*This is the first in a series of blog posts coming straight from the desk of Steve Williams, CEO of WilcoHess.

I’ll be honest, I’m not a high profile kind of guy and frankly, I like it that way. Sometimes high profile can get in the way of the ultimate goal – providing quality, convenience, and affordability to our customers. When my parents started their own business, Wilco, in 1963 they had three children under the age of four and one on the way. I constantly remind myself of the courage and hard work it must have taken them to make that leap. When I look back on it, it wasn’t “work” for them – it was a “labor of love” – and that’s what keeps me going. When I see that same drive on a daily basis in the WilcoHess employees, I know we’re doing something right. I’ll say it time and time again, but a part of what separates our company is the people and that’s not something I take for granted.

WilcoHess is a convenience store and/or travel plaza, yes, but ultimately we’re there for you when you need us most. We’re a responsible “neighbor” grounded by the reality of the world in which we live in. Do we make mistakes? Absolutely. But as a family owned company we know what matters most, and operating efficiently with that in mind has allowed us to be viable in the initiatives which matter – quality, price, speed and relationships with you, our customers.

At the end of the day, the difference that WilcoHess can offer our customers won’t be shouted from the mountain tops; it’ll be engrained in our customer’s minds over time. Is it about the gas prices? Of course it is; and we strive to stay competitive. However, just with everything in life, there’s more to the story. We believe in a balanced mix of being on the bleeding edge, but also staying grounded. We believe in involvement within the community because it’s who we serve. Ultimately WilcoHess means to you exactly what it means to me – maintaining the American dream - and we recognize that our quality, prices and efficiency are a vital part of your success. That is what it’s all about.

-Steve