President, Contractor Services Inc. of West Virginia and Reserve Oil & Gas, Inc.
Coming from a long line of pioneers in the oil and gas industry, Scott Freshwater always knew he would end up carrying on his family’s legacy. “My Grandfather Rogers used to say I was born with a pipe wrench in my hand,” says Freshwater. “He always had a desire to see me in the oil and gas business like him.”
Freshwater’s father, grandfathers and great-grandfathers were all involved in the oil and gas industry in North America, South America and Canada. “Since the first wells in history were drilled, my ancestors have been working in the oil and gas industry in one fashion or another,” he says. Freshwater is carrying on the family legacy as the president of Contractor Services Inc. of West Virginia and Reserve Oil & Gas, Inc.
Freshwater learned early on how to be a successful businessman. As a young boy, he remembers sweeping and cleaning bathrooms in the family shop, which led to working on well service rigs and well cementing equipment during high school. “From those first jobs, I learned to do whatever it takes to ensure the customer, client and boss are happy,” says Freshwater. “If they aren’t happy, do what you can to make them happy. It pays to go the extra mile for your clients.”
To get where he is today, Freshwater received guidance from his father and strives to make him proud. “My father is a high school graduate and Vietnam veteran who founded a company with nothing but a dream and determination.”
Like many other driven, successful business owners, there have been times when it was difficult for Freshwater to balance his career with his personal life. “My focus has always been 100 percent on my career, and at times, it’s been hard for me to just turn off my work mode mentality,” he explains. After seeing the impact such a strenuous work load can have on one’s health, he now makes it a priority to spend his weekends with his family.
Away from the office, Freshwater enjoys whitewater rafting and zip lining in Fayetteville, WV. He also enjoys simply taking in the natural beauty of the Mountain State. “I have spent my entire life in the town of Spencer in Roane County, WV,” says Freshwater. “My childhood homes, company office and current residence are all within a couple miles of town, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
Even though Freshwater is focused on running two businesses, he still finds time to give back to his community. He is a board member of First Neighborhood Bank and the Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia, and he serves as president of the Allohak Council of the Boy Scouts of America. “I support the Boy Scouts because I know the Scouting program works in developing our youth into the next generation of leaders and upstanding citizens,” he says. “As business leaders, we must do all we can to ensure the communities we operate and live in flourish.”
West Virginia has given Freshwater many reasons to be grateful, and there was never a moment he thought he would live—or run a business—anywhere else. “I live and work in West Virginia for two reasons,” he says. “First, it is home to me. I have known that I wanted to stay in the hills of West Virginia all my life. Second, I think it’s my duty to do whatever I can to support this state and my community. West Virginia and its natural resources have been good to me and my family for generations.”
Freshwater is proud of all of his accomplishments but does not take time to dwell on them while he looks to the future. “I believe I still have many things yet to accomplish. Once one goal is met, I set a new, higher goal. My greatest success is yet to come, and it is the thought of potential future successes that motivates me.”
What is your favorite . . . ?
Color – Green
Food – Fresh green beans and corn
Cartoon Character – Scooby Doo
Ice Cream – Chocolate
Animal – Eagle
Midnight Snack – Oreos
TV Show – “The Big Bang Theory”
Movie – “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Star Wars”
Smell – Popcorn
Sports Team – West Virginia University Mountaineers
Car – Ford F-150
Place – Bora Bora in French Polynesia
By Maggie Matsko
Photography by Tracy Toler on location at Smith Company Motor Cars
