FINDLAY, Ohio -- In an unexpected announcement, Ron Becker, president of Speedway SuperAmerica LLC (SSA), said yesterday he plans to retire Monday, Aug. 1, 2005, after more than 15 years with the Marathon Oil Corp.-owned convenience store chain.
It just seems like a good time, Becker told CSP Daily News. We've got things in such good shapeeven though there's always a lot of work to dohere at SSA. We've made a lot of progress, and things are going good. It just seemed like a good time to back away from it.
Becker, 52, [image-nocss] has led the 1,600-store SSA chain since 2000. He served as conference chairman of the NACS SOI Summit in Partnership with CSP in April, and at the time, gave no indication he would be stepping down from his position. Becker said he just made the decision over the July Fourth weekend.
I've got a few more years left when I'm in good health, and after I fulfill the obligations that I've got here, maybe I'll look at doing something new, he said, not ruling out the possibility of remaining in convenience retailing. You can't stay away from this too long. I've got lots of different ideas floating around, but nothing definite.
Becker joined Marathon Oil Co. in Oklahoma City as region manager, central production region in 1990. He transferred in June 1996 to Houston and assumed responsibilities as vice president of natural gas marketing and transportation. He was named vice president of natural gas and crude oil sales in 1998 and was named president of SSA, Enon, Ohio, on Jan. 1, 2000.
Ron's leadership and many years of dedicated service are a testament to his strong work ethic, and we thank him for the contributions he has made to our success, said Gary R. Heminger, executive vice president of Marathon Oil Corp. and president of Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC (MAP).
Anthony R. Tony Kenney, vice president of business development for MAP, will succeed Becker as SSA president, reporting to Heminger. During his 25-year career with MAP, Kenney has served in various assignments in production and international accounting, supply and transportation, finance and marketing, as well as SSA vice president of finance and information technology services.
Pamela K. M. Beall has been appointed director of business development for MAP, effective Aug. 1. In her new assignment, she will report directly to Heminger. Currently, Beall serves as MAP corporate affairs director with responsibility for purchasing and commercial services, as well as public and state government affairs.
Based in Findlay, Ohio, MAP is the nation's fifth-largest refiner.MAP's retail marketing system comprises approximately5,500locations in 17 states, nearly 70% of which are Marathon brand locations. On Sept. 1, 2005, MAP will become known as Marathon Petroleum Company LLC.
Speedway SuperAmerica LLC is the nation's third-largest chain of company-owned and -operated convenience stores with more than 1,600 locations in nine Midwestern states.
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