ATLANTA -- With a long history in retail real estate, Billy Milam taking over as president of RaceTrac Petroleum could signal a new phase of growth for the convenience-store chain.
Company CEO Allison Moran announced the promotion today, as reported in a 21st Century Smoke/CSP Daily News Flash, noting that Milam will take the new role beginning Jan. 1, 2015, following the retirement of Max Lenker.
"The end of 2014 is bittersweet as our own Max Lenker wraps up 40 years of service to RaceTrac. He has left an indelible mark on our organization and his contributions to RaceTrac will last for years to come," CEO Allison Moran said in the announcement. "With a change of this magnitude, opportunities are created. One of those opportunities is for Billy Milam, who will take on the duties of RaceTrac's president on Jan. 1, 2015."
Milam has been with RaceTrac for 17 years, having started as a real estate analyst in 1997. During his time at RaceTrac, Billy has also served as vice president of real estate and senior vice president of store development, store support and the RaceWay Division. Billy became chief operating officer of RaceTrac in January 2013.
Lenker, a 40-year employee of RaceTrac, announced his plans to retire in August. Lenker has been "one of the most instrumental individuals in RaceTrac's growth" since he joined the convenience store chain in 1974, the company said.
After a military career as both a helicopter and airplane pilot in the Army and Air Force during the Vietnam War, Lenker began his tenure at RaceTrac as the company pilot.
"He demonstrated early his interest in RaceTrac; and through his boundless curiosity, he showed his keen eye and intuitive talent for business," said the company.
Lenker started what became RaceTrac's real-estate department. At that time the chain's company-operated store count was about 20 stores with annual sales of $35.6 million.
Today, due in large measure to Lenker's dedication and business savvy, RaceTrac's store count stands at 372 with sales of $8.8 billion in 2013. Atlanta-based RaceTrac Petroleum also licenses more than 300 Raceway locations in several states.
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