General Motors Minority Dealers Association (GMMDA) Director Named 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year

GMMDA directo, Dalip Singh Sethi (Singh), was recently named 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year by La Sierra University School of Business and Management (SBM) and Students In Free Enterprise in recognition of his concern for his community and commitment to helping people at risk and in need.

SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN (PRWEB) July 15, 2003 -- General Motors Minority Dealers Association (GMMDA) director, Dalip Singh Sethi (Singh), was recently named 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year by La Sierra University School of Business and Management (SBM) and Students In Free Enterprise in recognition of his concern for his community and commitment to helping people at risk and in need. Dr. John Thomas, Dean of La Sierras school of business, presented Singh with the award on June 4th during an annual awards ceremony. Singh is President of Singh Chevrolet in Riverside, California.

La Sierra Universitys School of Business and Management is delighted by the opportunity to honor Dalip Singh Sethi as its 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year," said John Thomas, PhD. The motto of La Sierras business school is 'create value, make a difference and we are proud to celebrate the achievements of a community business leader who has so clearly evidenced a commitment to changing the lives of people in our community."

Dalip Singh Sethi earned a bachelors degree in his native India and received a masters degree in operations management in 1974 from Northrop University in Inglewood, California. He worked as a sales representative and later, a sales manager at Sangara Mercedes Benz and Buick before acquiring Singh Pontiac Buick Cadillac GMC in Delano, California in 1980. In 1997, Singh became the dealer principal of Singh Chevrolet, a much larger dealership in Riverside, California.

Singh has earned a reputation for excellence in the automotive industry and generosity in his community. General Motors has honored him with the Cadillac Master Dealer Award, Pontiac Master Dealer Award, and GMC 5 Star Award for his dealership success. His Delano dealership was named Business of the Year" by California Proteus, an organization that provides employment for disabled people. Singh was also nominated for the Delano Chamber of Commerces Man of the Year Award.

In addition to operating his dealership, Singh serves on the GMMDA Board of Directors and is an active participant in the GMMDA Mentor Program. He serves his local community as a director of the Riverside Young Mens Christian Association and member of the Indo-American Business Chamber of the Inland Empire, Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Riverside.

Singh has contributed to his community in countless other ways. In 2001, he initiated a perfect attendance reward program for high school students in an effort to decrease crime and increase literacy and educational achievement. The program provides the student with the best attendance record at each participating school with a car or computer with printer from Singh Chevrolet. Singh gave away 10 cars each for 2002 and 2003. Singh also donated Palm pilots for the teachers.

The GMMDA is a non-profit organization that represents the interest of several hundred minority owned General Motors dealerships across the country. GMMDA members are from the African-American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian ethnic groups. The mission of the GMMDA is to promote, protect and encourage the viability and profitability of all existing General Motors dealers, and to encourage, through cooperative efforts with General Motors, the installation of new minority dealers in viable and profitable opportunities.

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