Eric Nielsen Assumes NJ CAR Chairmanship

Eric Nielsen, dealer principal of Dover Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Inc. in Rockaway, New Jersey, assumed the NJ CAR Chairmanship, effective November 1, 2013. He succeeds Mark Pellegrino and is the first Chairman to serve a second term since Howard J. Wigder in 1973 and 1974. Eric is a 30-year veteran of the retail automotive industry in New Jersey and first joined the NJCAR Executive Committee in 2002 as Regional Vice President–Northern Region II. Eric started washing cars at dealerships while still in high school. He eventually gained experience in the Sales, Service and Parts Departments and this real-world education prepared him for the opening of his first dealership, a Chrysler Plymouth franchise, in 1984. That dealership, located in Rockaway, eventually added the Dodge and Jeep franchises.Eric is also dealer principal of Franklin Sussex Auto Mall, Inc., Franklin Sussex Hyundai and Nielsen Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. He has also served as President of the Tri-State Chrysler Jeep Advertising Association and is the Northeast Business Center representative to the Chrysler Dealer Counsel Executive Committee. Eric lives in Sparta, New Jersey.Other Senior Officers for the 2013-2014 association year are: Vice Chairman John Manganelli (Union GMC Buick, Inc., Union), Secretary Lawrence W. Kull (Burns Kull Auto Group, Marlton) and Treasurer Richard A. DeSilva, Jr. (Liberty Subaru, Emerson).NJ CAR wishes Eric and the rest of the Executive Leadership the best of luck as they take the reins of NJ CAR for the coming year.