Inaugural eSTART Award Recipients Announced

The eSTART Coalition is proud to announce the recipients of our inaugural awards. The awards program recognizes the individuals, teams, agencies, and organizations driving real progress in modernizing vehicle title and registration processes. Whether through policy leadership, innovation, or collaboration, these efforts are helping improve efficiency, security, and the overall experience for consumers and the auto industry.

This year’s honorees are State Representative Brenden Jones of North Carolina, recipient of the Advocacy and Policy Leadership Award, and John Springer, Director of Vehicle Services at the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, recipient of the Progress and Partnership Award.

The Advocacy and Policy Leadership Award recognizes elected officials or policy leaders who have championed legislative or regulatory reforms that modernize vehicle title and registration processes. The Progress and Partnership Award honors individuals or agencies who have led implementation efforts through operational leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and a commitment to innovation.

Representative Brenden Jones has served in the North Carolina House of Representatives since 2017, representing the state’s 46th district and is currently the Majority Leader. As the primary sponsor of House Bill 199, he led the charge in passing legislation that enables critical digital reforms to the state's DMV operations.

"I am honored to receive this recognition from the eSTART Coalition. As a used motor vehicle dealer myself, I know the improvements we need in our DMV systems,” said Representative Jones. “It is more than convenience; it is about ensuring the government works smarter for the people we serve. With reforms like House Bill 199, we are building a framework that supports efficiency, transparency, and innovation in North Carolina, while also setting an example for other states to follow."

Jones’s legislative efforts reflect a broader push for efficiency and modernization in government services, with a focus on delivering better outcomes for both consumers and industry participants.

John Springer has overseen the launch of West Virginia’s new digital title submission system, requiring all dealer and third-party title service work to be submitted electronically. This effort marks a major milestone in the state’s transition to fully digital titles, with plans to expand the service to commercial vehicles and a public DMV portal later this year.

“At the West Virginia DMV, modernizing title work is about more than new technology—it is about giving our citizens, dealers, and businesses valuable time back in their day while reducing the paperwork burden for everyone involved,” said Springer. “We are proud to help lead the way with innovative solutions that cut down wait times and deliver a reliable, digital solution that not only West Virginians can count on but out of state businesses as well with our Clearinghouse Program.”

Under John Springer’s guidance, the DMV is preparing to enable West Virginians to access and store vehicle titles on smartphones, similar to electronic boarding passes. The system will also allow for mobile, online, and contactless title and registration services, reducing paperwork by millions of pages annually and cutting DMV wait times dramatically.

The achievements of these inaugural recipients exemplify the Coalition’s mission to drive modernization through policy reform, cross-sector collaboration, and practical innovation.