History of Zender Ford
Zender Ford in Spruce Grove, Alberta was started in January of 1984 by Ken Zender (Zencor Equities Limited) and Pat Bowlen (owner of the Denver Broncos). By 1991 Zencor Equities Limited had purchased the interest of the Bowlen Group and was the 100% owner of Zender Ford Sales Ltd. This ownership structure stayed in place until 2004 when the Zender Auto Group Ltd. began to purchase portions of the business. The Zender Auto Group is a company owned by Shayne, Chad, and Codie, the children of Ken and Judy Zender. These individuals had been working at Zender Ford for many years in various positions. They earned the opportunity to become managers because of their education, skills, and passions for the auto industry. At present Chad Zender is the President of Zender Ford, Shayne Zender is Vice President of Zender Ford and the Used Car Manager. Codie Richard is Chief Financial Officer at both Zender Ford and Western Sterling Trucks. Chad and Shayne are both University Business Graduates and have also graduated from the National Automobile Dealer Academy in Washington DC. Codie is also a Business Graduate plus has had intensive training in accounting and computers.
Over the next four years the Zender Auto Group will complete their buyout of Zender Ford and own it 100%. The dealership’s land and buildings will continue to be owned by Zencor Equities Limited which has no debt on these assets.
Zender Ford has always been successful in its 26 year tenure. It has won the Ford Distinguished Dealer Award twice, the Ford North American Custom Excellence Award three times, the Northwood University Automobile Dealer Education Award (2005) and the Ford Presidents Award. Ken Zender was recognized as Motor Dealers Association (MDA) of Alberta’s 2009 Non-Metro Dealer of Excellence.