FIRST PLACE: Auto Dealership
HONORABLE MENTION: Auto Service, Brake Service
Bill Colwell Ford has been serving the Cedar Valley and the surrounding areas for the past 32 years. Bill Colwell Ford, located in Hudson, wants to thank all their loyal customers for voting Bill Colwell Ford the Cedar Valley’s No. 1 overall dealership to do business with. Their goal is to make sure that they make the buying process and ownership experience simple, stress-free, and non-confrontational for each of their customers and the reward is their customer’s loyalty.
Bill Colwell Ford is a family owned and operated dealership
with Bill Colwell, Owner, and his son, Blake Colwell, General Manager. The
automotive industry runs deep in the Colwell blood line starting when Bill
Colwell Sr. opened his first used car store in Mt. Morris, IL in 1960. The
Colwell family eventually moved to the Cedar Valley where Bill Colwell Sr. and
Bill Colwell Jr. established Bill Colwell’s Auto Mart in Waterloo in 1975. In 1984,
Bill Colwell Jr. bought the Ford franchise from Keith Motor Company and opened
Bill Colwell Ford.
In the past 32 years the corner of Highway 63 and Waterloo Road in Hudson has changed quite a bit. Bill knew that at some point he would need to expand the business in order to accommodate the growth the company had seen. When the building and land directly behind Bill Colwell Ford became available, Bill saw an opportunity and purchased what had previously been Kerry Ingredients. In 2012, the renovation process began. A new, spacious showroom was added to the front of the old building allowing for more desks for sales staff and showroom floor to showcase more vehicles. The previous building was converted into office space, a comfortable service lounge, and a state-of-the-art service department. Once the new building was completed in July of 2013, the process of removing the previous dealership, which had been there since 1960, began. Finally, in October of 2013, the journey came to an end and the Grand Re-Opening of Bill Colwell Ford was held.
More recently, in order to accommodate the needs of their
customers, Bill Colwell Ford expanded again and opened the Cedar Valley Quick
Lane Tire & Auto Center in July. The Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center provides
a full range of services including oil changes and essential maintenance,
tires, alignments, brakes and more for all makes and models. The Service Department
at Bill Colwell Ford continues their regular hours to handle major repairs and
warranty work. The Quick Lane offers no appointment necessary for customers,
but customers still have the option to call or book an appointment online. 
“The main reason we decided to open the Quick Lane is convenience for our customers. With extended hours, no appointment necessary, and a comprehensive vehicle inspection we’re able to accommodate our customers’ needs and keep providing the same great service we’ve been providing the last 32 years,” said Bill Colwell.
Bill Colwell Ford believes it is important to keep evolving as a company and stay up-to-date with their customer’s needs, but even with all the changes over the past 32 years there are a few things that have remained constant. In an age where people switch jobs or careers every couple years now, Bill Colwell Ford has four employees who have been here the entire 32 years they’ve been in business. These employees include Bill Colwell himself, Kurt Kienitz, Assistant Service Manager; Joel Peterson, Automotive Technician; and Kim Johnson, Automotive Technician. And there are countless other employees who have been there 20+ years.
“I believe one of the main reasons Bill Colwell Ford has
been successful all these years is because Bill treats his customers and
employees with respect and fairness. He is an honest businessman who works
hard,” said Kurt Kienitz.
With 32 years of hard work it’s no surprise that Bill
Colwell Ford has won its fair share of awards. Bill Colwell Ford has won numerous
customer satisfaction awards, including the prestigious President’s Award from
Ford Motor Company three times. The award recognizes dealers for excellence in
providing outstanding customer service and satisfaction. Most recently, Bill
Colwell Ford has been listed as one of the 2016 Top 150 Workplaces in Iowa by
the Des Moines Register. The Top Workplaces lists are based solely on the
results of an employee feedback survey administered by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC,
a leading research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace
improvement. Several aspects of workplace culture were measured, including
Alignment, Execution, and Connection, just to name a few.
“This has been a big year for Bill Colwell Ford. We opened the Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center, were named the Best of Best in the Cedar Valley by our customers, and were named a Top 150 Workplace by our employees. It’s really been a humbling and proud moment to know that our customers and our employees really appreciate everything we do,” commented Bill Colwell.
Even with everything going on at Bill Colwell Ford they still are able to find time to give back to the community. Earlier this week Bill Colwell Ford recently held their 8th Annual Drive 4 UR School event for the Hudson Athletic Booster Club. As of 2015, Bill Colwell Ford has raised $45,220 for the organization and that number keeps growing. The Booster Club is able to use that money for uniform and equipment replacement for the students. Bill Colwell Ford has also worked with other organizations including the Cedar Valley Hospice, March of Dimes, Give 2 the Troops, Beyond Pink TEAM, and most recently the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. They were able to surpass their goal of 300 items by collecting a total of 548 items to be donated. Those 548 items totaled to be more than 654 pounds, which is the equivalent of 545 meals.
“Being able to give back to those who have given us a chance to earn their business is what keeps our business going. The Cedar Valley is a great community and we’re happy to give back and be a part of it,” said Bill Colwell.
If you are in the market for a new, pre-owned, or Certified Pre-Owned vehicle feel free to give Bill Colwell Ford a call or visit their new website www.billcolwellford.com, which has thousands of pictures and information on their inventory. If you’re not in the market for a new vehicle, they also have an outstanding Service Department and brand new Quick Lane facility to help maintain your current vehicle. Of course, you can always stop by the dealership to get assistance with any automotive need, or just to say hi and enjoy a cup of coffee.
*This article was originally published in the Waterloo Courier, September 2016.