It’s true what they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Jeb Blackburn, executive manager at Blackburn Nissan and Blackburn Chrysler Jeep Dodge, has been nominated for the 2016 TIME Dealer of the Year award, the same award his father Brother Blackburn was nominated for in 1997.

The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Recipients are among the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Blackburn was chosen to represent the Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition – one of only 50 auto dealers from 16,000 nationwide – nominated for the 47th annual award.

“The TIME Dealer of the Year award nominees are business leaders and pillars of their communities, who have each given generously to support important charitable causes,” said Tim Russi, president of Auto Finance for Ally Financial. “Ally is proud to honor these dealers and to recognize their commitment to making a difference.”

Blackburn said when he learned of his nomination, he was extremely honored that the other dealers in Mississippi had selected him.

“It shocked me completely,” he said. “I’m only 40 years old. I’ve been doing this now for 13 years, and I’m one of the younger ones to be nominated.”

A 1993 graduate of Warren Central High School in Vicksburg, Blackburn earned a B.B.A. in 1997 and an M.B.A. in 1999 from the University of Mississippi in Oxford. He majored in finance for his undergraduate studies and was elected to the university’s Chancellor’s Leadership Class during his freshman year. He was also a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

After graduation, Blackburn spent three years at Trustmark National Bank in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was an assistant vice president. He continued to work weekends at his family’s car dealership as a salesperson and moved to fulltime status at the store in 2003.

“My family has been in the car business since 1936 when my grandfather started the dealership,” he said. “In the 13 years of my automotive career, my most rewarding moments have been watching employees at our dealership truly better their lives. Witnessing these individuals embrace the opportunities put in front of them has been extremely moving.”

Blackburn graduated from the NADA Dealer Candidate Academy in McLean, Virginia, in 2005 and today runs Blackburn Nissan and Blackburn Chrysler Jeep Dodge with his father.

Blackburn said he is proud of the legacy his family has created and is dedicated to the people the dealerships have employed over the years.

“We currently have individuals working for us who had hit some very low points in their lives, from sicknesses to losing their jobs,” Blackburn said. “They all came looking for a new lease on life and found the car business to be a wonderful new career path and way to better their situation.”

Blackburn is equally committed to his community and gives back on multiple levels. He is a member of the Y’s Men, a social organization that raises money for the Vicksburg YMCA, and has served as the club’s board member, officer and president, and currently sits on the board of the YMCA. Blackburn has also donated his time to the United Way and has raised money for the American Cancer Society by participating in the Celebrity Waiter of Vicksburg event at a local restaurant in 2011 and 2012.

A junior warden from 2010 to 2013 and vestry member from 2007 to 2010 for the Church of the Holy Trinity in Vicksburg, Blackburn was able to help his fellow parishioners during a difficult time.

“During my tenure as junior warden, our priest of 10 years resigned,” he said. “This created a lot of uncertainty and distress for all of our parishioners. I take a lot of pride in helping lead the church through the change and working to sustain a vibrant church until a new priest was found.”

In 2010, The Vicksburg Post named Blackburn one of its “20 Under 40” in an article that recognizes young business and community leaders who are making a difference in the newspaper’s readership area.

Blackburn was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by William E. Lehman, president of the Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association. He and his wife, Melissa, have three children: Caton, 12; Ali, 11; and Emerson, 8.

Ally will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of choice.