Posted on February 17, 2026 by Wendy Frost
Robert “Bobby” Cavender, president of Cavender Auto Group, will present the keynote address during the Carlos Alvarez College of Business Frost Distinguished Lecture on Feb. 24.
Robert "Bobby" Cavender
The lecture begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Richard S. Liu Auditorium (2.01.02) in the Business Building on the UT San Antonio Main Campus. The event is free and open to the public.
Cavender is president of Cavender Auto Group. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, he has led operations at their family-run dealership for more than four decades.
In 1993, he acquired a struggling Buick dealership and transformed it into one of the region’s top-performing stores. Today, as president of Cavender Buick GMC North, he leads 110 associates and has earned honors including GMC Mark of Excellence, GM Financial President’s Award and Buick Dealer of the Year.
Just this month Cavender was named a 2026 nominee for the TIME Dealer of the Year award, one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious honors. The nomination recognizes exceptional business performance and long-standing commitment to community service.
His people-first philosophy — rooted in lessons from his family — continues to guide the organization’s success. Through Cavender Cares, the company’s signature philanthropic initiative, more than $2 million and countless volunteer hours have been contributed in support of local charities.
Cavender Auto Group has partnered with the Alvarez College of Business to support recruitment, mentorship and professional development opportunities for business students. Earlier this year, the Cavender family made a generous gift in support of the college’s Business Honors Program. In recognition of their commitment, the program will carry the name Cavender Business Honors Program for the two-year duration of their gift.
The Frost Distinguished Lecture Series, which began in 1988, brings prominent business and community leaders to campus to share their knowledge and experiences with students and others in the university and business community.
— Wendy Frost
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