office team around the table

Careers at Watertown Ford Chrysler

“We have nothing of higher value than our people.”

Team meeting in the office

Our History

Watertown Motor Company (Watertown Ford Chrysler) started in 2001 when the Rydell Group out of Grand Forks, ND purchased the former Bob Hayes dealership. The Rydell Group’s mission is to help make owner/dealers out of its distinguished employees, and this dealership was intended for Scott Driscoll and his wife Jodi. Scott, as dealer, would transform this dealership into a market leader for the area and establish a company with a strong culture based on the foundations of the Rydell Groups’ philosophy, “To be so effective that we are able to be helpful to others” which puts customer enthusiasm and employee satisfaction at the forefront of our company’s priorities.

The company continued to grow and expand, adding a body shop (Auto Body Solutions) in 2007 and a budget lot in 2010. The budget lot would later expand and be relocated to the former Billions dealership and would be joined there by our reconditioning department. In 2018, we would acquire our Bobcat franchise that would join with our budget center and reconditioning department, from this location we run all our Bobcat sales, parts, and service functions. The company continues to grow and expand currently totaling around 120 employees over three locations. We have provided countless opportunities to our employees over the years such as arranging training to become line technicians. Many of our employees have moved up in the company with a number moving into management positions and even have been given opportunities by the Rydell Group to have their own stores.

helping hands

Community Partnership

Our owner Scott and Jodi are very active in the community as well as with local charities. They also encourage this involvement amongst their employees. The dealership participates in United Way, People Against Child Hunger, Boys and Girls Club, and the dealership regularly donates money and merchandise to any number of local fundraisers and charity drives. Scott and Jodi also started a tradition of hosting a community Thanksgiving meal at the dealership in order to provide a place for people that might otherwise be alone on the holiday. They also deliver Thanksgiving dinners to those that cannot get to the dealership. It has been a great success serving hundreds of meals every year. Another great program initiated by a group of employees with the backing of Scott and Jodi is our Pay It Forward Committee that seeks to provide assistance employees for any number of reasons. This committee receives funding from our Jeans Fridays and from Scott and Jodi. They use these funds to help employees with various situations such as medical bills, car bills, work boots, etc. They also organize an Angel Tree at Christmas, providing hams and turkeys at Thanksgiving, and various company picnics and events during the year. Besides monetary assistance they will also pull together employee volunteers to help other employees with things such as shingling and yard clean up.

Black and white photo of cars

Building A Legacy

Watertown Motor Company (Watertown Ford Chrysler) started in 2001 when the Rydell Group out of Grand Forks, ND purchased the former Bob Hayes dealership. The Rydell Group’s mission is to help make owner/dealers out of its distinguished employees, and this dealership was intended for Scott Driscoll and his wife Jodi. Scott, as dealer, would transform this dealership into a market leader for the area and establish a company with a strong culture based on the foundations of the Rydell Groups’ philosophy, “To be so effective that we are able to be helpful to others” which puts customer enthusiasm and employee satisfaction at the forefront of our company’s priorities.

The company continued to grow and expand, adding a body shop (Auto Body Solutions) in 2007 and a budget lot in 2010. The budget lot would later expand and be relocated to the former Billions dealership and would be joined there by our reconditioning department. In 2018, we would acquire our Bobcat franchise that would join with our budget center and reconditioning department, from this location we run all our Bobcat sales, parts, and service functions. The company continues to grow and expand currently totaling around 120 employees over three locations. We have provided countless opportunities to our employees over the years such as arranging training to become line technicians. Many of our employees have moved up in the company with a number moving into management positions and even have been given opportunities by the Rydell Group to have their own stores.

On a mission to do things differently from any other dealers, we focus our efforts on providing unmatched quality automotive products and service. We implemented the ‘Best Price Philosophy’, which means no haggle and no hassle, in order to provide a more relaxed, honest, and enjoyable car buying experience. It is our mission to exceed our customers’ and employees’ expectations, maintaining their loyalty for a lifetime. We recognize the greatest resource we have is our employees and we never take that for granted. We strive to fill open positions within our ranks first, creating career paths for many of our employees regardless of where they start in our company.

We are very proud of our culture which largely comes from being a part of the Rydell Auto Group. The Rydell Auto Group was founded in 1954 and has grown into one of the largest privately held dealership groups in the United States. Our Founder, Leonard Rydell, had many strongly held business and personal philosophies that served him well and help guide us through our daily business and personal decisions.

