Meet our staff in Branson West, MO

Sammie wasn't just our greeter— she was our heart. From the moment she trotted through the front doors each morning with Scott, Sammie brought joy, comfort, and a wagging tail to everyone she met.

Her warm presence was felt by customers young and old, and she had a special gift for making children feel at home (often by playing right alongside them!). Known affectionately as "The GOAT" of dealership greeters, Sammie turned every visit to Oakley Auto World into something special. She had a way of knowing when someone needed a smile or a gentle nudge, and she gave both freely. Whether you came in to buy a car or just stopped by to say hello, Sammie made sure you left with a lighter heart. Though she has passed on, Sammie's spirit lives on in every kind gesture, every friendly welcome, and every tail wag we still imagine at the door. She'll forever be part of the Oakley Auto World family-and our story just wouldn't be the same without her.

Roletta "Walt" Oakley is the pioneering founder of Oakley Auto World. In 1993, after relocating from Omaha, Nebraska, where she owned and operated a successful pre-owned dealership-Walt brought her vision and industry expertise to the Ozarks and established what would become one of the region's top pre-owned auto dealerships.

Walt began her career in the late 1970s at a Chevrolet dealership in Kansas City and has spent decades building a reputation for honesty, excellence, and customer-first service. Her leadership laid the foundation for what Oakley Auto World is today. Now proudly run by her two sons-Jack Oakley as General Manager and Scott Oakley as Sales Manager-the dealership continues to thrive as a true family business. The next generation has also stepped in: Jacob her grandson works in the Sales department at the dealership, continuing the Oakley legacy. Walt's family roots run deep, though they also stretch far—her granddaughter lives in California, where she has made a name for herself as a successful creator and makeup artist and her youngest grandson Christian is already dreaming big and an entrepreneur in the making and karate black belt. Walt remains proud of her family's accomplishments, both near and far, and the lasting impact Oakley Auto World has made in the community she calls home.

Jack assisted in starting the family business in 1993 after helping his parents move to the Ozarks and decided to make the area his home. Since then, he's become an essential part of Oakley Auto World, overseeing everything from inventory purchasing to customer satisfaction. Jack is happily married to his wife, Wendy, and is a proud father of a son and daughter. When he's not at the dealership, you'll likely find him spending time with his family, watching sports, or manning the grill-where he's just as skilled with a spatula as he is with a steering wheel.

If there's a fire to put out, Scott Oakley is already two steps ahead. As Sales Manager, Scott keeps the Oakley Auto World sales team sharp, well-trained, and ready to deliver the kind of top-tier service our guests deserve. With a deep-rooted passion for the car business and years of experience under his belt, Scott plays a vital role in keeping the dealership running like a well-oiled machine. Scott quite literally grew up in the auto industry and has been instrumental in Oakley Auto World's continued growth and success. His dedication to both the team and our customers is unmatched—he's the guy who makes sure everyone is taken care of, every single day. Scott is happily married to Lindsey, and together they have one son. Outside the dealership, he enjoys quality family time, traveling to new places, and cheering on his beloved Denver Broncos (even during the tough seasons now that's loyalty).

A cornerstone of the Oakley Auto World team since 1998, Chris Horton has been expertly serving as Business Manager for over 16y years. With deep knowledge in finance and compliance, Chris ensures every deal is handled with precision and care. He's also the bridge between our team and our trusted network of lenders maintaining strong relationships that benefit both the dealership and our customers. Chris is passionate about staying informed and providing continued education in all things finance, protection plans, and service agreements. His dedication to doing things the right way has helped build the trust our customers have come to expect. A Branson-area native, Chris has been married to his wife, Jennifer, for over 26 years. They have two sons who keep him busy-and when he's not at the dealership, you'll probably find him either on the lake fishing with his boys or playing with grandkids.

Tracy Shelden is the engine behind the scenes at Oakley Auto World quietly (but efficiently!) keeping everything running smoothly since 2015. As Office Manager, she handles an incredible range of responsibilities with precision, professionalism, and a calm that keeps the rest of us sane. With many years of office management experience, Tracy has become an indispensable part of the Oakley family.Originally from Wilmington, Illinois, Tracy brings both Midwestern grit and heart to her role.She's known not only for her organizational wizardry, but also for the warm, dependable energy she brings into the workplace every day.Tracy is married to her husband, John, and they have two sons and one daughter. When she's not juggling numbers, schedules, and the 1,001 other things she does, she's spending time with her three beautiful granddaughters her favorite role of all.

