Associate Spotlights

The President’s Choice Award winner for March lives by the tenets of our vision statement.

Denise VanOrder, Payroll Specialist, is always willing to assist in any special projects that arise along with her regular payroll duties. She has worn many hats in her 25 years with Superior Beverage Group.

In March, Denise was asked to lead the onboarding to welcome and integrate the new associates related to the Brown Distributing acquisition. This is a new associate’s first glimpse into work life and a new career with Superior Beverage. Denise made them all feel welcome with her professional and warm demeanor. A great deal of preparation, long hours, and travel to Newark were required by Denise to ensure a successful orientation. Her follow-through, attention to detail, and quick response to new associate questions have allowed for a smooth transition for all.

The President’s Choice Award winner for March is dedicated to enhancing the business of our customers and suppliers.

Sue Reese, Pricing Coordinator, manages the proper pricing for 43 chains for SBG. Attention to detail and accuracy are crucial to this work and Sue handles it quickly and efficiently. Her consistent and timely communication and follow-up ensures that we are able to service our key chains without concern that the products can be received at store level, and sold for the correct price.

In March, the Brown Distributing acquisition added several new challenges to an already busy month for the Pricing Department. Sue managed the additional workload with her usual professionalism and determination. Creating three new sales territories, updating all territory codes and the Pricing Dashboard, and switching 15 chains from Brown to SBG was crucial to the early success of this acquisition. Sue’s ability to multi-task, handle high-pressure situations, work some late nights, and prioritize time-sensitive issues make her a true team player.

For the month of November, Sales Support Specialist Aliya Woike is being recognized for her excellent performance. Aliya is a true team player in every sense of the term. Not only does she step in to cover sales routes upon vacations, but she is also known to fill in for our Customer Service and Inside Sales departments. She puts her best efforts and a great level of care in everything she does at Superior Beverage Group, often resulting in her peers requesting that she be the one to cover for them. She has received external recognition as well, our customers frequently commenting on how appreciative they are of the time she spends rotating product, selling in new items, and developing relationships with them.

Aliya has made a significant impact on the business since our acquisition of BuzzBallz, placing dozens of racks throughout the Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Erie markets, and continuing to be available to her team when needed. Having been with Superior Beverage Group for less than three years, Aliya has made it clear through her eagerness to learn and sharp dedication to the best performance that she is a valuable member of the team.

This month’s President’s Choice Award winner is Delivery Driver Dakota Kinney. Dakota is known for his punctuality, precision, and thoughtful approach to his job, establishing himself with his customers as reliable and trustworthy. His communication habits with his salesperson, accounts, administration, and his supervisor ensures that everyone remains informed and prepared, allowing for the best service possible to his customers.

In the month of November, Dakota averaged 41 cases of product delivered per stop for a total of 13,138 case equivalents, a 47% increase in volume compared to November of 2023. This volume is inclusive of 12,208 packages of beer, 458 kegs, 289 cases of soda, and 183 case equivalents of wine. Servicing Huron county, Dakota has built a reputation for providing excellent service and maintaining Superior Beverage Group’s position as the distributor of choice in our marketplace.

October proves to be one of the busiest months for the Reset Team, and our President’s Choice Award winner, Jake Pachinger, knows how to execute well and keep his retailers happy. Jake is the Space Planner for Giant Eagle wine, Discount Drug Mart beer, and GetGo ready-to-drink cocktail and wine resets. Known for his attention to detail and excellent communication skills, Jake’s performance in October stood out for several reasons. Not only does Jake conduct himself with a high level of professionalism, he also consistently puts in the effort needed for accounts to be prepared for their customer’s needs.

This past month, Jake led three temporary wine sets at a Giant Eagle in Youngstown that is currently being remodeled. These resets were last minute changes requested by the store manager, and Jake spared no effort in putting in a total of 30 hours across the month to get each one completed. The store manager was thoroughly impressed with Jake’s work, and notably appreciative of his attention to detail and timely action.

Jake also played a major role in the opening of a new account, Richmond Beverage, by drawing the planograms for the store. The result was the addition of 133 beer SKUs and 151 wine SKUs being carried by a brand-new account, bringing in an incremental $9,000 in revenue. In addition to these two projects, Jake also executed five independent resets in October, adding 43 effective placements, driving key brands such as BuzzBallz, Athletic Brewing, Garage Beer, Loncaro, and Montucky Cold Snacks, setting Superior Beverage Group up to continue to move our collective business forward.

Jake creates value in his accounts, earning their respect and appreciation. His accounts notice when he shows up, does the job, and stays until it’s complete. His prompt, effective follow through and incredible work ethic has earned him this recognition.

Account Manager Britt Gordon has set high standards by outpacing most sales trends across the company in October. Through consistent dedication to the brands he represents, Britt won big in October and put himself in a position to carry out the rest of 2024 strong, and be ready for 2025. As an example, Britt grew his route by 289 effective placements this month. In total, he brought in an incremental $40,000 of revenue, which is a 39% increase over October of 2023.

Focusing in on key brands this month, Britt sold BuzzBallz into more than two dozen new accounts, increasing distribution by 24%. He also worked with the brand’s representatives to sell monstrous displays in three of his Kroger accounts. Britt utilized the opportunity to get BuzzBallz into new stores to sell in many of our other big brands as well. Take a look at his top ten growth brands in the month of October:

BuzzBallz: +131%

Columbus Brewing: +20%

Twisted Tea: +27%

BrewDog: +17%

Beatbox: +143%

Founders: +18%

Sam Adams: +56%

Athletic Brewing: +63%

Southern Tier: +98%

Sierra Nevada: +39%

Our September President’s Choice Award winner is a seasoned Delivery Driver in our Canton region. Since joining Superior Beverage Group in 2007, Bryan Jewell has been the preferred driver in the Belden Village area. Bryan has earned this recognition through his consistent dedication, hard work, and commitment to the high standards he is known to maintain.

Bryan is responsible for a very diverse route complete with some of our top chain and independent accounts in both the on and off premise. In the month of September, he delivered over 15,000 cases and 340 kegs to our busy Canton market. This is a 24% increase in volume compared to September of 2023, and can be credited to his ability to work well with his store receivers. Bryan’s accounts have been made examples of to our suppliers in how efficiently they receive his deliveries due to effective problem resolution. His attention to detail and timely communication has resolved issues more quickly as his prompt reporting gets the right information to the best people. His willingness to redeliver in these instances extends his commitment to working as a team across departments in order to ensure success and excellent service to both our customers and suppliers.

Bryan’s commitment to excellence goes one step further with his consistently low breakage and high safety scores. In September, Bryan had only broken 3 of his delivered cases (0.02%), and a delivery safety score of 98%. It is clear that Bryan takes great pride in his job and has done an excellent job in these last 17 years to build relationships with his customers and make Superior Beverage Group the distributor of choice in the Canton area.

Tenured Warehouse Associate John Hart is our President’s Choice Award winner for the month of September. Having worked at Superior Beverage Group for 37 years, John is well versed in searching for solutions in the warehouse.

The Columbus Operations team expected challenges in September, with the implementation of a new warehouse software system called Blue Yonder. John is responsible for replenishing the picking area and receiving on the dock. He took time before Blue Yonder was launched to help organize this area, which set the team up for a more favorable outcome in this particular function.

Many of our Associates have put in extra work and effort to help with the transition, supporting each other and servicing our customers with minimal impact.  Where John really shines is through his incredible attitude, remaining patient, and focusing on solutions. He has put in the hours learning what he can from the software, helping others do the same.  He helps track down item locations that are coded erroneously in the system, all with a genuine smile. He has proved to be a reliable source for testing solutions to new bugs and is recognized as playing a big role in making the transition in the warehouse as smooth as possible.

Our President’s Choice Award for August goes to Large Format Account Manager Sean Woodall. Leading results for the month within the large format grocery region, Sean takes initiative, finds opportunity, and designs his own success. Sean has a passion to win. He carries out his role with excellent communication, effective programming and point of sale, and has an eye for detail.

In the month of August, Sean’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, having grown his revenue by 11.8% and volume by 10.8%. He consistently communicates with and educates his buyers on new brands and trends in the market. When his customers are asked about doing business with Sean, they describe him as the best vendor they work with and are appreciative of his hard work and dedication to servicing their stores. Sean knows there is always room for improvement; he remains open to constructive feedback, is an eager learner, and displays a desire to get better every day.

After nearly five years with Superior Beverage Group, Sean still makes an effort day in and day out to establish us as the distributor of choice in all of his accounts. See below for his top revenue growth brands in August:

Twisted Tea:                      +89%

Garage Beer:                      +1,000%

High Noon:                        +22%

Smirnoff:                            +30%

White Claw:                       +15%

Coors Banquet:                  +48%

Samuel Adams:                  +17%

Modelo:                              +19%

Great Lakes:                       +6%

BrewDog:                           +30%

Lauren Crosson holds a dynamic role at Superior Beverage Group, and executes her responsibilities at a high level. A member of our Administration team, the August President’s Choice Award winner has gone above and beyond in her support of various departments. She joined the team in November of 2022 as a part time Customer Service Associate, and quickly became considered a highly valuable resource among the entire Columbus team. Lauren never shies away from volunteering to help fill gaps in the many workstreams that flow throughout the office. Most recently, she assisted the Operations team with our inventory process, learning cycle counts, receipt audits, and recon tasks. She was also instrumental in working through aged Accounts Receivable from suppliers and helped collect and reduce the amount significantly.

Not only does Lauren make a tremendous impact on the actual work she steps in to assist with, but she does it with an infectious positive attitude. She has developed a reputation at Superior Beverage Group for being a kind, diligent associate, reliable in her efforts, and a quick learner. Her mindset and output have made a significant impact on management as well as her peers by consistently demonstrating the characteristics in our Vision Statement.

Our July PCA goes to Davis Lowery, an Account Manager in the Lake / Geauga universal region. Davis manages a blend of on and off premise accounts, and he does it well due to having a thorough portfolio knowledge. He has developed and maintains professional relationships with his customers, and takes the time to educate them on new and existing brands, as well as the current market trends. The thought that Davis puts behind his communication to his customers is what makes the sale each time.

Davis demonstrates leadership abilities within his team, offering support to his peers and being an advocate for outpacing the competition. In July, Davis maximized execution, carrying out his role with an ever-present passion to win and strong work ethic. His commitment and dedication to being number one in the market is evident in his sales numbers. In July, Davis grew his volume by 19% and revenue by 22%. See below for his specific brand revenue growth:

Miller Lite:                   +23%

Coors Light:                 +25%

Twisted Tea:                +34%

Keystone:                     +32%

Labatt:                         +48%

Icehouse:                     +43%

High Noon:                  +52%

Beatbox:                      +372%

Chalet Debonne:           +45%

Athletic Brewing Co.:   +416%

The month of July brought to attention the persistent efforts of Joe Johnson, a Delivery Driver in Lewis Center. Due to some short staffing of our Shuttle Drivers in Newark, Joe was one to step up in a major way, ensuring our customers did not experience a lack of service. After carrying out all of his normal responsibilities on his route, Joe has been returning to the warehouse and proceeding to run a shuttle route in Newark. Joe will even ensure there are no more trucks still needing to be docked after coming back, and will coordinate with our Warehouse Associates to build pallets in a more systematic way for easier stacking and unloading.

With high quality customer service and consistent communication with the sales team, Joe has become known as one our best Delivery Drivers. He joined Superior Beverage Group nearly ten years ago, after previous industry experience with Hill Distributing. His customers appreciate how efficient and careful he is with product and his service to their stores. Joe is described as the quintessential team player, being that he is reliable, efficient, and has an excellent attitude.

Our President’s Choice Award winner in June has been described as the true definition of a team player. Dominique Devereux is a first shift Warehouse Associate who had a standout month in June, and everyone noticed. Known as Dev on shift, he consistently shows up to work with a fierce level of dedication and integrity, his performance even being described as that of a ten-year veteran, despite being just one year into his career at Superior Beverage Group.

Dev picked 28,151 cases in June, which equates to a rate of 244 cases per hour. This pick rate alone is impressive, not to mention his accuracy rate was 99.1% for the month. Standout picking accuracy goes a long way as it impacts time, revenue, and the standard of service we provide at the account level. The stats speak for themselves, however Dev is also known to maintain an extremely positive attitude and strong work ethic, further proving the ways in which he carries out the excellence mentioned in our Vision Statement.

Dev finishes the job to completion by regularly helping his peers pick their remaining daily volume, restack a pallet, clean, or replenish. The production team is stronger because of Dev’s consistent and efficient work. His dedication to accuracy and high performance has led him to being recognized as a great asset to the team, and is well deserving of June’s President’s Choice Award.

Our June President’s Choice Award winner is Beckie Oliver, a Customer Service Representative. Beckie carries out her job with empathy, attention to detail, patience, effective dialogue, dedication, and a positive attitude. It’s also clear that she takes pride in helping others, all of which leads to her ability to excel in her role. Beckie interacts with nearly every department in the organization, and has earned high regard from those she works with through her diligent efforts, having a self-improvement mindset, and a team-oriented outlook.

