Loco Vette
04-16-2013, 2:04pm
Even when I specifically say I have no opinon, the absence of that opinion is newsworthy.
Knoxville Business Leaders Surprised by Pilot Shutdown (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/apr/16/knoxville-business-leaders-surprised-by-pilot/)
As news of the federal raid on Pilot Flying J corporate headquarters filtered through the Knoxville business community Monday, most of those contacted said they were shocked and didn’t know how to react.
Bill Weigel, CEO of Weigel Stores Inc., said the events took him by surprise and that he has sympathy for his competitor.
“I can’t imagine why they are doing what they are doing,” he said of the FBI lockdown of Pilot Flying J headquarters. “To me, it’s pretty punishing to do that, especially for the people who work there.”
“It’s very unsettling,” said Weigel, who had a legal run-in with officials several years ago when the Tennessee attorney general investigated Weigel’s company over pricing issues. He said that ordeal was nothing compared to Pilot Flying J having its headquarters seized.
Mike Edwards, CEO of the Knoxville Chamber, said he was on the phone much of Monday afternoon dealing with questions about the event but getting very little information.
Edwards said there are lots of ways a company the size of Pilot Flying J can run into legal problems inadvertently, and people should not assume guilt at this point.
“And I am certain that when it’s clear what is going on the company and the owners have been doing the right thing,” he said.
Pilot operates the largest network of travel centers in North America and is one of the largest employers in the Knoxville region, with 1,365 local employees, according to the Knoxville Business Journal Book of Lists.
Pete Claussen, chairman and CEO of the Gulf and Ohio Railways Inc., and his son Peter V. Claussen, vice president of asset management, were contacted but both said it was too soon to form a reaction.
“We don’t have enough information to form an opinion this early,” Peter Claussen said.
Dale Keasling, president and CEO of Home Federal Bank, was contacted while driving back to Knoxville from a trip.
“I haven’t heard anything about this. It’s a shock,” he said.
© 2013, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Knoxville Business Leaders Surprised by Pilot Shutdown (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/apr/16/knoxville-business-leaders-surprised-by-pilot/)
As news of the federal raid on Pilot Flying J corporate headquarters filtered through the Knoxville business community Monday, most of those contacted said they were shocked and didn’t know how to react.
Bill Weigel, CEO of Weigel Stores Inc., said the events took him by surprise and that he has sympathy for his competitor.
“I can’t imagine why they are doing what they are doing,” he said of the FBI lockdown of Pilot Flying J headquarters. “To me, it’s pretty punishing to do that, especially for the people who work there.”
“It’s very unsettling,” said Weigel, who had a legal run-in with officials several years ago when the Tennessee attorney general investigated Weigel’s company over pricing issues. He said that ordeal was nothing compared to Pilot Flying J having its headquarters seized.
Mike Edwards, CEO of the Knoxville Chamber, said he was on the phone much of Monday afternoon dealing with questions about the event but getting very little information.
Edwards said there are lots of ways a company the size of Pilot Flying J can run into legal problems inadvertently, and people should not assume guilt at this point.
“And I am certain that when it’s clear what is going on the company and the owners have been doing the right thing,” he said.
Pilot operates the largest network of travel centers in North America and is one of the largest employers in the Knoxville region, with 1,365 local employees, according to the Knoxville Business Journal Book of Lists.
Pete Claussen, chairman and CEO of the Gulf and Ohio Railways Inc., and his son Peter V. Claussen, vice president of asset management, were contacted but both said it was too soon to form a reaction.
“We don’t have enough information to form an opinion this early,” Peter Claussen said.
Dale Keasling, president and CEO of Home Federal Bank, was contacted while driving back to Knoxville from a trip.
“I haven’t heard anything about this. It’s a shock,” he said.
© 2013, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.