Background on Kalispell Ford
In 2007, Gerrid Gandrud brought the Rydell Group philosophies to the Flathead Valley with the Purchase of Glacier Toyota. Mr. Gandrud transformed that dealership into Kalispell Toyota and immediately implemented the fully transparent sales process for customers and a commitment to helping each employee reach their fullest potential. Gerrid’s story started at a Chevrolet store in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Starting in the wash bay when he was 16, then shuttle driver, lot boy to finally becoming a car salesman. In 2000, Gerrid accepted a position as a Sales Manager at Ressler Chevrolet, Cadillac and Toyota- 3 Stores, 1 building. Gerrid continued his career in Bozeman, Montana as a Sales Manager for the next 3 years. Mike Aus, who started as a mechanic at a Rydell store and eventually purchased a 5-brand General Motors and Toyota dealership in a town called Rhinelander Wisconsin, called Gerrid in 2003 and offered him a position as a Sales Manager. Gerrid got promoted to General Manager after a year and a half! He continued his career as the General Manager for the next two and a half years. In 2007, the opportunity to purchase Glacier Toyota presented itself. Gerrid decided to pursue his dream of owning his own dealership, with the help of the Rydell Group. Gerrid and his wife Candace moved to Kalispell in 2007. In 2009, Gerrid and Candace had their first daughter, Isabella. Three years later they welcomed their son Layton. Both of the Gandruds children attend school in the Kalispell area. Gerrid is proud to be a family man and enjoys spending time with his family on the lake. In 2014 he continued to grow his ownership with the purchase of Whitefish Ford and Volkswagen. Two years later he purchased Kalispell Ford and combined the two Ford stores into the new facility which now sits on Highway 93 South. During that same time period Whitefish Volkswagen moved to the new location and became Kalispell Volkswagen. With the purchase of the Whitefish stores, and Toyota, Gerrid created his own automotive group.
Stories like Gerrid’s are possible because of the partnership with the Rydell Group. With the philosophy of the Rydell Group to be a main street group, not a wall street group, Rydell provides the opportunity for people who grew up within the Rydell network to purchase dealerships and become 100% owned and operated by individuals, not corporations.
Every one of the 75 current locations are owned and operated by someone who has "grown up" within the organization while learning the operating philosophy. Rydell dealers have started in a Rydell store at almost every position including detailers, reconditioning department managers, service technicians, parts department managers, finance & insurance department managers, sales consultants, used car managers, and sales managers.
The Rydell Group is the only dealer group in the country to consistently provide the opportunity for its employees to own their own dealership 100%.