About Us
Golden Gate Petroleum is an existing multi-branded wholesale distributor of fuel and lubricants. Founded in 1946, we are headquartered in Martinez, California. We also maintain and operate 7 plant facilities located in Martinez, Hayward, San Jose, Richmond, Salinas, Brentwood, and Paso Robles encompassing tank farms, office space, and warehouses.
Our service area covers all of Northern California and Nevada from Ukiah to Paso Robles and over to Reno. Golden Gate Petroleum sells a number of products including bulk lubricants, diesel, race gas, propane, fuel oil, gasoline, and biodiesel on a Commercial/Retail scale. Some of the types of trade we currently service are Government, State, and County Transportation Fleets, Car Dealerships, Farmers, Construction Fleets, Manufacturing Companies, and many more. Golden Gate Petroleum currently provides thousands of businesses in the California marketplace with high levels of service and quality products.
All In The Family
Our Senior Management team is comprised of several leaders containing many years of petroleum experience. The combined petroleum related experience of the top management is over 70 years.
Dennis O'Keefe
The Chief Executive Officer and President is Dennis O’Keefe. Located at the Corporate Office in Martinez, CA. Dennis is extremely committed to Golden Gate Petroleum. His wife Karen, two sons Michael and Patrick, and daughter-in-law Lori, are all involved in the organization, truly making it a Family Business!
Dennis graduated in 1966 from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, CA with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. His senior year, Dennis was recruited by Shell Oil to work as a Salesman. After graduating from SMC, he relocated to LA to pursue a career with Shell.
During his Shell career, Dennis was drafted into the army where he ran a petroleum lab in Vietnam. After his service commitment he returned to Shell Oil and was based out of Shell Sacramento.
In 1970, after working in the petroleum industry for 4 years, Dennis had a desire to own his own business. He expressed this desire to his boss at Shell Oil, and was quickly introduced to Ernie Myer, founder of Golden Gate Petroleum. Ernie founded GGP in 1946 to service the Post War Demand for Petroleum Products in the US and the Far East. At that time, their main focus was supplying fuel oil and distillates.
After coming on board, Dennis grew GGP into one of the Largest Marketers of unbranded fuels in the Western United States. Upon Ernie’s retirement, Dennis took over full ownership of GGP in 1979. GGP has since acquired numerous jobberships in Northern California.
Over the years, Dennis has grown GGP from 3 employee’s to 321. He has expanded the business into a Retail Division where GGP owns and operates gas stations from Eureka to Los Osos to Reno, Nevada.
He has further branched out the business to include Westgate Petroleum in Lake Country and Golden Gate/S.E.T. Petroleum Partners of Nevada. GGP/SET is located in McCarran Nevada where we refine petroleum products.
Patrick O'Keefe
The Vice President of the Company, Patrick O’Keefe, graduated from his father’s alma mater, St. Mary College in 1999 with Bachelor of Science in Business. Pat is a lifetime member of Sigma Beta Delta, the National Honor Society in Business Management and Administration.
Based out of the Corporate Office, Patrick has grown up around business and has worked for over 15 years in all facets of the company. Patrick started the Biodiesel Division in 2000, which has grown into the Largest Biodiesel Supplier in the Western United States.
Pat is also co-owner of Bay Biodiesel, LLC, a manufacturer of ASTM quality biodiesel. Both he and his wife founded the company in 2005.
Lori O'Keefe
Lori O’Keefe joined the Golden Gate Petroleum Team in 2005 as the Risk Manager. Her background includes Banking and Insurance. Lori graduated with Honors from Saint Mary's College of Moraga in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Lori is a lifetime member of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology.
Lori currently manages GGP’s Benefits, Personnel, and Marketing Design. Lori is also co-owner and CFO for Bay Biodiesel, LLC, a start-up biodiesel manufacturing company. She enjoys working for a family owned business and is proud to be a part of GGP's Circle of Employees.
Mike O'Keefe
Mike O’Keefe has worked in all facets of the company for over 14 years. Mike currently works in Golden Gate Petroleum’s Dispatch Division and is the dispacher for Western Pacific Transportation. He also works closely with one of our affiliated companies, Northgate Petroleum.
Mitch Carter
The Director of Trucking and Plant Operations, Mitch Carter, brings over 24 year of industry management experience to our organization. With emphasis on petroleum products distribution and environmental compliance, Mitch is an asset to our team. His role is to oversee all warehouse, bulk plant, and distribution operations thought the entire organization. Mitch instills the basic philosophy that our clients expect and deserve quality products and superior service.
Kim Pfaff
Golden Gate Petroleum’s Operations, Safety, and Environmental Manager is Kim Pfaff. Kim recently joined our organization in 2006. He has 20 plus years of experience in managing petroleum facilities and their operations. Kim’s number one focus is safety and operations of our Warehousing Divisions.
Claude Brown
Claude is the Sales Manager of Golden Gate Petroleum's Wholesale Division. Claude comes to Golden Gate Petroleum with nearly 30 years of experience working in the Petroleum Industry. His prior experience includes Sales, Operations, and Management. Based out of the California Corporate Office, Claude manages our team of Sales Representatives and is a valuable asset to the company.
David Kette
David is the Director of Golden Gate Petroleum’s Retail Division. David comes to Golden Gate Petroleum with a number of years of experience working in the Retail Industry. He was the Vice-President of Retail Operations for Berry-Hinckley Industries for 28 years prior to joining Golden Gate Petroleum. Based out of the Corporate Office in Reno, Nevada, David oversees all of our California and Nevada retail locations.