Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
The pinnacle of success in this industry is the General Motors Dealer of the Year Award, which recognizes the top 1% of Buick dealers nationwide for their exceptional performance in sales, service, and customer satisfaction. Winning this award proves a dealership’s dedication to delivering superior customer experiences and maintaining exemplary business practices.
Bert Ogden Buick GMC in Edinburg, Texas, has again earned the prestigious “Dealer of the Year 2023 – Buick” award this year. The Bert Ogden Auto Group celebrated this remarkable achievement with Robert C. Vackar and his wife, Janet Ogden Vackar, highlighting their commitment to excellence in the automotive industry.
Natasha del Barrio, the CEO of the Bert Ogden Auto Group, opens the ceremony celebrating Bert Ogden Buick GMC’s triumph as Dealership of the Year. “We’re delighted to be here to celebrate this outstanding achievement for the 2023 performance,” she begins, addressing the packed dealership filled with eager staff.
“Thank you all for joining us today. Celebrating this moment with you is important because this dealership and this team are exceptional. This is where it all began for Bob and Janet Vackar, the principals of the dealership. It’s exceptional that you continue to excel and push the bar for success higher every year. And yet, here we are again, celebrating your remarkable accomplishments. Remember that nothing is possible without your daily hard work and dedication.”
Steven Burns, the Regional Director of Buick GMC – South Central Region. Asked, “How many of you have been here less than five years? Raise your hand if it’s less than two years. You are now part of a four-time Dealer of the Year-winning team, a remarkable achievement. With over 2000 dealerships within Buick and GMC nationwide, only 22 Buick and 22 GMC dealerships earn this prestigious award each year. It recognizes excellence not just in sales but also in service and customer satisfaction. This award celebrates the entire operation. Billy Kelley’s team had the best sales year last year and is ready to surpass it. Let’s give a round of applause to Billy’s team for their incredible work.” He continued, “From us at Buick and GMC, thank you for everything you do. It means a lot to us, and it’s always a pleasure to be here in the Rio Grande Valley area.”
Billy Kelley, General Manager of Bert Ogden Buick and GMC, steps forward to speak: “First of all, it’s incredible to compete at this level, and none of it would be possible without the courage and investment to have the inventory, the best location, and, most importantly, the best people. We owe a tremendous thank you to Bob and Janet Vackar for all they have done. As of this morning, we are number one in Buick and GMC in Texas. Winning the 2023 Dealer of the Year award wouldn’t be possible without the sacrifices made by everyone in this room. All the missed lunches, extra hours, and daily dedication to excellence drive this team to new heights. We are deeply grateful and humbled to have you as part of our staff. Thank you, and God bless you.”
Janet Ogden Vackar, co-principal of Bert Ogden Auto Group, proudly said, “My father’s first store was just down the street, and now we’ve grown to this incredible location with Buick and GMC. I know my parents are smiling down on us because this is amazing. We have such great people here, truly the best of the best, and I couldn’t be more proud. I thank all of you for coming to work with such enthusiasm.”
Robert C. Vackar, co-principal, added, “It’s an honor to be here. Billy, thank you so much for everything. We discussed inventory this morning, and we’ll follow up on that later. We’re working on expanding our inventory with General Motors and focusing on more Buicks. Over the past few years, we’ve all worked hard at this. We’ve managed to overcome the inventory crunch, and I believe the next few years will be very promising for all of us. It’s quite an honor to work with such a great staff. I appreciate every one of you,” Bob concluded.
Mr. Vackar, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Performance Officer, and Ms. Vackar, the Co-Chairwoman and President of Marketing, lead the valley’s largest family-owned and operated dealership group, with locations spanning from Mission to Harlingen.
Natasha said, “Achieving this honor was an incredibly proud moment for our entire dealer group. This award is well deserved for Mr. and Mrs. Vackar!”
About Bert Ogden Buick/GMC:
Bob and Janet Vackar uphold their father Bert Ogden’s philosophy: ensure customer happiness and satisfaction, and you’ll earn lifelong customers. Bert established the original dealership in 1970 and, alongside Bob and Janet, expanded it to over 20 locations. Today, the family-owned dealerships employ over 1,200 mostly full-time staff across five valley cities.
About Buick:
Buick is the oldest car brand in the United States. It was founded in 1899 in Detroit, Michigan, by automotive trailblazer David Buick. With a strong start under its belt, Buick was able to open their first overseas sales facility in Shanghai, China, in 1929. By the 1960s, Buick was the first to mass-produce the V-6 engine. Buick continued its upward trajectory, and in 1989, it earned the title of number one vehicle in North America and number two worldwide. In 2015 alone, Buick sold over 1 million vehicles, cementing their place in the American automotive industry. Today, Buick continues to engineer and produce affordable yet full-equipped SUVs to meet the ever-growing needs of consumers.