Beckie has been with us at Superior Beverage Group for over three years, and continues to show a willingness to learn new aspects of the business, ask questions, and offer insightful suggestions to improve service to our customers. You can often find her thorough communication at the center of problem-solving efforts. In cases where a Delivery Driver reports an issue with item authorization in chain accounts, keeping them from being able to deliver product, Beckie is quick to get in touch with the relevant Customer Development Manager, Account Manager, and Regional Director so that they may resolve the issue promptly. Our largest growing convenient store chain had several new products that were not marked as authorized and we were able to correct the majority of our issues faster than our competitors, highlighting Superior Beverage Group as the distributor of choice in large part due to Beckie’s work.

Consistent efficiency, proactive consideration, and an unwavering delightful demeanor makes her a well-respected and appreciated member of our team, fostering strong relationships with both associates and customers alike.

In May, Ashland Account Manager Adam Clark made an example of what detailed pre-planning and fierce dedication to winning looks like in our market. Adam grew his business by 9% in revenue and 4% in volume in May, in large part because he has great relationships and knows how to utilize the resources available to him.

Adam is known to dominate point-of-sale in the market and executes programming the day it becomes available. He has an incredible knowledge of our portfolio, allowing him to provide his customers with only the best on the market. Adam pays close attention to brand initiatives, and his performance in May says it all.

Having been with Superior Beverage Group since 2016, Adam has become a vocal leader in his market among his peers. Molson Coors H1, a program with robust goals set out for our sales teams, is a key 90-day distribution drive for several of their brands across multiple product categories. Adam was an advocate during the final push for H1, landing him as one of the top contributors to H1 off premise points of distribution in Columbus. Some specific brand revenue performance compared to May of 2023 are as follows:

Twisted Tea:                +8.7%

Miller Lite:                   +14.5%

Truly:                           +2.7%

Coors Banquet:           +50.5%

Icehouse:                     +10.4%

Blue Moon:                  +16.3%

New Belgium:              +35.7%

Columbus Brewing:     +46.1%

Our May President’s Choice Award winner earned the recognition through dedication to his customers and peers along with his adaptable and reliable nature. Rex Scheuerman is a Delivery Driver in Geauga County, who stepped up to the plate in May by covering a night shuttle position when gaps became apparent. While absent from his usual route, Rex maintained regular contact with the swing drivers delivering on his behalf in order to answer any questions and ensure that the excellent service his customers expect from Superior Beverage Group was being carried out.

A veteran of seven years, Rex is no novice to the demands of the delivery department. The standards he holds for himself in regards to safety, efficiency, and customer service are all evident in his performance. In May, Rex delivered 19,693 cases, averaging 92 cases per stop. His strong relationships with his customers coupled with consistently valuable communication with his managers brought about the kind of first-rate performance that does not go unnoticed at Superior Beverage Group.  

Rex’s display of flexibility and attention to detail are prime examples of the outstanding results that time and effort will yield. 

The Cleveland President’s Choice Award winner for April is Andrew Gore, a Universal Account Manager in the Canton Steubenville market. Andrew began his career with SBG as a Large Format Sales Support Specialist and because of his impressive work, was promoted to Account Manager.

Andrew has a passion for success. Combine that passion with his unwavering commitment to his work, colleagues, customers, and suppliers, and you have a recipe for victory. Diligent and well-organized in his daily routine and planning, pairing the innovative technology tools at his disposal with old-fashioned relationships, market awareness, and excellent customer service, Andrew consistently delivers significant contributions to his team’s success.

Andrew’s team contributions include more than his sales success. Continually asking questions, offering support and best practices to his team, and bringing his positive attitude every day are just a few ways Andrew is growing into a true leader on his team.

In April, Andrew finished:

+11.6% in Total Revenue; +20 % in On-Premise Revenue; +7 in Off- Premise Revenue

The President’s Choice Award winner for April is Nick Patten, an East Region Account Manager, covering Columbus, Reynoldsburg, and Pataskala. His hard work, initiative, and excellent customer service pay off on his route.

With a positive attitude and a desire to win every day, Nick pursues opportunities for our brands and capitalizes on them. He focuses on the basics such as rotation, distribution, creative POS, and timely chain program execution. He takes accountability for his customers and is quick to offer help or advice to his team.

Nick was a leader on the Columbus Sales Team in April, finishing +13% in volume. Below are some brands that highlight his success:

Miller Lite +12%                                Coors Light +9%                  

Icehouse +11%                                   Twisted Tea +28%

Corona +20%                                     Modelo +55%

Columbus Brewing +23%                  Blue Moon +38%

Our Columbus President’s Choice Award winner for March is Ryan Muzykoski, an Account Manager in the East market. His execution of chain programming drives the growth in his accounts, which is clear to see by anyone who visits any one of his chain customers. As a leader among his peers, Ryan has shown that he is committed to collaboration, excellence, and winning in the market.

Ryan joined Superior Beverage Group a year ago during the acquisition of Brown Distributing and, since then, has regularly looked for opportunities to win in his accounts, maintaining an acute attention to detail when it comes to sales initiatives. Ryan knows that a big key to success in the market is the value that accurate print material brings to an account, and has become an advocate on his team for having the most current point-of-sale for displays and promotions.

By maintaining a winning attitude with all that he sets out to do, he has fostered trusting and strong relationships with his accounts to the point where they rely on Ryan’s ability to grow their business. A recent example of this dedication is his achievement of 90% distribution in the independent off premise market for the launch of Boston Beer’s new brand, Sun Cruiser. It’s with this competitive approach that Ryan brought in an incremental $33,000 in revenue in March by selling an impressive 14% more in volume. See below for specific brand performance highlights in March (volume):

Miller Lite: +32.8%

Coors Light: +40.4%

Twisted Tea: +14%

Corona: +20.4%

Modelo: +79.8%

Pabst: +22.5%

Columbus Brewing Company: +26.5%

Blue Moon: +16.2%

Angry Orchard: +72.5%

Coors Banquet: +67.9%

Our Cleveland President’s Choice Award winner for March is Andy Woods, a member of our Business Services team. Having started at Superior Beverage Group over eight years ago as a Print Designer, Andy has since managed to make a positive impact on just about every facet of the organization. In his current role, he makes a critical contribution to everyday operations, doing daily file uploads that are necessary for many of our programs, such as AS400 and iDIG, to run.

Andy’s work in managing our data warehouse is vital, as it enables us to have accurate data, which he makes accessible largely through data dashboards on Tableau, a platform that is used to visualize data and analytics. The dashboards that he creates on Tableau are robust and thorough and make digesting information much easier, allowing each audience to make educated decisions. He has created these data visualization tools for Brand Management, the Communications Center, Human Resources, and the Draft Department, just to name a few. Those who use the tools Andy has created and continues to maintain are highly complementary of the value that it brings to their department, stating they cannot imagine being able to do their job as well as they can without the work he does.

Most recently, Andy worked on the integration of data for three brands acquired in March: Athletic Brewing, Hard Mountain Dew, and Lipton Hard Tea. He worked to align zip codes to counties in order to incorporate these brands into our master territory map, another resource used by many that he built. Andy consistently goes above and beyond, viewing challenges as opportunities for innovation while managing multiple projects and performing at a high level every single time. He has become known for finding opportunities for improvement and excels at executing solutions, making him a sought-after collaborator on projects.

The President’s Choice Award winner for February continually looks for ways to enhance the business of our customers and suppliers.

Alan Nelson, a Delivery Driver, recently moved to a hybrid delivery route, which requires deliveries to be made to all segments of our customers, including grocery, convenience, and on-premise. He seamlessly adapts to each type of customer and delivers professionally and accurately.

Alan’s positive attitude and willingness to help were evident in February. He covered another route in Glenwillow for a few days and helped train 3 new drivers. He delivered 15,845 cases of beer and 3,367 cases of wine and averaged 50 cases per stop. Alan had the highest safety score in Netradyne, 1007, for the entire company!

The President’s Choice Award winner for February is the true definition of a team player.

Michael Dayton, a member of the production crew, is always willing to learn something new. He has worked on both the first and second shifts and quickly became one of our fastest and most efficient pickers. He has recently started to receive brewery loads in the evening and has mastered that task as well. The replenishment work he has started on second shift has been valuable to set up the first shift production crew for success.

Michael’s positive attitude, excellent work ethic, and desire to learn and grow make him a valued asset to his team.

The Columbus 2023 Annual President’s Choice Award winner conducts herself with a high level of honesty and integrity, constantly strives for self-improvement, and is quick to step up to any challenge she is faced with. Sales Analyst Michelle Harris works to enhance company sales strategies while utilizing strong project-management skills, prioritizing tasks, and analyzing data.

Michelle has been with Superior Beverage Group for over six years, consistently giving her all with anything she is tasked with. Her cross-departmental impact cannot be overstated as the list of work she does for the sales, accounting, and administrative teams is extensive. Michelle addresses her work with urgency, is enthusiastic to help where she can, and has created a standard of excellence that truly encapsulates the Superior Beverage Group Vision Statement.

Having been described as a gifted report designer, Michelle most notably and impressively provides the tools and information the sales team needs to drive execution. Her sales analysis is innovative, efficient, aggressive, and is considered a key component to each success the sales team achieves. The resources she provides for the sales department are seamless, practical, and thorough, delivering vital information on a daily basis. As an example, the sales team recently embarked on a substantial routing project in which Michelle provided support to the Regional Directors by creating an extremely robust, intricate, and interactive spreadsheet. Michelle managed to create yet another well thought out and functional tool that has proven to be highly advantageous to the sales team.

Michelle’s responsibilities don’t end there. She also manages allocations on limited items for the brand team, generates billbacks to suppliers each month, assists with new associate onboarding, processes check requests, liaises with our supplier partners, and more, all with a sense of care and importance that further qualifies her as a deserving recipient of this award. It is evident that Michelle is a huge asset to many departments, and has earned the appreciation and respect of her peers at Superior Beverage Group.

Our Cleveland Annual President’s Choice Award winner was consistently nominated for the monthly award throughout 2023, and had a significant impact on two of our largest suppliers last year. With a career in the beverage industry spanning nearly four decades, Brad Bayer continuously shows an outstanding commitment to the work that he does.

As the Purchasing Agent for MolsonCoors and Pabst, Brad supported record volume increases in 2023 for the product that he procures. Superior Beverage Group sold a combined 10.4 million cases of MolsonCoors and Pabst in 2023, accounting for nearly 52% of the company’s total volume. Those 10.4 million cases included close to 1 million incremental cases due to the surge in demand beginning in April of last year.

Throughout the opportunity that 2023 brought, he worked tirelessly to meet customer expectations by securing the additional inventory from our supplier partners, communicating with our carriers to expedite and track deliveries to our docks, coordinating with the receiving teams in both houses to promptly warehouse the product, and communicating with the brand and sales teams regarding product arrival. What’s more is our out of stock cases for these suppliers was reduced by 31% compared to 2022, further showcasing Brad’s ability to navigate complexities while upholding operational efficiency. Brad is truly dedicated to enhancing the business of our customers and suppliers, with the ability to manage our inventory with impeccable detail.

In addition to the exceptional work mentioned above, Brad consistently expends time providing training to his peers on the purchasing team. Brad leads with kindness and patience, and operates at the highest level of integrity and professionalism. His sense of urgency and personal responsibility is proof alone of his unwavering dedication to Superior Beverage Group.

The President’s Choice Award winner for January strives to outperform the competition every day.

Lisa Modarelli-Johnston, a Large Format Wine Account Manager servicing the Youngstown market, pairs her extensive wine knowledge with the relationships she has built at retail to drive impressive results. Knowing the importance of planning your business and working that plan, Lisa methodically and creatively planned her January and executed it to great results. She finished January +20.7% in units sold and +23.9% in gross revenue, leading the Wine Division Team. Below is a snapshot by supplier of her notable results:

• Gallo +22.6%                   
• Trinchero +79.9%
• Constellation Wine +2.6%
• L’uva Bella +29.5%
• Chalet Debonne +28.9%
• Biscotti Winery +95.4%

Lisa’s creativity, communication skills, urge to win, and passion for the industry are keys to her early success in 2024.

The President’s Choice Award winner for January approaches each day with a positive attitude.

Grant Hostutler, a member of the Day Warehouse picking team, primarily focuses on picking and loading outbound orders and is always willing to help where needed.

In January, Grant:

• Picked 18,828 cases
• Averaged 163 cases per hour
• Earned a 99.6 accuracy rating
• Had perfect attendance

Grant is committed to a job well done and truly cares about the success of his team and the organization. The quality of his effort is reflected in the pallets he builds, the associates he helps to train, and the impact he has on those around him.

The President’s Choice Award winner for December is the ultimate team player.

Tyler Miske, while in the role of a Sales Support Specialist, was tasked with covering a Large Format Wine BDM sales route in the Cleveland West market for the final two months of 2023. During his time on the route, Tyler embraced it as his own and handled each customer with professionalism and enthusiasm. He earned his selling stripes and the respect of his customers and peers by taking the time to build relationships and provide consistently excellent customer service.

A great work ethic paired with a passion for the business drove Tyler to a very successful finish in December with an increase of 11% in total revenue. Below are some brand highlights:

            La Marca +27.4%                         Dark Horse +41.8%

            Orin Swift +139%                        Barefoot Family +20.9%

            Whitehaven +38%                       Total Gallo +12.2%

His willingness to help a team member when needed, desire to outwork the competition every day and enthusiasm to learn has earned Tyler his own sales route!

