By Don Murtha
According to the old jingle, Pepsi Cola “hits the spot,” and Pepsi hit the spot with the Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce, which awarded the local plant the Business of the Year award.
“We were totally surprised,” said Al Fiedler, Pepsi plant manager in Mount Angel. “We never in the world expected it.”
Mount Angel Chamber President Mary Grant shared why Pepsi was chosen for the award.
“The Pepsi staff turned out to restore the city’s Humpert Park and the company gave $5,000 besides,” she said. “We thought that was worthy of the recognition.”
Fiedler said his staff takes great pride in their achievement.
“The majority of our people turned out. Those who had to stay behind to mind the shop were disappointed that they couldn’t go,” Fiedler said.
Twenty-seven employees from the local Pepsi plant volunteered 62 hours on the park project, Fiedler said.
The idea for the project happened at an employee appreciation event. Pepsi Cola had what was called a Give Back Program, a project of the national company.
“We had no part in the national program, but it gave us a hint about what we could do locally,” Fiedler said. “Out of our employee appreciation event grew this project for us.”
Jason Ward, operations manager at the plant, took over planning with Fiedler.
“The city was very cooperative with us. They were excited about joining us,” Ward said.
“We approached the city, and their reaction was phenomenal,” Fielder said. “We coordinated with Susan Muir, city administrator, and Dan Bernt, city public works superintendent.”
“We would not have been as successful to the extent we were without the city’s help,” Fiedler said. “They provided the tools and equipment we needed.”
The Pepsi staff membes were not the only ones to pitch in. Among the volunteers were Kelly Grassman, Teresa Kintz, Rick and Cindy Schiedler, Patty Eder, Jan Donohue and Marla Bowen.
Among the tasks the crew completed were placing bark dust in appropriate places, laying gravel around the pump house, painting the pump house, repairing the basketball hoop, painting and resealing park benches, repairing the Humpert Park sign, rebuilding the fence around the park and pressure-washing concrete at the park.
The local Pepsi people are not done pitching in where and when needed.
“We will be out again next year,” Fiedler promised. “We will ask the city what needs to be done and we will do it.”
Fiedler threw down the gauntlet to other businesses in Mount Angel.
“We challenge any other business to play the game,” he said. “We say step up and get that award next year.”
This year, with the Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce award, Pepsi received a plaque from the city of Mount Angel honoring the company’s service.
In addition, laurels came in from across the country from others within the Pepsi system
“It seems the ripple effect went everywhere,” Fiedler said. “I got calls from as far as back East from people in the company who heard about us.”
Fiedler said the reward is not only about the community recognition, but also the personal accomplishment.
“It’s one of those things you plan and put together and you look back and you are pretty proud. The whole staff feels that way,” Fiedler said.
