On Board for Change: Andy’s Story

A Chance Meeting

Four years ago, after the world adjusted to post-COVID realities, Andy Koblenz met CEO Marty Schwartz over lunch. Andy recently retired as Executive Vice President, Strategic Affairs and Industry Initiatives for the National Automobile Dealers Association.  The meeting was the beginning of a connection that would lead to a position on the Vehicles for Change National Board. 

Seeing the Impact of Vehicles for Change

Though their initial conversation didn’t immediately spark a partnership, things changed when former Vehicles for Change board member Felecia Rotellini connected with Andy. Her mention of the organization’s mission resonated with Andy. It didn’t take long for him to see the impact of Vehicles for Change. 

For Andy, the connection to the work was immediate. “A car is so much more than just a mode of transportation,” he often says. “It’s a ticket to a better life.” Over time, he witnessed lives transformed through the car award program. One moment that particularly stood out was when a mother, able to attend her son’s football game thanks to the car she received. “She couldn’t have been there, and he wouldn’t have been able to play without that car,” Andy recalls. “That’s what makes this work so special.” 

A True Advocate and Partner

But Andy’s contributions have gone beyond just helping hand out cars. He’s also been an integral part of expanding the program.  He worked to create a “how-to” guide for dealerships across the country to implement similar car award programs in their communities. In Shreveport, a dealership successfully piloted the program, and the local media covered the stories of the award recipients. Andy was thrilled to see the program grow, and more importantly, the lives it was impacting. 

Reflecting on his own journey, Andy recalls his first car, a 1970’s Plymouth Scamp his father bought for him. It carried him through law school and beyond. Later, as he and his wife were buying a new Honda Civic, the Scamp broke down on a hill, just as they arrived at the dealership. “We just coasted into the dealership,” he laughs, remembering how that car, just as so many other cars continue to change lives through Vehicles for Change.