Convenience Matters

When you talk to shoppers who seek out businesses, one unique advantage rises to the top — they want to shop at places that have a true understanding of the communities they serve. In other words, they act local. How can your business be seen as a community champion? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Erin Wroge, Senior Director of Energy Marketing at CHS Inc. (Cenex®) Erin is responsible for Cenex® brand marketing, including support of more than 1,400 convenience store locations across 19 states. Erin has over 11 years of experience at CHS in the energy industry. During this time, she has held roles collaborating with various marketing teams across energy businesses. Additionally, she has led initiatives to develop impactful programs designed to educate customers about technical advantages, key considerations and innovative trends within both the convenience retail and energy product industries, including refined fuels, lubricants and propane. Erin leverages her expertise to provide customers with criti

On June 10, 1964, a convenience store outside Denver sold 124 gallons of gas and ushered in the modern era of self-serve fueling. Today, c-stores sell that much gas every 0.02 seconds. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Roscoe, convenience industry icon John was named one of the “50 most influential people in convenience store industry” by Convenience Store News for good reason: He was in the room during many of the industry’s critical junctures, including the launch of self-serve fueling in June 1964.

Every July 24, roughly 1 in 5 convenience stores—and a growing list of supplier partners—celebrate the heroes in their communities. The event, 24/7 Day, draws enormous media coverage and brand awareness for participating companies. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Stephanie Sikorski, NACS VP Marketing, and Executive Director, NACS Foundation Stephanie leads the development of integrated marketing campaigns and executes strategies to effectively grow NACS global brand and advance convenience and fuel retailing. She also oversees the NACS Foundation, which created 24/7 Day.

Data shows that 9 in 10 people who work in local shops have experienced verbal abuse over the last year. The ASC's ShopKind program unites retailers to address these behaviors. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: James Lowman, Chief Executive, Association of Convenience Stores (U.K.) James was appointed ACS chief executive in 2006. He has led ACS on political and policy representation, driven a unique research program that informs ACS’ policy work, launched an industry-leading assured advice scheme in partnership with Surrey County Council and created a new and unique events program. He is a member of ministerial advisory groups including the National Retail Crime Steering Group and the Retail Sector Council. Ed Woodall, Government Relations Director, Association of Convenience Stores (U.K.) As government relations director since 2009, Ed consults with ACS members through ACS’ Policy Committee and Expert Policy Groups to develop policy positions and the organization's public affairs strategy.

The 2024 NACS State of the Industry Summit delivered insights on c-store industry performance metrics. Hear how this year is shaping up and the tools you need to make data-driven decisions. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Chris Rapanick, Managing Director, NACS Research Chris oversees the day-to-day operations of NACS Research, manages and directs departmental financial and operational performance, and drives strategic development of NACS long-term research capabilities and offerings for the convenience industry.

With 85% of the population saying they have low self confidence, odds are that at times, you may be one of them. Find out how you can break the cycle. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Juan Bendaña, keynote speaker Juan is an internationally recognized speaker who helps leaders navigate uncertainty and exponential change by developing the unwavering confidence to thrive in any environment. Drawing from his science-based framework, the Confidence Cycle, he has inspired over 250,000 leaders, at companies including Disney, Sotheby's International, and Sony Pictures.

Foodservice is growing at convenience stores and represents 30% of inside sales. Chef Joe Arvin shares how you can keep elevating your food offer. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Joe Arvin, Celebrity Chef Chef Joe Arvin is a two-time Culinary Federation gold medalist, three-time Chicago Fight Club champion, and finished 6th and 23rd place at The World Food Championships. He has also gained widespread recognition through appearances on the TV shows Big Brother, Cutthroat Kitchen, The Taste with Anthony Bourdain and South of MadLove, the cooking show that he created and hosts.

Brand positioning is a significant part of business because it’s ultimately about how you communicate your offer to customers—and if it resonates. We'll share common pitfalls that businesses fall into and how to fix them. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Kathy Guzmán Galloway, Head Wizard, The Clarity Wizard With 20 years of CPG experience, Kathy has helped hundreds of organizations increase revenue and decrease risk by clarifying their brand positioning. She’s worked with brands like Nature Made, Lay’s, and Chiki Chiki Boom Boom, among others, to turn strategy and data into action.  

EV sales were down year over year Q1 of 2024, slowing a steep increase in sales over the past few years. We're discussing what drove this change and what it means for convenience retailers. 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.

Culture is the cumulative effect of what people see, hear, experience and believe. In this episode we're breaking down how industry leaders can build a high-performance culture. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Mark Miller, Author and Co-Founder, Lead Every Day Mark is a seasoned business leader, a Wall Street Journal and international best-selling author, and a dynamic communicator. He worked for one of the world’s great organizations for almost 45 years. Mark began a nearly 45-year career at Chick-fil-A as an hourly team member (and 16th corporate employee) and recently retired as the Vice President of High Performance Leadership. 