The President’s Choice Award winner for December has a passion for the industry and a desire to win every day.

Josh Haudenschilt, an Account Manager for the Columbus-East region, is an industry veteran who has grown into a leader on his team. Navigating new brands, expanded territory, new management, and new teammates, Josh has embraced it all and continues to shine. He has been actively assisting his Regional Director to drive distribution goals, track initiatives, and keep the “Superior” train running.

Josh led by example and was instrumental in his team's success in December. He was a top performer in the Simply goal, selling 186 cases and helping his team be the first Columbus region to hit their goal. He was also the top team performer on revenue goal, exceeding his goal by $26,083 finishing at 108%. Below are some impressive brand highlights from December:

            Miller Lite +13%                                   Coors Light +23%

            Great Lakes +14.8%                             Twisted Tea +11%

            Blue Moon +7%                                   Four Loko +29%

Our Glenwillow President’s Choice Award winner for November is Dave Chapman Jr., a Systems Operator in the warehouse.

Since joining Superior Beverage Group in 2010, Dave has worked across every position in the warehouse, which has given him a robust understanding of its inner workings. Dave has recently made the move to first shift, filling a split role between helping the high-speed pick area and pulling kegs. His adaptability has allowed him to develop a versatile set of skills throughout his tenure.

His role as a System Operator is essential to keep management aware of maintenance and production issues, and his dedication to this role prevents an abundance of issues from occuring each night. Dave’s desire to see others succeed has led him to spend time working with associates in a training capacity on several processes, all without allowing production to suffer.

His willingness to go above and beyond his designated responsibilities is evident to those around him. In the past, he has adjusted his hours to an alternate shift to be the knowledge base of the Vertique system during the weeks leading up to the holidays, ensuring that our operation runs smoothly and efficiently. His unwavering dedication, exceptional work ethic, and outstanding performance provide an exemplary showcase of his commitment to the success of Superior Beverage Group.

The November President’s Choice Award winner in Columbus is Jason Taylor, a delivery driver for the Newark drop lot.

After joining Superior Beverage Group from Brown Distributing earlier this year, it quickly became very clear that Jason would prove to be a valuable addition to the team. Jason showcases his commitment to his peers on a daily basis by stepping in to cover vacations, staging dunnage to keep production running smoothly, and taking tractors for maintenance.

Jason makes a consistent effort to communicate with the production team regarding the proper order of trucks going to the Newark drop lot. The value of this communication is not lost upon those involved and is an example of the kind of team player Jason is. In addition, often times cases are added to trucks being sent to Newark for extra stops, and Jason can be relied upon to ensure those cases make it to the correct routes.

It’s apparent that Jason cares about his customers as well, who have been highly complementary of the service he provides to them. In November, Jason made himself available to run shuttles after his own route upon hearing about a gap that needed filled. These are just a few great examples of the ways in which Jason exceeds expectations in his role.

The President’s Choice Award winner for October insists on excellence from herself and raises the bar for those around her.

Robin Thomas, Executive Assistant in the Field Sales Department, is a shining example of our Mission Statement. She takes great pride in consistently delivering excellent results and spearheading projects for her internal “customers” both in the Sales Department and across the entire organization.

Robin is an integral part of the Sales Team with a long list of responsibilities, all of which she tends to with a professional, creative and efficient vigor. She handles the needs of Account Managers, Sales Support Staff, Regional Directors and Senior Leadership in a timely, patient and friendly manor. She is described as the engine behind the scenes and the glue that holds the department together, with a direct correlation between her efforts and their success.

The President’s Choice Award winner for October is quickly emerging as a leader amongst his peers.

Cal Smith, an Account Manager, has a thoughtful but aggressive approach to his business. He uses the tools available to him to build successful and trusting relationships with his customers. As an A360 power user, Cal checks depletions before addressing his buyers to have a better understanding of their needs. He reaches out to and schedules ride-alongs with supplier partners to secure features and additional tap handles. In October Cal secured 170 new placements in his independent accounts which led to an incremental 484 ce’s.

In October he posted the largest revenue growth among Columbus Account Managers and was in the top 10 routes for volume growth. Driven by self-improvement and passion, Cal’s level of engagement with his team is second to none. He continually shares best practices with his team and his successes come down to embracing those practices in the market. Below are some highlights of his impressive October results.

                        Miller Lite +22%                    Coors Light +45%

                        Twisted Tea +15%                  Heineken +27%

                        Blue Moon +6%                      New Belgium +26%             

Cal finished October at 107% of his revenue goal, but he wasn’t satisfied to hit an individual goal. His unselfish work ethic was on full display when he delivered 30 cases of Coors Light for another Account Manager to help close out a goal.

The President’s Choice Award winner for September has an unwavering dedication and willingness to go above and beyond for a job well done.

Andrew Lindsay, a Reset Coordinator, was the top performer in a recent reset incentive, drawing 21 new sets and adding over 480 SBG items to those stores. Aside from the new sets Andrew implemented, he also executed a Fall set tweak to 43 UDF locations, drew and completed brand new sets for a six-store chain in Mansfield, and covered all of the outlying area Kroger Fall resets. Always willing to help when needed, he also jumped in to help merchandise during busy holiday weeks.

Before drawing a set, Andrew works closely with the Sales team to identify goals, new brands, and ever-changing trends in the market. He then quickly schedules and executes the set efficiently. This level of success would not be possible without Andrew’s meticulous planning and organizational skills. He is an asset to his team and the organization.

The President’s Choice Award winner for September has demonstrated a staunch commitment to the mission of enhancing the business of our customers and suppliers.

Brian O’Malley is a delivery driver in the Lorain territory typically servicing Avon, Sheffield, and Sandusky. He has developed excellent relationships with his customers and works hard every day to prove that Superior Beverage is the preferred beverage distributor. Brian is part of our Training Team and is often one of the first drivers a new associate will spend time with. His positive attitude, efficiency, and ability to teach and train make him an excellent choice in this role.

This year we took our partnership with Cedar Point to the next level and Brian was instrumental in the initial and ongoing successful execution throughout the park. We opened 15 new accounts within the park, and added delivery locations and specific instructions for each. Brian was steadfast through all the changes and efficiently delivered over 15,000 total cases and nearly 1,000 kegs to Cedar Point this season. His attention to detail did not stop at the park. In September he made 250 deliveries and delivered 10,691 ce’s with ZERO cases broken during delivery.

The President’s Choice Award winner for August is a team player and dedicated to producing quality and unique work.

Anthony (AJ) Sabino, a Print Designer in our Communications Center, creates attention-grabbing POS that can be seen dominating the convenient stores, drive-thrus, and liquor stores throughout our territory. His work and attention to detail with on-premise menus also ensures premium product placement and creative design. Every day, AJ uses his talents to enhance the business of our customers and suppliers.

In August, AJ completed 132 print requests, 53 cooler wraps, 8 menus, and 2 festivals/events. His signage was instrumental in the successful execution of the Hall of Fame Game and surrounding events and was praised by Molson Coors Executives. His work is apparent throughout the building as he also helps with warehouse and delivery signage as well as in the Associate Handbook.  AJ has built strong relationships across the organization. His patience, positive attitude, and reliability keep the team motivated and organized and our brands shining at retail.

The President’s Choice Award winner for August understands the importance of teamwork.

Zach Dodson, a Mansfield shuttle driver, also picks up local brewery loads such as Columbus Brewing and BrewDog. His daily communication with management helps to keep his team operating efficiently and effectively.

Zach goes out of his way to help not just the shuttle team but all of Operations. He will help load trucks when waiting on shuttles and steps in to move any equipment needed to help the production team, often without being asked. In August he helped out the Newark shuttle team on several occasions when needed. He is described as an asset to his team and a pleasure to work with.

The President’s Choice Award winner for July is a dedicated and knowledgeable professional in our industry.

Jim is an Account Manager in the Lorain market. His stellar reputation as one of the most trusted and respected Account Managers in his territory was built through excellent communication and timely follow-through. Jim takes the necessary time with his customers to build relationships and discuss current industry trends. That additional communication has led to larger displays, extra side stacks, increased cold box facings, and overall increased distribution.

In July, Jim tapped into all segments of his business to drive cases to the floor and dollars to the bank. He has strategically found ways to increase and outpace the trends on some of the hottest brands. Below is a snapshot of his impressive July revenue results:

   Total Revenue + 21%                                      Miller Lite +31%

   Coors Light + 54%                                         Twisted Tea +18%

   Pabst + 22%                                            Coors Banquet +100%

   Keystone Light +23%                               Simply Spiked +113%

The President’s Choice Award winner for July lives every day by the tenets of our Vision Statement.

Asa is an Account Manager on the Mansfield Team. As an experienced sales professional, he is never complacent and continually looks for new opportunities.

Coasting on the recent increased volume is not his style as Asa rolled up his sleeves and used the momentum to help build and execute dominance in his market. Taking full advantage of the Ohio State/Coors Light and Cleveland Browns/Twisted Tea sponsorships, he is taking over Mansfield and setting himself up for a successful fall selling season.

Below is a snapshot of Asa’s impressive July revenue results:

• Lite +20.1%
• Coors Light +41.3%
• Pabst +37.2%
• Coors Banquet +114.1%
• 80% distribution in independent off-premise for Twisted Tea Extreme in week 1!

Mitch Bastin, a Support Delivery Driver in Columbus, can frequently be seen offering up help to production when needed after running his route, maintaining a versatility that makes a significant influence on our operation as a whole. While running his route, Mitch continuously put forth the effort to develop great relationships with his accounts and maintain communication with his sales representative. Having worked in operations since 2016, Mitch has continued to enhance his skillset, his latest achievement being obtaining his class A CDL in June.

Mitch’s bright outlook and strong work ethic have made a tremendous impact on how we support our customers. In addition, Mitch never fails to carry himself with respect and integrity, honoring Superior Beverage Group’s vision statement day in and day out.

Chris Gorey, a universal Account Manager in the Cleveland market, has routinely proven to his customers that Superior Beverage Group is the distributor of choice. Chris has done so by building and maintaining excellent relationships with his customers, allowing him to capitalize on every opportunity he finds. His proficient knowledge of our portfolio paired with thorough pre-planning in every account and utilizing POS has been vital in gaining incremental cases, resulting in a 22.9% volume increase in June.

Throughout his eight years with Superior Beverage Group, Chris has continued to bring a positive attitude to his work, leading with integrity and respect all the while. Chris has shown his dedication not only through his knowledge of our brands and commitment to our customers but also through his continuous strives for improvement. Chris has had a consistently outstanding performance, showing up with a 28% revenue increase in June. Highlighted below are some of his biggest brand growths in revenue for the month:

High Noon:                 79.1%                          The Long Drink:         56.2%

Coors Light:                58.4%                          New Belgium:             21.4%                         

The President’s Choice Award winner for May embraces the tenets of our Vision Statement.

Devin Ohl, an Account Manager in Knox County, made the switch from a delivery route to a sales route earlier this year. That change, combined with an acquisition and the evolving industry dynamics, can seem daunting. Devon not only embraced his new opportunities; he planned and executed his way to the top of the Columbus Field Sales Team.

In May, Devon grew his volume by 27.7% and his revenue by 28.8%. He grew 9 of his top 10 brands and was an integral part of hitting the H1 distribution goals for Molson Coors. Securing over 213 new effective placements, including 6 new core draft lines, Devon has set himself up for success this summer selling season.

The President’s Choice Award winner for May takes pride in providing great customer service.

Steve Filakosky, a delivery driver in Lake and Geauga Counties, was the only driver in the company to achieve top 10 results in each area of delivery key performance indicators. He communicates opportunities that he sees and is consistently committed to enhancing the business of our customers and suppliers. Below are some of the results he “delivered” in May:

Driver Safety Score: 99.2%

ce’s delivered: over 21,000

Deliveries: 279

Breakage: .05%

The President’s Choice Award winner for April lives by the tenets of our Vision Statement. 

Anthony Mason, a second shift Warehouse Associate, is the lead tower loader, but is often relied upon to help out in different ways. He is a quick and skilled learner, now maintaining responsibilities in two key areas in the warehouse due to the recent increase in case volume. Anthony can be found lending his support to other teams as well. His impressive metrics for April are below: 

Total pallets replenished: 1,608 

Trailers loaded: 20 

Pallets pulled from outfeed: 240 

Anthony’s positive attitude and great work ethic don’t stop after production is complete. He stays to ensure that the pallets and backstock are cleaned up and that the warehouse is ready for the next shift. He demonstrates excellence through his hard work and perfect attendance record. 

The President’s Choice Award winner for April continually strives for self-improvement. 

Dustin Farley, a member of the Production Team, works diligently to establish Superior Beverage Group as the most efficient distributor in our industry. In order to reach our goal, teamwork is a must, and Dustin adds value to his team every day. Willing to assist where needed, he often jumps in to help with returns and ensures the warehouse is set up for the morning refill team. 

Dustin comes to work with the intention of leading his team members in cases per hour. In April, he did just that, with a total of 28,343 cases, at an average of 241 cases per hour and an impressive .15% mis-pick rate. 

The President’s Choice Award winner for February is dedicated to enhancing the business of our customers and suppliers by supporting our most valuable resource, our associates.

