Founded in 1935, the Frank Kent Motor Company holds the distinction of remaining locally owned as well as family owned and operated. As the company celebrates 90 years serving the Fort Worth Community, it continues to honor the legacy of its founder, Frank Kent. As a leader in the automotive sales industry in the early 1900’s, Frank Kent founded and operated his dealerships with the guiding principles of providing exceptional service to customers, keeping a large selection of inventory on hand, and giving back to the community.
As the fourth generation to run the company, siblings Will Churchill and Corrie Fletcher carry on the tradition of morals, values, and ethics before profit. They also continue to grow and expand the company to meet the needs of the community. Under their leadership, Frank Kent Motor Company has grown to include two stand-alone Cadillac dealerships, in Fort Worth and Arlington. The company also encompasses Southwest ADI, a nationwide accessories distribution company, and other exciting enterprises such as Custom Koncepts, Fort Brewery, and Heim BBQ.
Part of what drew Marketing Director Aaron Heornke to Frank Kent five years ago was the company’s commitment to its employees and to serving the community. “One of the things I love about Frank Kent is that we are a very charitable company,” he shares. “Our tagline is ‘community driven, locally different since 1935’, and a big part of that is working with great organizations in the Fort Worth community. Being on the front lines of that is a blessing and I really get to see how working with the community makes a difference.”
Dream Park, a universally inclusive play area for kids of all ages and abilities, shines as just one example of Frank Kent’s community involvement. A few years ago, the company planned, raised funds for, and built the large play area which is located in Trinity Park. After completion, Frank Kent donated the area, which is enjoyed by countless children and their families, to the city of Fort Worth.
In addition to giving back to the community as a corporation, Frank Kent encourages employees to get involved and serve the community as well. “We always encourage our employees to get out and volunteer,” says Aaron. “We also empower employees to give back to the community by having them choose one organization to donate up to $500 to annually. For example, some choose local sports chapters, or they may have a kid who wants to attend cheerleading camp or a cheerleading competition. We'll write a check for $500, or whatever amount that they want up to $500, to sponsor that activity.”
An equally important aspect to Frank Kent’s connection to the Fort Worth community is being an active part of the growing economy and a constant and stable employer for local families. Many employees stay with the company long-term, providing continuity in service and in building relationships with customers and the community.
“The commitment to our employees is prevalent throughout the dealerships, where employee events and even sports teams are formed and sponsored by the company,” explains Aaron. “Making our employees not just co-workers, but a family you want to spend time with, even outside of work.”
Another outstanding quality of the company is treating customers fairly, which contributes to the high volume of repeat customers and customers who are themselves the third, fourth, and fifth generations to patron Frank Kent. This commitment is also reflected in the numerous awards and accolades the company continues to receive annually, including being awarded GM Dealer of the Year on multiple occasions and being recognized as a Cadillac Master Dealer.
“One thing that we do differently for our clients that you won't see in a lot of auto dealership groups is we never charge over MSRP,” explains Aaron. “We have never done that in the 90 years that we have been in business and that is part of the commitment to our community. We believe that profits come from continued business and the resiliency of our customers seeing us as somebody who is fair and transparent.”
As the team at Frank Kent Motor Company celebrates 90 years of serving Fort Worth and the surrounding communities, they invite you to stop by, say hello, and experience first hand what makes Frank Kent special. Frank Kent Cadillac is located at 3500 West Loop 820 South in Fort Worth. For more information, visit frankkentcadillac.com or call 817-953-2909. Also follow @FrankKentCadillac on Facebook to stay up to date on exciting opportunities and future plans.