CSN TWIC 2025

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Founding & Presenting Sponsor:

Platinum Sponsors:

CORPORATE EMPOWERMENT AWARD SPONSOR:

Gold Sponsors:

Celebrating the 2025

A new class of 100 honorees was recognized at an awards gala in Chicago.

WOMeN OF THE YEAR

Convenience Store News’ 12th annual Top Women in Convenience (TWIC) awards — presented Oct. 15 in Chicago, against the backdrop of the 2025 NACS Show — celebrated 100 established and emerging female leaders who are shaping and changing the industry. TWIC is the first and still only c-store industry program that spotlights the integral role women play in convenience retailing and celebrates individuals across retailer, distributor and supplier businesses for outstanding contributions to their companies and the industry at large. The 2025 Top Women in Convenience are:

Lisa Blalock

Sandra Delli Carpini

Michelle Merrell

SENIOR-LEVEL LEADERS

Director of Compliance & Logistics Premier Manufacturing Inc.

Terri Albright

Director of Lean Six Sigma McLane Co. Inc.

Hebe Alexander

Senior Director, HR Region Operations Core-Mark International

Heather Allan

Vice President, Northern Tier Business Unit Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc./Circle K

Joannie Almjeld

President Andersen’s Crazy Candy

Heather Andersen

Director of Category Leadership, On The Go Mars Wrigley

Halle Barish

Director, Supply Chain Center of Excellence Casey’s General Stores Inc.

Melissa Berkenpas

Senior Division Chain Manager The Boston Beer Co.

Molly Beronio

• Albright is instrumental in ensuring Premier Manufacturing operates smoothly within the highly regulated tobacco industry. Responsible for overseeing all regulatory filings at both the state and federal levels, she facilitates compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state attorneys general and numerous other regulatory agencies. • Beyond compliance, Albright is lauded for her ability to drive operational efficiency. Her leadership in inventory management, warehousing and logistics helps optimize the supply chain, reduce costs and improve cash flow, according to her nominator. • Albright is known as a mentor and role model within the company. She often attends webinars and workshops to stay well informed, and participates in the National Association of Attorneys General, many State Fire Marshals associations, the Convenience Distribution Association, NACS and other industry organizations.

• Alexander joined McLane to create a business process team of Six Sigma Black Belts. The program enhances efficiency, reduces waste and streamlines workflows to maintain the highest levels of service for customers. Within a year, she led her team to complete 60-plus projects with a value capture exceeding $55 million. • Over the past year, she has completed multiple projects with direct customer impact. Key among them is increasing delivery accuracy from 99.02% to exceed the required 99.85% to meet contract compliance for a priority customer, and lowering delivery refusals by 50% for one chain to reduce labor and inventory loss. • Alexander is chair of the newly established McLane women’s-focused employee resource group, Ignite Her. She has also been invited to be a key speaker at the MoreSteam Best Practices for Operational Excellence Conference.

• Allan leads Core-Mark’s HR Region Operations with responsibility for compliance, analytics, talent management, learning and development, compensation, special projects and people operations. She supports more than 12,000 associates across North America, with direct leadership of a core team of three and extended oversight of more than 70 HR professionals. • A Certified Change Management Professional, Allan in 2024 spearheaded the successful transition of the company’s 300-plus field sales associates from a hybrid compensation model to a fully commissioned structure. She not only co-designed the new model, but also led change management efforts that elevated the customer experience for the retailers Core-Mark serves, her nominator said. • She is a graduate of Core-Mark’s Experienced Leader Program with Richmond University, and represented the company at the 2025 Women’s Foodservice Forum.

• Almjeld’s promotion to her current role marks a significant milestone in her decade-long career with ACT, according to her nominator. She now manages a staff of 6,000 team members that oversee store operations, merchandising, fuel, facilities, finance and HR across 10 states. • In her previous role as senior regional director of operations, Almjeld delivered outstanding results — merchandise sales grew by 7.9%, fuel sales increased by 19.6% and net profit rose by 21% year over year. In addition to her operational leadership, she chaired the business unit’s Women’s Council and remains actively engaged in culture and community initiatives at the company. • Almjeld was selected as one of only 25 participants for ACT’s prestigious Global Leadership Forum, an 18-month program focused on developing future executives through advanced leadership training and global business strategy insights.

• Andersen is the driving force behind Andersen’s Crazy Candy, one of the fastest-growing brands in the snack aisle. As president and founder, she blends entrepreneurial vision with deep retail expertise, using her family’s Sinclair stations as real-world R&D sites. • In 2024, she grew the company’s retail presence from 5,000 locations to more than 25,000, and recently introduced breakthrough freeze-dried versions of fan favorites such as Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids, now stocked in major national chains. • Andersen leads with boldness, creativity and results, according to her nominator. Her efforts resulted in a 2025 Insurgent Brand honor from Bain & Co., which recognizes the fastest-growing consumer brands redefining the food industry, and three innovation awards at the 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo for product excellence.

• A 15-year veteran of Mars Wrigley, Barish oversees the entire Mars Wrigley On The Go Team, which focus on the convenience, unattended retail and specialty channels. The team, which consists of 24 category associates, yields sales in excess of $2 billion. • In 2024, Barish led the team in activating new shopper-based merchandising research, which was proven to drive 4% to 6% growth for retailers. The convenience category team also won four Category Excellence Awards from CSNews in the categories of planogram excellence, overall partnership excellence (two awards) and new product launch excellence. • Barish recently earned a Role Model Leadership Sales Excellence Award. She is the leadership sponsor of the Shalom Mars associate resource group and a member of the DiversAbility group. She’s also a member of multiple Mars Wrigley committees.

• Berkenpas is a dynamic leader at Casey’s, where she sponsors and oversees key enterprise initiatives including FSMA 204 compliance and supplier onboarding. Her visionary leadership and commitment to innovation drive operational excellence and strategic transformation across the organization, her nominator noted. • This year, she led the strategic integration of 200 newly acquired locations, pioneering a new business model by incorporating third-party distributors to support growth beyond Casey’s self-distribution network. • A champion of continuous development, Berkenpas is a graduate of Casey’s Leadership Excellence Development Program and holds executive leadership certifications from the Harvard Division of Continuing Education, NACS Women in Leadership Executive Education and UC Berkeley Executive Education.

• Beronio manages the National Account Team for the West. She is responsible for the strategy, growth and implementation of creative programming, as well as distribution that drives retailers’ bottom-line and profit goals. She has spent 14 of the last 16 years at Boston Beer working with convenience retailers. • In 2024, Beronio earned a company Innovation Award as Small Format Division Chain Manager of the Year. She also was a nominee for the National Beer Whole salers Association’s Alliance for Women in Beer recognition. • According to her nominator, one of Beronio’s greatest strengths is her ability to think outside the box and create solutions that drive significant growth. Through tailored, unique programming, she has contributed sustainable growth, increased profitability and stronger retailer partnerships for Boston Beer.

Director of Human Resources Weigel’s Inc.

Kelly Bowling

Director of Talent Experience Kwik Trip Inc.

Sarah Brandtner

Chief Financial Officer Lyons Specialty Co. LLC

Jodi Buckner

Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing, Combustibles Reynolds American Inc.

Christy Canary-Garner

• Bowling manages Weigel’s HR strategy and operations, from talent acquisition and onboarding to employee development and retention. She collaborates with leadership to identify staffing needs and implement effective recruitment processes to attract and retain top talent across Weigel’s 85-store network. In addition, she manages the design and administration of compensation and benefits programs. • In 2024, she introduced an array of recognition and celebration initiatives aimed at strengthening community, increasing morale and highlighting individual achievements. These include monthly lunches at the support center and in-store “culture club” events that unite support teams and store-level employees. Bowling also spearheaded the implementation of an enhanced vacation program, reflecting her commitment to work-life balance. • She received Weigel’s Humanitarian Award in 2024, recognizing her compassion, empathy and resourcefulness in fostering a supportive environment.

• Brandtner leads a team of more than 45 coworkers who carry out strategy, initiatives and programs centered on the coworker experience, including engagement, retention, development, inclusion, onboarding, accommodations and more for 39,000 coworkers. Under her leadership, coworker turnover has declined to 35.1%, an industry-leading number, according to her nominator. • She is lauded for leading the team that created a leadership development series for new leaders on campus, enhanced and built the prestige of the company’s Coworker of the Year program, and rolled out a check-in program for campus coworkers intended to build relationships and allow for continuous feedback rather than a typical performance review process. • A 23-year veteran of Kwik Trip, Brandtner is a highly regarded leader and known for bringing candor and humor to work daily. She is a state and national member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

• Sitting over accounting, HR and IT, Buckner drives financial stability, ensuring the distribution company not only thrives but remains competitive. She was instrumental in moving the company to run an Entrepreneurial Operating System, translating the company’s vision into actionable plans, aligning different departments and ensuring everyone is working toward the same goals. • This past year, Buckner implemented a cost optimization plan to reduce operational expenses without sacrificing efficiency or quality. Additionally, on Jan. 1, 2025, the company entered a Captive Insurance program, a transition that Buckner played a key role in implementing. Her leadership and execution of this initiative resulted in approximately 30% savings in the company’s insurance costs. • Buckner is serving as the 2025 chair of the Convenience Distribution Association.

