The challenging task of choosing Farm Equipment’s annual Dealership of the Year falls on four highly experienced and qualified individuals who comprise the Dealership of the Year independent judging panel. Not only do these experts take on the responsibility of choosing the top dealers each year, they also advise and give guidance to Farm Equipment’s editors on criteria for the program.

Mark Foster

Retired Farm Equipment Dealer, Attica, Ind.

Mark Foster spent close to 40 years in the farm equipment industry. First working for a major manufacturer then transitioning into becoming a partner in a multiple store operation.  He was active in a variety of roles in the dealership organization including store manager, sales manager and regional manager. Foster served on the Board of Directors of the Mid-America Equipment Retailers Assn. for several years and became president of the organization in 2004. He was also a former member of the Board of Directors of the North American Equipment Dealers Assn. (now the Equipment Dealers Assn.) and served a term as vice president. He is a former member of the Farm Equipment editorial advisory board.

Gord Thompson

Retired Dealer & Consultant & Trainer, Western Equipment Dealers Assn. Dealer Institute, Prince Albert, Sask.

Gord Thompson joined his family’s Case IH dealership, Moker & Thompson Implements, in Prince Albert, Sask., in 1986. He was dealer principal and general manager of the two store dealership in Saskatchewan until 2014. At that time he sold it to Redhead Equipment, and in 2015 retired from Redhead. As a dealer he served on the board and as president of the Canada West Dealers Assn., now part of the Western Equipment Dealers Assn. (WEDA). In 2016 he joined WEDA’s Dealer Institute as a management consultant. He specializes in dealership financial management and training dealer staff on understanding and utilizing financial information.

Mike Williams

Retired Executive with the Equipment Dealers Assn., St. Louis, Mo.

Mike Williams retired from the Equipment Dealers Assn. (EDA) in 2017 where he had served in several capacities over his 15-year career. Over his tenure at EDA, he served as acting CEO, chief financial officer, vice president of government relations and as director of the Outdoor Power Equipment Department. He remains a “farm boy” at heart and frequently visits the family farm in Central Illinois where he grew up.