Vaden in the community
Vaden Automotive opened its doors in 1968 under founding father, Dan Vaden. Mr. Vaden's belief that the "customer signs our paychecks" remains the cornerstone of The Vaden Way. Dan's daughter, Jane Vaden Thacher, carries that legacy torch today and encourages employee participation in grassroots efforts supporting "Education and Literacy". Through Community Partnerships in all the communities we do business like Savannah, Montgomery, Wilmington Island, and Garden City; Vaden stands firmly committed to making an impact not only today, but for many years to come.
Why? Because Vaden Cares.
November 2025 (Shark Tank Assembly)
Dan Vaden Chevrolet was proud to take part in St. Vincent’s Academy’s “Shark Tank” Assembly, celebrating creativity, confidence, and entrepreneurship among students. After hearing several impressive startup pitches, two students were recognized with $100 gift cards to support their professional growth. Encouraging young women to develop real-world skills and self-confidence is something we’re honored to support.
November 2025 (Amazing Shake)
Round two of the Amazing Shake was a great success. Members of the Vaden team served as interviewers for the top 20 students from St. Vincent’s Academy, engaging them in fast-paced conversations and providing professional insight. The competition will continue as students advance toward the Final 8 in January 2026. We’re proud to support the development of future leaders.
August 2025 (Tailgate Like a Cadet)
Football season kicked off in true Cadet spirit with our Tailgate Like a Cadet Giveaway! To celebrate the return of Friday night lights, Vaden Automotive partnered with Benedictine Military School to give fans the ultimate tailgate setup, complete with a cooler, portable grill, Bluetooth speaker, free oil change, and grocery gift card. Congratulations to Ally Burke, the winner of this year’s giveaway! Ally is officially ready to cheer on the Cadets in style with her new tailgate essentials.
A big thank-you to our partners at Benedictine Military School and to everyone who entered and joined in on the fun. Supporting our local schools and community traditions like this is what The Vaden Way is all about. Go Cadets!
October 2025 (Shark Tank, Here They Come!)
Students from St. Vincent's recently leveled up their financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills during a Lunch & Learn hosted by our Dan Vaden Chevrolet & Cadillac Savannah team.
During the session, students explored key concepts in budgeting, business planning, and creative problem-solving, all essential skills for future entrepreneurs. Our team loved seeing their curiosity and enthusiasm as they asked questions, brainstormed ideas, and practiced thinking like real-world business leaders.
We’re proud to support the next generation of innovators and can’t wait to see these students take their ideas to the next level!
2025 Events
January: Prepping the Youth for Success at St. vincent's academy
Congratulations to Mary, our St. Vincent's Academy, 2024 Amazing Shake Champion! In the final round, Mary showed exceptional professionalism and poise, staying cool and collected under pressure during challenging role-playing scenarios. Her ability to handle tough conversations with confidence truly set her apart. Mary gets to level-up her professional presence with a leather padfolio and a $100 shopping spree at J. Crew as her well-earned prize! A big thank you to all the participants, judges, and supporters who made this year's Amazing Shake such a success.
February: Looking towards the road ahead with St. Vincent's academy
Part 2 of our Car Care Basics series with St. Vincent's Academy seniors was all about under-the-hood essentials! Today, students got hands-on experience learning about engine fluids, how to monitor oil levels, and safely jumpstarting a car with a dead battery. A special thank you to Xcel Strategies Inc, our valued community partner, for sharing their expertise and mentoring these students.
March: Car Buying 101 is in session! ??
Students from St. Vincent's Academy, Savannah, GA joined us for a special Lunch & Learn session. ????? Neal Wilson (General Manager), David Jung (Sales Manager), and Kean Williams (Sales Professional) shared expert insights on everything you need to know when buying your first car. From budgeting to financing, they covered it all to help these students hit the road with confidence! ???
March: Sparking Curiosity at Frances Meeks Elementary! ?
We had an electrifying time at Frances Meeks Elementary's Career Day, where we introduced students to the future of driving—electric vehicles! ??? From learning how EVs work to understanding why they're better for the environment; these young minds were fully charged with curiosity. Who knows? We may have just met some future EV engineers! ??
April: Inspiring the next generation of female leaders!
Today, we had the privilege of hosting the Women Who Lead panel at St. Vincent's Academy, Savannah, GA! Sable Taylor (Vice President, Omega Steel), Rikki Powers (Executive Director, RePurpose Savannah) and Sandi Knight (Parts Manager, Dan Vaden Chevrolet), shared their journeys, challenges, and advice with the next generation of female leaders. Their insights were powerful, and we're grateful for the opportunity to support and inspire these students.