• Canary-Garner leads a team of 35 FMC marketers and directs Reynolds’ 70-member Consumer Experience Team, spearheading a major step change in the company’s capability roadmap and cultural transformation. She currently oversees 20 cigarette brands, including five iconic brands with longstanding equity and more than 30 million adult smokers (Newport, Camel, Natural American Spirit, Pall Mall and Lucky Strike). • In 2024, she successfully drove commercial delivery above plan and diversified the company’s product portfolio to drive long-term sustainable value. She also deployed new capabilities to drive foot traffic, boost market basket size and deliver added value to both customers and consumers. • Canary-Garner received British American Tobacco’s A Better Tomorrow Award, the highest annual honor the company bestows. She serves as the senior leadership champion for three employee resource groups: B.E.Y.O.U (Black Employees Yielding Outreach & Unity), B United (LGBTQ+) and LINK (Lean Into Networking).

Director of Finance, Consumer Products Premier Manufacturing Inc.

Todd Compton

National Account Manager II, 7-Eleven Constellation Brands Inc.

Danielle Endter

Director, Market Insights & Forecasting ITG Brands

Melanie Gebrekiristos

Director of Payment Strategy Implementation Murphy USA Inc./QuickChek

Amy Glover

• Compton oversees all financial responsibilities for U.S. Tobacco Cooperative, including its three cigarette companies — Premier Manufacturing, King Maker Marketing and WMLR LLC — as well as its distribution businesses: Big South Distribution, Franchise Wholesale and VP Distributors. Compton leverages her knowledge as a Certified Public Accountant to develop process improvements and financial strategies. • One of her most significant leadership contributions has been her role in transitioning the company to offshore production. Compton has been instrumental in navigating the complexities of overseas compliance, taxation and financial reporting, ensuring that the company meets all necessary legal and regulatory requirements. • She is actively involved in key industry organizations, including the Convenience Distribution Association, Total Products Expo and NACS.

• Endter is a 25-year beer industry veteran, with nearly 10 years at Constellation Brands’ beer division, including six years dedicated to 7-Eleven. She leads collaboration and executional alignment for the beer strategy in 7-Eleven’s largest-volume region, partnering with the 7-Eleven West category manager to influence franchisees, distributors and operations partners. • In 2024, she drove growth of 3.4% in dollar sales and 6.5% in unit sales. Endter executed a storefront point-of-purchase program on short notice, activating her network for timely implementation. She also developed tools and resources to educate store leaders and franchisees, providing data-driven insights. • Endter was instrumental in Constellation Brands being named 7-Eleven’s Alcohol Supplier of the Year at the 2024 7-Eleven Experience conference.

• Gebrekiristos was elevated to her current role in February 2024, giving her leadership of a new organizational structure, Market Insights & Forecasting. With this promotion, she became part of the Insights & Intelligence Leadership Team, driving business planning and decision-making for the company. • She developed the details behind all product launch initiatives for ITG Brands in the 2025 business planning cycle, including cigarettes, cigars, vapor and modern oral nicotine. She also led a complete revamp of ITG’s demand forecasting function, modernizing and improving processes. • Gebrekiristos was one of the company’s U.S. participants in Accelerating Women in Leadership, a selective, global and cross-functional development program led by Imperial Brands, ITG Brands’ parent company. Additionally, she is a member of ITG Brands’ Women’s and Ethnicity business employee resource groups.

• Glover, a 32-year veteran at MUSA, develops the business requirements and implementation for payments and financial products for the company. She leads the team that develops customer-facing partnerships and affiliate programs, which has aided in lowering the cost of payments while enabling the enterprise with new data insights. • In 2024, Glover led a total rebuild of MUSA’s payments infrastructure to modernize how the company routes transactions. In addition to her role, she formally mentors two senior managers and three specialists who are early in their careers. • Glover was celebrated in 2024 as MUSA’s inaugural Alexis Alexander Heart of Service Award winner for her work with Magdelene House, where she serves as treasurer and board member. She also serves on the board of FDDOC (Fully Devoted Developer of Children), a nonprofit organization.

Vice President of Customer Experience Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores

Ashley Gockstetter

Regional Manager Parker’s Kitchen

Shelby Harrison

Vice President, Omnichannel Marketing Casey’s General Stores Inc.

Steph Hoppe

Director, Global Brand Marketing Juul Labs

Aleksandra (Ola) Kozielska

• Kozielska's strategic leadership in U.S. marketing for the JUUL brand is meticulously aligned with the company's mission: transitioning adult smokers from combustible cigarettes. By leveraging extensive research, she identifies key adult smoker trends to craft highly targeted and effective campaigns, ensuring all marketing activities are directed at adult smokers. • Her efforts stabilized the U.S. market. She innovated new media integration (e.g., GSTV, retailers’ in-store media channels) and developed impactful marketing assets, boosting brand visibility and affinity. Her data-driven, cross-functional leadership is instrumental in propelling JUUL to a category-leading position and significantly driving c-store sales. • Beyond her professional achievements, Kozielska’s compassion extends globally as she dedicates time to supporting an orphanage in Poland, raising donations for children impacted by the Ukraine War. She is also committed to community, participating in the Women at JUUL resource group.

• Hoppe leads Casey’s Omnichannel Marketing organization, which is comprised of 40 people and responsible for $27 million in total advertising spend. She drives brand growth and competitive positioning through compelling and creative brand marketing, storytelling, guest insights and analytics, and guest journey mapping. Hoppe also leads the company’s Inner Agency Team, which includes five external partners. • In 2024, she shepherded the launch of Casey’s new brand positioning, “It’s Not Crazy, It’s Casey’s,” which served to accelerate same-store sales and traffic growth. Another contribution was the accelerated growth of Casey’s Access, the retailer’s proprietary retail media network, with net investment in the program growing by 300% last year. • Hoppe serves on the NACS Foundation's board of advisors.

• In just over a year’s time since joining Parker’s Kitchen, Harrison has made an indelible impact by driving growth, promoting efficiency and ensuring exceptional customer service at all her stores, according to Executive Chairman Greg Parker. • She currently oversees the daily store operations for Region 1’s 54 retail locations throughout Georgia. Harrison has been lauded for her region exceeding its 2024 sales goals in the areas of fuel, inside sales, kitchen, grab-and-go breakfast, pizza and roller grill. • The previous CSNews Future Leaders in Convenience honoree has been integral to the company’s ambitious expansion into new markets as well. She helped open the largest-ever Parker’s Kitchen store in Kingsland, Ga., in October 2024, followed by the chain’s third store in Richmond Hill, Ga., this past February.

• Gockstetter leads strategic customer experience initiatives at Love’s, which encompasses loyalty programs, customer listening programs, its mobile app and competitive analysis. She also leads the data science, analytics and space planning teams to ensure Love’s is focusing on the right customers, solving the right problems and laying out the stores to ensure an optimal customer experience. • In 2024, she spearheaded the rollout of the company’s first-ever comprehensive customer listening program, which allows stakeholders from store managers to executives to get real-time insight into the customer experience through KPIs, complaints and compliments. In addition, Gockstetter developed differentiated loyalty benefits for professional and casual drivers, which delivered repeat visits and growing profit. • She serves as executive sponsor of the Women’s Employee Resource Group at Love’s and is chair of The Conference Board’s Customer Experience Council.

Director, People & Culture Business Partner ITG Brands

Brielle Lawson

Director, Category Management PepsiCo Inc.

Stacy Dickson-McNutt

Field Training Manager The Spinx Co.

Amber Millwood

Vice President of Operations High’s of Baltimore LLC

Carrie Miller

• Lawson drives the strategic people agenda and supports ITG Brands’ future through workforce planning, talent needs, coaching and culture changes. Her influence extends across the company’s commercial functions on a global and U.S. regional level, as she’s spearheaded initiatives that boosted engagement by 22 points and elevated cross-functional collaboration by 33 points. • When ITG Brands acquired a new category in 2023, Lawson created a Next-Generation Products Team with new capabilities, including data analytics, brand-building expertise and consumer insights. The new team generated 3% market share within 10 months of launch. • A culture champion, Lawson mentors junior talent in Greensboro, N.C., and participates in employee resource groups. She recently earned an MBA from Wake Forest University, became a Prosci Change Practitioner, and was selected for an exclusive global Women in Leadership program.

