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.

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 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 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.

Stan Jackson

Consultant, Jackson Consulting, Layton, Utah

Jackson has over 40 years of experience in the ag equipment industry. He worked in dealer development and financial management for John Deere before retiring. After retirement he started Jackson Consulting and has served on four consolidated dealership group boards of directors as well as financial advisor to several dealerships and other businesses outside the industry for the past 12 years.

Charles R. Glass

President, Glass Management Group, Arlington, Texas

With more than 4 decades in the industry, Glass produces an annual tractor and combine forecast and provides technical assistance to various investment groups. A former director of Farm Equipment Manufacturers Assn., he is also a frequent presenter and author of several white papers on the future of farm equipment distribution. He was a long-time chairman of FEMA’s Dealer Relations Committee.