A-B Region 1 Sales Team: Building a Better World

ST. LOUIS (April 17, 2009) -- As part of its annual convention last week, Anheuser-Busch’s Region 1 Sales team gathered in a surprising place: the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C.

It was all part of the team's regional dream, said Region Sales VP Bob Tallett. "Our regional dream coincides with the dream for our zone and A-B InBev globally, and that dream is to be the best region in the best zone of the best beer company in a better world," Tallett said.

Field Sales GM Phil Ware, who helped organize the event, said it was important to make this part of the week's activities.

"We wanted to put in some efforts and walk the talk," Ware said.

Region 1 encompasses Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and the District of Colombia.

On Thursday afternoon, 125 region sales members broke up into four branded teams – Budweiser, Bud Light, Bud Light Lime and Michelob ULTRA – to take on various activities at the food bank. In just a few hours, the teams stocked and sorted food, packed brown bag meals and cleaned up a new warehouse area. Ware said the event brought together hard work and team building in a way that was more meaningful than past activities such as golf and fishing. "We haven't had this type of activity at other regional conferences, and everybody was touched by being there and going through this experience," Ware said. "It really opened up a lot of eyes and brought the team together."

Ware said some employees came away from the experience determined to get involved in similar volunteerism efforts once they returned home. Others, including Fred Berrios Jr., were moved to take action on the spot. At the end of the day, the region sales office donated $2,500 to Capital Area, but that wasn't all. Berrios passed a hat to fellow team members, who chipped in what they had in their pockets and raised another $350 on the spot. "We were so moved by this unexpected action of the team," Tallett said. He and vice presidents Bob Kelley and Tom Toczylowski committed $350 each as matching gifts.

"This was our region's initiative to deliver the company dream of being the best beer company in a better world," Tallett said. "This was our team's better world initiative, and they really came through!"