• Millwood revitalized and revolutionized Spinx’s training program by instituting major reconstruction of current content. New training tactics include new hire orientation and continued training across multiple departments, catering to multiple lines of business. She spoke at the NACS Show about her ambition to revolutionize c-store onboarding and training. • She received The Spinx Co.’s highest honor, the Spinx MVP Award, for her impact across all departments and field leadership. She is also a recipient of the HR Core Value Award for her outstanding commitment to the company's core values and policies. • Millwood is co-chair of Spinx’s Women in Leadership business resource group. She is also part of the Society for Human Resource Management and an Association for Talent Development professional.

• Dickson-McNutt leads a category leadership team that supports the beverage insights and space agenda designed to deliver shopper resonance and marketplace growth for both Circle K and PepsiCo. She is also charged with leading the category advisorship for 10 of the 14 Circle K business units. • Through her efforts, PepsiCo expanded category captaincies at the Circle K business unit level and became the lead across the retailer’s national business. Circle K leveraged Dickson-McNutt’s expertise to develop a comprehensive cold vault strategy, resulting in mutual growth and share gains for both companies. • Dickson-McNutt is a two-time winner of the PepsiCo Chairman’s Ring of Honor and has attended two PepsiCo leadership programs: Pinnacle, a professional development program encouraging empowerment and leadership for women in sales, and Next Up, a forum focused on advancing women and promoting diversity within the company.

• A 20-year convenience store industry veteran, Miller celebrated her 10-year anniversary with High’s in July. She oversees all five of High’s district managers and the operations of 52 locations. She also leads a training session for new managers, focusing on the critical skill of understanding operations statements, helping to empower the leadership team with essential financial knowledge. • “Carrie continually goes above and beyond in her role, inspiring her team through her determination, creativity and passion for excellence. Her transformative impact on the company makes her an incredibly deserving candidate for this recognition,” her nominator said. • As an advocate for a positive and safe work environment, Miller is a member of High’s Charitable Giving and Safe Work Environment Committees.

Director, Experiential & At Shelf Marketing Glanbia Performance Nutrition

Courtney Murphy

Senior Director, Retail – Convenience Mars Wrigley

Kelli Patterson

Director, PR, Communications & Community Casey's General Stores Inc.

Katie Petru

Director, Environmental Operations EG America

Jessica Pfeifer

• Known for her deep shopper experience and innovative approach to marketing, Murphy has repositioned Glanbia in the convenience store sector, enhancing the visibility and accessibility of Glanbia’s brands, such as Optimum Nutrition and think!. • Murphy, who has 30 years of experience in the convenience channel, has driven successful initiatives that add value by giving consumers an incentive to try Glanbia’s brands, in turn increasing retailer revenue. Her efforts have not only increased product placement, but also improved customer engagement and sales performance. • She holds a leadership role in Glanbia’s Women’s Employee Resource Group; is board vice president of the Danny Did Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing deaths caused by seizures; and is a prolific volunteer for various charities and causes.

• Patterson, who has worked at Mars Wrigley for 21 years, assumed her current role in 2017. Her team consists of 85 direct Mars Wrigley associates and 155 associates from Advantage Sales & Marketing. Cumulatively, they are focused on maximizing category sales in more than 55,000 convenience stores nationwide with revenue exceeding more than $1.5 billion. • Among her accomplishments, Patterson launched groundbreaking mobile technology that enables in-store printing of distributor tags. This innovation saved Mars Wrigley more than $520,000 by streamlining operations, reducing rework and eliminating delays. She also co-developed a new route to the market, combining mapping technology to reduce drive time and maximize the time her team sells in-store, ultimately driving ROI. • Patterson is a sponsored member of Mars Women in Global Sales Leadership and was a regional finalist for Mars Wrigley Make a Difference, a global recognition.

• Petru’s team owns Casey’s narrative with key stakeholders, from guests to team members to communities. She partners with the executive leadership and senior leadership teams to determine and bring to life the company’s purpose, values and narrative. Her team also manages an ongoing ecosystem of internal and external “always on” communication to ensure Casey’s 47,000-plus associates are informed, aligned and inspired. • Last year, Petru achieved her aggressive goal to increase Casey’s public relations results by 75% year over year to drive awareness and credibility of the chain’s food business, with 1,300 total placements and 26 billion impressions for the year. • Petru was instrumental in finalizing Casey’s first-ever venue naming rights deal. The Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, became the Casey’s Center in July 2025. The 17,000-seat arena hosts 175-plus events annually, delivering unmatched brand exposure.

• Pfeifer ensures the environmental integrity and regulatory compliance of EG America’s fuel operations. Her sphere of influence extends across more than 1,500 stores, where she oversees underground storage tank compliance and proactively enhances training programs as part of the compliance management team. • She is lauded for successfully managing a multimillion-dollar capital budget in 2024, ensuring it remained within 1% of plan. To improve capital planning accuracy, she developed an innovative forecast model for fueling facility upgrades, providing the organization with a real-time, data-driven tool for monthly progress reporting. • Pfeifer received the President’s Club Store Support Center Team Member of the Year Award for 2024. She is a member of the leadership team for the Women @ EG employee resource group and the retailer’s Engagement and Values Council.

Director of Brand Marketing Krispy Krunchy Foods LLC

Leah Schultz

Retail Technologies Product Director, COCO Chevron U.S.A. Inc.

Diane Shieh

Director of Creative Services Krispy Krunchy Foods LLC

Amber Smith

Chief Human Resources Officer PDI Technologies

Beth Strickland

• Strickland brings decades of expertise in workforce transformation to help shape PDI’s culture and operational success. She has been instrumental in advancing the company’s people strategy over the past year, significantly reducing turnover and reinforcing PDI’s standing as an employer of choice. • She championed investments in succession planning, employee learning and leadership development. Strickland worked cross-functionally to combine multiple learning platforms into a consolidated professional development tool and oversaw the creation of manager training and leadership development curriculum, aligning learning pathways with business goals and leadership competencies for internal stakeholders. Under her leadership, there’s been a 250% increase in employee e-learning. • She took the stage at the first-ever Women in Convenience panel during the annual PDI Connections Live event, sharing insights on leadership, innovation and the importance of fostering diversity in the convenience industry.

• With a decade-long dedication to championing the Krispy Krunchy Chicken brand's look and feel, Smith collaborates with the culinary and marketing teams, leading the design of digital menuboards, packaging and promotional materials that enhance the customer experience and drive sales. Her role extends to external agencies and vendors to produce high-quality marketing materials cost-effectively. • A standout achievement in 2024 was Smith’s leadership in developing an operator-focused LSM and print-on-demand solution. This includes the brand’s first integrated e-commerce store, providing operators and team members with a user-friendly platform to access and customize essential materials and resources. • Smith, a member of Krispy Krunchy Chicken’s Marketing Leadership Team, was one of the first to receive the company’s Be All In Award in 2023 and was then recognized as a CSNews Future Leader in Convenience in 2024.

• Shieh’s deeper involvement with the convenience channel started in 2019 when she joined Chevron's company-owned company-operated (COCO) division in her current role. In this capacity, she oversees support, infrastructure and innovation for more than 300 Chevron stations while spearheading technology solutions that enhance operational efficiency, customer experience and competitive positioning. • She architected a comprehensive Digital Transformation Strategy that aligns business outcomes with digital ambitions — modernizing platforms, enhancing in-store customer experiences and fostering a culture of innovation. She’s led teams in deploying a new HRIS system with single sign-on capabilities, upgrading store networking for improved reliability, launching a Salesforce-based case management system for operations, integrating and automating fuel pricing across multiple systems, and streamlining operational processes with support from technology. • In recognition of her accomplishments, Shieh has received Chevron’s prestigious Human Energy Award and the Everyday Excellence Award.

• Schultz is a mastermind in supporting Krispy Krunchy Chicken’s voice, vision and everything that makes it pop for both consumers and operators. She creates and executes long-term marketing plans that define the brand and boost its growth through creative campaigns, media strategies, brand ambassadors and partnerships. • One of her standout achievements was leading the launch of both the Cajun Chicken Sandwich and Chicken Nuggets, shifting the marketing strategy from traditional in-store promotions to a more dynamic, consumer-driven approach. Schultz is also lauded for developing an all-new e-commerce portal, Krunch Shop Portal, creating a full-service, one-stop shop for brand operators to streamline ordering and access essential resources. • Schultz received the company’s Together We Win Award in 2024 and is a member of Krispy Krunchy Chicken’s Marketing Leadership Team.

Senior Director of Sales The Coca-Cola Co.

Amy Werth

Division President Core-Mark International

Kristin Willis

Director of Enterprise IT Friendly Express Inc.

