Steven Gonzalez, general sales manager at Gloucester Toyota Scion, White Marsh, recently graduated from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Dealer Candidate Academy in McLean.

Gonzalez was one of 26 automobile dealers and managers from throughout the country selected to attend the 11-month training program. He said the program included some weeks spent at McLean, plus on-job training at the dealership.

A NADA release said that its academy is "the premier management education and training center in the U.S. for current and future automobile and truck dealers and managers." Gonzalez said the training program is not just for Toyota Scion dealers, but includes representatives from other major dealers.

NADA said the program is designed to build business performance, leadership skills and customer service in all areas of the dealership.

Gonzalez said the academy gave him new insight into the various components of the dealership and how the local business c...