Shimkat 75th Anniversary by Newspaper

Congratulations on your 75th Anniversary!! Quality Dependability

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Des Moines, IA

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Table of Contents page

How It All Began

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Transition in Leadership page

Timeline

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Today’s Landscape

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Shimkat Motor Company Employees 3

By ERIC PRATT sports@messengernews.net Michelle Colshan Graphic Design

For 75 years, Shimkat Motor Company has served the Fort Dodge area as a family-owned, family-first operation.

The core tenets are tried and true: honest work, personable service, humble support for each other and an altruistic attitude toward the community. Yet a person won’t find these expectations posted on an office wall or in an employee handbook. “We’ve never forced any of those ideas,” said Bruce Shimkat, a long-time co-owner who worked for the company from 1974 until his retirement in 2019. “It’s just what we do and what we have believed from day one. That’s who we are and how we were all raised. “We’ve always desired for there to be a real comfort level in our dealership, whether it’s the customers or the employees. The passion we’ve had for and shared with Fort Dodge…the people have been so good to us. Because of that, there were never any written rules or requirements. Didn’t have to be. It just came with the territory of doing business here.”

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How It All Began

In June of 1947, brothers Edward A. and George Shimkat opened a DeSoto and Plymouth dealership in Fort Dodge. They operated out of a temporary headquarters while a new building was being prepared at 1225 Second Avenue South. For more than five decades, Shimkat Motor Company resided at that south-side Fort Dodge location. Dodge was added to the lineup in 1957, followed by Chrysler in 1964. In 2004, the dealership moved into the former Kmart building at 3126 Fifth Avenue South, where it still resides today. “I’m quite proud of how far we’ve come and the fact that we’re still going strong,” said Ed C. Shimkat Sr., who joined the company in 1966 and retired in 2009. “We’ve always been about getting to know the community and our customers first and foremost. In a bigger city, you tend to lose that personal touch. Fort Dodge has been the perfect size for us.” Ed Sr. added that with the exception of attending the University of Iowa and being away for six years, Fort Dodge has been home for his family.

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“We never regretted it,” he said.“We’ve seen a lot of ups and downs, of course, but loyalty to our core philosophies and patience helped us through. We’ve basically been a two-family member ownership since we were founded by dad and Uncle George.” Ed Sr. noted a very low rate of employee turnover through the years which, in turn, led to more customer satisfaction and confidence. “Our top priority has always been treating our employees like family,” he said. “Several have been with us for decades. I think because we’ve emphasized (a strong and stable culture) from the top down, that gets passed along to our customers and the community. They’ve invested in us because we invest in them.” Bruce Shimkat pointed out that the servant-leadership mentality was instilled at an early age. Bruce and Ed Sr. spent time working in both the body shop and parts department while learning the ropes. “I remember starting at 10 or 12 years old, sweeping floors, washing cars and doing whatever needed to be done,” he said. “We all worked our way up. Being hands-on and learning every corner of the business was just a part of our world from the time we started until we retired.”

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Transition In Leadership Ed Sr. and Bruce took over the family business and changed with the ebbs and flows of society from the 1960 and 1970s through the modern era. In 2009, Ed Jr. and Bill Shimkat – both sons of Ed Sr., who also spent years with their sleeves rolled up working through the ranks – began their own journey as coowners. “Dating back to my grandfather and great uncle starting this right after World War II, even though times have changed, our principles haven’t,” Ed Jr. said. “We’ve always emphasized doing something because it’s the right thing to do, not for publicity or popularity. That goes for how we treat our customers through how we treat our employees. You earn their respect – you don’t fast-talk your way through it.” Bill added to that “making it better for everyone is just what we do.” “That way, everyone rises,” Bill said. “I love this industry, the people I work with and the Fort Dodge community. We wouldn’t invest in it the way we do if we didn’t have both a belief and a comfort level here.

