Valley Beverage prides itself on employing some of the best people around. Over the next year we’d like to introduce you to some of them. Each of our employees has a unique story, set of goals and approach to working for our distributor. This month’s team highlight: Rod Lessard.
In this month’s segment of ‘Meet the Team’ we’d like you to meet Rod Lessard who marks his 40th year working for Valley Beverage in 2024. Rod started with Federal Distributors in 1984 at just 18 years old. He was hired to work in the warehouse as a helper, picker and any other related warehouse duties. After several years of working in the warehouse, Rod made the jump to the delivery department and became a Class B truck driver. As time progressed and deliveries grew bigger, Rod moved up and acquired his Class A license and took on driving our 18-wheel delivery trucks. He spent several years delivering large loads to grocery stores all over our territory. After many years of being a delivery driver, Rod opted to come off the road, return to the warehouse and work in our receiving department. Now he spends his days moving countless cases of beer and beverages off delivery trucks and into our facility. He told me that he has truly enjoyed every position he held within our company and is now working towards retirement in October of 2025. In his off time, Rod is a true Maine outdoorsman. When asked what he enjoyed doing when not working he is quoted as saying “Anything outdoors, that’s where I love to be”. He enjoys fishing, hunting, camping, ice fishing, hiking and beautiful evenings around the fire. Rod and his fiancé Loretta have been together for 9 years, he is dad to two grown children and grandad to 2. He spends every Wednesday and every other weekend with the grandkids these days and loves every moment spent with them. Something not everyone knows about Rod is that just a year after starting at Federal Distributors he purchased a red, 1969 Mustang GT Fastback, 4-speed with a 351 Windsor and he still has it to this day! In fact, he just finished refurbishing it last year. He’s proud to still be the owner of such a beautiful car and if you are lucky, on a nice day you might get a peek of it sitting in our parking lot! Everyone that works at Valley knows Rod, he always has a smile and minute for a chat in between unloading trucks. He remarked how awesome his time spent at Valley has been and how’s met some truly great people and created many long lasting friendships. We truly appreciate the 40 years of dedicated service Rod has provided here at Valley and we can’t thank him enough!
– Michelle Verrill
Sales & Marketing Coordinator