Ashley Peveich, a Human Resource Generalist, is continually learning and growing in all aspects of the HR Department. One of her primary duties is to lead new hire orientations, an associate's first real introduction to SBG. Orientations are never the same depending on the size of the group and the variety of positions within the group. Ashley guides them all armed with knowledge, experience, and a smile. Organization, effective communication, and a positive attitude are her keys to not only a successful orientation but to all of her work.

With her supervisor on maternity leave, Ashley has taken on many more responsibilities without missing a beat. She has learned new processes and procedures and continues to make a positive impact on the organization.

The President’s Choice Award winner for February brings a positive attitude and a teamwork mentality to the table every day.

Brandon Tackett, an Account Manager, is passionate about his self-improvement and setting goals each month. He not only plans his day-to-day but also looks forward to the best way to grow his route in the upcoming months. He analyzes trends and builds action plans to ensure growth. In February, Brandon grew his route in Revenue (+26.9%), Volume (+28.4%), and Distribution (+ 251 EPI, growth of 51.8%).

We are only as strong as the team around us and Brandon strengthens his peers by spreading positivity to his coworkers through words of encouragement and sharing successes. In February, Brandon stepped up to rally his team to close gaps against their initiatives. He motivated through humor and words of encouragement and with this focus, the team finished at 104.53% on their revenue goal.

The President’s Choice Award for January is awarded to an associate who goes the extra mile, often literally, to service our customers.

Seth Kmetz, a Delivery Driver, prides himself on excellent customer service. Delivering on High Street, or anywhere downtown, can be tricky. Seth continually delivers safely and efficiently.

Described by a nominating manager as “the backbone of our business”, Seth has built excellent relationships with his customers, sales, and delivery managers, and his Account Managers. He backs up his solid relationships with excellent customer service. Seth’s “customer first” mindset is apparent every day as he strives to do what is right for our retailers and suppliers.

The President’s Choice Award winner for January is an asset to our sales team and a threat to the competition.

Gregg Smith, an Account Manager on the large Format Wine Team, leveraged his experience, expertise, and well-fostered customer relationships to start 2023 by leading the Dedicated Wine team with a 28.5% increase in total revenue. A true beverage consultant, he sells our entire portfolio to fill the needs of his customers and treats each and every one as a top priority. Gregg makes a point to build relationships in his stores outside of the beverage aisle creating incremental cross-merchandising opportunities.  

Gregg’s sales results are not the only reason he is a leader on his team. He actively participates in his team meetings, offering advice and sharing successes, and helping fellow Account Managers through any potential situation or opportunity.

Our Annual President’s Choice Award winner’s alignment to the Vision Statement is clear, and their contributions to the organization are innumerable.

This associate’s list of daily duties and responsibilities pales in comparison to what he actually does in a day’s work. We most often take for granted what the person before us does. Whether it’s writing a sales order for 100 cases of beer or wine that was previously forecasted, ordered, received, and paid for before it even shows up on your iPad. Or that fully loaded truck at 5 a.m. that was rotated, picked, loaded, and driven to the final location ready to be delivered. 

This associate not only performs exceptionally in his own role but is a key link in so many others. On numerous occasions, he can be found merchandising, hanging cooler wraps, rotating, and building displays, or making a hot shot delivery for an Account Manager. You might find him running a delivery route or helping with an off-cycle brewery pick-up. If there are no extra deliveries or sales needs, he may be found making a draft call or helping with a Special Event.

His daily job responsibilities are making sure that our Sales and Merchandising teams have the tools at their disposal to service the needs of our customers. He does this work with proficiency, care, and excellence.  

Most impressively, this associate takes even more pride in his appreciation and support of his fellow associates. Barry Sutherland dedicates many of his early mornings to working with his colleagues in the Fitness Center. Giving his own personal time and talents to help them improve theirs. This is truly a gift, and he is a gift to all of us.

When considering candidates for the Monthly and Annual President’s Choice Award, the most basic fundamental qualification is to be aligned with our Vision Statement and perform your responsibilities well. What astonishes me month in and month out are the nominees that not only align with that criteria but go above and beyond. Additionally, when reviewing the nominations for the Annual Award, I am blown away by the consistency and longevity that exists with so many nominations.

This year’s Annual President's Choice Award Winner is fundamentally aligned with our Vision Statement. This associate received well over a dozen nominations and at least one from the management team in each department. Thus, demonstrating the overall impact he has on the entire organization and our customers and suppliers.

In seven and a half years at Superior, he has filled many roles and demonstrated his flexibility and willingness to do whatever is needed in any given situation. Whether it’s working in the warehouse, delivery routes, running over the road, troubleshooting a draft call, or working and managing a Special Event, this guy does it with a sense of urgency, a smile, and a passion for winning.

More specifically, this past year, Matt Pregi found himself with the responsibility of heading up many key events for SBG. The Pro-Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week, the Berea Oktoberfest, and a key role in servicing Progressive Field. Matt quickly earned the respect of each of the events’ directors and coordinators, all of which have reached out to not only praise his work and efforts but ensure he would continue to be their “go-to “ guy.

Matt Pregi is described by the management team and his peers as proactive, punctual, a communicator, empowering, flexible, aggressive, determined, and adaptive. He consistently is the first person to volunteer when needed and is always willing to help solve a problem when he can’t be there to solve it himself. Please join me in congratulating Matt Pregi, our 2022 Annual President’s Choice Award winner!

The President’s Choice Award winner for December is committed to creating quality work to enhance the business of our customers and suppliers.

Megan Randles, a Graphic Designer on the Communications Team, strives to provide the most effective Point of Sale to her internal customers at SBG.  Her incredible attention to detail, ability to work well under pressure and excellent communication skills are valuable to our efforts to have a Best-In-Class Print Shop.

Megan’s primary focus is creating pricing, new item signage (both printed and digital), chain programming, product catalogs and grab-and-go print requests. In December, she produced 560 files, cut and packed 9,651 pieces of point of sale, and produced 36 grab-and-go orders for Account Managers. She has created quality relationships with her team and other departments, striving to provide solutions and valuable communication tools.

The President’s Choice Award winner for December has a dedication and tenacity to winning at retail and taking care of his customers.

Bob Janis, an Account Manager in the Columbus-Southwest Region, was a top performer for the month of December, leading the team with 7.8% Revenue growth. Analyzing his daily sales numbers, planning effectively and executing his plans accordingly are keys to his success. A believer in teamwork, he regularly shares his strategies and successes with his peers and is building true leadership skills. He has a positive outlook and a “get it done” attitude.

Taking care of his customers and growing his route are top priorities for Bob. Over a long holiday weekend in December, an on-premise customer missed their Friday delivery. Bob went above and beyond to make sure that his customer had product to get them through the holiday.

The President’s Choice Award winner for November makes every effort to win every single time he steps into his accounts.

Jacob Woike, an Account Manager in Cuyahoga County, has grown into a true beverage consultant for his customers. He focuses on his relationships, taking the time to build mutual trust and respect. That trust and respect has allowed Jacob to maximize the portfolio mix and space he has earned in his accounts.  Thinking outside the box, he took advantage of a recent social media trend and increased his Taylor Port revenue by over $24,000!

Jacob brings a great work ethic, a positive attitude, and a consistent drive to win at every turn. In November Jacob increased his revenue by 15.7% nearly doubling the house increase. He excelled in multiple selling channels; Convenience +11%, Grocery +30%, Liquor +108%, and Restaurant +40%

The President’s Choice Award winner for November plans his work and works his plan.

John Bergund, an Account Manager for the Columbus-West Region, strives to manage his business effectively. Understanding that distribution is the key to success, John works diligently to ensure his accounts have the products they need and the proper point of sale.

John recently met with a large on-premise customer and secured 9 of 12 “Beer of the Month” features for 2023 with an option for more as innovation items are released, a great example of his outstanding planning and execution.

In November, John achieved all four personal goals for Miller Lite, Coors Light, Twisted Tea, and Diageo and executed 100% distribution in independent off-premise accounts for the Truly Vodka Seltzer launch. He also grew his Great Lakes Christmas Ale volume by 5% and secured 12 Columbus Brewing Co Track Suit Santa draft placements.

The President’s Choice Award winner for September has a team-first attitude.

Jason Shelton, a delivery driver handling the Westlake/North Olmstead area, continually strives for self-improvement. He has held several positions within the company and with each move, he took advantage of an opportunity to learn a new skill and earn certification and licensing to enhance his role and add value to the organization.

In his newest position as a delivery driver, Jason has had an immediate impact. He has managed to quickly build relationships with his customers and is highly respected by his team for his willingness to help, positive attitude, and his leadership by example. In September Jason delivered 10,970ce’s in 285 stops and had perfect attendance.

The President’s Choice Award winner for September regularly goes above and beyond to help any department.

Barry Sutherland, the Point of Sale Coordinator, runs a tight ship in the POS department. His excellent organizational skills are essential to effectively handling the volume of materials that are shipped to our warehouse daily. In order to expedite the use of POS in the market, Barry puts together display pieces, builds sample displays, and posts pictures of the items and suggestions for their use to enhance the work of the Fields Sales teams. His extra efforts go a long way in showcasing our products at retail.

Beyond his regular responsibilities, Barry frequently goes the extra step to help wherever he can. He has been a regular helper on large delivery routes, picked up loads from local breweries, dropped off POS to customers, and helped pick up and drop off special event trailers. His wealth of knowledge, combined with an unwavering willingness to help, make it is easy to understand why he so well respected by his peers.

The President’s Choice Award winner for August is committed every day to provide the best service to our customers.

Eddie Duncan, a delivery driver, understands the importance of good communication. He regularly speaks with the Account Managers, giving feedback and informing them of potential opportunities. Eddie has built trusting relationships with his customers and peers based on that communication and the excellent service he strives to provide.

On two separate occasions in August, Eddie had chain C-Store accounts that initially refused an order. Eddie notified the Account Managers and, in both instances, was able to go back and redeliver the orders that same day. His phone call saved the operations team an additional delivery and ensured our products were available.

The President’s Choice Award winner for August has a passion to win.

Greg Ehrhart, an Account Manager, covers a wide territory from Canton to Millersburg as well as Dover and New Philadelphia. He sells one of the largest beer portfolios in the company. Greg effectively manages his territory and brands through efficient planning and a consistent work ethic.

Well-liked by his peers and trusted by his customers, Greg has built and nurtured relationships through leadership and first-rate customer service. He focuses on the basics, distribution, chain program execution, and dominant point of sale, and his results consistently pace the Division.

The President’s Choice Award winner for July takes great pride in his work and does not stop until the job is done to completion.  

Courtney Robey, a first shift warehouse associate, typically works loading the pick area and unloading transfers, but he can often be found helping in other areas when needed. Retail customers and Account Managers are always greeted with a smile and a kind word as he helps to pull orders or load POS into vehicles. His friendly demeanor and positive attitude foster a great working environment and sense of teamwork.

One example of his thoughtful and helping nature occurred in July when he made the extra effort to ensure the product for a special order that was received into inventory late was loaded that morning for delivery to the customer. This extra effort was greatly appreciated by both the Account Manager and the customer.

The President’s Choice Award winner for July goes above and beyond on a daily basis to bring a new level of customer service, dedication, and excellence to the table.

Matt Slutz, a Special Event and Draft Services team member, typically services the Youngstown area but willingly helps where needed. His draft system knowledge and expertise keep the beer flowing and our customers happy at all of our draft accounts.

Special Event execution requires hard work and planning, and Matt leads the charge. These events are an opportunity to showcase Superior Beverage and our brands through quality products and brand awareness and are essential to our growth. Matt’s customers continuously compliment his service, knowledge, and hard work and bring their business back to us yearly.

 In July, Matt handled one of the summer's biggest events, the Y-Live concert featuring Luke Bryan. This event required a great deal of equipment, and Matt made sure the event went off without a hitch.

The President’s Choice Award winner for June conducts himself with honesty and integrity every day.

Jason Payne, a delivery driver in the Athens and Marietta area, strives for self-improvement and takes pride in a job well done. The rapport and mutual respect with his supervisors and Account Managers have been instrumental to the success of the team. He has built excellent relationships with his customers and goes out of his way to deliver exceptional customer service. His customers are not shy in their praise for Jason and he has often been described as “the best delivery driver we have ever had”.

Brew Week brought extra focus to the Athens area and Jason knocked it out of the park. Additional kegs, off-day deliveries, and new accounts did not phase his great attitude or the smile on his face.

The President’s Choice Award winner for June has a passion for excellence and a work ethic to match.

Tyler Marshall, a Large Format Wine Account Manager, services the North Canton area and approaches his business and the business of his customers with great enthusiasm. He has built true relationships through communication, follow through and product knowledge. Tyler’s chain program execution is top notch and he is focused daily on closing any distribution voids.

In June, Tyler’s passionate pursuit translated to success as he led the Large Format Wine Team in revenue growth with an increase of 26%.

The President’s Choice Award winner for May encompasses the tenets of our Vision Statement on a daily basis.

Michelle Harris, a Sales Analyst, provides the Field Sales and Central Resources teams with tools and resources to enhance their business. Attention to detail, willingness to adapt, and sheer determination for a job well done are keys to Michelle’s success.

