Convenience Matters

NACS veterans share an insider's look at what attendees can look forward to at the NACS Show, how they can prepare and how they can make the most of what they saw, learned and heard at the global c-store industry's premier event. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Jeff McQuilkin, Director, Exhibit Sales and Services, NACS A trade show expert and veteran, Jeff has been with NACS since 2017. He has extensive tradeshow industry experience with both for-profit and non-profit organizations. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, photography and classic cocktails. His favorite band of all time is The Beatles and is a master Slurpee pourer.  

How can you develop a holistic brand strategy and identify points of differentiation for your brand? Hear insights from two presenters of a special advanced category management certification course offered in conjunction with the NACS Show. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Lucia Romanello Crater, EVP Sales and Business Development, Impact 21 Lucia has 25-plus years in the convenience store industry, with a track record and proficiency in driving growth and market share gains. She is a founding member and current officer of the Network of Executive Women in the Consumer Products Industry (NEW) and is a past chairman of the NACS Supplier Board. Liza Salaria, Senior Principal Consultant, Impact 21 Liza taps into her expertise in small-format merchandising, marketing, branding and business strategy to help companies realize their business objectives. Prior to joining Impact 21, she served as senior director of brand concept development at Sunoco, with past experience as SVP of marketing & merchandisin

As the global convenience retail industry gets ready for the 2023 NACS Show, a James Beard Award finalist takes us on a tour of some of the unique c-store and restaurant fare around Atlanta. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Mike Jordan, Food and Culture Writer Mike Jordan is an Atlanta-based multimedia journalist covering culture through food, business, entertainment, travel and technology. He had written for NACS Magazine and the top general media publications in the country.

A new Transportation Energy Institute research report highlights how several surprises affected the retail fuels market over the past 10 years, and what industry stakeholders should be prepared for in the next decade. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute John has more than 20 years of experience in the fuels industry, including more than a decade leading the Transportation Energy Institute (formerly the Fuels Institute). Prior to that, he served for 15 years as vice president of government relations at NACS, with a focus on fuels- and energy-related issues.

Retail design teams do great work but, in many cases, can benefit from experts. We look at how to decide what’s best for your business in developing and executing a digital strategy. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: 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 country.

NACS was founded in August 1961, but its roots go back decades earlier. We share stories about how and why the industry--and NACS--was created, and where it's going. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard

E-fuels are increasingly seen as a global alternative to electric vehicles, which until now have been the only option for achieving the decarbonization objectives set by countries throughout Europe. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Dr. Lorenz Kiene, Owner and Managing Director, Luehmann Group Lorenz is owner and managing director of the Luehmann Group, overseeing different initiatives to promote the ramp up of green technologies in Germany.  

The acceptance of cannabis in retail has come a long way in the past decade. Today, consumers talk about the properties—a sleep aid, a solution to chronic pain, or some other benefit—as opposed to the stereotypes a few decades ago. With these changes are changes in laws and regulations regarding its sale. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Melissa Vonder Haar, Writer/Consultant, MelissaV Inc. Melissa has written about the convenience retailing industry for nearly two decades and has written numerous feature articles for NACS Magazine. In addition to her work at MelissaV Inc., she also is marketing director for iSee Store Innovations LLC.

Food safety expert and attorney Shawn Stevens shares how his team works with companies to develop food handling protocols, interventions, and supplier partnerships to ensure convenience retailers and restaurants serve high quality and safe food for their consumers. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Shawn Stevens, Founder and Food Industry Lawyer, Food Industry Counsel LLC Shawn is the founding member of Food Industry Counsel LLC, the only law firm in the United States that represents the food industry exclusively. As a food industry consultant and lawyer, he works with food industry clients (growers, processors, restaurant chains, distributors, grocers) helping them protect their brand by complying with FDA and USDA regulations, reducing risk, managing recalls and defending high-profile foodborne illness claims. He also speaks regularly to national and international audiences on a wide variety of emerging scientific, regulatory and food safety legal trends.

NACS Chairman Don Rhoads visited more than 60 stores to meet with frontline employees and thank them for being the face of our industry. He also has great stories to share from several road trips with NACS staff. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Don Rhoads, 2022-23 NACS Chairman, President/CEO, The Convenience Group LLC As NACS chairman, Don also leads the NACS Executive Committee, which provides strategic direction and financial oversight to the association. He began his convenience career in 1989 as president of the Quick Shop Minit Mart, a retail store chain in Vancouver, Washington. He started The Convenience Group in 2000 and has led the company in strategic growth, planning and establishment of long-term goals and policies and building the company’s asset portfolio.

Gasoline prices are more than a dollar lower than this time last year, and demand has rebounded. This episode explores how geopolitics, hurricanes and shifting demand will influence the market for the remainder of 2023. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Denton Cinquegrana, Chief Oil Analyst, OPIS Denton has been with OPIS since 2001 and serves as the chief oil analyst, responsible for the day-to-day operations of OPIS’ news and analysis division. In his role, he also provides big picture views to OPIS subscribers on a variety of topics from supply and demand trends to anticipating price moves in the futures, spot and retail markets in North America.  