“You don’t get a lot of that in a bigger city or marketplace. That personal feel. Customers are friends. Employees are friends. You do your best to take care of them.” General manager T.J. Pingel joined the Shimkat team in 2014, then moved into his current role three years ago. “I know it’s cliche to say, but they really make you feel like a part of the family here,” Pingel said. “I’ve worked other places and had other experiences, but this is special. They really instill that balance between your work life, your family life and service to your community. Sometimes in this day and age, that’s easier said than done. “I moved away from Fort Dodge, lived in Omaha and attended Creighton University. Moving back here and eventually connecting with the Shimkats made everything click for me. I’m incredibly appreciative of the opportunity they’ve given me, and blessed to be here in Fort Dodge. I feel like we’re able to make a real difference, thanks to the relationships we build through our customers and each other.”

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Brian Dencklau is a service manager who started with Shimkat Motor Company in 1975. He’s stayed with the company for nearly five full decades because “they treat people right.” “From Edward and George to Bruce and Ed (Sr.) and now Ed (Jr.) and Bill…they understand that business and families come from the same people,” said Dencklau, who is retiring at the end of the year. “They always go above and beyond for their customers and their employees. There has been an open-door policy for as long as I can remember when it comes to questions or concerns. “Back in 1947, they saw something in Fort Dodge. Now here we are today, 75 years later, and those investments have reached multiple generations. They’ve done things the right way. I’ve seen it. You can’t fake your way to success; it’s all about communicating, being personable, and really caring about the people who have invested in you and trust you.”

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1947

Shimkat Motor Company opens 12th Street De Soto — Plymouth Founded by Ed & George Shimkat

Moved into completed new building, 2nd Avenue South

1948

1957

Acquired Dodge franchise

1960 DeSoto ended production

1964

Acquired Chrysler franchise

1966

Ed C. joined the dealership

1974

Bruce joined the dealership

2001

Plymouth ended production

Acquired the Jeep franchise

Acquired Fiat franchise

1991 Ed A. joined the dealership

1992

Bill joined the dealership

2020 2004

Purchased the former Kmart building renovated and relocated

Congratulations & Thank You We appreciate your support of our annual fundraiser, socks for the sole and coats for kids programs!

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Today’s Landscape Shimkat Motor Company currently has 30 full-time employees. It offers new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Fiat vehicles, as well as a wide variety of used inventory. Shimkat Motor Company started selling and servicing commercial trucks in 2017, and in 2019, became a certified agriculture dealer. In 2020, They added their newest franchise, Fiat. Even through the ups and downs – from wars and recessions to prosperous stretches – the company’s focus has been to keep doing what they do best. That time-tested philosophy has been put to the test both during and in the aftermath of the global pandemic, where availability of parts and inventory has been more unpredictable than ever before. “Because they’ve been through a little bit of everything here, we’re structured to weather the storm,” Pingel said. “There have been so many different and unique challenges with each decade, from the 1940s through today. It could be very easy to worry in a general sense, especially with what’s going on in our industry now, but we don’t because of our foundation.

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“It’s really nice to have consistent leadership that isn’t acting like there’s a fire to put out around every corner, though. We’re planning on being here and staying here, offering the same customer service while evolving and moving into the future. We are so thankful for the support we get from the Fort Dodge community and their belief in us.” Bill Shimkat noted trying times only reveal the depth of a company’s roots. “I’ve seen a lot in this business, from the farm crisis in the ‘80s to a recession in the ‘90s and then the ‘Great Recession’ (from 2007-09),” he said. “You tend to gain a lot of perspective through those experiences. Our main goal (in managing through COVID-19) has always been to make sure our employees stay safe and feel safe. “We’ve seen some difficult moments, but we’re a family and we take care of each other. And I’m not just talking about my brother and me. We’re looking out for everyone equally.” Ed Shimkat Jr. added that “not cutting any corners and focusing on our people” is what will help Shimkat continue to prosper in the years to come.

