NJCAR is proud to announce that Judith Schumacher-Tilton, dealer principal of Tilton Automotive Group, was recently selected as NewJersey’s 2012 TIME Magazine Dealer of the Year Award (TMDA) winner. The TMDA recognizes new vehicle dealers in the United States for exceptional performance in their dealerships, combined with distinguished community service. Nominations for the Time Magazine Dealer of the Year Award are submitted by NJCAR members, and a winner is chosen by the NJCAR Awards Nominating Committee, made up of the sitting Chairman and all past winners of this prestigious honor. A nominee must be a member of NADA and NJCAR for at least five years. The individual should spend at least 60% of his or her time involved in dealership affairs. Judith will represent NewJersey in the National competition, which takes place at the NADA Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada in February 2012. Judith’s father, Harold Schumacher, started Schumacher Chevrolet in Little Falls back in 1932. Judith took control of the business following her father’s death in 1998. In 2008, Gearhart Chevrolet was added to form Tilton Automotive Group. Both locations are in the top 25 Chevrolet dealers in the Northeast Region and among the top 250 nationally.Judith has been Vice Chairman of the General Motors Women’s Retail Network since its inception, and also serves on the Northeast Branch of the General Motors Minority Women’s Council. In 2006, she was also elected to represent New Jersey on Chevrolet’s New York Region L.M.A. Board. Thanks to her success, Judith has been named Business Person of the Year in 2005 by the local PBA and Businesswoman of the Year by the John I. Crecco Foundation in 2009. She was also awarded the Spirit of Leadership Award in 2009 by the Women’s Automotive Association International. Both dealerships have won the Genuine Leader Award from GM and Judith was recently awarded GM’s Women’s Retail Award as well. Locally, Judith serves on the Montclair State University Foundation Board, the Boys and Girls Club of Clifton Board, the Passaic County 200 Club Trustee Board, the Lakeland Bank Advisory Board and the Chilton Hospital Foundation Board. She also serves on the Domestic Violence Response Team for the Passaic County Women’s Shelter. Recently, Judith and her family created the Give the Kids Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization that is focused on building a state-of-the-art media center for Camp Hope in Passaic County. The camp provides a summer refuge for inner city children, as well as year-round programs for seniors.Judith attended the University of Vermont and majored in Education. She is married with three children and six grandchildren. NJ CAR wishes Judith great success, as she represents New Jersey in the National competition.