In May, Michelle was asked to build and complete a complex tracker for the “Fix the Mix” incentive for Boston Beer. Michelle’s final product clearly called out opportunities and wins to the Brand and Management teams and resulted in outstanding results company-wide. She also followed up with an in-depth after-action analysis which was critical to measuring the efficacy of the incentive and a key factor to driving engagement in the future.

Continually striving for self-improvement, Michelle does not let obstacles stand in her way. She continually finds the tools she needs and masters the necessary skills to get the job done.

Tim Warren, a Warehouse Team member on the first shift, is skilled in a variety of positions and certified on several different pieces of material handling equipment. His flexibility along with his experience and knowledge make him a valuable asset to both the Production Team and the Warehouse Team.

Tim can be found in a variety of roles due to both his skills and willingness to help where needed. He handles each duty with determination and is continually looking for ways to improve efficiency. Tim has an excellent attendance and punctuality record and brings a positive attitude and great work ethic every day.

The President’s Choice Award winner for April strives to be the distributor of choice and a true beverage consultant for his customers.

Mark Guzik, an Account Manager servicing the Zanesville and Cambridge areas, successfully manages his robust geography and limited portfolio with great time management and organization skills. Mark is quick to share his ideas and wins with his team and leads by example.

Revenue and distribution growth were top priorities for Mark in April, and he achieved both. He added 302 new effective placements, which paid off as he grew revenue on his route by 13% or $22,200. His positive attitude and disciplined approach are key factors to his success.

The President’s Choice Award winner for April has a passion for the industry and a strong competitive spirit.

Tony Milligan, an On-Premise Account Manager in the downtown Cleveland market, has built great relationships with his customers through extensive product knowledge and excellent customer service. He knows the strength of our portfolio and has become a true beverage consultant by selling the entire book and understanding the needs of his customers. Below is a recap of

The President’s Choice Award winner for March takes great pride in doing the job correctly and efficiently.

Mike Sommer, the shift lead Supervisor for the Maintenance Team, is a wealth of knowledge for anything mechanical and is always highly engaged with the team. His organizational skills and attention to detail allow him to handle day-to-day maintenance responsibilities, manage the Vertique parts inventory and guide newer shift leaders to grow in their roles. He is always quick to help other associates and is a positive influence on those around him.

Mike was instrumental in the successful implementation of eMaint, our new maintenance management system. The ease with which he diagnoses and performs repairs was most evident the day he talked the team through a Vertique repair while completing a roadside truck repair.

The President’s Choice Award winner for March lives by the tenets of our Vision Statement by continually striving for self-improvement.

Alonzo Melton, a second-shift production team member, comes to work with a ready-to-go mindset. He consistently has a positive attitude and is always willing to help his fellow teammates when needed. Alonzo often asks questions about the warehouse processes to see the big picture and how his job contributes to that.

Alonzo averaged 277 cases per hour for an impressive total of 23,756 cases for March. He had only 21 errors all month, giving him an incredible 99.91% accuracy rating.

The President’s Choice Award winner for February understands the importance of teamwork.

Brad Osterloh is a Delivery Driver, who consistently strives for self-improvement and increased efficiency. He takes a teamwork approach with his Account Managers and communicates opportunities and concerns with them on a regular basis. Brad has built excellent relationships with his accounts and often goes out of his way to make sure their deliveries are accurate.

February brought a large snow and ice storm to Ohio and Brad knew with that forecast there would be significant operational challenges. He took the initiative to identify a handful of accounts that would be desperate for product. After a full day of delivering, he picked and loaded the orders for those accounts and delivered them ahead of the storm. Brad’s proactive approach both enhanced the business of our customers and suppliers by getting them the product they needed and also reduced the operational burden of delayed deliveries. His leadership and initiative are appreciated by his peers.

The President’s Choice Award winner for February is success-driven and lives by the tenets of our Vision Statement every day.

Josh leads by example, and that was evident in February, as he led the charge for his team to achieve the High Noon Retail Initiative. He planned his stores and executed his plan. His hard work in February was not limited to High Noon, and his results show that.

Congratulations, Josh! 

The President’s Choice Award winner for January has a love for the beer industry and a passion for helping others.

Rick Welo, our POS Coordinator in the Glenwillow warehouse, is responsible for receiving, cataloging, and organizing the point-of-sale materials from our suppliers. His positive attitude and engaging personality are respected and appreciated by our associates and our suppliers. He has built great relationships through excellent communication and follow through and will drop what he is doing to help anyone find a specific item and offer suggestions on how to use them creatively.

Congratulations, Rick!

The President’s Choice Award winner for January is a tenacious competitor and excellent relationship builder.

Mike Bates, an Account Manager in the Lancaster area, is new to his route this year but has made an immediate impact. He has built new relationships through communication, excellent follow-through, and working harder than the competitionMike’s planning, execution, and hard work in January have set the stage for a great year in his territory.

Congratulations, Mike! 

The President’s Choice Award winner for December has an assertive approach to the market and a teamwork mentality.

Brandon Hanson, an Account Manager in the Columbus West region, has built quality relationships with his customers through hard work and great execution. Brandon’s teamwork and leadership skills stood out in December also. He generously volunteered to help a Sales Support Specialist cover another outlying route during the busy holiday load in weeks. After working hard to cover his own territory, he ensured those additional customers had what they needed and were prepared for upcoming seasonal transitions and the Truly Margarita launch.

Congratulations, Brandon!

The President’s Choice Award winner for December has a great attitude, an excellent work ethic, and a willingness to help when needed.

Jeff Nicholas, a Delivery Driver who services Carroll and Tuscarawas Counties, takes a lot of pride in his work. His route takes him to two very rural areas where the majority of his stops are called on by our Central Resources Team. Jeff is the face of Superior Beverage for most of those customers. He has built great rapport on his route by making customer service his top priority He is efficient but methodical as he strives for safe and accurate deliveries.

Jeff provides a great deal of support to the associates he works with. From training new drivers, helping a fellow driver when needed, and regularly communicating with Account Managers and Customer Service to resolve a problem or inform of an opportunity, Jeff is a leader by example.

Congratulations, Jeff. 

The President’s Choice Award winner for November has a passion for the business and strives to win every day.

Chris Gorey, a Universal Account Manager in the Cleveland region, dominates his route through preparation, daily planning, and execution. He has built trust and professional relationships with his customers allowing him to focus on building their business.

Chris continues to take initiative to grow his accounts and brands.

Congratulations, Chris.

The President’s Choice Award winner for November continuously goes the extra mile to help the team get the job done.

Bobby Weese, a member of the first shift production team, has a great work ethic and a positive attitude. He strives for self-improvement and is always willing to learn and accept new responsibilities.

In November, Bobby agreed to repeatedly adjust his schedule in order to help delivery when they were short-staffed. He came in three hours early to help on a delivery route and after completing the route, Bobby could be found helping the production team build pallets.

Congratulations, Bobby!

The President’s Choice Award for October is awarded to an associate whose years of industry knowledge and thirst for self-improvement have been the foundation for his success.

Brad Bayer, a Purchasing Agent, primarily handles procurement for Miller Coors, our largest supplier. Brad has used his experience and professionalism over the years to build great relationships with our suppliers and shipping partners. As we continue to navigate struggles in the supply chain, the relationships he has built along with his aggressiveness and innovative strategies have become increasingly beneficial.

Congratulations, Brad!

The President’s Choice Award winner for October is enthusiastic, strives for self-improvement, and is always willing to lend a hand.

Tyler Sweeney, an Account Manager on the Columbus West team, has embraced his route and takes ownership of every account. He is one of the first to meet a challenge and makes sure his chain c-store programming is locked in “Day 1”. He has turned one of those c-store seasonal displays into a revolving display making it the gift that keeps on giving!

Congratulations, Tyler!

The President’s Choice Award winner for September starts every day with a positive attitude.

Barry Sutherland manages the Point of Sale for the Columbus warehouse. His innovative approach to categorizing and tracking the POS that comes in from suppliers and goes out to retail is organized and efficient and allows the Sales Department to be more effective and creative in the market.

Always willing to help when and where needed, Barry often lends his talents to other departments. In September, he was found on a delivery truck helping the Operations Team, hanging cooler wraps in support of Field Sales and covering chain resets for Central Sales, all while keeping a watchful eye on POS. Barry is a great example of a true team player and his actions help to elevate those around him.

The President’s Choice Award winner for August is the embodiment of honesty and integrity.

Terry Donahue, an Inventory Control Specialist, is tasked with keeping an accurate account of our inventory through daily warehouse cycle counting. Her diligence and attention to detail assure precise and timely data on one of our most important assets. The logistical constraints of the past 18 months have only heightened the importance of detail in Terry’s daily responsibilities.

Terry has been described as someone that you can go to with almost any question, even those outside of her normal responsibilities and she will go out of her way to help you whenever possible. Her communication and follow-through skills are excellent and her determination to get to the source of a problem is unwavering.

In September, the Inventory team was short-handed and Terry didn’t hesitate to step up and help. She covered the additional responsibilities for her department and also trained a new associate.

The President’s Choice Award winner for August lives and works by the tenets of our Vision Statement.

Devin Ohl, a delivery driver for the Mansfield team, demonstrates a tireless pursuit of efficiency, customer service, and teamwork. His route is the highest volume with the largest stop count on his team and he consistently performs at a very high level. Devin has developed excellent relationships with his customers and strives to enhance their business whenever he has the opportunity.

In August, Devin was asked to fill in while his supervisor was on vacation. Devin went above and beyond in his temporary duties as he not only handled his route but also scheduled repairs and preventative maintenance on equipment, and shuffled resources to gain efficiency. His willingness to step up when needed and commitment to a job well done are shining examples of his team-first attitude.

The President’s Choice Award winner for August has been described as “the Ultimate Team Player”.

Ed Loychik, is a delivery driver in the Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula markets. He strives to represent the tenets of our Vision Statement every day as he insists on excellence and works hard to enhance the business of our customers and suppliers. Ed is an integral part of our Driver Training program and is a great example of proper organization, efficiency, and pace for our new drivers.

In August, as he does every month, Ed was quick to help any driver in need. On multiple occasions after finishing his route, he helped fellow drivers who were behind. Ed also helped with Same Day Deliveries during the Labor Day build week to assure our customers were set up for a successful holiday.

The President’s Choice Award winner for July is a true team player.

Ryan Hardway, a system operator on the first shift Production Team, has mastered many different warehouse positions in his 8 years with SBG. He uses this extensive knowledge to keep production running smoothly and efficiently minimizing potential mispicks and not on truck issues.

In July, Ryan was instrumental in the progress and improvement of the flow rack replenishment team allowing for a smooth operation during a very busy month. His willingness to help where needed, enthusiasm for learning new skills, and adding to his equipment certifications, as well as his exemplary work ethic are a few examples of why he is a true warehouse leader.

The President’s Choice Award winner for July went above and beyond normal duties to help when needed.

Barry May, a shuttle driver, typically runs the shuttle route to the Lexington warehouse as well as picking up loads from local breweries such as BrewDog and Columbus Brewing Company.

In July, the Lexington location was short two delivery drivers and Barry stepped up to help. He rearranged his schedule, without complaint, in order to handle both the Columbus to Lexington and Lexington back to Columbus shuttle routes and still fulfill his brewery runs. When a new shuttle driver was hired, Barry embraced guiding him and continued with double duty until the new driver was fully trained. His feedback and guidance in this process were very much appreciated.

The President’s Choice Award for June is awarded to an associate who is committed to a job well done.

Joel Holland, an Account Manager in the Mansfield market, knows that good planning and hard work equal success. In June, Joel balanced the very busy summer selling season and a major event in his territory, the Indy Car series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He set his customers up for victory by fully preparing them for the influx of race fans with creative displays and excellent retail execution.

The President’s Choice Award winner for June has the drive and determination to win at retail.

John Cirillo, a Large Format Beer Account Manager, treats every single one of his customers with the same mindset and dedication to grow their business. In June, he led 23 Account Managers in his Region in overall revenue growth, and is continually a top\performer on his team and striving every day to stay there.

The President’s Choice Award winner for May continually demonstrates his desire to connect with customers in an effort to enhance their business.

Tyler Cheatham, a Large Format Beer Account Manager, has an uncanny ability to build trust with his customers through hard work, honesty, and a consultative selling approach. He has made a smooth transition with his recent move from the Universal market to the Chain market by continuing to deploy his customer-focused sales tactics.

The President’s Choice Award for May is awarded to an associate who has a competitive spirit and the drive to win in every account every day.

Joe Almaguer, an Account Manager, showed again in May why he is one of the best in the business. Just take a walk through one of his stores and you will see why! His customers appreciate his hard work and communication and reward him for his efforts. Joe in turn is a true beverage consultant, selling the entire portfolio and providing creative POS with each customer in mind.

The President’s Choice Award for April is awarded to an associate who is always pursuing more efficient and effective ways to get the job done.

Chuck Beireis, a shuttle driver for the Mansfield location, often jumps in to help load and move trailers to ensure the loaded trucks get to Mansfield on time. He is also quick to make an extra trip if shorthanded. Chuck has led by example with his teamwork, work ethic, positive attitude, and excellent communication. In April, when asked to temporarily fill in on his old delivery route, Chuck didn’t hesitate.

