SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Greg Parker, president and CEO of the Parker's convenience store chain, has been featured in a "Power Players" profile in the May 2013 issue of Georgia Trendmagazine. An industry leader, Parker has influenced the convenience store industry with his emphasis on loyalty, spirit of innovation, love of technology and commitment to customer service, said the magazine
"Greg Parker has a pedigree of business ownership in the automotive fuel industry, but he might never have discovered his own genius for it if he had stuck with his post-graduate 'Plan A,' law school," the article said. "Instead, he returned to Glennville after finishing his undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia in 1976."
Parker went on to become the leader of one of America's most trend-setting c-store companies. Along with industry honors, he has also been named the Entrepreneur of the Year by The Savannah Morning News.
"Parker's stations are as famous for their style as they are for their substance," the article said. "Yes, they sell gasoline, snack food and beverages--Parker's is known for its 'Chewy Ice'–but in a setting that's uncommon for convenience stores. Stores are bright and inviting, with open floor plans, Wi-Fi and, above all, impeccably clean bathrooms."
Parker is an active community advocate in Savannah, Ga., serving on the board of directors for the Savannah Economic Development Authority and Memorial Health Foundation. He also serves as the chairman of the Mayor's Business Roundtable and supports a number of local organizations.
Parker currently serves on Pepsi's Retail Advisory Council and previously served on the Coca-Cola Retail Advisory Committee. He is a member of the World President's Organization and heads up an international CEO committee led by respected economist Walter Zimmerman.
In addition to delivering exceptional products and state-of-the-art services, Parker's is widely considered an industry leader for its Fueling the Community program, which gives back one cent of every gallon of gasoline sold on the first Wednesday of each month to public and private schools in every community where Parker's does business. The company's PumpPal loyalty program has also saved customers more than $3 million since its inception in 2011.
Parker's was recently ranked on Inc.'s elite list of the top 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States.
Parker's recently swept four categories in the 2013 Savannah Morning News Reader's Choice Awards. Voters honored Parker's as Best Convenience Store and also gave the company top honors in the following categories: Best Wine Selection, Best Lunch Bargain and Best She Crab Soup.
The Reader's Choice Awards honor the Savannah area's best businesses, services and attractions. Every year, voters select their favorite companies.
"To earn this acclaim from our customers is the ultimate honor," said Parker. "Everything we do at Parker's is focused on exceeding customer expectations, from our store design to our check-out technology. We're truly humbled to receive such a sweeping endorsement from our loyal customers."
The company is based in Savannah, Ga. and operates 29 c-stores across Georgia and South Carolina that sell Parker's proprietary brand gasoline.
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