Marc P. Powell
Founder & Lead Compliance Reviewer, New Mexico Auto Advisors — Executive Director, New Mexico Automotive Industry Alliance
Marc P. Powell is the founder and lead compliance reviewer of New Mexico Auto Advisors. Mr. Powell has almost 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, having served for 8 years as Executive Director of the New Mexico Automotive Industry Alliance (NMAIA) and 12 years as CEO of ReCARnation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Marc is considered an expert in New Mexico automotive sales compliance; providing expert witness testimony on behalf of the State of New Mexico, and local and national automobile dealerships.
Mr. Powell developed, taught and oversaw the Pre-Licensing and Continuing Education Curriculums for the NMAIA between 2017 and 2026, acting as the sole trainer for New Mexico's state-approved dealer pre-licensing program and a continuing-education trainer for NM dealers. Mr. Powell is currently approved to teach the state-mandated Dealer Pre-licensing Education and annual Dealer Continuing Education by the State of New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department Dealer Licensing Bureau.
He brings more than a decade of hands-on retail experience: for eleven years he was CEO of Recarnation, a licensed independent New Mexico dealership with its own mechanic and paint/body shop (NM Dealer License #3024, 2008–2018), and he has spent eight years as a senior executive for an MVD services partner handling titling and registration. He has run a NMAC 12.2.14 (6% rule) inspection company since 2013 and was an active participant in the 2013 NMAC 12.2.14 litigation against the New Mexico Attorney General and the 2014 settlement that produced the final rule.
Marc has been named National Independent Automobile Quality Dealer of the Year (2014), New Mexico Independent Automobile Dealer of the Year (2013), and a recipient of the New Mexico Ethics in Business Award (2015). He serves on the NMIADA Board of Directors and has been retained as an expert witness in numerous New Mexico used-car cases — testifying for dealers, bond companies, and the State of New Mexico — on matters involving the 6% inspection rule, vehicle valuation, and titling and registration.
He holds a Juris Doctor (cum laude, 1994) from Harvard Law School and a Master in Public Policy (Kennedy Scholar, 1994) from the Harvard Kennedy School, and is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy (1985). He is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Every scenario on this hub is reviewed against current New Mexico and federal requirements before it is published, with citations linking back to the underlying statute, MVD bulletin, or FTC guidance so dealers can verify each answer themselves.
Credentials
- Juris Doctor (JD), cum laude — Harvard Law School (1994)
- Master in Public Policy, Kennedy Scholar — Harvard Kennedy School (1994)
- Distinguished Graduate — U.S. Air Force Academy (1985)
- Executive Director, New Mexico Automotive Industry Alliance
- Sole trainer for New Mexico's approved dealer pre-licensing education (2017–present)
- Trainer for New Mexico dealer continuing education (2017–present)
- Chief Executive, NM IADSC — Registered MVD Partner (License #02L) (2017-2026)
- Chief Executive, New Mexico Dealer Inspection Services — NMAC 12.2.14 (6% rule) inspections (2017-2026)
- Former CEO, Recarnation — licensed independent NM dealership (Dealer License #3024, 2008–2018)
- National Independent Automobile Quality Dealer of the Year (2014)
- New Mexico Independent Automobile Dealer of the Year (2013)
- New Mexico Ethics in Business Award (2015)
- NMIADA Board of Directors (2013–2026)
- Expert witness in New Mexico used-car dealership litigation