Our History

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2002

Our agency foundation originated in 2002 by Rob Wagner. Rob began his career fresh out of US military service, becoming an expert automotive F&I manager and then a sit-in specialist for the nation's largest F&I provider. That led to a 14-year tenure overseeing a major service contract company.  With an aspiration for something bigger, Rob formed Safe Harbor as an independent dealer’s services agency.  Rob began what would become the Safe Harbor Resource Group with a ‘bits & pieces’ approach to establishing partnerships with potential dealer clients. Start with something small and earn your opportunity with performance. That was the creed.  Our very first product was an RV roadside assistance program at an RV dealership in the Midwest.  That one small product was a Segway into credit life & accident health insurance, service contracts, gap insurance, paint & fabric programs, and theft. Building relationships with dealers built on trust and professional service became the agencies leading core value. 

2008

After an 8-year relationship of working with and mentoring under Rob in an automotive and RV dealership, Scott Miller joined forces with Rob as a partner and helped forge the framework of what would be the national agency Safe Harbor has become today. Selling his first vehicle at 20 years old, Scott would spend the next decade as an F&I manager, Sales Manager, and General Manager in both the automotive and RV industries. With expertise in multiple industries and rapid escalation through the ranks of a dealership, Scott was equipped with a unique set of skills and knowledge that few people could attain in such a short period. At that time, with over 30 years of dealership management experience, Scott & Rob were able to work with dealers through a position of accomplishment and track record. With the emergence of online technology and new ancillary products, Safe Harbor established itself as a reputable local midwestern agency that could evolve with the times. Built on trusted dealer relationships and a focus on developing F&I managers the right way, Safe Harbor developed a unique and reliable brand.

2009-2010

As a growing agency, Chelsea Sallese joined the team as the first automotive account manager. Chelsea's education and determination enabled the agency to sign and launch larger dealer networks broadening the company's reach. The 2008 financial crisis positioned Safe Harbor to create the RV management contract division bringing in the first RV account managers and sit-in specialists. Phil Lagore joined the team in 2009 and helped create the groundwork for what would become one of our most unique company services. With struggling dealers needing truly qualified trainers and consultants, Safe Harbor was able to expand into larger automotive groups and RV stores in multiple states without sacrificing the quality and integrity of the Safe Harbor brand.

2011-2016

After years of development and a carefully selected partnership with an administrator, Safe Harbor became a national agency with the launch of an exclusive lifetime warranty program for the RV industry. In 2013, Keith Gecking, with over 20 years of agency experience and a trusted Safe Harbor sit-in specialist, joined the team to help lay the foundation of the RV division in over 40 states. This national exposure and experience enabled Safe Harbor to develop the infrastructure and staff to bring to dealers programs that would otherwise not be available from a local servicing agency. Haley Sandlin also joined the team in 2013 as a dual-purpose account manager and controller. Equipped with a college degree and years of F&I industry exposure, Haley helped lay the groundwork for the compliance division and administrative arm needed to keep pace with an expansive company. 

2017-Present

Safe Harbor evolves into a full dealer development agency. Being at the forefront of technology and the ability to attract the finest F&I specialist in the world, Safe Harbor continues to grow at a thoughtfully appropriate pace. With the addition of seasoned F&I managers, trainers, and administrative staff, new programs such as online classrooms, F&I academies, performance coaching, and management contracts, have put Safe Harbor on the cutting edge of dealer services. 

Taking the original ‘bits and pieces’ approach, combined with a trusted reputation and over 100 years of combined experience – Safe Harbor has been able to grow with its dealer partners in what we call the Safe Harbor Way. .