How do you become a Chevrolet Dealer of the Year?
“You sell a lot of cars and satisfy a lot of customers,” said Lazaro Veliz, executive general manager of the Chevrolet and Kia dealerships at the Miami Lakes AutoMall.
By a lot of cars, Veliz, 42, meant 2,510 vehicles that last year moved off the lot at the corner of Northwest 57th Avenue and Northwest 167th Street, next to the Palmetto Expressway.
A Miami Laker, Veliz attended Barbara Goleman Senior High School and lives in town with his wife Marisol Veliz and their children, Lauren, 14, and Lazaro, Jr., 18.
He joined at the AutoMall in 2022.
On July 8, he was celebrated for running one of the top Chevrolet dealerships in the country in 2024.
“There’s 3,000 Chevrolet dealers nationally and this award goes to 60, the elite of the elite,” Alex Walsh, Chevrolet’s regional director, told Veliz before a crowd that included some of Veliz’s staff, AutoMall co-owners Faisal Ahmed and Ali Ahmed and AutoMall Partner Fred Senra.
“You earned it with blood, sweat and tears. … Five years ago, this dealership ranked 161st in the nation. Today, you’re 20th out of 3,000,” Walsh said. “Congratulations on your first of what will be many Dealer of the Year awards.”
On behalf of General Motors, Jeff Moore, Zone Manager for Chevrolet, gave an award to AutoMall co-owner Faisal Ahmed in recognition of his 25 years as a Chevrolet dealer.
David Marin, director of policy for Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sen. Rene Garcia gave a proclamation to Veliz as did Annabelle Urrea-Guzman, governmental and community liaison, Office of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and City of Hialeah Mayor Jacqueline Garcia-Roves.
Senra told Veliz, “The best is yet to come. Congratulations.”
Veliz thanked AutoMall employees who are a part of every stage of a car sale and service, as well as the Chevrolet executives and AutoMall owners for their support.
“I cannot thank this team enough for believing in the process and trusting in the process and taking care of each customer who walks into Miami Lakes Chevrolet,” Veliz said.
Also attending the announcement and a luncheon on the dealership’s front porch were Miami Lakes Councilman Juan Carlos Fernandez; Mayor Josh Dieguez;
Fla. Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes and Richard Hernandez, general manager, Chevrolet, Miami Lakes AutoMall.
Other guests from town included Matthew Casamayor, chair of the Economic Development Committee and Carlos Andres, chair of the Public Safety Committee.
In the photo: A celebration for Lazaro Veliz, Executive General Manager of Miami Lakes AutoMall’s Chevrolet dealership. From left on July 8: Miami Lakes Councilman Juan Carlos Fernandez; Faisal Ahmed, co-owner, Miami Lakes AutoMall; Alex Walsh, regional director, Chevrolet; Jeff Moore, zone manager, Chevrolet; David Marin, director of policy for Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sen. Rene Garcia; Annabelle Urrea-Guzman, governmental and community liaison, Office of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava; Lazaro Veliz, executive general manager, Chevrolet, Miami Lakes AutoMall; City of Hialeah Mayor Jacqueline Garcia-Roves; Miami Lakes Mayor Josh Dieguez; Fla. Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes; Ali Ahmed, co-owner, Miami Lakes AutoMall; Richard Hernandez, general manager, Chevrolet, Miami Lakes AutoMall and Fred Senra, partner, Miami Lakes AutoMall. Not shown, Anna Martini, district sales manager, Chevrolet.