Family, desire to succeed fuel Fagan

WELL-OILED MACHINE: Roberta J. Fagan, operations manager of Anchor Fuel Inc., also leads the Oil Heat Institute. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
WELL-OILED MACHINE: Roberta J. Fagan, operations manager of Anchor Fuel Inc., also leads the Oil Heat Institute. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Roberta J. Fagan says people are sometimes surprised to see her, a woman, jump out of an Anchor Fuel Inc. truck when she’s out on a delivery on Aquidneck Island.

But raised eyebrows and trade stereotypes have yet to deter her from wanting to excel in the male-dominated oil-heating industry. Within just a decade of entering the trade, Fagan has become Anchor Fuel’s operating manager, as well as executive director of the nonprofit trade association Oil Heat Institute of Rhode Island.

“I hope more women see this as a field they can break into,” Fagan said. “There is a shortage of commercial drivers in the U.S.”

Fagan in 2004 was working full time at a funeral home when she was approached by a former colleague, Dennis Dougherty, who had just launched the residential oil-heating-delivery company Anchor Fuel in Middletown. Dougherty at the time needed a part-time administrative assistant who could help him stay on top of deliveries and bookkeeping, so he asked if Fagan could come onboard.

- Advertisement -

Dougherty said he quickly found her skills to be “indispensable” and offered her a full-time position. By 2007, she was appointed operations manager.

The residential fuel-delivery industry is largely seasonal, with the majority of orders coming during winter months. In a move to diversify, Anchor began offering marine-diesel delivery for recreational vessels in the offseason of 2006. The increased volume of deliveries created a need for more drivers, so Fagan secured a commercial driver’s license, along with the necessary endorsements.

Shortly after incorporating, Anchor Fuel became a member of the Oil Heat Institute, which comprises more than 45 members throughout Rhode Island. Subsequently, Fagan began attending association meetings and just a few years ago the former executive director, Julie A. Gill, another well-known woman in the business – appointed Fagan to its executive team.

Gill retired in 2015. After a search committee came up short.

Fagan said she feels “extremely fortunate” to be given the career and professional-advancement opportunities she’s had, especially in a state that has had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. But if nothing else, she hopes that she’s been a good role model to her two children.

“As a parent I hope that I have taught them the importance of being a loyal employee with a strong work ethic,” Fagan said. •

No posts to display