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Administrative Management
Paul Koerner, President and Chief Executive Officer
After receiving his degree in Finance from Southern Illinois University and his Master's Degree in Business Administration from St. Louis University, Paul accepted a position with a bank holding company in St. Louis. With his extensive financial training, he joined Koerner Distributor, Inc., in 1983 as Vice President and General Manager. Paul was appointed President in 1990, and has managed the company on a day-to-day basis ever since. Paul is a past President of the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois' Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and has been president of both the Effingham Country Club and the United Way. He has participated in many activities in the Effingham community, including YMCA and the City of Effingham Community Support Group, church related activities, such as the St. Anthony of Padua Finance Council and the Springfield Diocese Foundation Board. He is a Board of Director of the Washington Savings Bank, Group Investment Inc., Tingley Insurance Agency and the City of Effingham's Civic Foundation.

Phil Koerner, Executive Vice President
With over 30 years working in the beverage industry, Phil has received extensive corporate training in sales and sales management and has attended a range of industry workshops. His educational background includes courses in sales management at Lake Land College. In 1973, he began his career in the beverage industry as a salesman for Jul Fischer Distributors. In his community, Phil serves on the Board of the Effingham Rotary Club, has been a member of St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Advisory Board and is actively involved in a variety of school and civic related functions in the Effingham area.

Larry O’Dell, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Larry earned his Master’s degree in business administration from Southern Illinois University and afterward became a certified public accountant for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. in St. Louis. Prior to joining the company in 1986, he began his beverage industry career with Murdach Distributing in Centralia as Executive Vice President and General Manager in 1976. Larry is an active participant in a number of civic organizations such as the Effingham Chamber of Commerce as well as the Effingham Rotary Club, Elks Club and VFW.

Bernie Blanchette, Operations Officer
Bernie is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a B.A. Degree in Information Systems. He has over 8 years of PC customer service and technical support and 4 years of Microsoft Windows network administration experience. In 1999 he became a Microsoft Certified Professional. Bernie joined the Koerner team in 2002 and is a member of St. Anthony Church and the Effingham Rotary Club.
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Sales Management
BEER DIVISION
Mark Jones, General Sales Manager
Mark gradated from the University of Evansville with a BS in Business Administration/Economics and Finance. He has over 15 years of management experience in the wholesale beer industry. He has played an instrumental management role in multiple consolidations. A proven leader throughout his career, Mark is passionate about go to market processes and the success and continuing growth of the Koerner Sales Team. Managerial training he has received includes; sales management certification, advanced selling systems and category management training. Mark continues to demonstrate his dedication to the community by serving as a director of organizations such as the Saline Co. Industrial Development Company and his local Park Board. He is also a graduate of the Leadership Southern Illinois program.

Terry Sledge, General Manager Marketing & Brand Development
Terry has a Bachelors Degree in Marketing from Southern Illinois University. He began his career in the wholesale beer industry in 1975. Terry has attended Miller and Coors Management and Sales Training Courses. Terry is involved in the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, the Elks Club and the Moose Club in his hometown of Mt. Vernon, Illinois.


WINE & SPIRITS DIVISION
Carson Duchatschek, General Sales Manager
Carson joined the Koerner team in September of 2007. Prior to his arrival in Southern Illinois, Carson has spent 14 years in the alcoholic beverage industry on both the supplier and distributor sides of the business. Upon his graduation from Westminster College where he earned a B.A. in English, and having fulfilled his active duty requirement for the U.S. Army, he accepted a position with the E&J Gallo Winery as a Sales Representative. Within the E&J Gallo system, Carson gained experience in sales, sales management, and trade development. In addition to sales experience, Carson has an extensive background in category management, having served as an Account Manager for one of the nation's largest grocery chains. His professional assignments have included positions in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Chris Rutter, General Manager Marketing & Brand Development
Chris graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and did postgraduate work at Southern Illinois University. He has over 30 years experience in the alcohol beverage industry, including both on and off premise management before joining the Koerner team in 1983. Along with managerial and supervisor responsibilities, Chris is passionately involved in the continuing education of both our sales staff and customers about fine wines and spirits.


NON-ALCOHOL DIVISION
Hal Paholke, General Sales Manager
Backed by over 20 years sales experience, with 8 years in the wholesale beer industry and 12 years in the non-alcoholic beverage business, Hal brings much experience to this position. He has received valuable corporate training in both sales management and marketing. He is a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church, Elks Club, and Jaycees Effingham County Youth Commission.
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