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Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, IL

The 2026 CATA Annual Meeting & Member Golf Outing brought together dealers, allied members and industry partners on Tuesday, July 21, at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club for a full day of networking, golf and celebration.

Under sunny skies, attendees teed off with a noon shotgun start across two courses before gathering in the evening for happy hour, dinner and the Annual Meeting. The new event format allowed golfers and dinner-only attendees alike to reconnect with colleagues while celebrating another successful year for the association.

During the Annual Meeting, CATA President Jennifer Morand highlighted the association's accomplishments over the past year and reinforced the importance of a strong, unified dealer network. She shared updates on the CATA's new strategic plan, the launch of the membership engagement campaign, the continued success of Drive for the Troops, and the expansion of Chicago Drives Electric into the newly branded Chicago Auto Show: Behind the Wheel. Morand also recognized another successful Chicago Auto Show, which welcomed nearly 212,000 attendees, and celebrated more than $2 million raised through the 2026 First Look for Charity gala.

CATA Chairman Ryan Kelly emphasized the value of bringing members together through events like the annual outing and announced the results of the Board of Directors election. Steve Phillipos was re-elected to another term, while Tom Conlin, Jeff Hopkins and Chris Weck were welcomed as new members of the Board of Directors. Kelly also recognized outgoing Board member Kelly Webb Roberts for her decade of dedicated service to the association and thanked outgoing Chicago Auto Show Chairman Jason Roberts for his exceptional leadership.

The evening program also featured the inaugural CATA Drive for Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding dealership professionals for their leadership, innovation and contributions to the retail automotive industry. Attendees also enjoyed an engaging keynote presentation from Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Dan Hampton, who shared stories from his football career and insights on leadership, teamwork and perseverance.

Following a day of friendly competition on the course, golfers were recognized for their performances in several contests and scramble competitions.