June & July 2025 (DVC/XCEL Summer Skills Camp)
That's a wrap on Xcel Summer Skills Camps across Chatham, Bryan, and Effingham Counties! From mentorship to motivation, Xcel Mentoring is making a lasting impact, and Vaden is proud to be part of it. Supporting programs that empower and uplift our youth is what drives us. Keep shining, XCEL campers!
2024 Events
September: Empowering our youth at st. Vincent's academy
We had an incredible day partnering with Xcel Strategies Inc to empower the senior class at St. Vincent's Academy, Savannah, GA with essential car care skills! From learning how to plug a puncture to dealing with an unexpected flat tire, we're proud to invest in the next generation and equip them with knowledge that will serve them on the road ahead.
october: teaching the new generation of leaders with st. vincent's academy
We had the pleasure of joining forces with St. Vincent's Academy, Savannah, GA to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs! Our CFO, Robin Barber, visited the Economics class to present on the fundamentals of creating a startup budget – a crucial first step for any aspiring business owner. This aligns with an exciting project the students are working on, where they've been tasked with creating their own business concepts. Next week, they'll be stepping into the spotlight to pitch their ideas to our panel of judges for their very own "Shark Tank" competition. We can't wait to see the creativity and innovation these young entrepreneurs bring to the table. Who will walk away with the winning investment? Stay tuned!
December: Teaming up for success with xcel strategies
At Richmond Hill High School, we teamed up with our partner Xcel Strategies Inc for an engaging session with the automotive class! This week's topic? Job skills and the diverse career opportunities at Vaden Automotive! Our team shared insights into the exciting paths available in the automotive industry and how to prepare for success. It's always inspiring to connect with the next generation of skilled professionals and see their passion for the trade. Thank you, Richmond Hill High School and Xcel, for the opportunity to invest in these bright futures. Together, we're driving careers forward!
July
Xcel Camp #3
We were more than honored to be a part of the amazing Summer Skills Camp that was put on by Xcel this past week. The kids were able to learn some very helpful life skills in automotive and carpentry that they can carry as they move forward in their lives! Thank you for allowing us at Vaden to be apart of this community! Fueled With A Purpose -> That's the Vaden Way!
Xcel Camp #4
Great things happening around our community as Xcel Strategies Inc wraps up another Summer Skills Camp, we love helping to fuel these young people with purpose!
April
leading a path to success with xcel strategies...the vaden way
As the proud title sponsor of the Xcel Strategies Inc "Xpo," we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all who participated! ?? It was fantastic to see so many eager students diving into the world of trade industries. Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to interact with a multitude of supportive companies from around Savannah and beyond. These companies provided invaluable hands-on experiences and guidance, helping students explore various career paths. With the help of BluWorkz students were able to start crafting their digital resumes – a crucial step in today's job market.
Supporting our female leaders!
From making yourself the obvious choice for the job to championing inclusivity, our panelists shared their personal stories and insights on what it means to be a woman in leadership. These are some of the most impactful messages that left us feeling empowered and motivated.
March
Navigating the Future with St. Vincent's Academy!
The senior class from St. Vincent's Academy, Savannah, GA took learning out of the classroom and into the showroom this week! Students dove deep into the world of car buying with a personal finance twist. They grilled us with questions about down payments, credit scores, and interest rates - all essential aspects of smart car purchasing. But that's not all! They also learned how to leverage tools like Kelley Blue Book to accurately value their own vehicles. Plus, we explored what to include in your car budget, what to expect when you trade-in, the world of financing, and even ran through some real-life budget scenarios. Thanks to all the students who joined us! Your enthusiasm and curiosity made this event truly special. Keep those questions coming, and remember, we're always here to help you navigate the road to your dream car!
Savannah Arts Students Joined Us For A Lunch & Learn!
We're super honored to have invited the amazing Work-Based Learning students from Savannah Arts Academy for Visual and Performing Arts to join us again this year to our Lunch & Learn held at the Vaden Automotive Support Center! Our owner, Jane Vaden Thacher, spoke inspiring words of wisdom alongside our Sales Manager, Jonathan Rounds, and many others from Vaden team!
Februrary
Congratulations to our general manager !
Congratulations to Neal, our General Manager, on an incredible 29 years of dedication and hard work with Dan Vaden Chevrolet! Thank you for your unwavering commitment to excellence and for being an exceptional leader.