His former customers were happy to see him and they continued to receive excellent service. Chuck was still an asset to the shuttle team by making sure the trailers were hooked up and ready to go after his delivery route. His commitment and dedication to his team and the organization are appreciated.

The President’s Choice Award winner for April lives and works by the tenets of honesty and integrity.

Tristan Willmott, a Delivery Driver in the Kent/Ravenna area, shines by example on a daily basis. He takes great pride in doing his job correctly including all pre and post checks, and running mobile cast at a 100% rating. He understands the importance of good customer service and goes out of his way to provide just that. He runs his route effectively and efficiently and has built excellent relationships with his customers.

Tristan is a true team player; he helps other drivers finish their route when needed and ran shuttle trips to the Columbiana drop lot to help the shuttle department. He communicates well with Customer Service and RECON and often drops off cases to an account on his way home when needed. In the month of April, Tristan delivered 15,334 CE's with zero on-truck breakage and only one case of damage on a pallet.

Mitch Tomazic, an Account Manager for the Columbus-West Region, has a positive energy and enthusiasm that sets him up to win in his accounts every day. With a route that is 70% on premise, Mitch was prepared through strategic planning and constant communication with suppliers and customers to beat the competition while the business returns. In March, he secured 64 new taps! His off premise business did not take a back seat as his tenacity and hustle earned him an increase in off premise volume and growth in revenue, leading all Account Managers. Below are some supplier highlights:

Mitch shares successes and ideas with his team daily. He sends a “Mitchell’s Weekly Brewsletter” to keep customers informed of new items, featuring ideas and inventory, making him a true beverage consultant.

Congratulations Mitch Tomazic.

Emily Sweat, a valued member of the Human Resource team, has fully embraced her role as Talent Acquisition Recruiter. Primarily focusing her efforts on recruiting talent for the Operations team, Emily has worked closely with management to understand and recognize the traits and skill set required by applicants to be successful in their roles. Her efforts support the entire organization and strengthen our team. She is exploring ways that challenge the conventional methods of attracting new associates and is implementing those ideas with positive results.

Emily has excellent communication skills not only with the departments she is recruiting for but also with new applicants, leaving a positive impression of Superior Beverage Group.  She is passionate about her job and is dedicated to enhancing the business of her (internal) customers. Her efforts and persistence will have a lasting effect on our pursuit to be the employer of choice.

Congratulations Emily Sweat.

Bradley Stebel, a Sales Support Specialist, handles the routes and responsibilities for Account Managers when needed. In February he enthusiastically filled in on a Business Development Managers’ route for 2 weeks. He took ownership of that route and treated it as if it were his own. He planned each day and was prepared with pricing communication, shelf tags, new item information, and point of sale. He prepared a weekly recap for the BDM and Regional Director to communicate any changes and action items needed upon the BDM’s return.

Bradley’s constant communication, excellent customer service, and preparedness allowed him to make an impact at retail. He secured over 65 new placements, successfully launched several new key brands, and helped prepare for St. Patrick’s Day. Bradley knocked it out of the park due to his motivation, teamwork, and retail execution.

Congratulations Bradley Stebel. 

Jon Bagley, a Maintenance Technician, set a personal goal to earn his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and he achieved that goal in February of this year after only a month of training. Jon would frequently stay after his shift to get CDL training and would come in early to fuel and move trailers for the delivery team to get additional practice.

Jon never missed a beat with his regular maintenance duties during his training. In addition to his CDL work, he also filled in on first shift when needed, put together a new warehouse space on the mezzanine level, completed 29 Vertque repairs, completed 72 truck repairs, and learned new maintenance and inventory tracking program. He also had a new baby in February. That’s an impressive list of accomplishments in the shortest month of the year, all with a great attitude and a smile!

Congratulations Jon Bagley. 

Hamidou Sondo, a member of the warehouse production team, takes great pride in a job well done and has a lot to be proud of. He continues to impress with his speed and accuracy when picking orders and sets the standard for leaving the warehouse clean and organized at the end of each shift. In January, Hamidou led his team by picking 26,708 cases for an average of 225 cases per hour.

Hamidou is laser focused on achieving and maxing out the build bonus not only for himself but for the team. When comfortable that he has secured his goal, he often allows his peers to take the “Cadillac” pallets that will help achieve their goals. His positive attitude, great work ethic, friendly manner, and consistent results have elevated the game on his shift.

Congratulations Hamidou Sondo. 

Josh Miller, an Account Manager on the Large Format Beer team in the Canton market, has a desire to be the best and his attention to detail makes him a leader on his team. In January, Josh led all Large Format Beer Account Managers with revenue growth and volume growth. With the highly anticipated launch of Truly Tea, Josh planned his accounts and executed his plan to finish, once again, at the top with almost 1,000 cases.

Josh has a strategic and tenacious approach to his business. His ability to sell the entire portfolio and provide true beverage consultation to his customers has earned him considerable respect in the market and on his team. He has embraced the structure change and enjoys being responsible for executing his vision for each account.

Congratulations Josh Miller.

Andrew Ickes, Purchasing Coordinator, is responsible for procuring product from some of our largest suppliers. His attention to detail and persistence have allowed Superior Beverage Group to navigate the slippery slope of inventory management and ever-changing trends in 2020, while still maximizing the buying opportunities as they are presented.

Andrew’s experience and incessant hard work were instrumental in one of the most successful product launches in Superior Beverage Group history, Truly Tea. His quick actions and clear and frequent communication with Boston Beer and our Sales Team allowed for an impactful and fast start for this new, innovative brand. Andrew also spent extra time at night and on the weekends in December to ensure a smooth Great Lakes Christmas Ale season. He is a true team player and his actions positively affect not only the Purchasing and Brand Teams but the entire organization.

Congratulations Andrew Ickes.

Kevin Holland, a Columbus Large Format Account Manager, and model of consistent execution throughout his 20+ year tenure plans his work and works his plan until he achieves his goals. In December, his hard work drove excellent results, and received high praise from Kroger executives for his shelf and display execution during holiday visits from their corporate office.

Kevin quickly adapted to the 2020 go-to-market changes and responsibilities on his route. He was instrumental in assisting his team through those changes.  He leads by example and worked with new Account Managers to take over stores he had called on for over a decade. He continues to provide advice and guidance to those new Account Managers when questions or opportunities present themselves.

Congratulations Kevin Holland.

Benji Lacy, an over-the-road (OTR) driver, is committed to excellence every day.  His actions have a positive effect on his department and the organization.  He is always willing to lend a hand where needed and his great attitude and work ethic are evident every day.

The Trenton MolsonCoors brewery provides visibility online for loads and trailers, but mistakes and problems must be verified onsite.  When Benji makes pickups, he physically checks the yard and uses his relationships to communicate and fix problems regularly.

Benji also trains all new OTR drivers through the entire process from pre-trip and post-trip inspections to the BigRoad electronic log application.  He even takes them on the road to determine readiness.  Benji starts his day at 6 a.m., a very busy time in the warehouse, as many delivery drivers are starting their routes.  Benji jumps in to help move equipment as needed, even when it delays his start.

Congratulations Benji Lacy. 

Chuck Hardy, a delivery driver in the Akron market, services many of our largest retailers. His positive attitude and strive to deliver consistent, quality service has enabled him to build strong relationships and trust with his customers. He begins every day with the intention of being the distributor of choice. Chuck is an excellent trainer in our new driver program, making the extra effort to not only train on their individual jobs but also the effect their performance can have on the rest of the organization. He has been described by a supervisor as “engaged in what we are trying to accomplish as a team and as an organization.”

Chuck goes out of his way to show kindness to others by helping another driver in need, restocking supplies in the driver’s room, and bringing his smile and energy to those around him. 

Congratulations Chuck Hardy.

The President’s Choice Award winner for August goes above and beyond on a daily basis and drives his business by selling the entire portfolio.

Chris Raymont, as an Account Manager in the Dedicated Wine Division and a seasoned sales veteran, built and maintained strong relationships with his customers and is viewed as a true beverage consultant. Hard work and dedication along with daily pre-planning and proper use of the tools available to him have allowed Chris to maximize the opportunities available at retail. Chris is one of our few associates that have passed the very challenging CSW exam and he also participates in our Management Readiness Program. He has recently accepted the position of Fine Wine Key Account Manager.

Congratulations Chris!

The President’s Choice Award winner for August embraces the tenets of our Vision Statement daily.

Mike Bates, as a Columbus Merchandiser, eagerly and gracefully adapted to the changes required in this position. Recently Mike has been covering sales routes and has handled the transition from a Chain/Grocery route, back to merchandising and then on to a General Market route with the ease of a skilled Account Manager. He has a passion for success, learns from his mistakes and strives to be better every day. Mike has recently been promoted to an Account Manager in the Large Format Region.

He builds great relationships in the market and with the drivers that also service his accounts. Mike’s goal is to always do the best thing for the company and for his customers and he has exceeded those expectations.

Congratulations Mike!

The President’s Choice Award winner for July demonstrates a commitment and passion that is second to none.

Lori Schafer, a Dedicated Wine Account Manager in the Youngstown market, strives for accuracy and insists on excellence. She is meticulous on merchandising standards, correct pricing and proper shelf adjacencies. She recently had a creative Barefoot display featured on the Gallo Gateway website! Lori has built solid trusting relationships with her customers and always strives to not just meet customer expectations but to exceed them.

Lori’s great work ethic, positive attitude, and knowledge and passion for the industry are all keys to the successful results she had in July.

Congratulations Lori!

The President’s Choice Award winner for July works hard and has a positive effect on those around him.

Grant Hostutler, a material handler on the mid-shift, has made accuracy and efficiency a personal goal.

In July, Grant:

Increased his cases per hour over July 2019 by 26.6%
Had one week in July with ZERO mispicks
Had only four mispicks the entire month

Picking speed and accuracy are just a few of the ways Grant positively impacts the warehouse team. He also trains new associates as they are onboarded, takes the time to work cleanly by pulling plastic and stacking pallets and provides feedback and ideas to management. Grant’s actions have a positive effect on the productivity of the entire warehouse team.

Congratulations Grant!

The President’s Choice Award winner for June is calm under pressure and embraces new challenges.

Tiffany Mangat, a reset coordinator, is responsible for the schedule and reset packets for every chain set that we captain. She updates each planogram with any changes, keeping the sets up to date. Her organization and planning allow the reset team to be prepared, accurate and effective.

June was Tiffany’s first opportunity to draw planograms for some of our largest customers. She quickly got up to speed on how the buyers wanted to see the sets completed and hit every deadline and produced a finished product that gained the customers' trust and respect. 

Congratulations Tiffany!

The President’s Choice Award winner for June has set the standard for what makes a “Superior” driver.

Matt Gillam, a delivery driver out of the Columbiana drop lot, leads by example and strives to improve every day. He consistently practices the 10 basic steps necessary to be a Superior driver and his actions have set him apart from our competition. He has exceptional communication with management and customer service and has built great relationships with our customers. A customer that he services called to say that Matt was the nicest to work with and had the best attitude of all the drivers he deals with and he appreciates the extra effort he gives.

Congratulations Matt!

The President’s Choice Award winner for May can be called upon to get the job done.

Joe Carr, a Universal East Account Manager who services the southernmost part of our territory is a consummate professional. He has a passion for the industry and a thirst for knowledge, asking questions, and often researching products on his own. Joe has built relationships in the market and with his team based on trust and effective communication and has proven to be a true Beverage Consultant. Joe is calm under pressure, has a positive attitude, and a drive to succeed, all of which are reflected in his May results. 

Congratulations Joe!

The President’s Choice Award winner for May is a great example of an associate that is dedicated to enhancing the business of our customers and suppliers.

Nick Walsh, an Account Manager in our southeast territory, has an extremely diverse market with the majority of his business revolving around the Athens area and Ohio University. After losing half of his accounts due to the on-premise closure, Nick shifted his focus to customers that could drive his business. He spent his time merchandising and looking for placement opportunities in his top accounts. 

In May, Nick wasn’t just focused on his own business, he regularly helped his manager by picking up stops and offering account detail information and suggestions. His hard work and team-first attitude helped to keep the positive momentum moving forward.

Congratulations Nick!

The President’s Choice Award winner for April is continually committed to getting the job done and getting it done correctly.

Scott Hall, an Accounting associate in Columbus, is a veteran of the beer industry and has a wealth of knowledge. He handles a critical element of our business in real time and can be relied upon to provide timely and accurate information. His knowledge proved to be incredibly valuable in the month of April.

Scott was instrumental in organizing the processes and procedures necessary to ensure we properly accounted for our keg inventory that went out of date during the on premise closures. Scott has taken the lead on nearly every aspect of this project and worked through every detail. His diligence and communication allowed for a smooth and efficient process and went above and beyond his normal responsibilities.

Congratulations Scott!

The President’s Choice Award winner for April is fully aligned with the tenets of our Vision Statement.

Matt Pregi, a Special Events associate under normal circumstances, has been helping in the warehouse on second shift since the temporary pause on most special events. Matt took his schedule and responsibility change in stride and brought his usual positive attitude and great work ethic.

Since joining the warehouse team, Matt has helped in many aspects and filled various shifts and positions. He comes in before production to replenish and then helps in the towers, flow rack, chase and wherever he is needed. He asks questions and has worked hard to continue to learn about the warehouse and ways to increase efficiency. His team first mentality makes him a pleasure to work with.

