Convenience Matters

There are many optimistic projections about EVs becoming a significant part of our transportation future, but very few account for current roadblocks. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Jay Smith, Partner at Capital Results Jay oversees the communications division at Capital Results and helps clients from all sectors of the economy achieve their policy and strategic goals. Doug Kantor, NACS General Counsel Doug joined NACS in May 2021 after serving as a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he worked with the NACS government relations team to define effective policy-based solutions on issues ranging from fuels to financial services. He has established and administered coalitions of companies and trade associations that share common legislative and regulatory objectives, including the Merchants Payments Coalition and its work to reform credit and debit card swipe fees.

Hear how the global convenience retailer quickly moved to support its teams and operations in Eastern and Central Europe related to the war in Ukraine. Related Link: Circle K Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Mark Wohltmann About our Guest: Niall Anderton, Senior Vice President Operations, Central Eastern Europe and Ireland (SVP CEE & Ireland), Circle K Niall’s overall responsibility is for the Circle K business in Ireland and Central and Eastern Europe, which includes Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia.

Effective marketing and communications can help convenience retailers drive customers inside the store. Related Links: Abierto Networks Rutter's Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Rick Sales, President, Abierto Networks Rick is founder and president of Abierto Networks, a leading digital engagement solutions provider focused on the convenience store and convenience foodservice retail industries and used in more than 4,000 locations across the United States. Chris Hartman, Sr. Director of Fuels, Forecourt, Advertising and Construction, Rutter's Chris grew up working in the convenience retailing industry. In 2018 he joined his family business, Rutter’s, and currently leads multiple teams including the fuels and forecourt areas. The company operates 82 convenience stores across Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, and is based in York, PA. Rutter’s is also the oldest vertically integrated food company in the United States.

The convenience retail community unites to celebrate first responders, medical and emergency professionals and Red Cross volunteers on July 24, also known as 24/7 Day. Related Links: 24/7 Day Yesway NACS Foundation Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Stephanie Sikorski About our Guest: Derek Gaskins, Chief Marketing Officer, Yesway Derek has an impressive career in the convenience and fuel retailing industry. He currently heads up all marketing, merchandising and procurement efforts for the Yesway brand and develops relationships with Yesway’s supplier partners. Prior to joining Yesway, he was chief customer officer at Rutter’s and was instrumental in developing the company’s award-winning customer engagement programs. Derek was also senior vice president of marketing and merchandising with Mid-Atlantic Convenience Stores (MACS) and served as vice president of marketing at NACS. He also led brand marketing for Giant Eagle for its GetGo chain of convenience stores and launched the Fuelperks fuel rewards loyalty program

Industry experts break down how environment, social and governance (ESG) issues are growing and facing regulatory requirements that could have enormous implications for the fuels industry. Related Links: Fuels Institute "The Case for Developing an ESG Plan" American Council for Capital Formation SEC Proposes to Enhance Disclosures by Certain Investment Advisers and Investment Companies About ESG Investment Practices Hosted by: John Eichberger and Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Mike Roman, Senior Fellow, Public Policy/ESG, American Council for Capital Formation Mike has more than 40 years of global energy industry experience. In addition to his current work at the American Council for Capital Formation, he is the founder of the consultancy CertainPoint Strategies LLC and serves as a member of the Fuels Institute Board of Advisors.

From salty to sweet, indulgent or healthy, here's how convenience stores satisfy their customers' cravings for snacks. Related Links: NACS State of the Industry Report of 2021 Data Convenience Voices NACS Magazine Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky and Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Tim Young Tim is an experienced category manager within the convenience retail channel who also uses social media to share stories about brands. He spoke at the 2022 NACS State of the Industry Summit on the candy and snacks categories.

Charlie McIlvaine of Coen Markets takes us on a deep dive into the convenience retail industry's financial and operational performance data. Related Links: Coen NACS Research Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky and Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Charlie McIlvaine, Chairman and CEO, Coen Markets Inc. Charlie and his brother, Andy, manage the Coen Markets, Coen Energy, Coen Tire, and Coen Transport in the Pittsburgh region. Charlie is also managing partner of Thomaston Capital LLC, a private investment firm that invests in growth or later stage companies primarily in the consumer/retail sector. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, attended New College of Oxford University, and earned a BA in economics from Duke University.

