Henry shares the biggest focus areas that were top of mind for NACS during the past two decades.

Hosted by:
Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:
Henry Armour, NACS President and CEO
Henry has served as NACS president and CEO since 2005 after spending his entire career in the convenience and fuel retailing industry. Beginning January 1, 2026, he will shift roles and lead international activities at NACS.

What separates a successful snack from the pack? Storytelling can be effective and important to sustaining a brand.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Jason Liebig, Brand History Expert, Television Host

Jason is a noted brand historian, consultant, television personality and speaker, known for his deep knowledge of consumer brands and behavior. In demand for his unique perspective and captivating storytelling, he's often referred to as "The Indiana Jones of Brands" due to his extensive archive and collection of vintage brand packaging, numbering at over 100,000 pieces.

The U.S. Mint stopped producing the penny earlier this year, which has triggered a penny shortage. Find out what's happening behind the scenes and what retailers can do.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Anna Ready Blom, NACS Strategic Advisor, Government Relations

Anna serves as a policy advisor to the NACS government relations team. During her 10-plus years at NACS, she led numerous advocacy campaigns and has been recognized as one of "The Hill's Top Lobbyists" for three years in a row. Anna previously worked on Capitol Hill for members of Congress from her home state of South Carolina.

The early forecasts of the convenience retailing industry's 2023 performance are positive. Which trends stood out and what do preliminary numbers tell us about where the industry is heading in 2024?

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.

Electric vehicles may be the future, but that doesn't mean they don't have challenges today. Hear how Plaid Pantry is redefining EV charging at convenience stores.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Jonathan Polonsky, CEO, Plaid Pantry

As the CEO of Plaid Pantry, a chain of convenience stores in the Pacific Northwest, Jonathan leads a team of over 700 employees across 106 locations, serving more than 50,000 customers daily.

Over the past year, we visited more than 100 convenience stores. We'll share what we saw at c-stores and what it might mean to your business in 2024.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

Our top-downloaded episode of 2023: Store managers have a significant impact on hiring and retaining great people. Hear how one retailer is coaching her team so they can be at their best.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

About our Guest:

Annie Gauthier, CFO & Co-CEO, St. Romain Oil Company (dba Y-Not Stop)

Annie is CFO/Co-CEO of St. Romain Oil Company (dba Y-Not Stop), based in Mansura, Louisiana. A third-generation co-owner, she works with her two brothers and 300-plus team members to refuel and refresh the Louisiana communities where they operate.

What's fact or fiction related to how quickly electric vehicles will grow sales? How today's market evolves is dependent upon economics and politics, and both are highly unpredictable.

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.

Wages and benefits are the largest expense to your business, but can also have the greatest ROI. Competitive hiring practices can help you get and keep great people who advance your business from the front line. Find out if your offer is competitive and learn about the data and resources NACS has to help.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

About our Guest:

Jayme Gough, Market Research Manager, NACS

Jayme has been at NACS since 2017 and loves "geeking out" on industry data collected and analyzed by NACS. In her current role, she oversees the NACS suite of HR-focused research projects, most notably the annual NACS Compensation Survey.

Convenience stores are in the relationships business. Over the past two decades, Michael Davis has played a central role in connecting retailers. Listen as he shares ideas on how to connect with industry peers.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

About our Guest:

Michael Davis, NACS Vice President of Member Services

Michael has spent the past 18 years at NACS and even longer in the industry, always taking that extra step to connect retailers to solutions and each other. His background includes owning and operating a small c-store and coffee bar, website design, online publishing and trendspotting.

NACS Show panelists share ideas on how organizations can develop processes to come up with great ideas—and execute them—over and over.

Hosted by:

Gray Taylor, Executive Director, Conexxus

About our Guests:

Emily Sheetz, VP, Innovation and IT, Sheetz Inc.

Emily is responsible for the development of and execution of company strategy as well as innovation, which includes the newly formed Sheetz Incubator. She is a third-generation family member and one of eleven active in the business. Emily previously served as director of talent development, responsible for all training and leadership development across the company.

Vish Ganapathy, Director, Customer Engineering Retail, Google

Vish has over 27 years in the information technology business, focusing on retail, wholesale/distribution, CPG and supply-chain segments.

Convenience retailers share how the The Good Jobs Strategy is helping their companies increase employee productivity, contribution and motivation.

