POEHLMAN OIL01

 

WAUPACA COUNTY POST

July 24, 2003

 

POEHLMAN OIL TO BECOME CHARTER FUELS

 

            Poehlman Oil Co., a Wisconsin-based fuel company, has changed its name to Charter Fuels Inc. The change follows the August 2001 sale of the company to Douglas M. Pink, who has been with the company for 18 years.  He will continue to serve as president.

            Poehlman Oil Co. was established by Micky Huebner in the 1920s, and was purchased by Bob Hanson in the 1950s.  Lee Poehlman started as a route driver in 1964 and purchased the company in 1968.

            Charter Fuels Inc. purchased Poehlman Oil Co. in the fall of 1999.  The “Polecat”, as he is known in local circles, continued to work on a part-time basis until his retirement in May of this year.

            “We have a business plan that is focused on building and maintaining customer loyalty,” Pink said, “whether this means individualizing customer programs, promoting a safe work environment for employees, protecting the air and water, or encouraging community involvement.”  While other companies have closed their service departments, Charter Fuels will continue the tradition of equipment sales and service.

            Employee training will be a high priority, with staff certified or working toward certification in the industry’s training programs.  Charter Fuels employs service and delivery personnel trained in propane basic principals, and practices, distribution systems, delivery, service and repair of propane and petroleum products.

            “We have someone on call 24 hours per day, 365 days a year for emergencies,” Pink said.

            In an industry with extreme price volatility, Charter will explore and employ new methods to bring a semblance of control over fuel costs for the consumer.  These new methods will complement Charter Fuels’ focus on stabilizing pricing with its storage facilities of 355,000 gallons of propane gas and 205, 500 gallons of petroleum products to provide an adequate supply in the event of increased demand due to bad weather conditions or rising prices in a fuel supply shortage.

            A new logo has been created to visually represent the company.  The modern looking mark includes a propane gas flame with a stylized letter “C”.  The company will continue to use the color blue for its logo and marketing materials. In addition, a new slogan, “Serving you with energy,” was developed to represent the company’s mission.

 

            Charter Fuels has operated as a family-owned supplier of propane gas, heating oils, diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene, aviation fuel and propane equipment service to residential, agricultural and commercial markets since 1925.  The company, with six Wisconsin locations serving customers in Grant, Crawford, Richland, Sauk, Iowa, Dane, Lafayette, Waupaca, Portage, Shawano, Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Waushara, Marquette, Wood, Marathon, Adams, Brown, Oconto, Menominee, Marinette, Langlade, Forest, Florence and, in upper Michigan, Menominee, Dickinson and Iron counties.  Charter is a major supplier of BP/Amoco products in the area as well.  Pink also sits on the board of the Wisconsin Gas Association.