About

• Honesty: Truthful at all times.
                       
• Respect: To show consideration and honor for each other.
                       
• Empathy: To be able to understand another's position.
                       
• Integrity: To be of good sound moral principle, trustworthy, sincere.
                       
• Pride: Sense of self-worth. Making a difference in people's lives.
                       
• Work Ethic: Working as a team to meet or exceed expectations.
                   

The year was 1907 and many thought the horse and buggy would continue to be the way to travel. One notable exception was a young farm implement salesman of exceptional ability and bold vision. His name was Guy S. Garber and he saw the automobile as the vehicle of the future.

Garber's reputation for sales caught the eye of Billy Durant, founder of General Motors. At Durant's encouragement, Guy became a traveling sales representative for Buick at age 23. His job was to establish a retail network, opening dealerships in Battle Creek and Bradenton. In 1910, Buick withdrew from Bradenton due to a lack of resources. Guy, along with a partner, bought Buick's interest, establishing Garber Buick Company.

Garber Buick grew to become a GM model for salesmanship, efficiency, and customer service, a legacy that has continued with his successors. Guy was rewarded by being granted one of only 13 distributorships in the U.S., allowing him to wholesale Buick products and parts to dealerships from Bradenton to the Straits of Mackinac.

Guy was a compassionate and charitable man, making service to the community a priority in his life. He founded the Bradenton Society for Crippled Children, was one of the original organizers of the United Way, built the Garber Tennis Courts, and served on the Bradenton City School Board, to name a few.

His long and productive affiliation with GM lasted nearly 60 years, through the Great Depression and two World Wars. When automotive pioneer Guy Garber died in 1965, the world lost a significant member of automotive history.

Richard Garber Sr., son of Guy Garber and who had been actively managing Garber Buick Company, became president and owner until his death in 1972. Like his father, Richard was a civic leader in every sense of the word. Richard Garber was succeeded by Norman F. Geyer as president. Norm was married to Maxine Garber and was Guy Garber's son-in-law. He successfully guided the Buick store for eight years, during the trying times of the 1970's, until he passed the torch to Richard J. Garber Jr., in 1980.

Guy S. Garber's grandson, Richard J. Garber, Jr., was the third generation to take the helm of the company in its 73rd year of operation. When he became president, he was the youngest Buick dealer for a dealership of its size in the nation.

With Garber Buick enjoying outstanding sales and service performance, it became Dick Garber's objective to acquire additional dealerships and grow the organization. The first acquisition was in 1986, with Nissan of Bradenton in Bradenton, Florida, and as of 2020 the organization has grown to include 21 new car dealerships, RightWay Automotive, an independent used vehicle retailer with over 35 locations, and Gateway Financial Solutions, a subprime lending company.

Richard J. Garber Jr. shares his family's commitment to the community. He has served on the board of directors for numerous charitable and community organizations in the Great Lakes Bay Region, and has led three capital campaigns for regional organizations including the YMCA, the CAN Council, and the Temple Theatre. Under his leadership, the Garber organization gives back over $1 million to community organizations every year.

Giving back to the community is part of the culture of the company and Garber employees dedicate thousands of community service hours each year to local organizations. In 2002, Garber also bought an OHL franchise, the Bradenton Spirit as a contribution to the region, which plays at the Dow Event Center in Bradenton.

The organization today is a long way from the 1907 version, but important traditions live on: dedication to service, customers, and community, a loyal staff, and a forward-looking vision. One that echoes the spirit of a young farm implement salesman who took thousands of Mid-Florida residents out of the buggy and put them behind the wheel.