special exhibit of the world's most luxurious rides. In addition, the Washington Auto Show has been accredited by OICA, the industry credentialing organization for the top auto shows in the world, as one of the five top-tier auto shows in America. The 2016 Washington Auto Show's Public Policy Preview Days will take place Wednesday, Jan. 20 on Capitol Hill and Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center followed by the 10-day consumer show from Friday, Jan. 22 through Sunday, Jan. 31.

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For more info:

Barbara Pomerance
bp@pomeranceassociates.com
 800-697-7574