How a convenience store food favorite inspired a song and a YouTube channel. Related Links: Tailgate Gas Station Review "Gas Station Chicken" by The Nighthawks Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Stafford Shurden, Host of “Tailgate Gas Station Review” Stafford is a farmer, restaurant owner and former justice court judge. In between farming and cooking, he tours the south giving inspirational speeches and reviewing gas station food. Mark Stutso, Musician Mark is the drummer for The Nighthawks, which has been called “the best bar band in the world.” Originally from West Virginia, he put in five years in the coal mines before escaping into his drum kit for the past four decades.

Convenience stores are getting ready to be road trip destinations for 34.9 million travelers this summer. Related Links: AAA Newsroom AAA Gas Prices Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Andrew Gross, National Public Relations Manager, AAA Andrew manages media relations for AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety and Public Affairs, including communications and PR campaigns. He joined AAA in January 2020 after a three-decade career in journalism, most of which as a multiple Emmy-winning producer for NBC News in Washington, DC. While with NBC, Andrew covered a wide range of topics, including the economy, war, terrorism, politics, and breaking news. Before NBC, he worked at ABC News and the Tampa Tribune. Andrew holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Grinnell College. Andrew lives in Arlington, Virginia, and works in Washington, DC.

Stephanie Stuckey is on a mission to revive the Stuckey’s brand and experience for road trippers. Related Links: Stuckey's NACS Magazine | "Roadside Revival" Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Stephanie Stuckey, CEO, Stuckey’s Corp Stuckey's is a roadside chain and family-owned business headquartered in Eastman, Georgia, that has proudly sold pecan log rolls and rubber alligators to highway travelers since 1937. Prior to taking over the company a few years ago, Stephanie served 14 years in the Georgia General Assembly House of Representatives.

Scissors? Pool noodles? Find out more tips of the trade from someone who knows all about road trips. Related Links: Gas Station Gourmet NACS Magazine Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky and Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Al Hebert, Founder, Gas Station Gourmet Al knows convenience stores. He created Gas Station Gourmet in 2007 and has been writing a column for NACS Magazine since 2011 to bring the story of America’s independent convenience stores—especially those with unique foodservice—to thousands of industry leaders. He’s a news producer and reporter by trade and a frequent speaker at industry events like the NACS Show. When Al is not enjoying a great burger or fried chicken at a local convenience store, you can find him on NEWS 15 KADN in Lafayette, Louisiana.

NACS research unlocks "moment of truth" insights on convenience store shopper behaviors and their purchasing decisions. Related Links: Convenience Voices Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Leroy Kelsey, Director of Research, NACS Leroy works with NACS retailer and supplier members to cultivate and share industry performance benchmarks as well as operational and category metrics that support industry advocacy efforts. Prior to NACS, he worked at Intel, Motorola and Safeway in a variety of roles in business analytics, finance and cost control. Leroy has a BS in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University in Raleigh and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.

A known brand creates awareness that attracts customers to your forecourt, entices them to shop your store and establishes it as a community gathering spot—especially in small towns. Related Links: Cenex Cenex LIFT Initiative NACS Magazine: "Face LIFT" Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Akhtar Hussain, Director of Refined Fuels Marketing, CENEX Akhtar Hussain is the director of refined fuels marketing at CHS, where he is responsible for Cenex brand marketing, retail development and retail imaging and equipment for Cenex, which has more than 1,500 convenience store locations across 19 states. In his more than 10 years at CHS, Hussain has held a number of roles including manager of petroleum equipment and manager of refined fuels marketing. A Minnesota native, he received his degree in marketing from Metropolitan State University.

