The Miles Group LLC

Barry Marlow left B & W in 1994 and began working for Rice Oil Co. in Saginaw with the intention of buying Rice's existing fuel business. "After two years with Rice and several offers to buy this part of his business, I decided it would be best to start from scratch, and on September 1, 1996 I formed Miles Petroleum Inc." The kernel of Barry's new company came from about two hundred farm accounts that were loyal to Barry, plus a 16-year-old pedal truck he purchased from R & R Ready Mix in Hemlock. He also purchased a bulk plant and 180- customer fuel route from R&R, plus a bulk plant from Oswald Oil Co. in St. Charles. "I had a 1987 tank put on a 1985 chassis at Horner Equipment, and Miles Petroleum was off and running," said Barry. Miles Propane Inc. was formed in 2000. "Our entrance into propane came after a two year preparation period, during which Mark and Dave Coyne from Coyne Oil Corp. helped us tremendously," said Barry. If it weren't for Mark and Dave, I wouldn't be in the propane business." "We built our image on customer service and we don't want to get so big that we can't provide the kind of service that gave us a solid reputation," added Liat Honsinger Marlow.