Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/107993
Meet Your New Board Members Jim Hays Hays and Son Oil Company, Inc. Cullman, AL Jim Hays is the owner of Hays & Sons Oil Company. The business was founded by Jim and his parents in 1976 when they bought out a local distributor in Cullman. His parents remained involved in the business until 1998. Now Jim and his wife, Terri, own and operate the business along with two sisters-in-law. Hays & Sons owns and operates a Petro Travel Center as well as owning several dealer-operated stores. They have also diversified into package lubricants and started a commercial business bulk plant. Jim and his wife, Terri, have been married 31 years and have a daughter, Karen, who is a schoolteacher in Cullman. Jim is an outdoorsman and enjoys hunting and horseback riding. Jim has been a member of P&CMA for over 20 years. He believes one of the greatest values of membership is the information provided by the association. He looks forward to receiving the Fuel for Thought every week and appreciates being kept abreast of what is happening legislatively. He also relies on the association to advise him of new regulations and ways to save money. He says, "I really value that the association goes to bat for us and lobbies for our kind of business." As a new board member, Jim wants to help increase membership and involvement. He believes he has gained so much from the association over the past 20 years, and he believes it is time for him to give back. Richard "Mac" Mayers Midstates Petroleum Company Vernon, AL It might seem unlikely that a CPA would become the owner of over 22 petroleum and convenience stores and is a wholesale division dealer marketer. But that is exactly what Mac Mayers has done. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1972, serving a few years in the Army, and working for an accounting firm, Mac purchased his own accounting practice in 1988. One of his clients was a convenience store owner. As an accountant, Mac realized the potential for success in the convenience store business and offered to purchase the store from his client. That was 22 years ago. Now Mac owns over 22 stores. In addition to the accounting firm and convenience stores, Mac started a wholesale division, Midstates Petroleum Company, LLC in 1997. His wife of 30 years, Lanita, has run the convenience stores for most of this time. Lanita loves her stores and refers to them as "my babies." Mac says, "Anyone who can call a convenience store 'my baby' is pretty special." This past summer, Lanita retired from managing the stores due to an illness. Their son, Ric, currently runs the wholesale business and operates 5 of the stores, while 17 others are leased. Mac & Lanita have 3 children. While their son, Ric, operates the c-store business, daughter, Amberley, is a financial analyst at Home Depot in Atlanta and daughter, Laura Ashley, is a hairdresser in nearby Columbus, MS. With the accounting practice, wholesale division, convenience stores, and leases, Mac is just too busy for hobbies. He says, "why would you have a hobby if you love what you do? I have been blessed. God has been good to me. I have a wonderful life. I would not want to do anything else." The Mayers have been members of P&CMA for many years and try to attend all the conventions and trade shows. Mac appreciates the benefits of the relationships and networking in the association and says, "I always learn a lot more than I ever teach anyone else." 22 OIL PROPHETS WINTER 2013