New leader named for Detroit auto show, dealers association
Rod Alberts will transition out of his longtime role as executive director of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association after the 2025 Detroit auto show and hand the keys of the venerable 117-year-old organization to Sam Klemet, just hired as co-executive director, DADA announced Thursday.
Alberts, one of the longest serving association leaders in the region, will work alongside Klemet, who served as president/CEO of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. Together, with the rest of the DADA leadership team, they’ll gear up for the 2025 North American International Auto Show as it moves back to January after taking place in the fall the past few years.
“We are grateful for Rod’s continued leadership in assisting with this transition and for his significant contributions over three decades,” said DADA President Todd Szott. “We are confident in our future direction with his support and collaboration with Sam.”
Alberts, 67, who has led DADA 34 years, had been considering the future of the show and his career and decided it was time for a change. He met Klemet several months ago and knew he’d be a great fit to lead the organization, which represents over 275 dealers in metro Detroit and stages the iconic show.
“Sam has a unique skillset blending association management expertise with behind-the-mic experience (Klemet worked in broadcast journalism in Indiana before joining the Indiana Association of Broadcasters, then came home to run the Michigan Association of Broadcasters three years ago), both of which are a perfect complement to our organization and its trajectory for the future,” said Alberts. “This is a transformative time in our industry, and my goal is to leave this association in the best possible place as we move forward in this new age of mobility.”
Klemet told me he doesn’t have much background in autos but he’ll learn from the perfect person to give him a crash course as Alberts has run auto shows in California and other states before coming to the Motor City in 1990.
“What Rod did with the Detroit auto show is truly one of a kind,” Klemet told me. "I have no intention of trying to be the next Rod Alberts because that is simply unattainable but I do think that with his guidance and mentorship, we can start to chart a new path for the DADA and I know he'll provide me with the tools to give me as much of an opportunity for success as is possible.”
A riveting ride
It’s been a riveting ride for Alberts as he’s been in charge of DADA and the auto show during historic, challenging and fascinating times. The show began over 100 years ago to sell vehicles during the winter months and today represents the Motor City to the world.
“I’ve gone from overseeing the show with guests ranging from (actor) Mickey Rooney to (rapper) 50 Cent,” he said. “When I got here in 1990, Coleman Young was mayor and since then there have been five others (Dennis Archer, Kwame Kilpatrick, Ken Cockrel, Dave Bing and current Mayor Mike Duggan).”
Other accomplishments since Alberts took over DADA: The show has grown and been an influential stage for 1,500 new vehicle and concept vehicle debuts before thousands of journalists.
The Charity Preview was held on the Friday night before the show opened to the public in 1990 and has raised over $120 million for children’s charities since then.
The show brought in $300 million to regional coffers in 2022 alone, for example, according to David Sowerby, managing director at Ancora, which has conducted economic studies on it. Added up, that's a staggering amount over the years and a jolt to the regional economy.
I asked Alberts to share a few show highlights that stood out to him:
1992: Chrysler Executive Bob Lutz and Detroit Mayor Young crashed a Jeep through a window of Cobo as part of a product debut.
1994: The Nancy Kerrigan ice skating assault incident at Cobo Arena took place during the auto show.
1998: Volkswagen reintroduces the new Beetle in a massive display built for the show. It was the beginning of big displays that dominated the show the next 20 years.
1999: President Bill Clinton visited the show (first president to come to show since Dwight D. Eisenhower).
2006: Muscle cars were reintroduced as Camaro led the way while Geely was the first Chinese company to showcase products there.
2008: Chrysler holds a cattle drive with cowboys down Washington Avenue in front of Cobo for its product debut.
2009: MEDC Michigan Economic Development Corp hosted electric car rides at the show.
2012 to 2019: Entertainers appearing at Charity Preview include Celine Dion, Uncle Kracker, Sheryl Crowe, Steve Miller Band, Doobie Brothers, Bare Naked Ladies, The Four Tops and Huey Lewis.
2020: COVID-19 hits. The January show is halted.
Alberts, who studied finance, once worked as a bank examiner in Missouri. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do but knew his heart wasn’t in banking. On the side, he was a professional arm wrestler and darn good (he had a bit role in Sylvester Stallone’s “Over the Top” movie in 1987) before moving on to run auto shows in California.
The auto industry has changed and impacted shows.
“Concept cars being built for auto shows are no longer as common as they used to be,” Alberts said. “But auto shows are still significant for several reasons. First, it’s the volume of choices the consumer has now and they need one place to see them all; auto shows provide that. Second, the adoption of electric vehicles and other energy sources for cars will take time and need to be experienced. The Detroit auto show and other shows around the country will help with that, as well.”
A new day
Klemet, who grew up in metro Detroit (Royal Oak, Southfield and Birmingham) lives and breathes sports, including celebrating his beloved Detroit Pistons during the iconic “Bad Boys” era.
“I am still coming to terms with the fact that I am not the starting point guard for the Detroit Pistons,” Klemet, 39, told me, with a laugh. “One of my earliest memories as a kid was the ‘007’ Vinnie Johnson (Detroit Pistons) shot. I actively, but unsuccessfully, lobbied my wife to name our sons after the '04 Pistons starting five. But when reality set in and my jump shot didn't develop, I turned my love of sports to a passion in broadcasting, which is what I studied at Michigan State and what ultimately became my career for 17 years.”
Klemet, who lives with his wife and two sons, Tatum, 3 and Beckham, 2, in Royal Oak, is immersed in technology and novel ways to market ideas and products.
“Moving the show back to January is one of those opportunities to continue to reimagine the show while keeping an eye on what matters most, getting people excited about cars,” Klemet said.
“Detroit’s in the midst of a real renaissance and resurgence,” he added. “Look at some recent events, the NFL Draft, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Regionals and WWE SummerSlam last August. This city knows how to put on a show! I think we can tap into this energy, extend our outreach to community partners and create a show that people circle on their calendars each year.”
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Contact Carol Cain: 248-355-7126 or clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of “Michigan Matters,” which airs 5:30 a.m. Sundays on CBS Detroit and noon Sundays on Detroit 50 WKBD. See Rod Alberts, Sam Klemet, Glenn Stevens Jr. of MICHauto and Brandon Cooper, of Aphid ,on this Sunday’s show. "Michigan Matters" can also be found on those stations’ listings on FUBO, Pluto TV, Youtube.com. It is streamed 9 p.m. weeknights on cbsdetroit.com and cbsdetroit’s app.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Rod Alberts to leave Detroit Auto Dealers Association role
