Associate Spotlights

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 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.

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!