Bowman Auto Group acquires Clinton Chevrolet dealership

Katie Bowman Coleman, president and CEO of Clarkston-based Bowman Auto Group, has purchased Chevrolet of Clinton and will operate the dealership as Bowman Chevrolet of Clinton, the fifth retail location under the Bowman brand, which includes Bowman Chevrolet, Bowman Isuzu Commercial Truck, Bowman Pre-Owned and Bowman Auto Center, all in Clarkston.

The Clarkston Bowman Chevrolet location is a leading Chevrolet dealership in the U.S. and Michigan’s number one Chevrolet electric vehicle dealer. It has also been named a General Motors’ distinguished Chevrolet Dealer of the Year for seven consecutive years.

Bowman Coleman’s father started Bowman Chevrolet in 1984 and she has been the dealer, owner, and operator of the business since 2011. The dealership’s sales volume has tripled since she took over.

She worked in fashion retail after college and was employed by Ralph Lauren Polo Corporation, with positions in New York City and Sydney, Australia. “I wanted to come back to Michigan and my dad had offered to me to work for him a couple of times, so I finally said, ‘I’ll give it a try,’” she said. That was in 1993.

“About three or four months in I realized how much it was related to fashion retail, believe it or not, and how much I loved it,” said Bowman Coleman. “Then I was kind of stuck like glue to the industry.”

Why was she interested in the Clinton dealership? “The opportunity presented itself and I love the Chevy brand and believe in what it can do. The market seemed like it was great in terms of its proximity to a lot of nice towns,” Bowman Coleman said. “When I went out to visit the store, I just really loved the whole campus, and the staff is terrific. So I got really lucky.”

She enjoys helping people with their transportation needs in whatever way works for them. “If a person wants to keep their car for ten years, great. If a person wants to get a new car every two years, great. I am not there to push a method of ownership to anyone, I’m there to assist them and be the expert in the field that can give them really good advice so they can decide what to do, and be with them throughout their ownership experience,” she said. “Our tagline is ‘With you every mile,’ and we really mean that because everybody owns their car differently, drives it differently, things change in someone’s life… I love to be there to help my customers and employees figure it out.”

Bowman Coleman said she’s getting to know all the employees and the customers and is putting processes in place. She plans to make common-sense adjustments and learn what has been working well in the Clinton area.

Bowman Auto Group is known for its active involvement in the Clarkston community, providing support to dozens of local organizations. Bowman Coleman has made a list of all the donations the Clinton dealership has made in the past as well as events the dealership has been a part of, and she plans to continue those connections. “We plan on meeting with those folks to get an understanding of how we can continue to be helpful, how we can show up for events or maybe host events at our location,” she said. “We have had a successful Trunk or Treat in October, and we plan on continuing that. It’s so important to me to be part of the community and support the community that supports us. I really find that I can do that best by talking to the employees about what’s important to them and what they are involved in, what we have supported in the past, and then take that and expand on it.”

The Clinton dealership has held a car show twice monthly with approximately 60 cars on display, and they plan to continue those events.  

“One of my main tenents is to support my employees, and treat them the best that I can, and create a work-life balance for them,” Bowman Coleman said. “I feel that makes them happier and better at their job, and that has worked for me in Clarkston very well. I feel certain it will work in Clinton, as well.”

The Bowman Chevrolet of Clinton sales and service facility has 36 employees. In all, the Bowman Auto Group employs more than 150 team members. The dealership is located at 1070 U.S. 12, Clinton. Follow the Bowman Chevrolet of Clinton Facebook page for updates.