Amy Wood

• Werth leads strategy and execution for Coca-Cola’s $1 billion annual partnership with 7-Eleven. Her efforts have led to substantial growth, her nominator stated. She was key in last year’s collaboration between Coca-Cola, 7-Eleven and Mondelēz International to introduce an exclusive Coca-Cola OREO Slurpee drink. • This first-ever frozen Coca-Cola Creations beverage was the result of an extensive, multifaceted marketing strategy that incorporated social retailing, experiential merchandising, influencer activations and digital promotions to drive product awareness, customer engagement and in-store traffic. • Within Coca-Cola, Werth is a member of This-Ability Network, an organization dedicated to promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and Coca-Cola NextUp, a group focused on advancing women into leadership positions and ensuring that diverse perspectives are represented in key decision-making processes.

• Truchan uses strong negotiation and leadership skills to optimize the supply chain, while implementing procurement technologies and ensuring ethical sourcing under regulatory guidelines. Overseeing a staff of five employees, she manages all supplier relationships, driving cost savings and ensuring compliance with supplier programs and regimens. • Over the past year, Truchan refined an internal allocation management process to more effectively ensure all customers receive fair amounts of constrained inventory products while recognizing historical usage by individual customers. She also completed an initiative with three internal category managers to enhance inventory management, reducing carrying costs while maintaining fill rates standards. • Truchan serves on Team Sledd’s Health Resource Committee, which manages health care insurance and wellness initiatives for 275 employees. She also serves on the Culture Committee and was president of Team Sledd’s Organizational Senior Leadership Team.

• Turner leads the omnichannel marketing agenda across PepsiCo’s snacks and beverages categories at 7-Eleven. Turner and her team drive business at the convenience retailer through robust 360 activations, which have included groundbreaking retail programming for Mountain Dew gaming and the successful launch of two exclusive products featuring PepsiCo’s largest beverage brands, Mountain Dew and Gatorade. • Additionally, the team was a critical partner in the growth of 7-Eleven’s new GULP Media Network, which has proven to generate promising results. According to her nominator, Turner’s leadership contributed to PepsiCo being awarded the 2024 Digital Supplier of the Year Award by 7-Eleven's leadership team. • Turner is active in PepsiCo recruiting at her alma mater, the University of Michigan, helping the company secure the best and brightest talent for the coming years.

• Webb leads the account management and marketing/graphic digital teams at Patron Points. One example of her leadership is the companywide implementation of a new CRM, project management and communication platform that streamlines tasks for internal employees and external partners. • She also oversaw the successful development and launch of a new product, Formi, and spearheaded the efforts in drafting and submitting for review a patent on the technology and method. To support the new product launch, she implemented a social media strategy that drove a 35% increase in followers, a 90% increase in impressions and a three-times greater engagement rate on LinkedIn. • Webb is a resource for the Patron Points Cares Team and is the bridge between the marketing department and Blue Sparq Marketing, the company’s external professional group that co-leads Patron Points’ corporate marketing strategy.

• As division president, Willis is responsible for the full scope of operations — driving the vision, strategy and execution across sales, supply chain, logistics and safety. Her leadership extends beyond her team of 150-plus associates as she fosters a culture of integrity and transparency, setting the tone for her team and ensuring the company operates efficiently while staying ahead of market trends, her nominator said. • Under her leadership, the Cleveland OpCo achieved $384 million in sales in fiscal year 2024, surpassing targets at 104% of plan. At the time of her nomination, Willis was outpacing her business plan for 2025 by 150%. • Regarded as a high-potential leader at Core-Mark, Willis is a previous Salesperson of the Year and spoke on a key panel discussion at U.S. Foods’ annual summit.

• While her primary responsibility is to manage and lead all technology-related aspects of Friendly Express, Wood also contributes significantly to other areas of the business. She has a direct influence on the operational activities of the company from vendor relations to the design and implementation of sites and programs. Her influence also touches marketing and branding innovation, social media and promotional marketing initiatives. • She is lauded for the implementation of food production software that is driving greater efficiency and guidance for offers, serving times and reducing food waste. She also spearheaded the rollout of mobile ordering, combined with Vroom delivery; implemented self-checkout; and led the team in a coffee and cold dispensed beverage rebrand. • Wood serves as a representative on the PDI Retail Customer User Group Committee. She is also a member of the NACS Planning Committee, Conexxus and the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores.

RISING STARS

Customer Relationship Management Manager Cheyenne International LLC

Josie Barger

• Barger is in charge of Cheyenne’s customer relationship management (CRM) system, but her sphere of influence extends beyond that. While her role is inherently more behind the scenes, she has essentially built a bridge between the sales, marketing, financing, customer service, manufacturing and quality teams, allowing them to collaborate and improve efficiencies. • She’s been lauded for developing and executing a promotional payment process that gave Cheyenne better visibility, empowered the sales team to promote more effectively, and helped retail partners get paid more quickly. Another giant step forward, thanks to Barger, was integrating third-party data into the company’s CRM system. • Barger is a past winner of Cheyenne’s The Bill Award, an internal accolade for which winners are nominated by their peers.

Marketing Specialist PDI Technologies

Lauren Barnette

Senior Account Manager Altria Group Distribution Co.

Caris Bing

Principal Customer Success Manager PDI Technologies

Billi Breazeale

• Barnette was nominated for her accomplishments as loyalty program coordinator at Quality Oil Co. She recently left that position and joined PDI Technologies as a marketing specialist. While at Quality Oil, Barnette was a driving force behind the retailer’s approach to customer engagement, loyalty and retail marketing. • One of Barnette’s biggest achievements at Quality Oil was fixing the company’s broken signage system by implementing a new structured system that ensures signage is properly distributed, installed and aligned with digital marketing efforts. This has improved brand consistency across the company’s 138 stores while freeing store managers to focus on operations rather than marketing logistics. • She also transformed Quality Oil’s outdated loyalty program. Previously limited to tobacco discounts, she expanded the program into a true customer engagement tool, working with integrated partners such as Rovertown and Paytronix to improve functionality and personalization.

• Bing leads sales strategy, execution and trade alignment for all Altria operating companies, as well as a top c-store partner. Since taking on this role in October 2024, she has successfully negotiated improved merchandising positioning for key brands, influenced more competitive pricing through marketplace and ROI analysis, and increased value to consumers through alignment on digital marketing strategies. • In her previous role at Altria as manager of value and wholesale in the customer success department, Bing developed infrastructure to execute state-level initiatives for multiple brands by aligning on timing of price action, identifying external legislative obstacles and advocating for financial incentives to ensure trade capability and readiness. • She is the membership lead for UNIFI, Altria’sAfrican-American employee resource group. She coordinates efforts with individuals from different functions to create programming and content with connections to culture, education and a tie-in to the business.

• Breazeale was nominated for her accomplishments as product manager III – retail at PDI. In this capacity, she guided cross-functional teams through an entire product lifecycle, from ideation to launch. She recently accepted a new role as principal customer success manager. • In her previous position, Breazeale was celebrated for her part in the creation and launch of PDI's foodservice offering, production management application and retail site management solution. She also built “Billi’s Boot Camp,” an intensive, homegrown onboarding initiative that prepares new team members for success by equipping them with essential product management knowledge. • Breazeale was awarded the Friends of Sales Award at the 2025 PDI Company Kickoff event. Her contributions have been acknowledged as well through her elevated prominence in PDI's Customer User Groups, particularly within the retail sector.

Director of Distribution Partnerships GSTV

Veronica Briones

Senior Manager, Third Party Implementation Altria Group Distribution Co.

Taylor Bromley

Former Senior Account Executive, Convenience Procter & Gamble

Colleen Camiller

Senior Manager, Pricing & Forecasting Juul Labs

JJ Cui

• Elevated to her current role after just one year with GetGo, Ferguson oversees the candy and health and beauty care (HBC) categories, in addition to front-end services, which include lottery, ATM and bitcoin. She is the team lead for promotional planning and procurement, and has more recently assumed responsibility as lead trainer for new merchant support roles. • Within the candy category, Ferguson brought about numerous unique opportunities, including the creation of GetGo-branded chocolate bars and pegged candy, which is now a top five candy brand within the chain. In HBC, she has been focused on growing “need now” occasions. The small-but-profitable category has experienced double-digit growth in units and sales dollars under her leadership. • This past year, Ferguson leveraged available technologies to test and learn across value-based promotions, planogram strategies and marketing elements to drive growth within her business.

• Since beginning her journey with Thorntons in January 2022 as a general manager, Ecoffey has quickly risen to become a high-performing, high-potential leader amongst her peers. Selected into Thorntons’ Leadership Development Readiness Program, her performance led to a promotion to region manager before graduating. She is a facilitator in this program today, supporting the development of future leaders. • Ecoffey is the only female regional manager in Illinois and leads one of the largest and most complex regions in the Chicago area. She has excelled in her performance by achieving financial goals, resulting in two consecutive “Deliver the Budget” awards. • Ecoffey also has received numerous Energize awards, which celebrate contributions and highlight behaviors vital to bp’s success. She is a member of the DEI Committee and spearheaded a connection with the Chicago PRIDE business resource group, leading to a second-annual collaboration.