Consumers are in a better—but not great—mood than a year ago. NACS surveyed consumers to capture their perceptions of convenience stores related to gas prices, crime and jobs. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Adam Rosenblatt, Founding Partner, Bold Decision Adam Rosenblatt 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.

Are they convenience stores/gas stations that serve food, or restaurants that happen to have gas? A new book visually explores these community destinations. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Kate Medley, Photojournalist and Author of “Thank You Please Come Again” Kate Medley is a North Carolina-based visual journalist and filmmaker documenting the American South. Her latest book is “Thank You Please Come Again: How Gas Stations Feed & Fuel the American South.”

The convenience industry's foodservice future is bright thanks to its commitment to innovate. Hear how a regional distributor is working with a celebrity chef to elevate its offer. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Andrew Zimmern, Celebrity Chef Chef Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning chef, TV personality, writer and social justice advocate. A star of cooking shows on Travel Channel, The Food Network and currently host two shows on the Magnolia Network: “Family Dinner with Andrew Zimmern” and “Family Restaurant with Andrew Zimmern, he has devoted his life to exploring and promoting cultural acceptance, tolerance and understanding through food. Michael Ray, President, Team Modern Michael is the third-generation president of Team Modern, a family of companies headquartered in Somerset, KY. He has served on the board of the Convenience Distribution Association as well as being an active member of NACS, the Kentucky Petroleum Marketers Association and the Tennessee Fu

Convenience stores are integral to the communities they serve—for the products they sell and how they give back. Hear how one relationship ties mobility with a local need. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Renée Power, CMO/GM Mobility Marketing North America, Shell Renée is a natural collaborator with a track record of strong vision articulation, developing high-performing teams, and trusted partnerships. She has worked for Shell on four continents in a variety of commercial, operational, and marketing roles in retail and lubricants across the value chain. Kristine Templin, Chief Development and Marketing Officer, Meals on Wheels America Kristine oversees the national fundraising strategy for corporate partnerships, major donors and special events while working collaboratively with Meals on Wheels Member programs. With more than 20 years of cross-industry experience, Kristine has focused the last decade of her career on forging strategic partnerships and developing highly creative and visible consumer/

The April 8 solar eclipse is more than a once-in-a-lifetime event for tens of millions of Americans. It’s also an opportunity for convenience stores that are in or near the path of totality. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Leah Ash, Editor/Writer, NACS Leah joined NACS in 2023. She served in several editorial-related roles before joining NACS. Leah earned a B.A. in English from St. Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Joe Lackey, President, Indiana Grocery & Convenience Store Association Joe has been president of the Indiana Grocery & Convenience Store Association since 1973, working closely with legislative leaders to solve member problems and concerns. Prior to that, he was active-duty military in Europe and Vietnam, then joined the National Guard and Reserve, retiring as a Colonel.

If there is one thing Americans can unite on, it’s complaining about gasoline prices. NACS resources can help educate consumers about the industry and correct misperceptions. Hosted by: Chrissy Blasinsky and Jeff Lenard

What are your stores famous for? For HOP Shops, it’s their disco bathrooms. The concept is so popular that a couple recently got married in one. Hosted by:Jeff Lenard   About our Guests: Ann Gilbert, Human Resources Manager & HOP Shops' Marketing Manager at Valor Oil As marketing manager for Valor Oil, Ann is responsible for the development and supervision of all marketing and communications strategies for its HOP Shops convenience stores. She also oversees a number of human resources functions for the company. Damon Bail, Vice President of Operations and Marketing for Valor Oil Damon has been vice president of operations and marketing for Valor Oil for the past 5 years. Prior to that, he served in leadership roles for several c-store companies including RaceTrac, MAPCO Express and Buchanon Energy Co. (Bucky’s).

There are upwards of 200 billion coupons issued in the United States every year, mostly paper. Digital coupons, called 8112s, are reshaping the coupon landscape. How can convenience retailers jump on the emerging opportunities? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Sam Jonas, CEO & Co-Founder, nData Services Sam is a 25-year entrepreneur with a focus in the payments industry. Today he is focused on how digital coupons will revolutionize couponing by providing high-value digital discounts directly to consumers' phones, eliminating paper coupons and not requiring a consumer to be a member of a loyalty program to receive the discount.

With increased costs and prices over the past few years, it’s important for convenience retailers to communicate their offer and deliver value. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Leroy Kelsey, NACS Director, Research As director of NACS Research, Leroy is responsible for disseminating key industry metrics that empower convenience retailer and supplier members with the ability to understand performance opportunities in the areas of financials, store operations, merchandising, shopper insights, foodservice, fuels and more.

Pick a big moment in the convenience store industry’s history and John Roscoe was there. He popularized many of the huge advances we see today in our industry and shares what he thinks is the path forward. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Roscoe, Convenience Industry Icon John Roscoe was named one of the 50 most influential people in the convenience store industry by Convenience Store News for good reason: He was in the room during many of the industry’s critical junctures, and led conversations that greatly affected the ultimate direction of the industry.