Congratulations Matt!

The President’s Choice Award winner for March consistently looks for the best possible way to get the job done every day.

Tab Bell, a member of the bulk loading team in the Glenwillow warehouse, holds his fellow associates to a very high standard of accuracy and production. Tab has set a personal goal to be 100% accurate in 2020 and he is on track with ZERO errors in the first quarter, not one misloaded or missing keg or pallet. Tab’s work ethic is directly related to his excellent performance. On time and ready to work, he goes over his paperwork every night and points out any potential loading issues and makes adjustments before they can slow down production. The loading team is more efficient due to his efforts.

Tab has built great relationships with the delivery team and keeps communication open on loading routes to their individual needs. He also provides training and constructive direction to new associates.

Congratulations Tab!

The President’s Choice Award winner for March is awarded to an associate who is always willing to help when needed.

Steve Hershner, a bulk driver in the Columbus market, has built strong relationships with his customers and Account Managers in his 20+ years with Superior Beverage. He has earned their respect and trust through on-going communication and first-rate customer service. Steve is also a valued part of new hire training, as he does ride withs with new associates.

A true team player, he is willing to help when needed with any task. He has been known to salt an icy ramp at retail to help other drivers navigate safely. Steve typically does not run his bulk route on Wednesday and has spent those days cleaning in the office and warehouse helping to keep us safe. Not always evident is the smile under the face mask.

Congratulations Steve!

The President’s Choice Award winner for February is awarded to an associate who is committed to enhancing the business of our customers and suppliers.

Clayton Febus, a reset coordinator in the Customer Development department, has recently been tasked with helping to draw and facilitate c-store chain beer and wine sets. Clayton helped to deliver well-planned, professional presentations with the best interest of the customer and selling strategy in mind. 

Clayton is emerging as a leader in his department and in the market by being thorough and providing excellent follow up with issues that arise during a reset.

Congratulations Clayton!

The President’s Choice Award winner for February is awarded to an associate who consistently handles challenges with ease.

Cain Pontsler, a delivery driver in the downtown Columbus/North Shore area, is always careful but efficient. He has one of the most physical delivery routes, averaging 30+ stops a day and 250+ kegs a week with logistical obstacles such as basement coolers and downtown parking. Cain puts his customers and their needs first while maintaining a positive attitude and willing spirit.

In one example, Cain had a rooftop account that had a broken elevator on his regularly scheduled delivery day. Instead of rescheduling the delivery, Cain hauled their order up 9 flights of stairs to ensure the customer received the product they needed. His work ethic, positive attitude, willingness to go the extra step and commitment to our customers make him a great role model and team player.

Congratulations Cain!

The President’s Choice Award winner for January is awarded to an associate whose desire to be excellent and win at retail is unquestionable.

Lauren Donohue, an Account Manager, led the Columbus and Mansfield sales teams in growth percentage for January. Results like this are only attained by careful planning, an eye for detail, and aggressive implementation. She is consistently a leader in quick chain execution and has a sense of urgency around key objectives and new item launches. 

In January, Lauren was instrumental in the successful market visit of a key trading partner. Her stores were survey ready with correct pricing, creative merchandising and proper placement. She is a leader in the sales department, and regularly shares best practices and innovative ideas with the team.

Congratulations Lauren.

The President’s Choice Award winner for January is awarded to an associate who takes pride in his work and is a consummate professional.

Jason O’Quinn, a delivery driver, is a veteran of Superior Beverage Group and will reach his 15-year milestone this Spring. In his tenure, Jason has built strong relationships with his customers, understands their needs and goes the extra mile to service them. That extra mile is literal as he often drives out of his way to help rectify an error on an order or a customer concern. Jason also recognizes the needs of his fellow drivers and the account managers. He is the first one at the Canton drop lot and helps to set others up for success by getting power jacks ready for the drivers and the sales to deliver orders organized for the account managers.

Congratulations Jason.

Our President’s Choice December winner had excellent results and stood out above the crowd.

Larry Sampson, an Account Manager, led the Sales Department in growth in December. His personal impact reaches far beyond his sales route and results. He began his career at Superior Beverage when he worked in our Cleveland warehouse while in college. Larry has held various positions in multiple departments throughout the organization and recently overcame a significant personal health issue with class. He has high personal values, is hardworking, and demonstrates alignment with the company vision.

Congratulations Larry.

Our Annual President’s Choice Award winner for 2019, Washington Gatimu, stood out for several reasons. He set a personal productivity goal for his work for the year, and then exceeded his goal. Washington never fails to go above and beyond. He always gets to work on time or early, has an infectiously positive attitude, works with high accuracy, and to quote one of his managers, “continues to amaze us”.

In the words of a manager who works with him daily, “He is a very consistent, dependable associate who comes to work with a desire to improve, a teamwork mentality, a positive attitude, pleasant demeanor, and smile on his face”. 

Congratulations Washsington.

The December President’s Choice Award winner is truly aligned with our Vision Statement.

Terry Donahue, an Inventory Control Specialist in the Glenwillow warehouse was nominated by managers from every department including, Operations, Administration, and Sales. This demonstrates the value she adds and the cooperation she engages in across the
entire organization. Her hard work and initiative shown throughout the year led to an expense reduction in Inventory Adjustments by a significant amount. In December, Terry demonstrated her continuous passion for solving problems through results, collaboration with other departments, and a resolve to communicate effectively.

Congratulations Terry.

Our 2019 Annual President’s Choice Award winner was selected for a number of reasons.

He is highly motivated, a self-starter, has great relationships, excellent customer service, and a relentless passion to win.

Marcus Geiselman, an Account Manager in the On Premise Division, strives for excellence, and is absolutely dedicated to enhancing his customers’ businesses. It is no surprise that we receive multiple nominations for him month in and month out. He was a continuous high performer throughout the year. To quote his managers “if he rarely misses an opportunity, he takes it personal, it doesn’t happen again” and “he embodies the Vision Statement, is a great family man, and a consistent winner”.

Congratulations Marcus.

The President’s Choice Award winner for October pays attention to the details.

Chuck Beireis, the night shuttle driver for Mansfield/Columbus, plans his night before he starts his shift. He communicates with the warehouse managers to determine the most efficient strategy for handling that evenings’ work load. Many times that involves combining loads to less trailers in order to reduce time, fuel and equipment wear and tear. Chuck often loads and unloads his own trailers allowing the production crew to keep building pallets. He will help load, pull kegs, move and fuel trucks to keep that production crew on task.

In October, Chuck covered for another shuttle driver that was on vacation without disruption. He is a great team player and communicator, has an excellent attendance record and is always prepared with completed DOT forms.

Congratulations Chuck!

The President’s Choice Award winner for October continuously strives for self-improvement.

Chris Moore, a delivery driver and trainer out of Glenwillow, understands how important it is to keep equipment in good working order. He meticulously conducts his pre-trip inspections and his post-trip inspections every day. On numerous occasions, Chris has brought to management’s attention the need for maintenance on other equipment in the lot. This attention to detail has lessened equipment downtime and increased efficiency.

Chris is always willing to help his peers, often times helping another driver finish his route, dropping off an order on his way home or helping move vehicles in the lot. In October, he delivered 10,530 cases to 445 stops with only 6 cases of delivery damage.

Congratulations Chris!

The President’s Choice Award winner for September has a passion for the business and the success of his customers.

Matt Vyhnalek, an Account Manager in the Dedicated Wine Division, has a talent for finding an opportunity, putting a plan together to maximize that opportunity and successfully executing his plan. His attention to detail on distribution, pricing, displays, cold box and shelf placement are evident in his stores. Matt played an important part in the success of the Ernest Gallo survey and his accounts looked fantastic. He is a veteran Account Manager that continues to strive for self-improvement. His knowledge and work ethic quickly earn him the trust of his customers and enable him to win at retail. Matt’s planning and industry knowledge led to impressive September results.

Congratulations Matt! 

The President’s Choice Award winner for September is a true team player.

Hamidou Sondo, a mid-shift warehouseman, has a positive attitude every day, even during a busy holiday season when the pressure is high. During the month of September, Hamidou picked an average of 216 cases per hour for a total of 32,529 cases. He has averaged over 200 cases per hour since April. That’s more than 50 cases per hour above the shift average! Hamidou has an excellent work ethic. He is always willing to help the night shift with extra picking and loading trucks when he knows they need the help, often times before
being asked to help by management.

Congratulations Hamidou!

The President’s Choice Award winner for August is committed to excellence. Aaron Waldo, a Draft Services Specialist, is responsible for draft service calls and special events. August was a very busy month for the special event team as four of the largest events fell on the same weekend. Aaron was critical to the success of these events. His attention to detail for loading product, staging equipment, making the delivery and product signage and POS brought praise from both the customers and our suppliers. Aaron’s planning, follow up and customer service is simply awesome! His seamless transition from managing a special event to handling draft calls, all with a positive attitude, exemplify the desire for excellence we all strive for.

Congratulations Aaron!

The President’s Choice Award winner for August continuously strives for self-improvement.

Chelsea Cigic, a member of the first shift warehouse team, is primarily responsible for working in returns but is well versed in other areas of warehouse and production. Chelsea is a “big picture” thinker. She has been determined to learn as much about the operation as possible and the effect of how she does her job can influence the success of others. Chelsea leads by her actions. She has a positive attitude and great communication skills. She has excellent attendance and is willing to come in early or stay late if needed. If there is a problem to be solved or a task to complete, Chelsea is eager to be part of the solution.

Congratulations Chelsea!

The President’s Choice Award winner for July lives by tenets of our Vision Statement daily.
Sam Pritchard, an Account Manager in the Universal West Division, is well prepared with preplans and POS before he starts each day. Sam has built trusting relationships with his customers due to his diligent service and desire to help them maximize their profitability with our portfolio. He understands that distribution is the gift that keeps on giving and that effective distribution requires proper promotion.

Congratulations Sam!

The President’s Choice Award winner for July is dedicated to self-improvement and exceeding the expectations of management. Matt Lambert works the keg room on the night shift. He has an excellent work ethic, a positive attitude and the ability to motivate those around him to work efficiently. Matt leads by his actions and is always willing to assist others, often helping to clean up any area or assist in breakers. He also helps to train new associates in the keg room. Matt was instrumental in the smooth 4th of July holiday operations. Along with his keg room duties, he often helped to pick cases and load trucks as needed. In July, Matt picked kegs with 99.9% accuracy.

Congratulations Matt!

The President’s Choice Award winner for June handles every task with a sense of urgency and pride.

Joe Stein, an IT Specialist, continuously contributes to our desire to be the preferred beverage distributor for the customers and suppliers that we serve. Joe works diligently to assure that each associate can perform to their potential. Behind the scenes, he keeps our teams running efficiently, allowing all departments to spend their time affecting change and driving our business forward. Joe has a positive attitude and takes great pride in a job well done handling each task with determination and a sense of importance. Joe’s position requires him to be knowledgeable and technology savvy but what makes him shine is his drive to seek the information he doesn’t know.

Congratulations Joe.

The President’s Choice Award winner for June has a great work ethic and is motivated to do more. Jared Peters, a third shift material handler in Glenwillow, has mastered several positions on his shift and continually strives to learn more. During the very busy month of June, through hard work and attention to detail, he significantly increased efficiency in the flow racks. A leader by example, Jared works hard at his assigned tasks, thoroughly cleans up and quickly moves on to help others where he can. He is a favorite amongst his peers for his positive attitude and helpful nature.

Congratulations Jared!

The President’s Choice Award winner for May is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence. Eddie Wolfcale, a Dedicated Wine sales representative in the Akron/Canton market, has a passion for his business and the business of his customers. On-point program and display execution have made him a force to be reckoned with in the marketplace. He has built strong relationships through excellent customer service and high merchandising standards. Eddie is hands-on, self-motivated and takes ownership for his performance in every
account. He welcomes feedback and constructive suggestions and makes the necessary changes to win.

Congratulations Eddie!

The President’s Choice Award winner for May always puts our customers first. Jeremy Ingland, a delivery driver for the Grove City area and 20+ year veteran of Superior Beverage is a true partner to his sales representatives and customers. He has great relationships with his sales reps, largely due to Jeremy’s commitment and helpful nature. He is an excellent communicator with Sales and Customer Service. Jeremy has a knack for efficient solutions to correct issues in the market. His customers trust and respect him and appreciate his attention to detail and the extra effort he provides. One customer says “he is the best driver I have ever had, from any company” and another is thankful for the way he stacks the cases so they are easier for her to put away.

Congratulations Jeremy!

The President’s Choice Award winner for April is very much aligned with our Vision Statement. Jane Kemer, a sales representative in the Universal West Division, is committed to her craft. Always professional, Jane pre plans her stops and executes chain programming and
pricing with Day 1 standards. The excellent customer service she provides and the relationships she has built have cemented her reputation as the preferred beverage representative, as proven by her April results. Congratulations Jane!

The President’s Choice Award winner for April comes to work every day with a zest to learn new things and a willingness help others.  Michelle Harris, Sales Administrative Assistant in Lewis Center, keeps the sales and marketing departments on track. Accurate information allows the sales department to plan and execute more efficiently and Michelle is vital to that process. Tracking key initiatives, identifying MBO goals, assigning KARMA tasks, allocating inventory and managing report requests requires exceptional organizational skills and hers are second to none. On top of her responsibilities to the Sales Department, Michelle also helps in Customer Service and reception when needed. Her positive attitude, bright smile and ability to learn quickly make Michelle an asset to the entire organization.

