The Journey

In 1974 Dutch Welter left his job as a firefighter with the City of Des Moines to become a filter sales representative. Dutch quickly became one of the top performers and was very successful in selling filters. With a wife and four children, he was extremely busy and over the years he grew increasingly frustrated with the way customers were treated by the company he worked for. He decided it was time for a change.

Dutch had an idea and eventually, that idea turned into a plan. That plan was to start a business as a filter manufacturers representative out of his basement office. In 1981, his plan became reality and Dutch formed Commercial Filter Company and became a pioneer in the work-from-home space. Considering the U.S. and world economies were in the midst of the most severe recession since World War II, and that Dutch was supporting his family while leaving behind a corporate salary from his sales job, his plan was risky.

But Dutch knew that his business would succeed if he put his customers first. He spent many years crisscrossing Iowa and Nebraska, stopping in at every manufacturing business he saw from the highway. Over time, with lots of lessons learned, hard work, and the best customer service he could deliver, Commercial Filter Company started to thrive.

Eventually, Dutch opened an office in Phoenix, AZ. You may find he plays a little more golf these days, but to this day, he still travels back and forth from Des Moines to Phoenix and you will catch him working in both offices. His core mission and values of providing the best filters, the best customer service, at the best prices is something we still practice and hold dear today.