Inspiring young bright minds with xcel strategies
Today, St. Vincent's Academy's senior class had one final Car Care Basics session before they graduate this Spring and hit the road! Students dived into a few essentials of car maintenance, learning how to safely jump-start a car battery and the importance of understanding engine fluids. Thank you to Xcel Strategies Inc for providing hands-on experience that these seniors will surely put to use on the road ahead!
2023 Events
November - june
Shining the spotlight on Jack Thacher!
Our team member joined the insightful discussions at the XCEL Strategies event, exploring exciting trade opportunities. We're so thankful to have been part of such an amazing event!
Mentoring the future with xcel strategies!
It may be summer, but school is NEVER out for mentoring at Dan Vaden Chevrolet. Thank you to our Community Partner, Xcel Strategies Inc, for putting together an awesome "SKILLS" camp in Chatham County and inviting us to participate.
MAY: Preparing for the future with savannah arts academy's work-based learning program
Hearing personal thoughts about the effectiveness of our Community Partnership with Savannah Arts Academy means the world to Dan Vaden Chevrolet and Vaden Cadillac. The education process never ends and we are happy to be on the front lines of development for students eager to learn about business operations at Vaden Automotive.
April: Fueled with a purpose...that's the vaden way
We were honored to be the Title Sponsor at today's Spring Luncheon hosted by XCEL Strategies of Savannah. Their network of area businesses who champion the cause of mentoring young men and women is impressive.
LEADING THROUGH MENTORING...THE VADEN WAY
Dan Vaden Chevrolet was happy to host our Community Partner, XCEL Strategies, on site for a Regional Director's meeting. So many great ideas on the horizon including events in 2023 like the XCEL Spring Luncheon and the XCEL Summer Camp Series. Stay tuned for more as we work together to mentor young adults on soft skills, job skills and trade skills.
2022 Events
December: vaden learns to salsa at The christmas gala!
Dan Vaden Chevrolet was proud to sponsor "The Christmas Gala" in Hilton Head. This important cultural event for the Latino/Hispanic community featured Oscar D'Leon, a multiple-Grammy winning artist from Venezuela. 2022 marks 50 years of artistic dominance for this musical "SALSA" legend also known as, "El Sonero del Mundo". DVC's Julia Tapia and Kristoffer Torres Seba attended and gave away promotional items including a YETI cooler. Great music and dancing kept the crowd hopping all night!
May
Gearing up for rincon's freedom park event!
The Vaden Automotive team attended the 2022 Gears and Grub Event at Rincon's Freedom Park for our 2nd quarter recruiting event. The event had a huge turn out: vendor booths, a car show, a FMX moto show, food trucks, live music, monster truck rides, and even a jet car!
Celebrating our young artists at savannah arts academy!
The Film and Media students at Savannah Arts Academy for Visual and Performing Arts each had their "moment" on the red carpet. We were pleased to help transport these rising stars to the event so they could celebrate their accomplishments with family and peers.
Walking the red carpet at the savannah arts film fest!
The 16th Annual Savannah Arts Academy for Visual and Performing Arts "Film and Media Festival" was a thrill from behind the scenes. Listen as these students share their excitement just before their "RED CARPET MOMENT". Stay tuned in May for more exciting pictures and video from the event.
April
Making opportunities grow with xcel strategies inc.!
Dan Vaden Chevrolet is proud to continue our partnership with Xcel Strategies Inc! The Dan Vaden Chevrolet team was proud to be the Title Sponsor of Xcel Strategies Inc.s' Spring Luncheon this month, and we continue to look forward to more opportunities to work together in the future!
Inspiring young minds...the vaden way
As Title Sponsor of the Xcel Strategies Inc Spring Luncheon on April 19th, we were humbled and inspired by the local community support for this important mentoring network. The development and expansion of their Mobile Training Unit program will make an impact on the lives of young adults for years to come. We are on the forefront of positive change and happy to join forces for all who want to "Get Up, Show Up and Speak Up".
supporting the students at frances meeks elementary...the vaden way
Dan Vaden Chevrolet is ecstatic to be able to continue its support for the students at Frances Meeks Elementary as they continue on their educational journey! These lucky students were gifted Vaden "swag bags" as part of Vaden's ongoing pledge to the students and families of Frances Meeks Elementary. We look forward to making even more memories with the Frances Meeks community in the future!
January: Fueled with a Purpose...That's the Vaden Way
The Automotive "Mobile Training Unit" is ON THE MOVE at Bethesda Academy in Savannah. Xcel Strategies Inc Inc is making significant progress in mentoring students in our area. Catch up on all the latest by watching this video update. Please share this video with your friends and family network so they can be on the look-out for upcoming 2022 training opportunities at regional schools.