Jeff Reasor To Present Battenfield-Carletti

Due to a medical emergency in the Reasor family, Jeff Reasor will not present the Battenfield-Carletti Lectureship Series on Wednesday, Feb. 21. at the NSU NET Auditorium.

Instead of the traditional lecture, NSU President Larry Williams, Dr. Harold Battenfield, and Dr. John Carletti will conduct a panel discussion at 9 a.m., with a question and answer session to follow at 10 a.m.

TAHLEQUAH - For Tahlequah businessman Jeff Reasor, delivering the right stuff at the right price is just part of the family tradition.

Jeff Reasor, president, chairman and CEO of Reasor's, will present the Northeastern State University Spring 2007 Battenfield-Carletti Distinguished Entrepreneur Lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 9 a.m. in the NET Building Auditorium.

"The Reasor family has contributed greatly to the economic well-being of Tahlequah and northeastern Oklahoma through successful entrepreneurship," said NSU President Dr. Larry Williams. "Jeff Reasor continues the traditions set forth by his father, Larry Reasor, with a strong work ethic and commitment to customer service."

The Reasor family lived in Tulsa, Cushing, McAlester, Muskogee, and Broken Arrow before settling in Tahlequah in June of 1963, when Jeff''s father bought the former IGA Foodliner and created the foundation of the grocery chain.

After graduating in the top of his class from Tahlequah High School in 1973, Jeff enrolled for classes at Northeastern State College, attending on a football scholarship. In early 1975, Reasor's Discount Foods began adding stores throughout northeastern Oklahoma, and Jeff left school to work full-time for the company.

Jeff cleaned bathrooms, stocked pop bottles, and mopped floors, learning the company from the ground up. He believes that you must be willing to do any job to make your company a success. "You cannot lead people if you are not willing to do the job yourself," said Jeff.

Jeff managed several Reasor's stores before being named president of the company in 1998, serving under his father. He was named chairman and chief executive officer in 2004.

"Delivering the right stuff at the right price is a simple concept, but most retailers just never catch on to the idea of putting customers' needs first," said Reasor. "My Dad, Larry Reasor, started an Oklahoma tradition back in 1963, which continues today."

Currently, Jeff serves on the Board of Directors and the finance committee of the Kansas City-based Associated Wholesale Grocers, the second largest cooperative serving independent grocers in the nation. In Tahlequah, Jeff serves as chairman of the Industrial Trust Authority.

Jeff and his wife Mitzi reside in Tahlequah and have three children.

Established in 2002 through the NSU Foundation by Dr. Harold Battenfield and Dr. John Carletti, the Battenfield-Carletti Distinguished Entrepreneur Lecture Series brings NSU alumni to campus to share their entrepreneurial experiences with students.

The NSU Foundation was established in 1971 to assist the University in its efforts to provide an excellent education for students through high-quality teaching, research, and scholarly activities, service to local and professional communities, and high expectations for all.