• Echols plays a vital role in shaping the Core-Mark customer experience, ensuring smooth operations, effective issue resolution and continuous improvement across customer service. Through strategic execution and team development, she drives measurable results, such as an 18% increase in promotional distribution compliance and a 34% improvement in response times. • Her collaborative approach, working closely with cross-functional leaders, along with her focus on innovation and efficiency has significantly enhanced both customer satisfaction and internal processes. Echols introduced a new training process that not only enhanced the skills of existing associates, but also improved the onboarding process for new hires. • Echols’ efforts have led to several team members advancing to other roles within the organization, contributing to stronger retention and growth within the department.

• Framiglio joined GetGo five years ago with a product development background. She works with vendor partners to ensure that the right product assortment, innovation, space for sales, and enticing and profitable promotions are available in her category. An example of this collaboration was creating a mix-and-match promotion to draw customers in from the pump, which resulted in double-digit unit increases over the previous year. • Another accomplishment of Framiglio’s was optimizing the cold vault space for the 2025 reset. As a result, GetGo added almost 300 shelves of product, expanding top-moving brands and flavors across the company’s highest volume stores. • “She is a positive force on our team and has immersed herself into the convenience business, making a positive impact with our store team members, vendor partners and everyone she encounters within our company,” Framiglio’s nominator stated.

Senior Manager of Compliance RaceTrac Inc.

Connie DeCourcey

Customer Service Director Core-Mark International

Tasha Echols

Regional Convenience Manager bp Products North America

Elee Ecoffey

Category Merchant, Center Store GetGo Cafe + Market

Emily Ferguson

• Briones not only expands GSTV’s impact, but also shapes the future of media engagement in convenience retailing. She develops and manages strategic partnerships with fuel and c-store retailers to drive GSTV’s presence and adoption. • In 2024, Briones led a pro-bono hurricane pre-paredness campaign in partnership with the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, delivering critical safety messaging on GSTV screens statewide before, during and after storms. This initiative reached millions of drivers and reinforced the essential role of conven-ience stores in community resilience. • Briones also was instrumental in developing and launching a full-service solution that enhances how GSTV enables retailers to engage customers through digital media at the pump — ultimately driving foot traffic and sales. She was named to the NACS Rising Leader and Ambassador Committees, reflecting her leadership, innovation and dedication to advancing the convenience industry.

• Bromley joined Altria Group Distribution Co. (AGDC) 15 years ago as a territory sales manager. Over the years, she’s held a variety of positions, including leading field teams, calling on top customers, managing account teams and channel strategy. Currently, she is in charge of Altria’s Third Party Implementation Team. • In this role, she leads the relationships and strategic alignment of technology vendors to support retail enablement of Altria’s digital products and programs. She led selling and implementation of the AGDC Digital Trade Program, pricing and loyalty APIs and Personalization Plus development for third-party service providers. • Her and her team work to ensure widespread availability of digital capabilities for retailers. Bromley is an AGDC certified career coach and received Altria’s Advocacy in Action Award in 2024.

• Camiller recently left Procter & Gamble (P&G) and joined Perdue Farms as regional sales manager. In her previous role, she oversaw relationship management and sales with key convenience retailers, achieving impressive growth rates of 23% with Sheetz, 15% with Kwik Trip and 9% with Casey’s General Stores. • Even in the face of significant challenges within the nonedible grocery and health and beauty care categories, Camiller demonstrated exceptional leadership by driving a 6% growth in business at P&G, according to her nominator. • Camiller created and developed a Convenience Playbook tool designed to guide and assist the Acosta broker team, leading to an 8% increase in sales. She was also lauded for enhancing P&G’s trade show program by developing a comprehensive trade show kit and strategic plans to boost sales, which has increased visibility and effectiveness at these events.

• DeCourcey specializes in regulatory compliance and implementation, with more than 10 years of experience in the convenience store industry, both in-house at leading retailers and as a consultant. She leads a dynamic shared services team that is responsible for grant management, employee permits, compliance research and, most recently, business licensing. • Among her accomplishments, she executed a grants management program, which entailed establishing clear policies and procedures for grant compliance, developing a training program, sourcing grant opportunities, coordinating cross-functionally to apply for strategic funding opportunities, and managing compliance obligations once awarded. • DeCourcey graduated earlier this year from RaceTrac’s five-month New Leadership Development Training program and is currently a member of L.E.A.D., RaceTrac’s women-centric business resource group.

Category Merchant, Packaged Beverage & Dairy GetGo Cafe + Market

Lori Framiglio

Talent Acquisition Specialist Road Ranger Inc.

Kathleen (Kat) Gay

Senior Manager, Category Management The Hershey Co.

Devin Gonyer

Senior Account Manager Primo Brands

Savannah Hall

• Gay spearheads full-cycle recruiting for all management positions across the company's 54 travel center locations that span seven states. She also heads corporate recruiting, sourcing talent to elevate the Store Support Center, and has a key role in assisting the head of recruiting with strategizing hourly team member recruitment across locations. • According to her nominator, Gay achieved record-breaking recruitment numbers that directly contributed to the company's most successful staffing levels across all locations, reaching the highest and most efficient rates in its history. In the span of a year, she hired 619 employees, encompassing 483 team members, 103 managers and 33 corporate hires. Her direct impact enabled Road Ranger to successfully staff and open six new-builds. • Gay was awarded the Top Recruiter of the Month title four times for leading the team with the most hires in a single month.

• Gonyer manages and develops a team dedicated to large chain retailers across the United States. She is also highly integrated in Hershey’s internal business planning, including forecasting, innovation and assortment strategy. Her past experience spans retail, sales, operations and category management. • In 2024, her customers grew distribution points by 2.7% overall and outpaced national distribution levels by 17% on Hershey’s top 75 items, which account for more than 80% of sales volume. She also led a team executing innovation to exceed target across her responsibility. Additionally, Gonyer created new innovation tracking for the company to include benchmarking and better visibility to long-term sustainability. • Partners on Gonyer’s team earned two 2025 Category Excellence Awards from CSNews, which recognize outstanding collaborations between a retailer category manager and their supplier or distributor partner.

• Hall is tasked with growing volume, share and client relationships for Primo’s c-store national and regional customers throughout the Southeast, consistently driving results through strategic vision and exceptional team guidance. She was elevated to her current position in September 2024 from her prior role as senior manager, customer development – convenience under the BlueTriton brand. • According to her nominator, Hall’s ability to build and maintain strong account relationships has been instrumental in fostering long-term client partnerships. Particularly, her relationships with Pilot Flying J and Sheetz have drove net sales growth of 6% and distribution growth. • Hall is a mentor in the company’s Internship & Talent Development Program and a member of the Primo Brands Women’s Employee Resource Group.

Senior Account Executive, Convenience General Mills

Alexs Hermans

Senior Product Owner, Data & Analytics Casey’s General Stores Inc.

Courtney Hessel

Director of Supply Network Design Reynolds American Inc.

Lauren Hirsch

Operations Integration Manager bp Products North America

Billie Jo Nowak

• Hermans manages the General Mills WAM program, which primarily drives distribution at independent retailers and accounted for $34 million in sales in 2024. She also oversees several other distributors and retailers within the Midwest, totaling more than $13 million in gross dollars annually. • During a period of major transformation in the convenience segment, Hermans led the development of a program to drive distribution of the newly converted Chex Mix SKUs, helping ensure the continued success of the company’s warehouse salty snack business. • Beyond operational excellence, Hermans actively fosters a positive team culture. She established an Awards Committee to recognize high-performing team members and enhance overall morale. She also created an annual volunteer event at Forgotten Harvest Farm for all Michigan-based employees as part of Global Volunteer Week.

• Hessel is a standout leader in data and analytics at Casey’s, where she drives enterprise-wide transformation through innovative, data-driven solutions. She leads cross-functional teams that deliver measurable business value, such as a $500,000 annual cloud cost reduction and award-winning analytics tools deployed across 2,700 stores. • She has been instrumental in store enablement projects, enabling the rollout of the Digital Production Planner to Casey’s stores with hourly product quantity recommendations, while also facilitating data integration for UKG, a new scheduling and timekeeping tool for the retailer’s store team members. • Recognized with Casey’s Data Excellence Award and the Prometheus Award for Data Solution of the Year, Hessel was selected for advanced corporate leadership training. Her influence extends beyond the workplace through her leadership in women’s empowerment groups, university outreach and nonprofit data initiatives.

