Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 2816 17 www.htcinc.net | Winter 2017 Winter 2017 | www.htcinc.net The Fords’ dedication to the people of Horry County was never more evident than during Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. While many were caught off guard by this natural disaster, Ford’s Fuel & Propane was prepared — and thank goodness. After receiving a phone call from a volunteer firefighter friend, the Fords opened up shop to fuel up his fire truck. Little did the Fords know at the time, but emergency responders and everyday citizens all over the region were having similar troubles finding fuel. As word spread that Ford’s had a working generator, local police and firefighters, SLED, area residents and even the National Guard paid visits. The Fords were happy they could help in this emergency situation, and they’ve noticed that people are taking a few more precautions post-Matthew. “Hurricane Matthew served as a wake-up call for a lot of people around here,” says Bunky. “It’s For tips, tricks and recipes, check out the popular Ford’s Fuel & Propane video series “Cooking with Gas” — available at www.fordsfuelandpropane. com/cooking-with-gas and on their YouTube channel. crazy how many generators we’ve sold since then,” “Yeah,” says Tiff, “it was sort of a game to keep track at first, but we’ve lost count.” Providing resources in hard times is just one way Ford’s Fuel & Propane delivers comfort to Horry County residents. As technology changes the industry landscape, the Fords work diligently to bring the most advanced solutions to the area. One way they’ve done that is through a completely revamped website with a customer portal for service requests. “That may seem fairly standard nowadays, but this industry is fairly antiquated —and we feel it’s our job to bring it up to speed,” says Frankie. To help achieve this, Ford’s Fuel & Propane relies on HTC for internet services and beyond. HTC’s fiber- optic network recently grew to include their Loris location, and they’ve upgraded the phone system there. “We couldn’t do without it,” says Bunky. Beyond appreciating the vital role HTC plays in connecting the business to its customers, the Ford’s Fuel & Propane team also values the hometown feel of HTC’s customer service. “It’s crucial to support other local businesses and be a part of that growing community,” explains Frankie. “Of course we have other options, but we choose to work with HTC because they’re local. You’re not just a number to them.” “Yeah, you call HTC and you get someone who is familiar with your business, knows your problems and speaks your language," says Bunky. “We don’t have an in-house IT person, either,” says Frankie, “so we rely on HTC to work through those bugs. And they do.” As Ford’s Fuel & Propane leads the community into tomorrow, its leaders never forget where they came from. Whether it’s providing an electric fireplace for a family or fueling the tank that gets them home, Ford’s Fuel & Propane remains in the business of bringing people together in meaningful ways. Here's to another four generations, gentlemen. Loris 4115 Holly Street Loris, South Carolina 29569 Tel: 843-756-3918 North Myrtle Beach 1519 Old Hwy 17 North North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582 Tel: 843-249-1614 Frankie Ford Jr. (left), Bunky Ford (right) Supply PO Box 569, 172 Ocean Hwy East Supply, North Carolina 28462 Tel: 910-754-8788 To learn more about Ford’s Fuel & Propane, visit www.fordsfuelandpropane.com or find them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/fordsfuelandpropane.