Gengras is one of a select group of 48 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 110th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Orlando, Florida, on February 19, 2027.

The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service.

Gengras was chosen to represent the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association in the national competition – one of only 48 auto dealers nominated for the 58th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.

“This nomination is an incredible honor, and I am proud to represent our employees, customers, family and Connecticut’s automotive community,” Gengras said. “Whatever success we have achieved has been built on shared values, strong relationships and a commitment to serving others.”

Learning the business by doing the work

Gengras earned a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, in 1993. After working summers in the parts department and service drive, he joined Clayton Motors, now Gengras Volvo East Hartford, full time in 1994.

He attended the NADA Academy from 1994 to 1995 and was promoted to service manager in July 1995. He became fixed-operations director in 1999 and later oversaw fixed operations for seven dealerships.

Gengras was named chief operating officer of Gengras Motor Cars in 2007 and became president in 2008.

“My career has been guided by the values I learned growing up: honesty and integrity, caring for others, passion and continuous improvement,” Gengras said. “Those principles shape how we serve customers, support employees and make decisions about the future of the company.”

Under Gengras’ leadership, the family-owned organization expanded its franchise portfolio and geographic reach. The company added Chrysler and Jeep, Chevrolet, and Lincoln in 2004, BMW in 2008, Kia in 2012, Honda in 2017, Ford and Volkswagen in 2019, Subaru in 2021, another Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealership in 2022 and a second Honda location in 2025.

Gengras also helped guide the organization through the 2008 financial crisis and other periods of significant industry change.

“Leadership requires accepting uncertainty while remaining committed to the people who depend on the organization,” Gengras said. “Many meaningful accomplishments take longer than we hope, but patience, vulnerability and a willingness to take personal risks are the foundation of strong relationships.”

Ownership as a culture

Gengras Volvo East Hartford was founded as Clayton Motors by his father E. Clayton Gengras Jr. in 1969. Gengras owns the dealership with his brother and business partner, Jonathan Gengras.

The dealership underwent a complete renovation in 2020 and currently employs 43 people. Sixteen employees have worked at the location for more than a decade.

“What I value most about being a third-generation dealer is the opportunity to build something meaningful alongside my father and brother,” Gengras said. “Working together has taught us the importance of trust, commitment and a shared purpose that extends well beyond selling and servicing vehicles.”

The dealership’s customer-satisfaction scores and reputation consistently place it within the top 10% of Volvo’s dealer network. It also maintains employee-retention results that Gengras describes as class-leading.

Gengras Volvo East Hartford provides employees with a health-advocacy program designed to help them navigate health care and make sustainable changes that support their well-being. Quarterly ownership town halls allow company leaders to share information and receive feedback directly from employees.

“Our employees need to know that their voices matter,” Gengras said. “Open communication helps us understand what is working, where we can improve and how we can create an environment where people feel supported at work and at home.”

Gengras Motor Cars allocates approximately $30,000 annually for employees to donate to nonprofit organizations and community causes that are personally meaningful to them.

“Community involvement is an extension of our core value of caring for others,” Gengras said. “By placing charitable resources in the hands of our employees, we empower them to respond to needs they see firsthand in the communities where they live and work.”

The company also operates a leadership-development program for approximately 10 to 12 employees each year. Participants complete a structured curriculum focused on leadership, self awareness, accountability, communication and professional growth.

At Gengras Volvo East Hartford, five employees received significant promotions during the past year, including advancement into general manager, general sales manager, sales manager and finance manager positions.

“Developing leaders from within strengthens our culture and creates meaningful career paths,” Gengras said. “When employees receive coaching, mentorship and opportunities to take on greater responsibility, both the individual and the organization become stronger.”

In 2025, Gengras Volvo East Hartford sold 407 new vehicles and 555 used vehicles. Through July 2026, the dealership sold 201 new vehicles and 363 used vehicles. It received the Volvo President’s Club Award in 2021.

A record of service to Connecticut dealers

Gengras has served on the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association’s board since 2004 and has held leadership roles including vice chair and chair. He has served as chairman of the CARA Executive Board since 2024.

In that role, Gengras has advocated at the Connecticut State Capitol on behalf of franchised newcar dealers and worked to educate policymakers about the industry’s contributions to consumers, communities and the state economy.

“Franchised dealers invest in local employees, facilities and community organizations while providing customers with service and accountability throughout vehicle ownership,” Gengras said. “It is important that policymakers understand what is at stake when considering legislation that could affect that system.”

Gengras has also served on the Volvo Retail Advisory Board, including four years as chair, and previously served on the Connecticut Business and Industry Association’s board. He currently serves on the Greater Hartford Automobile Dealers Association Foundation Board.

His civic leadership includes service to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where he chaired the board from 2013 to 2019 and now serves as director emeritus.

Giving back

Over the past seven years, Gengras and his family’s company and foundation have contributed more than $2 million to organizations supporting health care, special-needs services, education, the arts and underserved populations throughout Connecticut.

“Our family has always believed that a dealership is more than a place of business; it is part of the fabric of its community,” Gengras said. “Our customers are our neighbors, our employees raise their families here and our success is directly connected to the strength and well-being of the people around us.”

Gengras has served as a lead donor for a playground at the Gengras Center at the University of Saint Joseph, which serves students with special needs from across Connecticut.

Additional beneficiaries include the Institute of Living at Hartford Hospital, Boys & Girls Clubs, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Renbrook School and House of Bread, which serves people experiencing hunger, homelessness and economic hardship.

“The legacy I value most is the opportunity to support our employees, serve customers with integrity and give back in ways that create lasting change,” Gengras said. “That impact is what has made my automotive career especially rewarding.”

Chip and his wife, Ashley, have three children: Julia, Emmy and Clayton.

what comes next

A panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan will select one finalist from each of the four NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year. Three finalists will receive $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity, donated by Ally.