With over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, Chad Gunther brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and a genuine desire to help people into every interaction. A proud graduate of Springfield, MO, Chad has dedicated his career to making sure each customer feels confident, comfortable, and completely satisfied with their vehicle-buying experience.Chad loves seeing the smile on a customer's face when everything comes together-and he works hard to ensure every guest is treated like part of the Oakley Auto World family. Whether you're buying your first car or your fifth, Chad is ready to guide you through the process with professionalism and care.He looks forward to helping you find the perfect vehicle and welcoming you to the Oakley Auto World family.

Jacob has been part of the Oakley Auto World family since the age of 15, starting out washing and detailing vehicles. With a passion for the automotive world and a strong work ethic, he quickly expanded his role — taking on responsibilities in vehicle photography and website inventory management. Today, with over four years of experience in vehicle sales, Jacob is a knowledgeable and dependable Senior Sales Consultant, helping customers find quality pre-owned vehicles they can trust. His deep understanding of every step of the dealership process — from presentation to purchase — gives him a unique advantage when assisting buyers. Known for his integrity, attention to detail, and a genuine desire to help, he makes the car-buying experience simple, transparent, and enjoyable. Outside of work, he enjoys watching the KC Chiefs play, playing basketball, PC gaming and has found a passion for learning the art of grilling out for get-togethers. Whether you're buying your first vehicle or adding to the family fleet, Jacob is ready to help you every step of the way.

Howdy, I am Nikki Wells and I am one of the Office Assistants here at Oakley Auto World. I help with answering phones, filing, titles, service cashier and anything else needed to keep things running smoothly. I have over 10 years of customer service and office experience and I love being able to help people and make their day a little brighter. I enjoy the family atmosphere and the kindness that the Oakley’s show to everyone who walks through the doors. A professional accomplishment I am proud of is when I had the opportunity to create training manuals for several different computer input systems for customer service. I believe God has blessed me with the Spirit of excellence so I am always striving to do better than the day before. I know there will be challenges so I learn and move on with understanding. I am originally from Kalamazoo, MI but have been living in Texas the last 10 years. My husband and I moved to Branson in 2022 with our 2 Beautiful Shepherds and 2 Amazing Cats. We love the area, enjoy seeing all the shows and on our free time we like to go camping and visit new places. My vision for success is to be open to where God leads me and to always be willing to learn even if it is difficult. I believe in being the change you want to see so I will greet every guest with a smile, and a kind heart and hopefully if they are having a rough day I can bring a little sunshine.

Hello! I'm JJ Massey. I've been in the car industry since 2005, and I'm an associate here at Oakley Auto World, where I play a key role in keeping our administrative office running smoothly. From handling various administrative tasks to processing titles for the latest vehicles, I strive to ensure that your car buying or service experience is seamless and enjoyable. allowing our team to deliver the best service possible, I take great joy in supporting my team and creating an atmosphere where everyone I encounter leaves with a smile. It's fulfilling to know that my efforts contribute to a positive experience for our customers, vendors, and team alike! Before joining Oakley Auto World, I was a Finance Director at 417 magazine, where I developed a keen eye for detail. Now I bring that expertise to help ensure every aspect of your visit is handled with care. With kindness and accuracy as my guiding principles, I believe every customer deserves a warm welcome and efficient service. Whether you're picking up your new car or visiting for routine maintenance, I'm here to make every interaction feel personal and appreciated. When I'm not at the dealership, I'm soaking up time with my family in the beautiful Ozarks. I love catching live music, cheering on our favorite sports teams, and enjoying water activities. I also dabble in baking and gardening whenever I can. My vision for success is all about raising my kids, Laken and River, to be kind, Wonderful individuals. I aim to instill those same values in my work here at Oakley Auto World, creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and appreciated. Success for me is knowing that I'm contributing to a brighter future for me, my family, and my customers. I'm committed to making life easier for our customers, team members, and vendors. By providing friendly, accurate, and efficient service, I ensure that every visit to Oakley Auto World is a positive experience, whether you're here to explore new vehicles, get routine maintenance, or simply stop by for a chat.