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“Dating back to my father and uncle and all the way to my grandfather and great uncle, we won’t ask anyone to do a job or perform a task we’re not willing to do ourselves,” he said. “Our employees see that, and I truly think it resonates with them. We work hard to earn the respect and trust of our customers…again, employees see that, and it becomes a part of our culture.” “The Fort Dodge community has really been forward thinking in the last 20 years especially – more so than other towns our size. We’re excited about that. The nice thing about a place like this is that I can run into someone at the grocery store and spend a half an hour talking to a customer who tells stories about when their parents or grandparents or even great-grandparents bought from us. They still come to us today. We have relationships that started 75 years ago. That’s special.” Pingel credits Shimkat Motor Company for being the professional – and person – he is today. “I see the impact we have on our customers’ lives, and how real that is for everyone involved,” Pingel said. “It makes a difference. You recognize faces and cars and hear stories about what we sold someone in 1955, 1975, 1995 or 2015. We’re a family, and Fort Dodge will always be home.”

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EXECUTIVES

ADMINISTRATION

Shimkat Motor Company Employees

Bill Shimkat

T.J. Pingel

Connie Conboy

Dealer Principal 31 years

Dealer Principal 30 years

General Manager 8 years

Receptionist

Chris Wilson Business Manager 6 years

Cameron Nelson Sales Manager

Joe Seca Sales Consultant

Lea Anderson 8 years

Inventory Specialist 10 years

8 years

Jimmy Fitzgerald Sales Consultant

SALES

Ed Shimkat Jr.

Dick Williams Sales Manager

8 years

5 years

3 years

75 Years

DETAIL

doesn’t happen by chance.

Nick Stone

Sales Consultant

2 years

Logan Schuur

Josh Thielen

Sales Consultant 1st year

Detail Manager

5 years

It takes more than just one Family.

SERVICE

Shimkat Motor Company Employees

Travis Jass

Jeremy Roe

Service Manager 47 years

Service Manager 25 years

Service Advisor

Will Adams Service Technician 7 years

Issac Banks Austin Stewart Service Technician 1st year Service Technition 4 years

It takes a Team of dedicated people.

2 years

Keaton

Ethan Barnes Express Lane

1st year

Keaton Reynolds Express Lane 1st year

Sean Wegener Service Advisor

1st year

Matt Jass Junior Technician 1st year

Tyler Nitch Service Technician 15 years

Stuart Faiferlick Express Lane

8 years

PARTS

Brian Dencklau

Matt Creger Parts Manager

Chris Pedersen 12 years

Parts Advisor

1st year

Congratulations

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To Our Community, Since 1947, the Shimkat family has had the pleasure of serving North Central Iowa. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, we would like to extend our appreciation to our friends, our hometown and our loyal customers and families throughout the region, for the support we have received all of these years. It has been our honor and our pleasure serving you for threequarters of a century. Ed and George Shimkat founded the company back in 1947, with the philosophy of fair and honest dealings in a customer friendly environment. For three generations, this philosophy has been the core of how we do business in the dealership. Those values have been engrained in each one of us and will continue for years to come. Our success is not ours alone though. We have been blessed throughout the years to have such customer-focused and hard working employees. They have been and continue to be the foundation of our dealership. Shimkat Motor Company would not exist or be the company we are today without them and they all deserve a special and heartfelt thank you. The amount of memories we have made with our wonderful customers is beyond measure. Throughout the years, we have become close friends with so many of you and have had the great distinction of being a part of many generations of your own families. From the thrill of sharing in the excitement of helping with the purchase of a first car, the moment of decisions between minivans and sports cars and through each generation of your family and ours, we are here, TOGETHER, after all these years. We have loved every moment. It has been our privilege to serve you for 75 years! We look forward to delivering continued, award-wining service to our customers, employees and community for many years to come.

As always... the best people, products, prices and selection are at Shimkat Motor Company - Fort Dodge. Thank You!

Sincerely, Bill Shimkat

Ed Shimkat, Jr.

Bruce Shimkat

Ed Shimkat, Sr.