The Spirit of Spring - The Quality Way
A Really Big WOW ... New Dispatch Crew
The Holiday Spirit at Hampton Inn Harbison
2005 Service Awards
Employees Take “Heartwalk”
Quality Oil Training Meeting and Annual Awards
Just for Fun
Salute to Troops
Coming Soon
Trivia Quiz: Whaddaya Know?
QM#23 Manager Installs Unique Mirror
Dealer Corner: Salutations to Stan Day
Reliable Tank Line News: Keeping up the pace
QOC Hotels Earn Recognition and Awards
Quality Oil & Affiliated Companies Timeline (pdf format)

Spring 2005 News

Core Ideology

To do it because it is right To treat others as we would like to be treated To be financially responsible To be better today than yesterday

If you are like me, spring brings a new spirit and energy. As I reflect on last year and the first quarter of this year’s accomplishments, I become even more energized. All of you as team members have a lot to be proud of, as last year was a very respectable year. But more importantly, we moved closer to our goals and aspirations of achieving our Vision and Mission to be the “best.” The owner/operator spirit of Quality Oil Company and Reliable Tank Line is alive and well.

How do we continue this operational excellence attitude? Our #1 priority for all sectors of our business is to recruit, train, and motivate better. Our strength since 1929 has always been our people and the faster, further and bigger we grow, the more disciplined we must be toward achieving a meaningful training program.

You ask yourself, “Well this is all fine but I am already here. What does this have to do with me?” Everything!! The most important trainer is you as you influence and train every day through your attitude. Never underestimate the power of your positive attitude. We all wear uniforms, lapel pins, and nametags to show our professionalism but I suggest the most important thing you can wear is your attitude on your face each and every day. It will not only be contagious to those employees and customers around you, but to yourself.

Warmest regards and thanks for all each of you do. Great things ahead for 2005.

- Graham Bennett

Graham Bennett, President

New Dispatch Crew

Recent changes in the Service Department have resulted in an almost-entirely new crew in our Dispatch office. Though it was unfamiliar territory, with computer upgrades and processing changes, all team members handled the hectic winter season with ease. Many customers commented on the pleasant voices they encountered while requesting service.

Two thumbs up to the Dispatching Crew — (standing) Ralph Bolt, Wes Sink; (front) Todd Jeffords and Christie Ledford.

The Holiday Spirit at Hampton Inn Harbison

The employee team at the Hampton Inn-Harbison in Columbia, South Carolina wanted to spread holiday cheer to a family in need. They decided to adopt the Shelton family for the holidays. They chose them because they had recently suffered a family tragedy. Three months before the holidays, Mr. Shelton passed away, leaving his wife, a four year-old son and one-year-old twins alone for Christmas. Mrs. Shelton, a school teacher, was feeling desolate and helpless when the employees at the Hampton Inn came to her rescue.

In December, employees contributed canned goods and donated money to help their adopted family. By Christmas they had collected $150 and a huge box of canned goods.

They also purchased toys for the children and a nice basket from Bath and Body Works for Mrs. Shelton. They invited the family to a holiday party on December 17, 2004. There, they presented the Christmas gifts and canned goods to Mrs. Shelton and the children.

The children loved opening their toys. They had so many gifts they had to take some home to be opened. Mrs. Shelton was very grateful. Although the season was difficult because of their loss, the Hampton Inn team helped them to feel the holiday spirit. The Sheltons, who have no other family in the Columbia area, now feel quite at home as part of the Hampton Inn Harbison family.

Kim Roberts, Director of Sales, took a family photo and gave it to them as a reminder that they are the Hampton Inn Harbison’s adopted family.

Employees Take “Heartwalk”

Special thanks to those who represented Quality Oil in the most recent American Heart Association “Heartwalk” at Tanglewood Park.

Quality Oil Training Meeting and Annual Awards

Quality Mart & Quality Plus held their annual Training Meeting at the Hawthorne Inn in Winston-Salem on March 9. The meeting focused on training and employee development. The Quality Oil office staff and management joined participants for lunch and the annual awards presentation. Special thanks to Southco and other suppliers for the door prizes and goody bags that were handed out.

Just for Fun

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of this bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

John tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by constantly saying polite words, playing soft music, and anything he could think of to set a good example. Nothing worked.

Finally, John got fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The bird yelled back. John shook the parrot, and the bird got angrier and ruder. Finally in a moment of desperation, John put the bird in the refrigerator freezer.

For a few minutes, John heard the bird squawk and kick and scream, then suddenly there was quiet. Not a peep for over a minute. Fearing that he’d hurt the bird, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arm and said, “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I am truly sorry, and I will do everything to correct my poor behavior.”

John was astonished at the bird’s change of attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, “May I ask what the chicken did?”

Salute to Troops Quality Oil salutes our employees who are currently serving our country’s military forces: Leslie Meziere QM#30 US Army Reserves Sylvester Beckett Reliable Tank Line US Army Reserves Quality Oil also salutes employees’ family members who are serving our country’s military forces: Ryan Griggs, son of David Griggs, Reliable Tank Line US Air Force Thomas M. Holmes, son of Betty Holmes, Hampton Atlanta US Marines Mychal Julian, son of Tamar Jefferies, Corporate Office US Navy Jeffrey K. Nolen, son of Rocky Nolen, Corporate Office US Marines Alton Windom, brother of Geneva Windom, Whalebone QP US Navy Reserves We appreciate your service and pray for your safe return.

Coming Soon

Quality Oil Company will soon begin construction of a new Homewood Suites Hotel in Atlanta/Lawrenceville Georgia. The hotel will be located adjacent to the Hampton Inn Lawrenceville that opened in December 2003. The Homewood Suites concept by Hilton was launched in 1989. Today, more than 150 Homewood Suites are open with many more in the pipeline.