The President’s Choice Award winner for March is a shining example of all that our Vision Statement stands for. Harry Rouch, a first shift warehouse associate, has mastered many positions in the warehouse but his primary responsibility is receiving. He had the highest accuracy percentage among the receiving team at 97%. Harry has a perfect attendance record for the year, comes to work with a positive attitude and continuously looks for ways for the team to work more efficiently. Certified and skilled to operate all pallet jacks and tow motors, Harry has not logged a single preventable accident in the last 12 months. He uses his experience and knowledge to train new associates. Congratulations Harry.

The President’s Choice Award winner for March has a great work ethic and a willingness to learn. Matt Link, a route driver in the Columbus outlying territory, has been with Superior Beverage less than one year and has excelled at several positions in Operations. Transitioning from third shift warehouse to driver helper, Matt brought a positive attitude and was often requested by other drivers. In March, he earned his own delivery route covering the Marysville and Springfield areas. Matt’s route has the highest daily average of stops compared to other outlying territory routes. Excellent customer service and ongoing communication with the sales representatives and management have earned Matt high praise as a delivery driver. Congratulations Matt!

The President’s Choice Award winner for February is always willing to go the extra mile for Superior Beverage and our customers.
Chris Hinegardner, a shuttle driver, demonstrates dedication to a job well done every day. He stays in constant communication with his management team throughout the night in order to ensure that our trailers reach their destination in a timely manner. Chris regularly handles situations such as breakdowns, driver issues and scheduling conflicts calmly and swiftly. He has been described by management as someone who “runs towards the fire” to help find a solution, often times being the solution himself. He assists in the training of new shuttle drivers and consistently has a positive impact on the shuttle driver team. 

The President’s Choice Award winner for February is always willing to lead a discussion or share best practices with the sales team. Mitch Tomazic, a general market sales representative in the Eastern outlying territory, covers a very diverse footprint both economically and geographically. Building strong relationships with his customers, he has worked diligently to become a true and trusted beverage consultant. Mitch is highly engaged in his daily business and is aware of the importance of both the big picture and the smallest details. He has consistently maintained his position as one of the top growth routes in the company.

The President’s Choice Award winner for January is the model of consistency. Washington Gatimu, a material handler on our night shift team, has not missed one night of work since he was hired. He arrives early every night for his shift and communicates with management when he sees an issue building or loading a truck. Washington takes great pride in his work and it shows in his production level and the quality of his work. His good attitude and work ethic continuously have a positive impact on the night shift team.

The President’s Choice Award winner for January has excelled in their role since day one. Kelli Petchal, a dedicated wine sales representative in the Youngstown market, has quickly become a high performing sales representative. Striving to add value and enhance
the business of her customers and suppliers, Kelli can often be found doing wine tastings in her stores and providing consistent extraordinary service. Dedication, hard work and daily tracking were key to Kelli's success during the month of January. 

This year’s Annual Winner stood out for a number of reasons, including:
- Integrity. This sales associate is a leader amongst his peers, has trusted relationships with his customers, and is a true beverage consultant.
- Self-Improvement. He is an active participant in the organization’s management readiness program.
- Enhancing the businesses of our customers and suppliers. Quoted from an unsolicited email received ironically the day after the decision was made about this award. “He is always available and willing to help and is by far the best sales rep I have ever had in any of my 10 years in the business.” That was from the manager of a major on premise account.
- Insistence on Excellence. He grew revenue on all 9 of his largest brands. And last but not least, he led the on premise, for the entire company, in both volume growth and revenue growth.

Please join me in congratulating the 2018 President’s Choice Award Winner, Ryan Bruns.

Our December winner has solution focused perception and would not let anything like the calendar get in his way. He is motivated and passionate as a winner. He is driven to find better ways of doing things, not for himself, as much as for others. He is a veteran of Superior Beverage Group with over 20 years’ experience. With the delivery days outside their normal synchronization, this driver communicated to his customers, offered to help with inventory levels, and extra deliveries if needed. His route ran smoothly. For some of his late openers, he made arrangements with the customers, and took their product to them on his way home from work. To quote one of the sales managers who recommended him. “For years I’ve heard accolades from our customers on Danny and how he services their accounts. In the 14 years that I’ve been in this market, I haven’t heard a single negative comment from a retailer.” This associate clearly insists on
excellence from himself. Please join me in congratulating Danny Sexton, our December President’s Choice Award
Winner.

Andy is motivated and passionate as a winner. He is truly dedicated to enhancing the business. What really makes our winner unique is that most of what he was nominated for by the management team, have very little to do with his actual job title. Some of his accomplishments from the year which continued through December include, creating efficiencies and integration through VIP’s Karma, iDig, the Superior Bridge, the Google applications, 99 Bottles, and Adobe products. Those are areas that many of us use but really have little to do with his job as a print designer. As a print designer, in addition to the 102 print requests he did in December, he also continues to help with the Buzz newsletter, our seasonal product books, and gathering data for visual implementation. This associate clearly insists on excellence from himself.

Please join me in congratulating Andy Woods, our December President’s Choice Award Winner.

This year’s winner stood out for a number of reasons, including:
· Impressive Results. The associate’s efforts outperformed the peer group by over two times.
· Creative solutions. This associate identified opportunities, quantified the possible results, worked with other departments to implement, and saw the ideas through to execution.
· Self – Improvement. This associate had positive results in 2017, and grew them again, the year after. Both times at the top of the peer group.
· Respect. This associate was nominated by managers from many departments like: outside sales, marketing, customer service, the warehouse, driver recon, inside sales, and purchasing.

She is a great planner, an excellent communicator, consistently positive, and a solution finder.  She is an absolute pleasure to work with and hits every tenet of the vision statement. Please join me in congratulating the 2018 President’s Choice Award Winner Shannon
Horvath.

The President’s Choice Award winner for November is a model of consistency. Kevin Holland, a Dedicated Beer sales representative, is committed to showcasing our portfolio and making it dominant in his accounts. In November, Kevin grew 11 of the top 12 suppliers on his route. His dedication to enhancing the business of our customers and suppliers, outworking his competition and maintaining great relationships shows in his monthly numbers. Often referred to as having “the best execution in the building, hands down, no question” Kevin is a true ambassador for our Vision Statement.

The President’s Choice Award winner for November was a top performer in his division. Pat Frangos, an On Premise sales representative, owned his accounts for one of the largest on premise nights of the year, the night before Thanksgiving. Planning his business and early execution of those plans set Pat up for continued success and helped to drive volume throughout the holiday. Passionate about hitting goals, growing revenue and providing top notch customer service, Pat sets himself apart from his competition and enhances the business of our customers and suppliers.

The President’s Choice Award winner for October embraces working together to accomplish the common goal of enhancing the business of our customers and suppliers. Tony Mazzocca, a first shift warehouse associate. Tony picks orders for outbound loads, completes product transfers and unloads an average of 10 trucks a day. Every year, in some way, he touches well over 1 million cases. In October, Tony was instrumental in assuring the Christmas Ale season was a success. He suggested scheduling and logistic changes that allowed for a more flexible and efficient operation, loaded over 130 outbound trailers and had perfect attendance for the month. His unwavering dedication to safety, accuracy and efficiency along with excellent communication with his managers and peers make him a leader on the Operations Team.

The President’s Choice Award winner for October will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Mark Kraft was a well-respected and experienced leader on our mid shift. He was always the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. He took great pride in his work as evidenced by his high level of production and the quality of the pallets he built, which was always appreciated by our drivers. During the month of October, Mark picked 27,709 cases at 165 cases per hour, with near perfect accuracy. He
maintained his pick rate while training new associates on the shift. He was always willing to share his expertise (and his love for classic rock) with newer material handlers and to help them become better builders. Unfortunately, Mark passed away on December 7, 2018. Mark had been employed at Superior Beverage Group for 29 years. He was a veteran and a stabilizing presence on the Operations team. Mark was more than a great associate … he was a friend and he will be sorely missed by the Superior Beverage Group family.

The President’s Choice Award winner for September is a great team player and is dedicated to enhancing the business of our customers and suppliers. Brad Bayer, a purchasing agent, is responsible for purchasing all of the MillerCoors products for both warehouses. Tasked daily with managing inventory levels and controlling out of stocks while maintaining economically efficient standards, Brad is relied
upon to be strategic, accurate and proactive. Excellent communication and follow through with the Operations, Sales and Brand Management Departments along with a positive attitude and willingness to go the extra step are keys to his success. Congratulations Brad.

The President’s Choice Award winner for September embodies the team concept every day. Jon Schroeder, a Reset Coordinator, is responsible for drawing and implementing resets in General Market accounts. He also assists in chain store resets and manages and controls the reset calendar. Described as a key asset to the entire sales team, Jon can often be found assisting in other manners outside of his Reset Coordinator responsibilities. He regularly helps with merchandising especially during the busy holiday seasons and helps to train new merchandisers. His willingness to learn and dedication to a job well done are keys to his success. Congratulations Jon.

The President’s Choice Award winner for August practices the tenets of the SBG Vision Statement daily. Clint Crandall, a dedicated beer sales representative in the Akron market, has earned the trust and respect of his customers by providing excellent customer service. He enhances the business of his customers and suppliers through his passion for the industry and willingness to go above and beyond to assist others. Congratulations Clint.

David Marshall, a Route Recon associate in Lewis Center, is responsible for ensuring that all routes are reconciled, bank deposits are accurate and REGISTER is complete. David has worked diligently to understand how the Company's information system works. He has made process enhancements that have had a positive impact not only on the accounting department, but to the sales and operations teams as well. Congratulations David.

The President’s Choice Award winner for July is eager to learn, happy to assist and dedicated to self-improvement.

Viktor Shirokov, a replenishment associate for the Vertique system on second shift, takes great pride in the work he does every day. Viktor led all replenishment associates in accurate inventory moves made. In July he made approximately 3,500 inventory moves averaging 165 moves per day, with a record high 213 moves in one day! Viktor understands how important accurate moves are to the success of the warehouse team and works diligently to help them succeed every night. He has recently taken on additional responsibilities in training new associates and analyzing volume and inventory moves to optimize efficiencies.

Safety is constantly top of mind and Viktor can always be found wearing his safety belt and did not log a single preventable accident in July. His willingness to help others, great communication skills and desire to learn make him a President’s Choice Award winner.

The President’s Choice Award for the month of July goes to Marc Greco.

Marc is always aware of executional needs along with what it takes to win inside his stores, and approaches his business each day with a detailed plan. His attention to detail is top notch, and he consistently leaves stores better than before he walked in. Marc works to build his customer’s business and aggressively pursues ours, all while strengthening his relationships at the store level.

The President’s Choice Award for the month of June goes to an associate that has served multiple departments at Superior Beverage over the years.

Aaron Waldo, a Draft Services Technician in Lewis Center, navigated the special events heavy month of June with ease, ensuring that festivals and sporting events such were flawlessly executed. During the hectic month, Aaron was still able to meet the everyday business needs of our on-premise retailers, tagging bad kegs and completing draft service calls.

Aaron is a great communicator, is very proactive to inventory needs, and always goes out of his way to help. Whether it be making an incremental run down to a local brewery for a special item or quickly suggesting a substitute to a customer who met an out of stock situation, Aaron always does the right thing. His willingness to take that phone call or invest the time to help someone learn, even at his busiest time of year, shows his commitment to helping Superior Beverage be the best in all areas of the business.

The President’s Choice Award winner for June is a true team player and has an impact on our goal to enhance the business of our customers and suppliers every day.

Megan Randles is a print designer in our best in class print shop. She currently handles all chain small format pricing, working closely with our Key Account managers to fill pricing and display requests. Her attention to detail ensures that these files are accurate and up to date. Along with chain small format pricing, Megan also handles all special event and draft POS. Working closely with the special event teams in both locations, Megan makes sure all POS is delivered seamlessly and to the customer’s satisfaction.

A positive and friendly attitude accompanied by talent, hard work and tenacity has earned Megan the trust and respect of the Sales department.

The President’s Choice Award winner for March is steadfast in her commitment to making Superior Beverage the preferred distributor of our customers.

Allyson Dobbert, a Customer Service representative, is dedicated to providing excellent service in a professional manner to enhance the business of our customers, suppliers and sales associates. The delicate task of handling a customer, driver or sales associate with an issue can often go unnoticed, but Allyson’s dedication shines through.

In March, aside from her daily customer service duties, Allyson also assisted in RECON as they were short a person, assisted the Operations Department in geo coding delivery routes to enable MobilCast to run accurately, audited and tracked return product from the drop lots and came in on St. Patrick’s Day (her birthday!) to assist both the Sales and Delivery departments. Her willingness to embrace challenge and opportunity make Allyson a true team player.

Please join me in congratulating Allyson Dobbert. She will receive $500 for her accomplishments.

The President’s Choice Award for the month of May goes to an associate that has become a leader and a mentor among his peers. Joel successfully executed and performed with our entire portfolio in a diverse market that includes chain grocery stores, convenience stores, golf courses, and on-premise bars and restaurants.