Robert (Bob) C. Vackar is the Chief Performance Officer and Chairman of the Board for the Bert Ogden Auto Group. He currently has 23 franchise dealerships in the valley, with plans to buy three new dealerships in the next few years and open six more Signature Select used-car locations over the course of the next five years. Additionally, Bob is excited about opening additional quick lube facilities across the Valley for the convenience of the Bert Ogden Auto Groups ever-growing customer base. Bob has lived a life full of change and endured challenges, and today, through perseverance and visionary perspective, he enjoys the fruits of his hard work as he continues to grow his business. Robert C. Vackar, a Dealer Deeply Invested in Business and Community “Look at the great possibilities of life. Remember that you harness the greatness that lies inside of you to affect change in the world. Don’t just have dreams, turn them into truth.” — Robert C. “Bob” Vackar Bob and Janet Vackar grew up in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. When he was born prematurely, Bob weighed less than 3 pounds; despite this challenge, he not only thrived but today personifies a larger-than-life personality exemplified by gratitude, generosity and compassion for his team members and community. Bob went on to graduate from Texas A&M University in 1966 with a business degree, majoring in Accounting. He immediately went on to work for Shell Oil Company as a Financial Analyst before being recruited in 1967 by the U.S. Army. Bob proudly served his country as an Officer in Vietnam and remains a proud veteran and continually supports military and veteran organizations. After Vietnam, Bob returned to Shell Oil for another 11 years before joining Jack Stanley at GHR Energy where he worked as the Assistant Corporate Controller and spearheaded some of the largest mergers and acquisitions of the industry at that period of time. Bob’s tenure with GHR and Jack Stanley had a profound influence on his business acumen and perspective. Bob affectionately recalls all he learned from Jack and says much of his business model today hearkens back to the strategies he learned in his role with GHR. Bob met and married Janet Ogden in Houston. The couple moved back to the valley after their daughter, Kristin, was born in 1982. In 1983, Janet’s father, Bert, asked Bob to help him run his Buick-Oldsmobile-PontiacGMC dealership in Edinburg, Texas. Bob obliged but also had plans to create growth for the business. In 1987, they worked together to acquire Randolph Chevrolet in Mission. In 1990, they acquired a Nissan, BMW, Oldsmobile dealership in McAllen from Charlie Thomas. As Bob excelled at operating and expanding the business, Janet took the reins of the advertising segment and created a full blown movement around customer experience and community philanthropy. Bob and Janet will both tell you, ROBERT C. VACKAR — CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 13 WINTER 2021
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