Adrian Burone Leads Bert Ogden Toyota to Excellence

By Thom Denton

Stepping into the expansive showroom at Bert Ogden Toyota in Harlingen, you’re met with the gleam of high-end vehicles and the smiles of dedicated sales associates. But none outshines the warm, unmistakable presence of General Manager Adrian Burone. With an easy handshake and a welcoming grin, Adrian sets the tone for an experience built on trust and connection. Some say great salespeople are born, but Adrian’s rise in the industry is something more—a blend of hard work, dedication, and a genuine passion for what he does.

“My favorite part of the car business isn’t just the cars—it’s the people,” Adrian reflects. “This industry is built on relationships.”

For Adrian, relationships are central to his career and pivotal to his rise to the top of vehicle sales in the Rio Grande Valley. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, his journey began at an advertising agency in Brownsville, Texas. The agency handled the Bert Ogden Auto Group account, where he worked closely with Janet Ogden Vackar, Vice-Chairwoman of the Board and President of Marketing for the auto group. Eventually, Janet encouraged Adrian to join the Bert Ogden company and try his hand at car sales.

“I found myself selling cars at the old Buick, Pontiac, GMC store in Edinburg,” Adrian recalls fondly. “After several months of cutting my teeth in sales, I was promoted to Floor Manager.”

From there, his career took off. Under his leadership, every dealership he managed began collecting awards, including numerous Marks of Excellence awards when he worked for Bert Ogden Cadillac and Fiesta Chevrolet in the early to mid2000s. As Adrian’s reputation grew, so did his success. He even led the charge for Fiesta Chevrolet in Edinburg, making it the #1 volume Chevy store—not just in the Rio Grande Valley but also outperforming dealerships in Austin and San Antonio.

In 2014, Adrian received an unexpected call from CEO Natasha Del Barrio, asking him to come to the corporate headquarters for a meeting. Although he was a bit nervous about what the news might be, he was pleasantly surprised to find Bob and Janet Vackar waiting to announce him as the first General Manager of the new Bert Ogden Harlingen Toyota store. Natasha and the Vackars knew that with Adrian’s strong leadership capabilities and extensive knowledge and experience in the auto industry, he would no doubt excel at this new role.

Since its opening, Bert Ogden Toyota has earned the coveted Toyota Presidents Award four years in a row (2021-2024)— a distinction given only to the finest dealerships excelling in every aspect of their operations. Adrian is proud of every one of his employees for their tremendous effort to ensure the utmost quality, service, and convenience. “Watching employees grow, customers drive away happy, and the business evolve is what makes this career truly rewarding,” says Adrian.

Today, Adrian, his wife Maria, and their daughter Pia, who has appeared in Bert Ogden television commercials, feel fortunate to live and work in the Rio Grande Valley. Adrian continues leading his team at Bert Ogden Toyota to new heights, breaking sales records and earning accolades.