Pester Marketing Receives Patriot Award

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. -- Two executives at Pester Marketing Co. have been recognized with the Patriot Award for their support of an employee serving in the armed forces.

Rich Spresser, president and CEO of Pester Marketing Co., and Aaron Hackerott, vice president sales and supply of Alta Fuels (wholesale subsidiary of Pester Marketing Co.) received the Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) in recognition of their support of Amberly Martin, pricing and customer service representative for Alta Fuels.

Martin, who serves as Airman First Class in the 140th Maintenance Squadron, U.S. Air Force National Guard, nominated Spresser and Hackerott. The ESGR Patriot Award is awarded exclusively to employers nominated by an employee who is an active member of the Guard or Reserve.

Martin nominated Spresser and Hackerott for their superior support of her service commitment with the Guard. After joining Alta Fuels, she was almost immediately deployed by the Guard for one month of training. Additionally, Martin reported to the Guard one week per month for her work during an operations readiness inspection.

Both executives have noted Martin's value to the company, her strong work ethic and her ability to fit in. "Amberly has been a real blessing to our organization," Hackerott said.

Spresser added, "When we first interviewed Amberly, it was obvious that she could do the job and fit in well here."

ESGR is a Department of Defense agency that works to develop and promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees. It does so by recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of the law-related to civilian employment of Guard and Reserve members, and in resolving conflicts through mediation.

Pester Marketing currently owns and operates convenience stores branded as Alta Convenience, 1st Stop and Farm Crest Milk Stores in Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. Founded in the mid-1950s in Iowa, Pester Marketing has also owned and operated service stations and stores in Colorado under the Conoco, Phillips 66, Fina, Pester and Coastal brands since 1975.

In addition to the retail side of the business, Pester Marketing's wholesale subsidiary Alta Fuels, located in Alamosa, Colo., is a major blender and supplier of bio-fuels, both E85 and biodiesel. Alta Fuels also carries a full line of Exxon lubricants and serves customers in Colorado and New Mexico.