Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – After eight years as the general manager of the Presque Isle Coca-Cola Distribution Center, Alton Hartt has accepted a position within the company downstate.
Effective Jan. 12, 2009, Hartt, a Presque Isle native, will be the general manager of the Southern Maine Coca-Cola Distribution Center in South Portland.
“The South Portland facility sees about six times the volume as here and has about five times the employees,” said Hartt, who has been a Coca-Cola employee for nearly 28 years. “The work will be similar to what I’m doing now, but I’m going from northern New England’s smallest distribution center to the largest. It’s quite a leap, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Hartt said he has had the honor of working with a number of quality employees over the years.
“Everybody in Maine knows if you hire someone from Aroostook County, you’re going to get a good employee,” he said. “I started working in the warehouse when I was 17, and have worked my way up through this company. Hard work has gotten me to where I am, and I attribute that to Aroostook County and the way people here are. The people here that I’ve worked with have helped make my success. We’ve had a pretty successful eight years and that’s helped get me into this new position.”
Hartt’s daughter, Katelynn, is a senior at Presque Isle High School. She will stay in Presque Isle with her mother, Marcia, who will join her husband downstate after Katelynn graduates in June. The Hartts’ son, Brandon, is a senior at the University of Maine at Orono.
“Marcia will be able to transfer within the company she works for,” said Hartt, “so everything’s working out really well.”
As the current president of the Presque Isle Rotary Club, Hartt will be stepping down at the end of the month. He said he has enjoyed the friendships he has made through Rotary and the community at large.
“Once things settle down from the auction, the board of directors will meet to decide who will become the new president,” said Hartt. “I’ve been with the Rotary Club for eight years in various capacities.
“I’m going to miss the Aroostook County community including the local club,” he said. “I’ve been involved with the community and made a lot of great friends, but this opportunity is one of those opportunities that doesn’t come along very often. The general manager down there has been the general manager for 20 years. The timing is almost perfect, so I decided to take it, but I will miss Aroostook County and the people very much.”
Alton Hartt
