Leaders & Innovators: Sam Simon

SAM SIMON: Chairman and CEO of Simon Holdings in Taylor. Simon Holdings' affiliates include Atlas Oil Co., Fast Track Ventures, Atlas Indiana, and other business entities. Atlas delivers nearly 1 billion gallons of fuel per year. Approximately 2 billion gallons are under long-term contracts. Atlas Oil's customers range from commercial and industrial fuel users to retail locations under the Marathon, Clark, CITGO, Phillips 66, and Valero brands. In addition, Atlas provides crude hauling and transloading and renewable fuels, including ethanol, biodiesel, and diesel exhaust fluid. Simon started at one of his father's 30 gas stations and eventually assumed management of all 30 stations as well as an ice company. Eventually, he purchased his first fuel truck using a $30,000 credit card cash advance to start Atlas Oil. As part of its recent expansion, the company acquired additional assets in Houston. Simon was appointed to the National Petroleum Council by Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and is on the advisory board. In 1999, he received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.