Hosted by:

Henry Armour, President & CEO, NACS

About our Guests:

Zeynep Ton, Professor, MIT Sloan School of Management, President, The Good Jobs Institute

Zeynep's research focuses on how organizations can design and manage their operations in a way that satisfies employees, customers and investors simultaneously. In 2014, she published her findings in a book, "The Good Jobs Strategy: How the Smartest Companies Invest in Employees to Lower Costs and Boost Profits." Zeynep cofounded the nonprofit Good Jobs Institute to help companies transform through assessments, workshop, and longer-term partnerships. In 2023, Zeynep published "The Case for Good Jobs: How Great Companies Bring Dignity, Pay & Meaning to Everyone's Work." NACS partners with the Good Jobs Institute to bring the Good Jobs Strategy to the convenience store industry.

Varish Goyal, CEO, Loop Neighborhood Markets

Varish has worked in the convenience and fuels retailing industry since 2002. He has served as CEO of Loop Neighborhood Markets since 2018 and is also president of Vintners Distributors Inc. The company operates more than 100 stores in California under the Loop Neighborhood Markets brand.

Joe Hamza, Chief Operating Officer, Nouria Energy Corp.

Joe has been with the Worcester-Massachusetts-based Nouria Energy Corp. since 2015. The company operates 175 locations throughout New England, 60 Golden Nozzle car washes and a wholesale business servicing over 300 locations in New England and New York. Prior to joining Nouria, Joe was vice president of sales and marketing at Tedeschi Food Shops Inc.

Being a local brand in rural America is a huge differentiator for consumers. By showing your commitment to the local community, you ultimately build trust—and that leads to sales.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Akhtar Hussain, Director of Refined Fuels Marketing at CHS Inc.

Akhtar is responsible for brand marketing, retail development and imaging, and equipment for the Cenex brand, which has more than 1,400 convenience store locations across 19 states. In his nearly 20 years at CHS, Hussain has held a number of roles including manager of petroleum equipment and manager of refined fuels marketing.

C-stores are redefining convenience within a digital ecosystem that is on their customers' phones and in their vehicles.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Stephanie Sikorski, NACS Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

Stephanie has led sophisticated marketing and community outreach campaigns for 20 years, the last 12 at NACS. She also is CEO of TruAge.

Three acclaimed road warriors share their stories from the road and their ideas on how your stores can be "discovered" by more people travelling on highways -- or even in your neighborhood.

Hosted by:

Don Rhoads, President/CEO, The Convenience Group LLC and 2022-23 NACS Chairman

About our Guests:

Stephanie Stuckey, Chair, Stuckey's Corp.

Four years ago, Stephanie purchased Stuckey's Corp., the company her grandfather founded in 1937 and grew to nearly 400 roadside stores. She and her business partners restored it to profitability, tying its future to a celebration of the great American road trip. She also served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 14 years, representing DeKalb County.

Al Hebert, Founder of "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.

Stafford Shurden, Creator of "Gas Station Tailgate Review"

Based in Drew, Mississippi, Stafford is a farmer, restaurant owner and former justice court judge. But he is best known for his viral video series, "Gas Station Tailgate Review" in which he eats and reviews gas station food from the tailgate of his pickup truck.

In the current labor climate, many companies are trying to hire quickly. Family Express, however, is finding that spending more time during the hiring process, from application to job offer, is working out much better.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Alex Olympidis, President of Operations, Family Express Corp.

Alex is the president of operations for the 80-plus store Family Express Corp., headquartered in Valparaiso, Indiana. The company is known for its "Living Brand" in which associates greet customers with a friendly smile that is one technique in building one of the most statistically productive labor forces in the convenience store industry.

The rise of electric vehicles in Norway could force convenience retailers around the world to reconceive the traditional fill up and rethink their business models.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

About our Guest:

Magnar Møkkelgård, NACS Relationship Partner Nordics

Magnar Møkkelgård is currently the relationship partner for NACS in the Nordics. He enjoys receiving visitors from other countries with special interest in the EV development in Norway. He worked for Reitan Convenience for 30 years.

Many consumers say they are "all in" on certain climate change policies, but their views soften once they learn how these changes would affect them.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Rich Carrione, Vice President of Operations, Warm Thoughts Communications

Rich Carrione is vice president of operations for Warm Thoughts Communications, a marketing agency specializing in the residential energy industry. A 20-year industry veteran, Rich oversees Warm Thoughts' extensive portfolio of work supporting heating fuel, petroleum and convenience store associations. He also developed the industry's largest consumer research study about energy issues, representing more than 4,000 respondents across the entire Northeast. He is a sought-after speaker on energy topics and regularly presents at industry meetings and regional conventions.