Most organizations will struggle with innovation. Conexxus provides convenience retailers with the tools they need to develop their own technology road map and plan for the industry's future. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Linda Toth, Managing Director, Conexxus Linda oversees all day-to-day operations of Conexxus. In addition, she advocates and collaborates on behalf of the convenience industry at various associations and organizations on payments, standards, and technology related topics. Gray Taylor, Executive Director, Conexxus Gray says he has the best job in the world because he gets paid to obsess about technology, convenience retail and policy, and work with some of the best people on the planet.

Credit card swipe fees cost the average American family over $1,000 a year. Bipartisan legislation in both the Senate and House of Representatives addresses the problem. Here's what business owners need to know—and what they can do—to fix the broken card system. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Doug Kantor, General Counsel, NACS Doug has served as legal counsel for NACS for more than 20 years, originally as a partner with the law firms Collier Shannon Scott PLLC and Steptoe & Johnson LLP. He has been NACS in-house counsel since 2021. Doug also served as special counsel and deputy chief of staff in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Cubby's is a convenience store chain that has developed an innovative approach to connecting with employees: a company-wide podcast. The episodes allow leaders to talk about the "why" behind operations in a format that can be consumed on the go. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: De Lone Wilson, President, Cubby’s Inc. De Lone joined Cubby’s ten years ago as vice president of operations. He has served as president since 2014. Prior to joining Cubby’s, De Lone was senior vice president of Payment Alliance International and president of NetBank. Mike Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Cubby’s Inc. Mike has been in the convenience retailing industry for two decades. He has been as COO for Cubby’s since 2021. Prior to that, he was COO for Holmes Company, regional vice president for CEFCO Convenience Stores and divisional director for The Pantry.

The best solutions to solve transportation challenges are those that are customized for the customers being served. That’s a session description from the recent Transportation Energy Institute (formerly known as the Fuels Institute) conference, but more broadly describes the group’s past ten years, as well as its future. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard  About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute John has more than 20 years of experience in the fuels industry, including more than a decade leading the Transportation Energy Institute (formerly known as the Fuels Institute). Prior to that, he served for 15 years as vice president of government relations at NACS, with a focus on fuels- and energy-related issues.

24/7 Day, held every July 24, is the industry’s chance to celebrate what it means to communities. Last year more than 30,000 stores participated. Find out how you can join them in 2023—and how it can help your business. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard  About our Guest: Anna Felz, Director of Brand Management, TBX Stores Inc. Anna has been at TXB since 2019 and oversees all elements of brand management for the company. She previously served as marketing director for Sprint Food Stores, based in Augusta, GA, and was the senior marketing executive for Ocozzio marketing firm, also based in Augusta. Anna earned a degree in public relations and communications from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. She also serves as a group fitness and yoga instructor.

With the summer drive season officially underway, we look at survey results that show what specific consumer needs inside the store drive the most consumer engagement and purchases. With special guest: Adam Rosenblatt, Founding Partner, Bold Decision Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Adam Rosenblatt, Founding Partner, Bold Decision Adam is one of the nation’s leading political consultants sought after for his ability to help clients achieve victory through effective research-based strategies and messaging. He designs and executes cutting-edge quantitative, qualitative, and data analytics programs for campaigns as well as non-political clients like NACS.  

What makes one fuel retailer more efficient than others? An analysis of the top brands reveals what the winning brands have in common—and where they differ. With special guests: Brian Norris, Executive Director of Retail Fuels, OPIS and Keith Reid, Editorial Director, Fuels Market News Hosted by: Jeff Lenard  About our Guests: Brian Norris, Executive Director of Retail Fuels, OPIS Brian joined OPIS in 2005, working in a variety of sales and marketing roles before joining the OPIS Retail division. Over the last 12 years, Brian focus has been ensuring the accuracy and integrity of OPIS retail pricing, margin, market share, and volume data and helping develop the suite of OPIS Retail analytics products. He graduated from Washington College with a degree in business management. Keith Reid, Editorial Director, Fuels Market News Keith has covered the fuels retailing industry for more than 20 years. In 2013, he helped found FMN Media LLC, a multifaceted digital and print media company that focuses on the needs of pe

When hurricanes strike, convenience stores are often the last to close before the storm—and the first to reopen. It's during these tough times that c-stores truly show how they support the communities they serve during and after times of crisis. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard  About our Guest: Al Herbert, 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. When Al is not enjoying a great burger or fried chicken at a local convenience store, you can find him on News 15 KADN-TV in Lafayette, Louisiana.

In 2022, inflation was at a 40-year high, gasoline prices were climbing and both the supply chain and labor market were a mess. The climate has improved, but for how long? What will today's economic indicators mean for convenience store operators in 2023? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard  About our Guest: John Benson, Partner, AlixPartners John was a featured speaker at the 2022 and 2023 NACS State of the Industry Summit. He has successfully led organizations to increased value through strategic and operational initiatives in a broad range of industries including convenience stores, travel centers, restaurants and consumer packaged goods.