2006 Top 10
Mercer Owner Operators enjoy horsin’ around during all-expense paid weekend
Mercer’s top producers of 2007 were recently treated to a weekend on the company featuring fine dining, entertainment and prizes to reward them for their outstanding efforts.
“We have several categories for winners including Top Fleet Owner, Top Team, Top Loads Moved, Top Canadian Producer, Top Single and Top Mid-America,” says Johanna Inman, Mercer event planner. “With this special weekend, we show our owner operators how important they are to us, that they’re worth more than the usual pat on the back. We also want other operators out there to know how well Mercer treats our independent contractors.”
Mercer picked up the tab for each Top Ten winner and a guest to attend a dinner cruise in Louisville, Ky., aboard the CQ Princess riverboat on Friday, May 18. Overnight accommodations were provided at the Galt House. After a full breakfast following morning, the real fun began.
“The real highlight of the trip was on Saturday,” says Inman. “We had seats on Millionaires Row at Churchill Downs – it was wonderful. That day the Preakness was also being run at Pimlico so they were able to watch the live races and also catch the Preakness on the TVs. It was exciting.”
For Saturday night, the winners were shuttled back to the Galt House where a casino event was staged, complete with blackjack, Texas hold ‘em, roulette and more. Using fake cash didn’t diminish the gambling spirit. “Their fake winnings bought tickets for the prize drawings,” says Inman. “The more “cash” they had, the more they could win.”
According to Inman, Mercer feels weekends and other efforts to recognize and reward owner operators is well worth it. “This weekend is about celebrating their accomplishments but it’s also about thanking them for all they do to make us successful,” she says.
“These top producers and all of our owner operators are vital to us.”
Top System Contractors were: Michael & Cathy Hughes, Tony Cook & Keeva Bigley, Michael & Debbie Harned, Sammy & Carol Cook, Ron & Brenda Backhaus, Robert & Linda Mounger, Joseph Kelly, David & Rosa Nelson, Clifford & Martha Monday, and Tom & Jorene Calhoun.
Top Single Contractors were: Scott Hill, Richard Smith, Bobby Bumgarner, John Pope, David Bowles, James Chancy, Gary McLemore, Murlin Woolum, David Tutton , and Bernard Rosenberger.
Top Mid America Contractors were: Gary Adams, Kelly King, Andrew Wagaman, Shane Wells , Steve Hille, James McMullen, Wesley Yoder, James Leach, and Rex Stein.
Top Most Loads Contractors were: Michael Williamson, Ray Daugherty, Harold Lloyd, Chris Phillips , and James Jones.
Top Van Contractors were Robert & Ruth Laroche
Top Canadian Contractor was David Wernick.
Top Fleet Owners were Eli & Patsy Wesley.