Hayden Hursh is the go-to guy when it comes to getting the right parts at the right time. As PartsManager, Hayden oversees all parts ordering for both customer and dealership vehicles-making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. With four years of experience in the field, Hayden thrives on the variety of vehicles that roll through the shop, and he's always up for a challenge. Whether it's solving a parts issue or lending a hand in the service department, Hayden brings his full focus, effort, and problem-solving mindset to every situation. His "try anything once" attitude and commitment to constant improvement make him a valuable part of the Oakley Auto World team-and a dependable resource for both coworkers and customers alike.

With over 8 years of experience in the automotive industry, Angie is a dedicated Service Advisor committed to delivering a “red carpet” experience to every customer. Angie’s approach combines technical knowledge with genuine empathy, helping customers better understand their vehicles and feel confident in the service they receive. Angie takes pride in her professional journey, having worked her way up to become a Service Manager—a role she earned by overcoming challenges and dedicating herself to continuous education and growth. Her strong values of honesty and integrity guide every interaction; as she puts it, "I wouldn’t sell something to a customer that I wouldn’t recommend to my own family." Beyond the service drive, Angie is a proud mother of four—Skyler, Charles, Isabella, and Natalya—and enjoys fishing and crafting with her husband, Chris. Together, they tackle fun projects around the house, alongside their lively crew of three dogs and too many cats to count. Angie’s philosophy for success is simple: “Never stop learning and growing—be a good student of life.” She believes that by educating customers and treating them with transparency and respect, trust and loyalty naturally follow.

I work at Oakley Auto World in the Sales Department and I have been doing Auto Sales for over 20+ years. I love helping individuals and families find the perfect car that fits their needs and budget. Throughout my career I have been salesman of the month and had excellent customer service while doing so and I am glad to have had these accomplishments. I believe in being up front and honest about things any time I'm helping someone someone buy a car so that their experience is helpful the whole time. A little about myself, I'm from a small town outside of Kansas City and live Aurora, Mo. I enjoy spending time with my wife and children going to the lake and vacationing with them. I believe success is achieved when my customers are happy with vehicles they get, and I have learned from my years of experience that putting my customers needs first and providing prompt, courteous, and overall excellent customer services is so important long after the sale.

Hello, my name is Jeremy Zaruba. I was born and raised in Granite City IL I have lived in Spokane, Washington, Bonner Springs, Kansas and now my home in Branson, MO I started my career in the automotive industry in 2000 I have worn many many hats: sales manager, director of inventory management and director of operation. I enjoy outside activities: boating, fishing, and RVing I am married to my lovely wife, Lisa and our two rescue boy dogs, Gary and Rylee. The boat I have always wanted is a Chris Craft and my dream car is Porsche 911 GT3.

Meet Harlan Huff – Sales Professional

With over 15 years of experience in sales, Harlan Huff has built his career on connecting with customers in a genuine and friendly way. His approach is simple yet powerful: make people feel comfortable, earn their trust, and ensure every experience is positive and stress-free.

Harlan thrives on meeting new people and bringing smiles to their faces. He believes that happy customers make for a better day and a better workplace. One of his proudest professional accomplishments was solidifying a six-figure transportation contract with John Deere Corporate offices — a testament to his reliability, communication skills, and dedication to customer satisfaction.

Hailing from the Quad Cities area — Moline and Rock Island in Illinois, and Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa — Harlan enjoys spending his free time golfing, attending church, and being with family. His values of positivity and open dialogue guide both his professional and personal life.

For Harlan, success means spreading joy and staying optimistic: “Life is too short to be angry or mad.” That same positive energy fuels his service philosophy. He aims to make every guest smile, believing that “smiles are contagious — give one away and it will spread like a pandemic.”

Blake has been helping customers find the perfect vehicle since the summer of 2014. As a Sales Consultant, Blake takes pride in solving what he calls the “I need wheels” problem—helping people drive away in a car, truck, or SUV that truly fits their needs. What Blake enjoys most about his job is meeting new people. He believes every conversation is an opportunity to build lasting connections, and he loves guiding guests toward a vehicle they’ll be proud to own. Blake’s career is built on the values of integrity, respect, and quality. These principles are the foundation of everything he does, ensuring that each customer’s experience is built on trust and care. Outside of work, Blake is a proud husband and father of three. When he isn’t helping guests on the lot, you’ll often find him spending time with his family, fishing, or playing music. Blake’s vision of success is simple: helping every guest feel confident and excited about their purchase. His goal is to provide not just a car, but a solution that improves people’s lives and gives them a vehicle they’ll enjoy for years to come.