Pilot Company Appreciation Day

For us, “Fueling Life’s Journeys” starts and ends with our team members. From tanker drivers like Kim Surber to guest service representatives like Harini V. to regional managers like Richard Bronson, our 28,000 team members have kept our company growing and flourishing for the past 63 years. In honor of National Employee Appreciation Day, we’d like to give a sincere thanks to each and every one our team members who continue to help each other and our guests have a better day.

We also want to give a special shoutout to our Founder’s Award winners for 2022 – these team members went above and beyond in their service to others.

The Founder’s Awards are announced every year at our annual leadership conference – an event we’ve hosted for 35 years to bring our operations leaders together to learn, develop, collaborate and align on the year’s priorities. The award was created in honor of our founder, Mr. Jim Haslam II, who recognized the importance of taking care of one another and putting people first.

Considered the most prestigious award at Pilot, it recognizes the “best of the best” leaders in our stores. This year’s 79 winners include regional managers, multi-unit managers, travel center general managers, restaurant general managers and deli managers who have some of the most engaged teams highest guest compliments, consistent financials and strong leadership qualities. They exemplify what it means to be Pilot Proud – hungry, humble, accountable and commercial.

Here are just a few of our amazing Founder Award winners for this year:

BRIAN MCCRORY

Meet regional manager Brian McCrory. He’s spent the past 15 years in leadership roles at Pilot, helping to build consistency within his teams that not only drive results, but that also push his team to be the very best they can be.

My R36 team worked very hard this year and their hard work paid off with awesome results, we all did it together. So proud of all of the leaders in R36 for focusing in on the right things and growing as leaders.

Top highlight since joining the company: The dedication of leaders to invest in me personally and grow me as a leader along the way.

What his team does best: My team has a lot of humility. They’re always looking to get better, they work very hard every day, and everyone has a great attitude and truly wants to take care of their team and guests.

PEGGY WOLFORD

Meet Peggy Wolford, one of our general managers whose been with us for more than 26 years. Peggy started off as a cashier, working her way up to a leadership position for almost two decades. This award is especially significant to her because of a major remodel her store underwent this past year. Despite the hectic renovation process, her team had a fantastic sales year.

This award means so very much to me. I’ve worked extremely hard to build a quality team that takes care of our guests and helps me to make sure our store is always clean and stocked. [Receiving this] makes me feel like all the hard work I’ve put in to make sure that we continue to do our best in sales has really paid off.

Top highlight since joining the company: Meeting Mr. Haslam for the first time. We discussed many things – at the time, we didn’t have very good dental insurance and I voiced my concern with that. He listened and made a company-wide change. Wow! That told me how important each person on the Pilot team really was to him. We weren’t just employees, we were family.

What her team does best: My team works hard as a family to take care of our store and guests.

VICTORIA CLINE

Meet Victoria Cline, a restaurant worker/sandwich artist turned restaurant general manager for our store in Oregon. After the previous restaurant general manager experienced medical issues, Victoria quickly stepped in as acting restaurant general manager has been in that role ever since.

The last five years of our hard work have paid off. My team and I have worked hard to get to where we are today. I’m looking forward to keeping up the same passion the team and I had this past year.

Top highlight since joining the company: I feel like the company really cares about the team. I like how construction tries to change and adapt [our store] for the better.

What her team does best: My team pulls together like a family and we take care of our guests and each other.

MICHAEL BATORY

Meet Michael Batory, a travel center general manager for one of our locations in Wyoming. His goal is to help every one of his team members become subject matter experts in their respective roles, training and developing them while continuing to expand his own skill set.

I was completely surprised even being nominated for such a high award for TCGM. When my name was called, I was speechless. It meant validation for the team’s and my hard work – day in and day out. We try as leaders to run the best stores possible by placing the right person in the right place, utilizing all the tools Pilot provides for us. It all started to come together once we started seeing the desired results.

Top highlights since joining the company: The way Pilot takes care of all their team members. The way senior leadership comes out to the stores and really takes the time to engage the team and answer all our questions. The training and the onboarding process are industry leading.

What his team does best: I think first and foremost they display Pilot Proud behaviors. They work as a team and over-communicate with each other, including leaders. They’re huge on following the process and using the tools the company provides for them.

TAMMY ROBETS

Meet Tammy Robets, a food service leader for our travel center’s Subway in Monroe, Michigan. She joined the team 17 years ago as a co-manager, quickly moving over to Subway and being trained by several folks that taught her how to become an even better leader. This is her second Founder’s Award; she’s also won our Spirit Award.

I feel honored that [my team’s] hard work was recognized. I feel appreciated and valued by the leaders I look up to for guidance. These folks inspire me to be a better person each day; I’m grateful to say that I am a part of the Pilot Family.

Top highlights since joining the company: Being a member of the Coaches Club and a concept leader as it affords me the opportunity to impact someone else’s journey at Pilot. It’s so rewarding to see someone succeed and know that I may have helped along the way – that I had a positive impact.

What her team does best: My team is amazing. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today. What we do best are process and routines. We create high standards and expectations, and we stick to them. These are the things that help us take care of each other so we can take care of our guests.