The Atlanta/Lawrenceville hotel will provide home-like amenities. Guests can enjoy a daily hot breakfast and a Manager’s Reception Monday through Friday with a light meal and beverages in the hotel’s lodge. The hotel will offer spacious deluxe studios as well as one and two-bedroom suites. Homewood targets the upscale business traveler who plans to stay five or more nights.

This will be QOCs first Homewood Suites Hotel. QOC presently owns and operates seven hotels in the southeast. Construction of the 102 all-suites hotel will begin in December 2005.

— William Pittman

Salutations to Stan Day Congratulations to Stan Day on his retirement which began February 28, 2005. Stan started his career with Quality Oil Company in 1968 and operated two Shell service stations during his thirty-seven-year tenure. Stan is perhaps best known as the dealer at Cloverdale Shell for thirty-five-years. He also operated Interstate Shell for the two years preceding his retirement. From his Cloverdale location, Stan watched Baptist Hospital grow from a single, brick structure to the behemoth it has become today. (Wonder if Stan kept track of how many tons of dirt and mud from the boots of construction workers he swept out of his convenience store during all of those decades of building. Rumor also has it, that some surgeons routinely borrowed tools from Stan to use in the operating room when they misplaced theirs!??!) Known in his heyday for being one of the better mechanics in Winston-Salem and for being a shrewd competitor, Stan was also instrumental in training many young people in service station operation and management. From him they learned key customer service skills that made them valuable employees or eventually helped them start their own businesses. Many of these people still stay in touch with Stan. I personally have never met anyone who spoke a harsh word about Stan Day and probably never will. A true testament to the respect this man deserves. Stan, from the staff and management of Quality Oil Company, we wish you the very best during your well deserved retirement. We also thank you for being a great “Business Partner” for all of those thirty-seven years. — Danny Brown Return to Top Keeping up the pace Reliable Tank Line, LLC was founded in 1934 as Quality Oil Transport. In 1984 the name was changed to Reliable Tank Line, LLC. With Buddy Jenkins as Vice President of Operations, Reliable Tank Line continues to grow. The compnay has 81 employees and 44 tractor trailers based at five Locations — Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Selma, Spartanburg, SC, and our newest location, Chesapeake, VA. Buddy Jenkins and Reliable Tank Line’s newest additions to the fleet. Ray Clifton Retires Ray Clifton retired from Reliable Tank Line, LLC earlier this year after 35 years with the company. Congratulations and best wishes to Ray from his many friends and co-workers. We wish Ray much happiness as he starts a new phase of his life. Return to Top QOC Hotels Earn Recognition and Awards Many Quality Oil Hotels and employees have earned prestigious awards offered by their brands or community. Following is a list of the awards recently presented to our dedicated hotel teams. Hotel Awards Hampton Inn Lawrencevillc, GA Light House Award Hampton Inn Lawrenceville, GA Circle of Excellence Hampton Inn Columbia, SC Circle of Excellence Hampton Inn Christiansburg, VA Circle of Excellence Sleep Inn Winston Salem, NC Gold Award Individual Awards Paula Geen, Hampton Inn Winston-Salem, NC Spirit of Pride Award Amy Reynolds, Hampton Inn Christiansburg, VA WOWAward Cary Hoge, Hampton Inn Christiansburg, VA WOWAward Christine Moorhead, Hampton Inn Lawrenceville, GA Friend of Tourism Award Congratulations! Amy Reynolds (left) and Cary Hoge from Hampton Inn Christianburg show off their WOW awards. The WOW award recognizes exceptional customer service. The staff at Hampton Inn Lawrenceville, GA received the 2004 Lighthouse Award. This award is given to the top 50 hotels in the Hampton Inn brand. Left to right: Dave Bodin, Assistant General Manager; Mary Humphries, Executive Housekeeper; Mikel Thomas, Chief Engineer; Tim Huffman, General Manager; and Christine Moorhead, Director of Sales. Christine Moorhead, Director of Sales at the Hampton Inn in Lawrencville, GA, received the Friend of Tourism Award from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. This award is given to individuals in the community who promote tourism in the county. Paula Green, Front Desk Clerk at the Hampton Inn Winston- Salem, received the Spirit of Pride Award. She is the first employee to receive the award, which is presented by the Hilton Corporation to those who make an outstanding contribution to guests, fellow team members and the community. The Sleep Inn staff was presented with the 2004 Gold Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels. This prestigious award recognizes hotels for exceeding rigid quality assurance standards for exceptional service, facility, and hospitality. They were also nominated as “Inn of the Year” finalist, which places Sleep Inn in the top three in the entire system. Congratulations to the staff and management for five consecutive years of being honored with this award! Return to Top Quiz Answers: 1) b (The vehicle made its debut in 1917.) 2) b (The Packers also won Super Bowl 11.) 3) a 4) c (NY is also home to all ZIP codes beginning with 09, 11, 12,13 and 14.) 5) c 6) c (from 1868-1878) Click the image for a full-sized pdf version of the timeline Quality Oil Company, LLC PO Box 2736 Winston-Salem, NC 27102 336.722.3441 FAX 336.721.9527 bfoster@qocnc.com Quality Oil Newsletter Committee: Brenda Foster, Administrative Assistant Danita Dominguez, Customer Service Annette Wagoner, Purchasing Agent Danny Brown, V.P. Service Stations Haywood Stroupe, Sales Supervisor William Pittman, Senior V.P.-Hotel Operations Lisa Dodson, Accounting Jamie Westmoreland, Operations Clerk Nancy Puckett, Administrative Assistant Kim Williamson, Corporate Director of Hotel Sales Don Morton, Quality Plus Operations Manager