About Us

Founder of Arguindegui Oil and Patriarch of the Arguindegui Family.

The Company was founded in October 1942, when Peter R. Arguindegui, Sr. was awarded the Continental Oil Company Commission Agency to serve Laredo, Texas, and the surrounding area.  Peter Sr. was experienced in the functions of a Commission Agent, having already served as manager of the local Mobil Agency for twenty years.  He, together with the help of his wife, Marina Arguindegui, and a few employees, quickly gained a reputation for a strong work ethic and honest dealing.  Although it was wartime, the Company began to prosper.

During Peter Sr.’s tenure, the Company reached significant business and community milestones. The success of Peter Sr.’s efforts made it possible for the second Arguindegui generation to achieve higher education, economic growth, success, and prosperity – all achieved through dedication to hard work, family, and community

The Late Carlos Arguindegui joined AOC in 1960 after a short stint with Anderson Clayton in their Mexico City operations. Carlos graduated from Texas A&M University in 1955 and then joined the United States Army. After completing his military service and his tenure at Anderson Clayton, Carlos returned to Laredo and joined a rapidly growing Arguindegui enterprise. With his wealth of knowledge and expertise in sales and marketing, Arguindegui Oil continued to expand its market share rapidly.

Carlos served as Executive Vice President, and under his leadership, the company’s wholesale fuels, lubricants, and chemicals division became the premier distributor of Conoco lubricants in South Texas. He became a respected member of the ConocoPhillips Lubricants National Distributor Advisory Board, serving from 2001 to 2004. Carlos was an active member of the Noon Lions Club, St. Augustine Parent Teacher Association, and a member of the Laredo Jaycees.

Mr. Charlie, as he was affectionately known, passed away in 2021.

Mr. Alfonso Arguindegui currently serves as the Chairman and CEO of AOC Holding Company, overseeing all divisions under the AOC Holding Company Inc. umbrella.  Alfonso began his career as the head of the Retail Convenience Store Division upon completing his education in 1988.  He became Chairman / CEO on January 1, 2010, succeeding the company’s late Chairman Emeritus, Peter Arguindegui, Jr.

A product of Laredo’s United High School, Alfonso earned a degree in Business Administration from St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. He joined Arguindegui Oil’s Retail Division, Pump-N-Shop, in 1988, where he expanded the retail footprint from seven convenience stores to eleven locations. During his tenure in this capacity, Alfonso earned numerous awards, including the DuPont Management Business Scholarship. In 2002, he attended the Minority Business Executive Program at Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College as part of that scholarship program.

In 2004, his late father, Peter Arguindegui Jr., tapped Alfonso to lead the company into the future. He assumed the duties of Chairman and CEO, a position he holds to this day. His broad vision, forward-thinking, and determination to create a superior multi-faceted company have proven to be successful. Alfonso has diversified ARG Petro into a dynamic, multifaceted business.

Alfonso Arguindegui enjoys time with family. He is an ageless athlete, participating in a host of activities such as yoga, cross-fit, and cycling.

Illan serves as the President of the company and embodies the spirit of a 4th-generation leader. In his role, he is accountable for delivering strong results, executing the business plan, and ensuring the leadership team remains focused and aligned. He is committed to building a high-performance culture rooted in legacy, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

As the eldest of three siblings, Illan naturally assumed roles of responsibility—a trait that blossomed during his tenure as the commander of his ROTC unit (E-1) at Texas A&M College Station and as the leader of his high school varsity tennis team, clinching four consecutive district titles.

After graduating from Texas A&M College Station with a bachelor’s degree in renewable natural resources and a minor in business administration, Illan embarked on a journey to expand business ventures, notably spearheading the growth of the Orangetheory Fitness franchise in South Texas. His achievements include successfully launching four locations across different cities—Laredo, McAllen, Corpus Christi, and Mission—alongside establishing two Smoothie King franchises in the Rio Grande Valley.