• Hirsch was nominated for her accomplishments as director of wholesale services at Reynolds, where she served as the primary liaison between the operations and trade marketing teams, leading 28 professionals and having responsibility for the order-to-cash process for $25 billion in annual sales. She recently accepted a new role as director of supply network design. • While in her previous position, Hirsch played a key leadership role in delivering a logistics project on time and in full, resulting in $15 million of business efficiencies. She also was a key stakeholder in orchestrating the planning and launch strategy for Velo Plus, delivering $14.8 million in revenue. • Hirsch received the Reynolds American Leadership Team Award and was nominated to participate in British American Tobacco’s Women in Leadership global program.

• Krawisz drives both financial success and customer engagement for Gas N Wash’s rewards and car wash subscription programs. Her responsibilities extend across the Gas N Wash app, website, social media channels and in-store customer experience, as well as leading public relations and external communications. • Among her achievements in the past year, Krawisz led the Gas N Wash app to the top of the Rovertown-hosted app leaderboards; contributed to doubling the car wash membership count year over year; launched a new rewards platform via Paytronix migration; and achieved a significant increase in loyalty penetration. • “Despite being a chain of just over 30 locations, the quality of marketing and customer engagement coming from Gas N Wash is at the level you’d expect from a large chain leveraging a massive team at an agency — which is a testament to Laura’s extraordinary drive and skillset,” her nominator said.

Vice President of Marketing Gas N Wash

Laura Krawisz

Senior Retail Key Account Manager PepsiCo Inc.

Jenny Kuzet

Product Manager, MarTech RaceTrac Inc.

Addison Lazarus

District Manager, Coastal Carolina Business Unit Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc./Circle K

Meghan Lynch

• Naveen Kumar is an integral member of Casey’s Team Member Experience team, which develops and manages technology solutions that impact 45,000 field-level team members and enhance guest experiences. She contributed to the development of the Digital Production Planner, an innovative tool that tracks the production and waste of prepared foods, supporting Casey’s strategic objective of managing operational expenses. • She was personally selected by Casey’s chief information officer to be profiled in the annual presentation to the board of directors, which highlights rising stars within the organization. She was one of five team members chosen out of more than 200 technology team members for her outstanding achievements and exemplifying Casey’s CARES values. • Naveen Kumar has served as a mentor for interns over the past two summers, providing guidance and support to aspiring female engineers. She is also a member of Casey’s iWILL women’s employee resource group.

• As product manager for RaceTrac's loyalty app and website, Lazarus is pivotal to the retailer's guest experience strategy. In addition to carefully analyzing guest feedback, business objectives and emerging technologies to develop future features and improvements, she serves as a collaborative bridge between the IT and marketing teams. • Lazarus led the complete overhaul of RaceTrac's mobile app with a focus on modernizing its performance while ensuring future scalability. Her cross-functional team leadership led to skyrocketing app ratings, an 87% increase in users and the establishment of a strong digital platform that positions RaceTrac for continued innovation. • According to her nominator, Lazarus is constantly challenging herself and others to push the boundaries of what is possible. She also volunteers her time to educate RaceTrac interns, sharing details of her career journey.

• Lynch oversees 12 stores and 135 team members in her district, and has become known as the go-to leader for major initiatives in her market. She recently led the successful completion of eight remodels and one innovative new-to-industry store, in addition to piloting several new programs in her district. • Since taking on her current role, Lynch's district has seen merchandise sales increase 5.9% and fuel sales increase 16% in a competitive market. Her district also has the highest food sales in the Coastal Carolina Business Unit. • Lynch’s rapid rise from a lead customer service representative to store manager to now district manager reflects the deep operational knowledge, relentless drive and genuine passion that make her one of ACT’s most promising leaders, her nominator said.

Marketing Coordinator truenorth Convenience Stores

Katie Lyons

Retail Pricing & Analytics Specialist Chevron U.S.A. Inc.

Shannon Marchesan

Category Manager GPM Investments LLC

Kaitlyn Meara

Retail Operations Integration Project Manager Kwik Trip Inc.

Whitney Miller

• Lyons plays a crucial role in the successful execution of truenorth's advertising, social media and brand initiatives, ensuring that everything from in-store promotions to digital campaigns are implemented effectively, optimized and aligned with strategic objectives. • Last year, she used her educational background in sports to assist truenorth's marketing expansion into sports sponsorships, including name, image and likeness deals. She makes sure these partnerships go beyond logo placements to drive true brand awareness and customer engagement for the retailer. • Lyons was also critical to launching truenorth's new rewards program and mobile app, one of the retailer’s biggest initiatives in 2024, as well as streamlining key marketing operations, particularly in signage distribution and digital execution. This has improved store level execution and ensures consistent messaging across locations.

• Marchesan's influence extends comprehensively across Chevron's COCO division, with a direct impact on merchandising strategies, operational efficiency and customer experience enhancement throughout California, Oregon and Washington. Her competitive insights have enhanced Chevron's market positioning and her work has elevated its foodservice business to achieve double-digit sales growth. • Last year, she helped optimize product mix to enhance gross margin performance across the network, led the full-scale deployment of a bean-to-cup program, and implemented comprehensive food waste reduction tools to increase profitability while enhancing operational efficiency. • Marchesan is known for her exceptional mentorship capabilities and collaborative approach. She combines operational excellence with strategic vision and has earned multiple internal awards for her consistently high-level performance.

• As lead buyer for the nicotine category at GPM, Meara helps set overall goals and key measures while developing strategies to deliver against category metrics. She contributes to manufacturer resource optimization, analytical infrastructure, promotional strategy and design, and more. • In 2024, she oversaw a complete overhaul of GPM's backbar to provide a premium and organized shopping experience. According to her nominator, Meara's leadership and vision resulted in a fantastic year for tobacco and set the stage for an exciting 2025. • Meara also built a promotional program to grow GPM's business in innovative new nicotine products and designed infrastructure to measure the efficacy of these promotions. This initiative proved to be a massive success and will shape the category's future promotional strategy.

• Miller manages and executes all retail-related software, hardware, projects, training and analytics at Kwik Trip. She additionally oversees the retail business analyst area of the company, and fosters partnerships between external vendors and internal teams. • Her recent accomplishments include supervising the companywide rollout of electronic shelf tags to 900 stores in nine months, three months ahead of schedule; helping to build a kitchen production system that integrates forecasted food sales to maximize sales and control waste; and preparing multiple new long-term company initiatives. • Miller's depth of experience and understanding of retail enables her to make decisions for Kwik Trip’s stores that allow them to perform at a high level, her nominator said. She is a key leader in working cooperatively between the company’s retail division and all other support center departments.

Senior Manager, C&G Channel Insights & Strategy PepsiCo Inc.

Jyoti Mujumdar

Director of Fuel Weigel's Inc.

Miranda Murphy

Senior IT Engineer Casey’s General Stores Inc.

Agnila Naveen Kumar

Real Estate Strategy & Reporting Manager, Global Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc./Circle K

Allie Nguyen

• Mujumdar supports PepsiCo Foods' convenience and gas sales strategy and its national sales team as a subject matter expert. She provides channel insights and analysis to support current sales initiatives, as well as key developments for the future. • She made direct contributions to numerous high-impact projects last year, which included significant analysis for key strategic initiatives, and leading channel-insights work to uncover untapped price tiers in the snacking space. This resulted in a new products and bundles promotional strategy. • Mujumdar is a true partner who always answers the call and never encounters a task too large for her to tackle. She is viewed as a leader among her peers and has positively impacted PepsiCo in every role she has undertaken, her nominator noted.

• Murphy oversees every aspect of Weigel's fuel operations, encompassing supply contract negotiations, analyzing market data to optimize pricing strategies, and maintaining strategic relationships with key vendors. • She led the implementation of advanced pricing automation tools and real-time analytics that enhanced company decision-making, optimized margins and made Weigel's more responsive to market trends, contributing significantly to the bottom line. She also plays a critical role in ensuring fuel availability and operational efficiency across all locations. • Murphy's unparalleled work ethic, ability to drive financial success and commitment to operational excellence have made her an indispensable leader whose role is integral to Weigel's success and continued growth, according to her nominator.

• Nguyen leads a high-performing team that transforms complex data into powerful insights, driving business decisions across North America. She is responsible for reporting and strategic planning/analysis for real estate and all groups under that banner, including construction, property management, maintenance and energy. • Her recent achievements include creating a full quarterly reporting package that unifies performance metrics across construction and property management. She also spearheaded the rollout of the company's game-changing whitespace tool, a platform that is now foundational to market planning, site selection and growth forecasting. • Nguyen is a catalyst for how the company evolves as a data-driven organization. Her impact is transformational as she redefines how to measure success, assess opportunities and make confident decisions, ACT’s leadership said.