Handshake

Rydell's Vision & Mission

Rydell’s Vision: To be so effective that we are able to be helpful to others.

Rydell’s Mission:

Industry Leader: Our goal is to be an industry leader in providing unmatched quality automotive products and services.

Meeting Needs: We will constantly strive to meet the changing needs of our customers. Our aim is to provide an atmosphere that encourages employee teamwork, integrity and excellence.

Constant Growth: Together we will set and continually improve sales, service and operational standards to ensure long-term market leadership and profitability.

Exceed Expectations: It is our mission to exceed our customers’ and employees’ expectations and maintain their loyalty for a lifetime.

Rydell’s Philosophy

The Rydell philosophy is based on five key areas that we believe are critical to business success:

  • Customer Enthusiasm
  • Employee Satisfaction
  • Financial Performance
  • Market Effectiveness
  • Ongoing Improvement

Our philosophy holds that each area is of equal importance and we continually strive to reach a level of excellence in each area. However, in any planning or decision making process, or in any situation of seeming conflict or contradiction among the five critical areas, Customer Enthusiasm will always carry the most weight.

Rydell Values

People sitting at the office

Honesty & Integrity

We believe that all decisions are to be made with integrity. Leadership is setting good examples for others to follow, expecting as much from yourself as from others.

Office party

Individual Responsibility & Accountability

We believe that we are responsible to satisfy the needs of our customers for all our products and services. Individual accountability for our own performance and for the quality of our products will demonstrate to our customers that we are enthusiastic about them and really care.

Man sitting at desk with laptop

Unconditional Dedication to Excellence

We believe that there is no place for mediocrity and halfhearted efforts. We accept personal responsibility for overcoming obstacles and being the very best. We actively choose to excel in every aspect of our personal and professional lives.

Cooperation & Communication

Close mutual support of one another is a fundamental tenet of ours. We value open communication and encourage new ideas, realizing that teamwork produces a better employee work environment and enthusiastic customers and suppliers.

Our People

We have nothing of greater value than our people. We respect the uniqueness of every individual and believe that such an attitude will build a team of confident, creative members possessing a high degree of initiative, self-respect and self-discipline.

Ongoing Improvement

We believe in not accepting the status quo, in constant improvement, and in the value of ongoing education in any form. We believe in providing opportunity for personal, professional and organizational growth within our Company.

Being Good Community Citizens

We give willingly to and are actively involved in the support of our communities, because they provide us our success.

How We Care For Our Team

Our people come first! We will help you get up to speed once you join our team

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance and 401K Plan offered

Vacation, Sick, Holiday Pay & Employee Discounts on products and services

Great opportunities to make your mark & effect change

Testimonials

Watertown Ford Chrysler invests heavily into its employee’s futures by providing extensive training and helping to advance them in their career paths.

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Bryce Peterson

Chrysler Master Technician

"The best part of working here, in my experience, is the honesty, trust, hard work, and loyalty are rewarded to employees in this business. From ownership/management, all the way to push mowing the boulevard, you are an important youth in the sprocket to keep the wheel turning."

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Sawyer Nelson

Ford Certified Service Technician

"Having started out in the Quick Lane, I had an interest in being a technician. The dealership, seeing my potential, helped sponsor me for the Ford Assets program. I’m now a certified Ford technician. They provided a great opportunity to grow my career."

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Brandon Lee

Office Manager

"I have had a number of experiences and opportunities here that have been instrumental in shaping my professional life. I think our company is focused on creating a community for its employees and giving them opportunities to grow and advance. We as a company only succeed when our employees are successful and happy in their own professional lives and pursuits."

Gil Lardy

Parts Advisor (37 years)

“I started here when it was Bob Hayes and continued on after Scott and Jodi purchased the dealership in 2001. In my 37 years here, I have seen the company grow and expand, especially under Scott’s leadership, offering many new opportunities to its employees and rewarding longevity.”

Jr. VandeZande

Sales Consultant (30 years)

“One of the things I find best about Watertown Ford Chrysler is its focus on giving back, not just to the community, but also the employees. When a colleague and I came up with an idea for a program to give back to the employees, the owners endorsed it full heartedly. Our idea, the Pay It Forward committee, has been running for over 7 years providing thousands back to employees and their families.”

Careers