WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst & Cox Chevrolet
Most people can remember their first car, that moment they sat in the driver’s seat, and their world widened. I can go…anywhere. In 1926, that sense of possibility was still new. The Model T era had just ended, and the idea of owning a car was shifting from luxury to something within reach.
A hundred years on, people still chase those ‘widening of horizons’ moments, whether they’re handing their teenager their first set of car keys or replacing the vehicle that carried them through a decade of life. And Cox Chevrolet has been part of those moments for a century. They’ve kept Bradenton moving forward, both literally and figuratively, through the people and programs they support beyond the showroom.
The Business of Loyalty
A century ago, the Cox family opened its first auto business in Georgia. The company made its way to Bradenton in the early 1930s, when the nation floundered through the Great Depression. Money was tight, and selling cars meant working out trades. World War II brought its own challenges; shortages often forced the dealership to get creative with repairs and parts. But as Manatee County grew, Cox grew with it. Their history includes memorable chapters, including a working relationship with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Today, it remains family-run, with the Cox name still part of daily life in Bradenton.
Not every moment has been bright and sunny. Florida has storms, and so does business. The dealership has faced moments when it would have been easier to step away. Economic pressure in the 1970s, along with disruption from roadwork, created a crossroads for the family. But they chose to focus on the long view and protect the business for the next generations.
Jennifer Cox Lipsey, part of the fifth generation (“G5”, as they call themselves), is one of the shareholders with her two siblings and three cousins.
“All of us in the G5 had an opportunity from a young age to work in the store,” Jennifer says. “It created a bond between the cousins, working together.” She pauses. “We also got into trouble together…”
Although each G5 member now holds certain roles—Jennifer works in HR—she explains how they’ve learned from people in every department.
“I’ve been a salesperson, a service writer, and I’ve worked in parts and in detail,” she says. “Our parents put us through a mentorship program because they wanted us to see every part of the dealership. I was told, ‘You need to understand what your employees do, and understand how mistakes can happen, because you’ll have made them, too.'”
That kind of hands-on upbringing has shaped the Cox family’s leadership style as well as the atmosphere of the place itself. It creates a work environment where respect goes both ways, and loyalty naturally grows from it. Employees then tend to stay awhile. This is Tom Kohler’s story, a longtime Cox employee who recently celebrated his 46th anniversary with the company. Now the Director of Special Assignments, Tom, was one of the G5’s mentors.
“Having longtime employees like Tom really matters, especially now that my parents are no longer with us,” Jennifer shares. “Tom has that institutional knowledge, and I can go to him when I don’t know the answers. It’s moved beyond work. It’s a mentorship, and he’s like true family.”
Tom moved from New Jersey to Bradenton in December 1980. A suggestion from his boss led him to Cox Chevrolet; he applied and was hired on the spot.
“I’ve stayed at Cox because the Cox family leads with strong values, integrity, and trust in their employees,” Tom says. “I’ve watched them earn loyalty by recognizing their team. They equip people to succeed, and they lead by example. I’ve learned a lot from them, particularly how to put family first.”
Another longtime employee was Dave Abel, who spent 45 years with the company. He moved from Ocilla, Georgia, in 1932 with Cox Chevrolet when they relocated to Bradenton. Abel’s community ties ran deep. His wife, Florine, was an educator, and Abel Elementary School is named in her honor.
“It’s cool to see how people uprooted their families, moved with the company, and then put down roots here,” Jennifer says. “Those impacts are still felt today.”
From Customers to Community
While Cox Chevrolet has fostered a loyal employee culture, it has also worked to build a respected reputation in the community. Trust is something earned and re-earned daily, Jennifer points out. Companies can define their culture and reputation on paper, but living it out is where the rubber hits the road. In an industry where customers often walk in guarded—cars are expensive, and repairs are stressful—the Cox family’s goal has never been to simply sell at all costs, but to prioritize customers’ wellbeing and improve their experience.
“Good service has always been about honesty, follow-through, and standing behind your word, even when it costs you in the short term,” Jennifer says. “We’re not interested in the short-term wins. We want the long-term wins. We want to earn your business for life, not one transaction.”
That approach affects everyone, including the staff. Kyle Cox, another member of the fifth generation, describes the customer moments that stay with him the most. “Helping a 16-year-old buy their first car is hard to beat,” he says. “It’s a real milestone, and it becomes a core memory for the customer. I love getting to be part of that.”
Staff who enjoy what they do, along with the consistency and integrity in how they do it, build a strong customer base, but they also strengthen the hometown reputation the Cox family values so highly. They understand that you create a good reputation as if it were a mosaic: piece by piece, through everyday interactions. That helps explain why Cox’s presence in Bradenton has never been limited to the dealership itself. Their business philosophy is mirrored in how they support local causes—they want it to be personal, with “boots on the ground.” Jennifer reminisces about how one of the first things she did after graduating from college was to become a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“I’m still in contact with my Little Sister here and there,” Jennifer says. “It’s a way to give back, but you also gain from it, too. My husband is now a Big Brother, and we try to pass that along to the next generation.”
Cox’s community involvement spans from youth sports and youth programs to health-related fundraisers and awareness events, including cancer causes and JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) through Emmabella’s Believers. The dealership also supports local service groups, seasonal giving drives like Toys for Tots, and longstanding Bradenton traditions such as the De Soto Grand Parade and the Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament.
“Giving back matters,” Jennifer adds. “It takes effort and a lot of people to make a community work, and we’re a small part of that.”
The Legacy Continues
If you think about the span of 100 years, you might think of change. Technology has made leaps, mindsets have shifted, and Cox Chevrolet looks very different from when it began. But as they’ve modernized, the family has tried to preserve their history. The showroom features a timeline of photos that traces the business from its earliest days, including images from the old downtown building and the founding generation.
Some of the history is built into the space itself. Two G5 members have pressed their handprints into the concrete during a build. When Cox broke ground on a newer building, they continued the tradition with G6, gathering for a ceremony to add the kids’ handprints, too. They also moved murals featuring conquistadors from the downtown building to the Cortez location and repainted them with the help of a local artist, displaying it by the delivery pad.
“One of the things that’s been instilled in us, and I think it’s because it’s been modeled, is that 100 years is stewardship,” Jennifer says. “We’re one mark on the timeline, but it’s a big responsibility. We represent thousands of customers, employees, and families. We have to make sure we’re stewarding our time well, so we can leave the business stronger for the next generation.”
The family has also started being intentional about what comes next. Members of G6 go through a structured process that introduces them to the company’s history and the expectations that come with the Cox name, whether they plan to work at the dealership one day or not. They can take different paths depending on their interests, including a trade-school track for those drawn to hands-on roles. Three of the 16 have already completed the process.
“Just as important, our families make time for shared traditions and togetherness,” Jennifer says. “If these kids ever do work side by side, the relationship has to come first.”
That focus on relationships is what has carried Cox through a century of change.
“In a culture where so much is being bought up, we’re still family-led,” Jennifer says. “We’re employee-centered and trusted in the community. And I think our founders would be proud of that.” That’s what she wants people to remember decades from now, even more than the number.
“I don’t want to be measured in just years,” she adds. “I hope people say we kept our promises.”