• Nowak leads a team of project managers and change coaches that enable integration of all new programs, processes and technology into bp's U.S. retail business. She interfaces with all of bp’s convenience and mobility departments, and turns stakeholder visions into operational realities. • She redesigned the training program for store teams, which led to better learning outcomes and $1 million in savings per year. She also played a key role in the transition of West Coast sites to company-owned and -operated, while implementing a new back-office system, and led the inventory transition to item level for the Thorntons brand. • Nowak is known as a mentor who champions the development of others, as well as a leader on bp's safety council for U.S. convenience, where she creates the agenda, determines focus areas and develops solutions.

• Ortuzar oversees a team covering three major U.S. regions and manages nearly $3 billion in retail sales annually across more than 10,000 stores. Her strategic focus on the execution of store operations and development of bold, results-driven strategies have increased both excitement and category expansion. • She has led numerous key initiatives, such as the overall beer planogram process and pricing optimization. In 2024, she led her team to industry-leading results of $2.76 billion in sales and growth of 5.3 million units during a challenging year for the category. • Ortuzar is a champion of other women and seeks to give them a voice in the convenience retail space. She is also known for building a strong team culture of performance and success, continuously raising the bar on what great looks like.

• Ottone is regarded for bringing a fresh perspective to her role as she focuses on increasing sales, improving category performance and building strong vendor relationships to enhance Onvo's center store programs. • In the past year, she spearheaded the development of new pricing strategies and the introduction of new and innovative candy options, which have boosted sales and margin, resulting in a 20% improvement in the category. Ottone also launched a suggestive sell program that had a substantial impact on conversion rates for candy and salty snacks. • She is skilled at keeping category offerings fresh and appealing through both conventional and nonconventional growth opportunities, and her dedication to transforming the center store business has led to significant growth and established Onvo as a destination for adventurous snack lovers, her nominator said.

• Patel crafts and executes the pivotal strategy for 7-Eleven's journey in the digital and tech realms, which the retailer revitalizes annually. She furthers innovation by exploring strategic advancements in workforce management, theft reduction, kiosks and robotics, ensuring the company stays ahead in retail technology. • She’s been celebrated for leading transformative initiatives to enhance operational and store efficiency, customer experience and technological innovation; building and scaling a proprietary self-checkout system for 7-Eleven, ensuring stability, reliability and customer usability; and various proof of concepts including but not limited to 7Search, an AI-powered search tool, and AI chatbots to support enterprise use cases. • Patel is known internally for her leadership in driving automation, scalability and cost efficiencies, as well as her efforts to raise the visibility of women and boost growth opportunities for leadership.

Mentors

Regional Human Resources Manager Core-Mark International

Elisha Bostick

Senior Division Manager Reynolds American Inc.

Linda Cerbo

Sales Manager Core-Mark International

Deanna Gary

Controller Rutter’s

Lisa Grim

• Schuemaker is responsible for marketing strategies and activities at PMG, which encompasses the development of marketing strategies, brand management, planning and executing advertising and promotional campaigns, and more. • In the past year, she played a pivotal role in implementing innovative pricing strategies and identifying new revenue streams, and spearheaded transformative strategic initiatives like the rollout of PMG's loyalty program. She also played a key role in backbar resets that drove sales and trips while increasing market share. • Schuemaker has a reputation for possessing a results-oriented approach, innovative thinking and the ability to drive positive change while consistently demonstrating a commitment to excellence in all aspects of her work.

• Shadle manages the full product lifecycle of the Cadence OTC account, from onboarding new items to pricing discussions to SKU recommendations. She is known for demonstrating exceptional problem-solving skills while taking a data-driven approach, which has been instrumental to the brand's success. • In the past year, she took a lead role in navigating the marketing, logistics and legal questions tied to the emergency contraception category, an emerging c-store category for the brand. Her efforts expanded a regional test into a national rollout, pushing Cadence to be the No. 1 product in the segment. • Shadle has the unique ability to turn challenges into opportunities as she seamlessly leads cross-functional collaboration to drive initiatives forward and deliver measurable impacts on the channel, according to her nominator.

• Skinner strategically aligns and supports 12 convenience store customers in the Central region and has oversight of budget management, sales programs and customer relations. Her work directly impacts McLane's overall business growth and ability to meet the evolving needs of its customers. • She recently led the development of a new forecasting and tracking process for customer inventory, spearheaded the creation of a new item launch process, and played a pivotal role in the rollout of a major delivery process improvement project. • Skinner is actively involved in McLane's mentorship program and regularly demonstrates a commitment to professionally developing others. Her nominator noted that Skinner’s ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution makes her an integral teammate.

• Storts was nominated for her accomplishments as trade marketing manager for national accounts, where she partnered with Beatbox's national account directors to support convenience retail initiatives and played a pivotal role in the development of creative, consumer-centric programming to drive incremental sales and build brand affinity. Storts was recently elevated to trade show and event manager. • Storts had many achievements in 2024. Key among them was conceptualizing and executing national sweepstakes; coordinating multiple high-impact activations for all regional trade shows; and managing custom promotional programs across Beatbox's national and regional retail partners. • According to her nominator, Storts brings bold ideas to life and uplifts those around her while demonstrating a passion for innovation, excellence in execution and commitment to the industry.

Retail Team Manager Swedish Match North America

Allison Himenes

District Manager Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc./Circle K

Leilani Hinojosa

Manager, Supply Chain Efficiency Casey’s General Stores Inc.

Hilary Hoffman

• Tamplain was nominated for her accomplishments as director of secondary fuels, where she focused on the company’s pricing and placement strategy for all secondary fuels. She spent 18 months building out this capability, which had a materially positive impact on the financial performance of retail fuels at MUSA. Tamplain was recently elevated to her new role as director of fuel product optimization. • In addition to her primary role, Tamplain is the leader of Murphy's Organizational Excellence Initiative, which is focused on ensuring team engagement, development and career progression. She also leads the company's intern program. • Tamplain was nominated to participate in MUSA’s Empowered Series, a yearlong, high-impact enterprise leadership development class.

• Talty helps shape the legislative landscape to align with RaceTrac's strategic vision, wielding influence across multiple levels of government. Her expertise ranges from local zoning regulations to complex federal energy mandates. • Last year, she directly engaged with lawmakers to produce tangible results throughout the year by collaborating with the Georgia General Assembly to advance legislation relevant to c-stores. She also helped to orchestrate the high-profile grand openings of RaceTrac's first electric vehicle charging stores in Texas and Ohio. • RaceTrac leadership has recognized Talty for her advocacy work for tort reform. She is considered a rising star to watch in the government affairs and public policy space, who is sharp, hardworking and diligent in the pursuit of excellence.

• Strode's influence spans from the store level to regional media markets as she oversees the building of truenorth's marketing, advertising and brand strategy across all platforms, including in-store promotions, digital marketing, media partnerships, customer engagement initiatives and sports partnerships. • Over time, Strode has transformed truenorth's media presence, expanding its advertising from a single radio partner approach to a multichannel, data-driven model. She helped build brand recognition not just as a Shell partner, but also as a standalone brand through her efforts to emphasize truenorth’s tagline of "fast, friendly, clean" in promoting core products, proprietary offers and unique customer experience. • In 2024, Strode led the rollout of truenorth's first mobile app and rewards program. Additionally, she was instrumental in securing truenorth's first-ever collegiate sports sponsorships with a Big Ten university, while strengthening the company's internal marketing function and building a long-term strategy.

LISA BLALOCK joined bp two decades ago and has had a career that spans trading, fuel supply, marketing, digital and customer-facing leadership roles. Included on her impressive resume are stints as president of bp’s U.S. retail operating organization, vice president of marketing and data analytics, portfolio director of digital solutions, and director of marketing technology. In 2023, she was promoted to her current role as president of US Convenience & Mobility at bp Products North America, which includes franchise and business-owned operations across the bp, Amoco, ampm and Thorntons brands. Considering bp’s growth trajectory over the past few years — which has notably included the company taking full ownership of Louisville, Ky.-based Thorntons in August 2021 — Blalock certainly has a full plate. The US Convenience & Mobility division comprises approximately 1,300 stores across the United States, more than 3,600 team members and more than 250 franchisees. Blalock is also responsible for bp’s branded marketer and direct market businesses, which include more than 7,000 sites and approximately 200 branded marketer customers across the bp and Amoco brands in the U.S. At the same time, she serves the industry as a member of the NACS board of directors. Full plate yes, but nothing she cannot handle. According to Greg Franks, senior vice president of Mobility & Convenience, Americas at bp, “Managing customer relationships that span decades to a century in length, Lisa is both the engine and the glue that enables our success.” During the two years in her current position, bp has achieved numerous business successes under Blalock’s leadership. In March 2024, the company launched its epic goods private label brand. The rollout debuted with bottled water and by the end of 2024, reached more than 50 SKUs across 10 categories at approximately 1,500 ampm, TravelCenters of America and Thorntons locations. That growth is continuing in 2025 with multiple new products and limited-time offers. Not one to stand still, Blalock and her team also debuted bp’s first integrated loyalty program, earnify, in October 2024. Shortly after the program went live across the bp and Amoco network and more than 500 ampm sites on the West Coast, bp partnered with Amazon Prime to bring Prime members additional savings at the pump when they link their earnify membership. In 2024 alone, earnify saw more than 700,000 monthly active members and more than 650,000 monthly repeat transactors. Blalock recently assumed responsibility for all bp Digital Services as well. After successfully supporting the development of a cloud-based, end-to-end solution known internally as the Retail Operating System, she has developed and now owns the implementation of a multiyear strategy that will see Digital Services scale and achieve best-in-industry status, Franks noted. “Lisa’s passion and servant leadership have served as true north for her team as they have navigated significant change during her tenure,” he added. “Seen running a register, cooking food behind the counter and everywhere in the halls of the Store Support Center, she has earned the trust of her team, our customers and industry insiders.”

