Findlay Toyota GM John Barr vying for Man of Year

Findlay Toyota General Manager John Barr is a busy man. His dealership in the Valley Automall is the No. 1 volume dealer in its six-state region and among the top-producing Toyota dealerships in the country.

Now, Barr is getting busier with the announcement that he is entered into the Leukemia &Lymphoma Society Man of the Year competition that runs for 10 weeks and begins on March 1.

Competition is based on an individual’s ability to raise funds for the Leukemia &Lymphoma Society, and Barr has his sights set on Man of the Year honors, predicting that he will raise about $250,000 during the 10-week period.

A former competitive league soccer player from Portsmouth in Hampshire, England, Barr isn’t the least bit afraid of a challenge. The 18-year veteran of Findlay Toyota seems to thrive on the goal he has set.

“This is a lot like the car business,” Barr said. “If you don’t have a goal in the car business, you’ll need to set one as quickly as possible.”

Sponsorships include the Silver for $3,000, the Gold for $5,000, the Platinum for $10,000 and the Diamond for $15,000.

Sponsorship opportunities are numerous during the time of fundraising and include the Man and Woman of the Year Links Fore Leukemia golf tournament March 6 at TPC Summerlin.

“Almost everyone has had an experience involving someone who has had this unfortunate disease,” said Barr, “and we want to stop the disease in its tracks.”

Barr said Findlay Automotive Group CFO Tyler Corder got him involved in the Leukemia &Lymphoma Society.

“Tyler invited me to attend last year’s event at the JW Marriott, and I was very moved by the whole event and especially the efforts of Findlay Kia finance manager Sarah Wilbur, who was so passionate about the cause.

“Sarah was named Woman of the Year and I just felt it was my duty to compete for Man of the Year in 2017. My team is doing very well and we have commitments from many people throughout the community. We seriously want to stop leukemia and lymphoma in their tracks.”

Barr and his team have been contacting longtime friends and customers about the event. Among those making donations for the cause are Sudden Impact Auto Body, Southern Nevada Toyota Dealers Association, NBA Summer League, Lotus Broadcasting, CBS Radio, Fox 5 television, Adesa LV auto auctioning, Waxie, BG Products, Findlay Honda Henderson, Findlay Kia, Findlay Acura, Findlay Management, the Bar LV, Cox Media, Wells Fargo Finance, Front Line, Las Vegas Review-Journal, CRB Mechanics Bank, Spinn Auto, Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, Toyota Financial and IAS.

Also, Barr has his own website, mwoy.org/pages/snv/vegas17/jbarr5, that can be used for donations.

“We have done many favors for people all over Southern Nevada since we opened in 1998, and we’re now starting to call in those favors to help the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society,” he said. “I am going to give everything in my power to reach our goal.”

This year’s gala is set for May 13 at JW Marriott.

For further information regarding the gala, call dealership Marketing Director Stephanie Bernas at 702-566-2542 or email her at sbernas@findlayauto.com.