McKinsey experts share why employees leave their jobs, what employers think are the reasons and what it would take to keep employees from quitting. Related Links: McKinsey & Company NACS Leadership Forum | NACS Magazine How To Attract Employees Marshfield Hills General Store Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Annie Valkova, Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company Annie Valkova is an associate partner in McKinsey's Chicago office, where she focuses on serving retail clients on frontline operations and labor topics. Her areas of expertise include labor productivity, process optimization and employee recruiting and engagement. Her recent research focuses on the current labor environment and automation opportunities in retail settings. Annie has experience working in all retail formats over the past 10 years, especially small format stores including convenience, drug and fuel retail. Alex Rodriguez, Partner, McKinsey & Company Alex Rodriguez is a partner in McKinsey’s Miami office and a leader in

The bones were good at the location Pitmaster Carey Bringle chose for his latest BBQ restaurant, Bringle’s Smoking Oasis. Related Links: Peg Leg Porker Bringle's Smoking Oasis Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Carey Bringle, Pitmaster and Founder of Peg Leg Porker Bringle founded his first restaurant, Peg Leg Porker, in 2013. Peg Leg Porker is named after Bringle and his greatest win, a cancer battle that he triumphed at the age of 17. With his win, he lost his leg, which led him to create a new name and only added more fire to his passion for success. Upon opening its doors in the heart of Nashville, Peg Leg Porker was quickly named one of the hottest BBQ joints in the country by numerous media outlets. His second concept, Bringle’s Smoking Oasis, took over a former auto repair shop. The menu features smoked brisket, pulled pork, beef ribs and an array of homemade sides like Mexican Street corn, chorizo queso and Texas-style baked beans.

A convenience store with its own brewery? Yep! Chicagoland PRIDE Stores have even more innovation and excitement in the works. Related Links: The PRIDE Stores 93 Octane Brewery Parent Petroleum Ideas 2 Go: Parent Petroleum’s Brewing Success The Big Question Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Rose Johnson About our Guest: Mario Spina, owner and CEO, Parent Petroleum Mario is the owner and CEO of St. Charles, Illinois-based Parent Petroleum Co., a wholesale supplier of fuel and lubricants. He also owns and operates 15 The PRIDE Stores, which feature three foodservice concepts—PRIDE Cafe, Urban Counter, and Taco Urbano—plus a wine & spirits store, along with 93 Octane, a brewery.

Retail fueling experts break down current market conditions affecting the price per gallon. Related Links: NACS Fuels Resource Center Fuels Institute Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Paige Anderson, Director of Government Relations, NACS Paige represents NACS members before Congress and the administration on policy issues relating to fuels, energy, cyber and data security, consumer data privacy, climate change, transportation and patent reform. She joined NACS in December 2012 after spending 20 years on Capitol Hill in the office of Rep. Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) as deputy chief of staff and legislative director, and in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. She hails from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and has a B.A. in political science and economics. Paige also earned an M.A. in national security studies from California State University, San Bernardino. John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute John leads the Fuels Institute, a nonprofit, independent think tank founded in

From culture to automation, Jared Scheeler shares how his company is tackling labor challenges. Related Links: "Thinking Big," NACS Magazine, January 2022 Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Jared Scheeler, CEO, The Hub Convenience Stores Scheeler, who is also the 2021-22 NACS chairman, began his career in the convenience industry in 1998 while attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where he worked at Minneapolis-based Bobby & Steve’s Auto World. His engagement with NACS goes back to 2001, when he attended his first NACS Show in Las Vegas. “That’s when I fell in love with the industry,” he said in the January 2022 issue of NACS Magazine. In 2015, Scheeler returned to his hometown and co-founded The Hub in Dickinson, North Dakota.

Not all emissions are equal. A new study explores how energy can determine where EVs and hybrids reduce emissions. Hint: It varies considerably by region. Related Links: Fuels Institute Life Cycle Analysis: Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles  Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute John Eichberger leads the Fuels Institute, a nonprofit, independent think tank founded in 2013 and managed by NACS. Prior to the Fuels Institute, he served more than 14 years at NACS as vice president of government relations and as the director of motor fuels. He oversaw advocacy operations and represented the convenience and fuel retailing industry before the media and federal government. With decades of experience, Eichberger is a recognized and go-to expert on fuels and fuel retailing.

What President Biden's address means for the convenience and fuel retailing industry. Related Links: Merchants Payments Coalition NACS Advocacy  NACS Day on the Hill Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Doug Kantor, NACS General Counsel Doug joined NACS in May 2021 after serving as a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he worked with the NACS government relations team to define effective policy-based solutions on issues ranging from fuels to financial services. He has established and administered coalitions of companies and trade associations that share common legislative and regulatory objectives, including the Merchants Payments Coalition and its work to reform credit and debit card swipe fees.