America’s charities, missions, and non-profit organizations create positive change. Participating in this giving develops the spirit of caring and sharing. It can also support preservation.
Think about some of your favorite non-profits: Red Cross, American Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Susan G. Komen For the Cure and Peace River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
That is correct, a non-profit electrical company. And it is surprisingly close to home. Peace RiverElectric Cooperative Inc., or PRECO, has been in business since 1935 and houses three warehouse locations; Wachula, Bradenton, and Indian Lakes Estates. Between them, they provide redistributed electricity for ten counties in Florida. The non-profit cooperative appeal of the business allows the customers to actually own the company, making PRECO’s employees take on a different kind of business trait.
This is the real backbone-employees who work as a team to provide reliable service to meet the needs of a wide variety of Floridians. Today, PRECO provides quality electric service to more customers with fewer employees than ever before due to the use of new technologies and con
tinuous improvements in system operating efficiency.
**(motto) PRECO “Owned by Those We Serve” **
Chas Crutchfield is the lead mechanic at PRECO and has been with the company for twelve years. Before his career with Peace River Electric, Chas worked at a Ford dealership in Wachula, and he knows what to expect when getting his vehicles serviced. “I was lead mechanic for seven years. I knew the ins and outs of Ford,” commented Crutchfield. Choosing Bartow Ford as PRECO’s service and sales dealership, Chas revealed, “Bartow Ford has always stood out.”
Chas does business for Peace River Electric through both the Bartow Ford Service and Parts Departments, dealing mainly with Service Advisor Brian Jones and Commercial Parts Specialist Bill Davis. The mechanic praised the proficiency of Bartow Ford’s employees, remarking, “Brian does a tremendous job. He stays in contact, that’s one thing I like. I like feedback, you know, call me, let me know what’s going on, because I’m a busy man… I don’t have time to wait. With Bill Davis in particular… he’s hit the nail on the head every time.”
When asked about the integrity principle Bartow Ford stands on, Crutchfield said “I would be very proud to work here. You know, I feel like I’m family here. They take good care of us, on parts, on service; you really can’t beat the back bone that is distributed through this facility at Bartow Ford.”
an any other storage building. “I built the facility so that the units would stay cooler in the hot Florida heat, and the look was designed so that when you drove by you wouldn’t even realize you were looking at a storage facility.”
only one with an eye for innovation and construction, as Trisha also has a flair for design. She is the proud owner of 
To get to where you want to be in life, you must first exert many hours of hard work and remain dedicated to your goals. That is exactly what husband and wife, James and Cathy Smiley, have done for the past 32 years.
After a long, hot day in the Florida weather there is nothing better than relaxing in the mystical waters of your very own swimming pool. There is also no greater sound than your children laughing and splashing around in a swimming pool on a beautiful summer afternoon.
Bartow Ford has been with the Ready’s since the infancy of their business. Chris and his father have bought over 50 vehicles from Bartow Ford. “My father and I have always dealt with Herb Duff. I go to Bartow Ford because there are never any hassles, and Herb always gives me the bottom line on my vehicles.”
and loved ones pass away. What starts out as construction supplies transforms into a home. 
Parade of Homes. “Winning the quality award repeatedly has been our biggest achievement.”
Matt Wilt has purchased seven vehicles from Bartow Ford, and he is currently driving an F-250- King Ranch. “One of the key things about this truck is the 20 inch wheels and the curb appeal.” He elaborated on his key experiences with Bartow Ford, “I’ve really had a great relationship with Bartow Ford. I’ve been buying vehicles from them for 19 years now. Our industry is so demanding that I just don’t have the time to sit down and try to do negotiations with sales people, or take my vehicle to the dealership for service. Bartow Ford has really catered to my needs, from Mike Bedenbaugh giving me the bottom line on a vehicle, down to the service aspect. They accommodate my needs and will send someone to come get my vehicle and bring it back to me, just because I don’t have the time. You really appreciate going to a business that shares the same ethics as you.”
In June 2011, Jared Drake, a salesperson at Bartow Ford, was awarded the 2010 Employee Excellence Award by Ford Motor Company.