Nestlé Waters selects John Burgess to toss ceremonial first pitch based on his 19 years of excellent c-store service.
John Burgess, a 19-year employee with VERC Enterprises, a convenience store and Mobil/Gulf gasoline operator with 24 locations throughout eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire, has been selected to throw out the first pitch at the Sept. 15 Red Sox game at Fenway Park against the Rays.
Burgess, one of 40 disabled/challenged VERC employees, was selected for the honor by Nestlé Waters based on his 19 years of excellent service with VERC Enterprises in addition to his love for the hometown team.
Burgess, whose favorite Sox player is David Ortiz, will have a seat of honor at the game, along with his girlfriend, father and Richard Cleary, manager of the VERC Pembroke Mobil location where Burgess works stocking the store’s coolers and shelves and providing general maintenance.
VERC Enterprises has long worked as a team to bring the disabled/challenged population to its current 20% level. In addition to local applicants who may apply for work independently, VERC has developed a strong network of resources that includes Minuteman ARC, Plymouth ARC, Best Buddies, BAMSI, Eastern Middlesex ARC, Post Program of Duxbury, Road to Responsibility and others.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that John will have a chance to throw the fist pitch at what should be a great game,” said Leo Vercollone, president of VERC Enterprises. “John is a valued employee who always comes to work with a smile on his face – I have a feeling that smile will be bigger than ever following Wednesday’s Red Sox game.”
For more information on VERC’s commitment to employing disabled/challenged individuals as 20% of its store staff, as well as its new foray into working with non-violent, rehabilitated ex-convicts, check out p. 102 of Convenience Store Decisions’ October issue.
