Laura’s nominator begins by asking: “How do you describe Ms. Everything?” Laura began working for Vogt RV World as a teenager and she just turned 67. She has been the office assistant, title clerk, finance manager, chief financial officer, controller, office manager, etc. She did and does what needs to get done, and has been the backbone to the original owner, Danny Vogt, and the rest of the family as they have taken on duties of the day-to-day.
How has Laura demonstrated leadership and innovation within her field?
Laura has continued to develop, learning huge roles on the fly and over time has trained every administrative employee at the dealership for 50 years. She is the educator, the shoulder to cry on and the direct link to the CEO and president of the company. She has turned her “one-lady show” into a department.
What measurable impact has Laura had on Vogt RV World?
Laura has been with the company since it had five employees, and she has been the rock as they grew to five locations and over 100 employees. She literally handled every franchise agreement, legal document, etc., her nominator says, adding that without her none of the dealership’s growth would’ve been possible.
How does Laura contribute to the ongoing support and growth of women in the RV industry?
Laura has allowed her roles to be broken out, and we now have four women and a new administration building to support the dealerships. “When I started in the late ’90s, she was one of only a handful of women in the dealership, and now there are women in every department. She has encouraged, vouched for, interviewed dozens (if not hundreds) of candidates,” her nominator says. When a candidate lacked education or experience, she convinced the team to allow her to take them under her wing and get them ready. And she has done a phenomenal job. The company has women in service management, sales at every location, warranty, detail, coordinators, advisers, marketing — everywhere! According to her nominator, Laura is their mentor, their shoulder to lean on and a mother-like figure. She consistently takes up for “her girls,” and they are consistently paid above comparable position standards.
What challenge(s) has Laura faced in her career and how did she overcome it?
Laura’s nominator says that starting off as a teenager at the dealership, everything is an obstacle, and she became the heart and soul of the place. She is currently doing all of her duties, managing the admin team and continuing to handle all of the retired CEO’s needs (she is officially the executive secretary to the CEO, and that is a job in itself). On a personal level, her nominator says Laura has been through a lot this year. She recently lost her brother and her husband. Her mother is in and out of assisted living, and she is always the first call to handle family situations. Laura still shows up to get the reports done, often coming in on weekends even though she is encouraged not to.
What else should we know about Laura?
She was given the first ever Danny Vogt Founder’s Award at the company awards benefit. The Founder’s Award goes to the person who has consistently over many years performed her duties and more, showcasing a servant’s heart, been an amazing team member, and overall embodies work and fun and heart and excellence. This award is named after the company’s founder, Danny Vogt. Laura was the unanimous winner, her nominator says.
From Laura
What advice do you have for women in the RV industry?
“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” Always be prepared for any changes that come in this industry. Be prepared and be willing.
What does it mean to you to be a Women in Business honoree?
I am truly honored. When I first began working with the Vogt family 45 years ago, it was all men in the RV industry. Sure, there was always a special woman behind those men. But as these years have passed, I see more and more women owning, running and living the RV way. Ladies, you only have one way to go and that is up.
For more 2025 Women in Business honorees, click here.