Committed to making a positive impact beyond business, Illan is actively involved in the Laredo community, serving as a board member for the Laredo Boys and Girls Club and the Laredo Economic Advisory Committee.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Illan cherishes every moment with his wife and children, prioritizing family time above all else. An avid sports enthusiast, he enjoys unwinding on the tennis court or golf course whenever he gets the chance, showcasing his competitive spirit and love for the game.

Robert Eggleston serves as Chief Strategy Officer at ARG Petro, bringing over 35 years of experience in the fuel, logistics, and convenience retail industry. A seasoned executive with deep expertise in fuel procurement, environmental compliance, logistics, marketing, and retail operations, Robert leads the company’s strategic initiatives with a focus on growth, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

Throughout his career, Robert has held key leadership roles at industry-leading organizations, including Fina Oil & Chemical Company, Alon USA, Town & Country Food Stores, LLC, Susser Holdings, and Toot N’ Totum Convenience Stores, LLC. In 2013, he co-founded Penta Operating, LLC in Midland, Texas, where he owned and operated retail convenience stores and a proprietary fuel transport company known as Penta Petro. His entrepreneurial background provides him with a unique, operationally grounded perspective on strategic leadership.

Before joining ARG Petro in 2025, Robert served as Principal with RMEI Consulting, advising fuel marketers and operators across the region. He is widely recognized for his discipline, hands-on leadership style, data-driven decision-making, and ability to align strategy with execution.

Robert has served on several influential boards over his career, including:

• Texas Food and Fuel Association – Board Member (20+ years)
• Fuel Masters LLC / FM Fuel & Resources – Board Member (7 years)
• Concho Valley Food Bank – Board Member
• Big Brothers and Sisters of San Angelo – Board Member
• San Angelo Rotary Club – Active Member
• United Way of the Concho Valley – Volunteer Leader

Robert holds both a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and an MBA from LeTourneau University. Originally from Big Spring, Texas, he now lives in Burleson, Texas, with his wife, Kari. They have three children and nine grandchildren.

Joshua Harrison joined ARG Petro in 2025, bringing more than two decades of expertise in business development, operations, and strategy across diverse industries.

Before joining ARG Petro, Josh served as Director of Business Development at Oso Perforating, where he spearheaded company growth across the U.S. and Canada. He collaborated closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Logistics teams, not only expanding market presence but also strengthening operational processes. Josh played a key role in designing and implementing field training programs that improved safety, consistency, and efficiency during product rollouts. His ability to bridge sales with operations has made him highly effective in building strong client relationships, negotiating multimillion-dollar projects, and ensuring seamless execution.

Beyond his corporate leadership, Josh brings an entrepreneurial mindset with hands-on experience in real estate investments, fundraising, and small business startups. He thrives on solving complex operational challenges, applying innovative thinking to streamline processes and drive sustainable growth.

Josh earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Lubbock Christian University in 2005, after beginning his studies at Abilene Christian University in 2001. He also invests his time in faith-driven service as an active board member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Outside of work, Josh enjoys coaching youth sports, hunting, fishing, and spending quality time with his wife, Abbie, and their three sons.

Erin Betts joined ARG Petro in 2023, bringing a proven background in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, efficiency improvements, and controls across multiple industries, and is both financially and operationally minded.

Prior to joining ARG Petro, Mr. Betts was the Vice President of Finance for Burckhardt Compression’s US operations.  While there, he helped lead the organization to a return to profitability.  Before that, he held various financial leadership roles within Forum Energy Technologies and financial and operational roles within Purolator Advanced Filtration.

He received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from N.C. State University in 1992 and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina Greensboro in 1997.  Erin is a Certified Public Accountant.

Carlos Perez is the Risk Manager for ARG Petro. In his role, he is responsible for health, safety, and environmental issues facing the company and leads the Human Resources department. Carlos directs programs involving hazardous materials, environmental management, industrial hygiene, fire safety, and sustainability.

Mr. Perez brings over 33 years of professional safety and health consulting and managerial experience to a wide variety of customers and clients. Carlos has been with ARG Petro for over 20 years.