On December 3, Steve Lasater will retire from MFA Oil after 21 years of service with the cooperative. When looking back on his time with the company, the plant manager for the Missouri offices in Carthage, Jasper and Lockwood appreciates the opportunities he was given and the support he received.
“MFA Oil has been great to my family and me,” Lasater says. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Lasater took over management of the Lockwood plant from his father, Don, in 2000. Before joining MFA Oil, he worked for 17 years as a graphic artist for Prairie Mountain Screening in Lockwood.
Lasater’s strong ties to the community as a lifelong Lockwood resident and the computer skills he gained at his former employer made him an intriguing yet unconventional choice for a plant manager. While those qualities may have helped him get hired, Lasater’s coworkers and peers in the company say his character is his greatest attribute.
BPLP Area Manager Denis Dreiling has known and worked with Lasater for nearly 19 years. When Dreiling thinks of an ideal MFA Oil employee, he envisions Lasater. Several years ago, Dreiling received a list of 12 suggestions managers could use to improve their work. A sampling of the suggestions included staying calm under pressure, offering solutions rather than problems and being a voice of positivity. Dreiling handwrote a thirteenth suggestion on his printout of the list: Be like Steve!
“Steve is an example of what we should all strive to be,” Dreiling says. “He’s a leader, a trusted friend, and a pillar of his community. He values family and is always looking for ways to improve.”
In 2016, Lasater demonstrated his leadership and character under extraordinary circumstances. A disgruntled former employee of Prairie Mountain Screening, Lasater’s former employer, shot his way into the building, shattering the front door’s glass and seriously wounding two of the screen-printing company’s employees. Lasater, who was just down the street at the Lockwood plant, went into the building despite the shooter still being at large to provide first aid and comfort to the victims. It is believed Lasater’s heroism and care may have saved their lives.
The care and compassion for his community that led Lasater to step into harm’s way that day continue to influence his plans for retirement. Lasater will be working with his sons, Isaac and Elijah, to build and remodel homes within the city limits of Lockwood. Their business, Restore the Wood, will enable Lasater to give back to his community in a new capacity.
Southwest District Manager Andy Hays says it’s no surprise that Lasater would look for new ways to support Lockwood.
“Steve’s relationships with his customers and the communities he has served are emblematic of our company slogan: We Live Where You Do,” Hays says. “I knew I could always count on Steve to put our customers first and lead his staff to do the same.”
Hays respects Lasater’s willingness to do more than was expected.
“Steve took on the challenge of piloting the Energy-Force point-of-sale system and helped push that process forward so that our employees could better serve our customers,” Hays says. “On top of that, he managed the largest volume of refined fuel in the southwest district and a considerable volume of propane as well.”
Lasater says the combined fuel volume for Lockwood and Golden City was approximately 1.5 million gallons when he became plant manager. The volume crested at 9 million gallons in his best year.
Kenny Steeves, senior vice president of MFA Oil operations, was one of the many district managers Lasater has worked with throughout his time with the company.
“It’s with a happy heart that we get to congratulate Steve on his retirement,” Steeves says. “I have known Steve for over 20 years, and his dedication to MFA Oil and our members has always been evident. I wish Steve and his wife, Tracy, the best in their future endeavors.”
Besides staying busy with Restore the Wood, Lasater looks forward to spending more time with family and traveling with Tracy in retirement.