Convenience retailers can create affordable marketing campaigns with college athletes. These campaigns can help drive traffic and fun to your stores. Here's what you need to know to get started.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Shannon Carroll, Contributing Writer, NACS Magazine

Shannon is an award-winning journalist with a reputation for finding and telling great stories. She has interviewed Olympic gold medalists, World Cup winners, Super Bowl champions, World Series winners, and leaders in the convenience store industry.

William Shatner sat down to talk about what's on his mind—and it's a lot—following his NACS Show appearance in 2018. It's one of our most popular episodes and definitely our longest. And worth another listen.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard, VP of Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Henry Armour, President and CEO, NACS

About our Guest:

William Shatner

Captain Kirk, T.J. Hooker, Denny Crane, so many TV shows and movies and record albums, the oldest person to fly in space...need we go on?

How does a local convenience retailer with a few stores get millions of views on YouTube? We'll take you through the process and talk about how you can adapt his ideas.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

About our Guest:

Babir Sultan, CEO, FavTrip

Babir is the CEO of FavTrip, with has locations around Kansas City. He also has built a highly successful online presence with two video series and recently published the book, "Fuel for Success."

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 & merchandising at Mid-Atlantic Convenience Stores and various senior merchandising roles at Giant Eagle.

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.

Hear how some convenience retailers are creating pop-culture moments at their stores and within their community.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Lonnie McQuirter, Director of Operations, 36 Lyn Refuel Station

Lonnie leads 36 Lyn Refuel Station, an independently owned, community-focused fuel station in South Minneapolis, MN. He is a member of the NACS Board of Directors and its Executive Committee.

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.

The acquisition brings together elements that are growing in convenience retail: great foodservice with a neighborhood feel.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

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, TXB 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 petroleum marketers, retailers and commercial fuel buyers. The company was acquired by NACS in 2020.

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 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. 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.

Foodservice and inside sales helped propel convenience stores to record sales in 2022. We're giving you exclusive insights on what drove the industry's strong performance and the headwinds going forward.

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.

There are more than 1 million convenience stores across the globe. Here's a look at sales trends in 2022 across 5 global regions and the underlying causes.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard 

About our Guest:

Jason Zelinski, Client Director, Convenience and Growth Accounts, NIQ

Jason leads strategic planning, end-to-end client engagement, revenue management and, most importantly, client satisfaction of the largest convenience retailers in the United States.

From locally sourced products to EV charging, 36 Lyn Refuel Station in Minneapolis makes a positive difference in its community.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

About our Guest:

Lonnie McQuirter, Director of Operations, 36 Lyn Refuel Station

Lonnie operates 36 Lyn Refuel Station, an independently owned, community-focused refueling station in Minneapolis. He is a member of the NACS Board of Directors.

Brands create trust, loyalty and a unique identity for businesses. Hear how some convenience stores leverage their brands to reach new and existing customers.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Amanda Baltazar, Retail & Hospitality Journalist

Amanda is a journalist and NACS Magazine contributing writer with over 20 years of experience and expertise in foodservice, beverages, restaurants/bars and overall retail. She covers everything from operations to staffing a c-suite.

South Louisiana is one of the best areas in the United States to find amazing food and people at the gas station. We'll talk about what we saw and ate during a recent road trip.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

About our Guest:

Stafford Shurden, creator and host of "Tailgate Gas Station Review"

A "serial entrepreneur," Stafford currently is a farmer (president of Stafford Shurden Farms), restauranteur (proprietor of Stafford's on Main) and oversees a media company (founder of Shurden Media). He is the creator and host of the video series "Tailgate Gas Station Review."

For nearly two decades, NACS has surveyed consumers to gain their insights on convenience stores, gasoline prices and the economy. This year's results show a lot of angst, but there are opportunities for retailers to engage their customers.

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 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.

"Good is the enemy of great" is a phrase many have heard, but can the same be said about comfort? Is it the enemy of progress and success?

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard 

About our Guest:

Sterling Hawkins, Founder, Sterling Hawkins Group

Sterling is an internationally recognized thought leader and is a top-rated keynote speaker on the #NoMatterWhat approach to driving growth innovation and results, regardless of what's happening in the world.