TAA is proud to congratulate Billy Walker, president of Walker Chevrolet in Franklin, on being named Tennessee’s nominee for the 2027 TIME Dealer of the Year award. Billy is a respected leader in Tennessee’s automotive industry, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition!
Billy is one of a select group of 48 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 110th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Orlando, Florida, on February 19, 2027.
Billy began learning the automotive business at age 14 by working in various roles at his father’s dealerships. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro in 1980 and completed the GM School of Merchandising and Management in Detroit that same year. After graduating, Billy began working full time at Walker Chevrolet. His experience in numerous dealership positions allowed him to learn the business from the ground up before becoming dealer principal in 1995.
Billy has been actively involved in TAA, serving on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and as a regional vice chairman. In those roles, he has advocated before local and state officials on issues affecting automobile dealers and their customers. In 2026, Billy received the Robert V. Weaver Award, TAA’s highest honor recognizing dealer leadership and community involvement.
Beyond the dealership, Billy has been a member of the Franklin Rotary since 1990 and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to his community. Through Walker Chevrolet, he supports Williamson County youth sports, local events and programs benefiting residents throughout the area.
The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service.
To read the full press release from TIME, click here.