Lisa Blalock President, US Convenience & Mobility bp Products North America

PRODUCED BY

Director of Recruitment RaceTrac Inc.

Linda Sutton

Director of Procurement Team Sledd

Judy Truchan

Director, Commerce Marketing PepsiCo Inc.

Christine Turner

Director of Operations Patron Points Inc.

Heather Webb

• Over the past year, Sutton’s leadership transformed RaceTrac's talent acquisition (TA) function. She spearheaded a flow-to-work model and established standardized recruiting KPIs, leading to a 25% reduction in monthly hiring needs, a 5% increase in 30-day retention and a 24% decrease in overall turnover. • She significantly modernized talent acquisition by implementing CRM tools and standardizing processes across all regions. Her adoption of automated scheduling saved 988 hours of recruiter productivity and reduced recruiter travel by an impressive 14,560 hours. • Sutton is a recognized HR expert in retail, as evidenced by her repeat invitations to speak on talent strategies at the LEAP TA Retail HR Conference and her role as a panelist in RaceTrac’s New Leader Development Training, where she shared insights on developing direct reports and strategic planning.

• Cui manages the pricing and revenue components of the RGM function, and leads the forecasting and demand planning team. Her role is pivotal in determining the pricing structure of Juul’s portfolio, managing the price gaps to other nicotine products in the market, understanding the opportunities at the strategic chain level, and aligning the revenue goals of both Juul and the retail partner. • Under her leadership, the Demand Planning function delivered a forecast accuracy of more than 90% on the full portfolio, including new product introductions, which is extremely commendable given the nicotine category had a turbulent 2024, her nominator said. • Cui was also instrumental in developing the pricing architecture of Juul’s portfolio expansion to include six-and eight-pack products, filling a gap in the marketplace and providing value to adult nicotine consumers. She received a Platinum Award, the highest accolade in Juul’s U.S. Commercial Operations Department.

• Kuzet was nominated for her accomplishments as revenue growth senior manager at PepsiCo. In this role, she led the convenience and gas revenue growth management strategy for the South Division of PepsiCo US Beverages, encompassing 15,000 stores and supporting nearly $700 million in annual net revenue. She was recently promoted to her current position as senior retail key account manager. • While in her previous role, Kuzet collaborated cross-functionally to bring the 12-ounce, eight-pack can from ideation to market in the convenience channel in less than six months. The solution provided a new opening price point for the channel, exceeded project targets, and drove retailer benefits and positive topline and PepsiCo share performance. • Kuzet was recognized at the divisional and national levels for her work on the development of this new innovation.

Senior Category Manager, Beer 7-Eleven Inc.

Erin Ortuzar

Category Manager, Center Store Onvo

Maria Ottone

Senior Director, 7NEXT Innovation, Marketing Tech & Analytics 7-Eleven Inc.

Ashima Patel

Operations Manager Core-Mark International

Lisa Patterson

Director of Marketing PMG Carolinas LLC

Casey Schuemaker

Marketing Specialist Lil' Drug Store Products

Amanda Shadle

Market Director McLane Co. Inc.

Taylor Skinner

Trade Show & Event Manager BeatBox Beverages

Elsa Storts

Marketing Manager truenorth Convenience Stores

Kimberly Strode

Manager of Government Affairs RaceTrac Inc.

Taylor Talty

Director of Fuel Product Optimization Murphy USA Inc./QuickChek

Michele Tamplain

Retail Compliance & Environmental Manager bp Products North America

Jessica Vislocky

Senior Manager of Equity & Innovation Strategy Altria Group Distribution Co.

Dr. Phyllis Weatherly

• Patterson plays a crucial role in ensuring operational excellence across multiple areas at Core-Mark, including KPI achievement, inventory management, financial oversight and staff development. She collaborates with multiple departments to drive efficiency across the enterprise. • Among her recent accomplishments, Patterson redesigned pick lines to enhance efficiency and capacity, and led strategic efforts in inventory to reduce shrink by 19.4% year over year. She also seamlessly transitioned Louisiana’s post-stamp cigarettes to pre-stamp, mitigating financial risk and ensuring a smooth handoff to the company's new Houston OpCo. • Patterson's nominator describes her as an exceptional leader with an undeniable impact on the organization, who is making a lasting impact on both Core-Mark and the industry at large.

• Vislocky leads a team of health, safety and environment (HSE) advisors across the U.S. and serves as the local lead on all HSE programs and critical processes, such as environmental, compliance emergency response, and incident investigation. • She negotiated new contracts for bp with environmental and compliance service providers, reducing costs while maintaining service levels. Vislocky also partnered with maintenance systems developers to improve software and successfully complete compliance-related maintenance, and helped implement and design a corporate social responsibility and quality control system strategy. • Vislocky is known as a proactive and committed team collaborator and critical thinker with an exceptional ability to identify a challenge, assess against business requirements and gain consensus on recommended solutions.

• Dr. Weatherly leads the in-store execution of brand strategy with a focus on modernizing and enhancing the tobacco category for Altria's retail trade partners. Her team is responsible for executing brand strategy, developing innovative merchandising solutions, managing resource procurement and leading execution plans. • She spearheaded the strategy for the Backbar Reset Initiative, which involved overseeing the development of forward-looking, innovative merchandising solutions and managing resource procurement and distribution plans. She drove the creation and deployment of new-to-market, cost-effective merchandising solutions that provided modularity while addressing complex space and merchandising challenges for industry trade partners. • Weatherly is a champion for change and innovation. She is a resilient leader with a forward-thinking approach that consistently delivers results and drives innovation.

Region Director, Operations 7-Eleven Inc.

Ethel Mangum

Director, Business Transformation 7-Eleven Inc.

Catherine Michalski

Senior Food & Beverage Manager RaceTrac Inc.

Taedeen Stanley

• Bostick, who has worked for the company for 27 years, supports three Core-Mark Ohio OpCos. She is responsible for driving strategic people initiatives, supporting her business partners and ensuring her OpCos are relentlessly pursuing excellence in creating a dynamic associate experience. She leads a team of three HR generalists. • According to her nominator, Bostick generously shares her wealth of expertise with anyone seeking guidance and carves out intentional time to mentor, lead and champion new initiatives. Countless individuals have benefited from her wisdom and support within the HR region and her local OpCo teams. • What truly sets Bostick apart as a mentor is her genuine concern for the wellbeing and growth of those under her wing. She takes the time to understand everyone’s unique needs, both professionally and personally, forging meaningful connections and identifying strengths to empower her associates and direct reports.

• Cerbo has been with Reynolds American for 28 years and during that time, has been successful in nine different positions. She is currently a senior division manager of trade marketing and is responsible for managing and delivering 50% of Reynolds’ commercial business in New Jersey. She leads a team of nine direct reports, two of whom are new to the organization and the industry. • Prior to joining Reynolds, Cerbo was a student teacher. She has been able to successfully apply her experiences as a teacher to mentor, train and influence people in various roles, both internally and externally throughout the convenience store industry. • In 2024, Cerbo provided mentorship to three entry-level managers in her region. This entailed providing ongoing coaching, skill set development, and the necessary exposure and experiences needed for progression within the organization. Two of her three mentees were promoted and the other is on track for a promotion.

• Grim joined Rutter’s in 1989 and has advanced from a store team member to controller. She plays a critical role in maintaining the financial integrity of Rutter’s, while helping to guide the company’s financial strategy and operational decisions. • As a nontraditional degree graduate, Grim knows the commitment it takes to be successful in the convenience store industry and she uses this knowledge to mentor others in the accounting department who are on a similar career path, her nominator noted. • Grim provides many opportunities for her team to be involved in the process improvement initiatives at Rutter’s, encouraging them to provide input regarding the approach to problem solving and meeting internal improvement demands. Throughout her tenure, she has mentored several of her team members and helped them achieve career advancement within the company.

• Himenes analyzes the needs regarding business-building opportunities and develops plans for the utilization of district personnel's time and efforts in accomplishing specific company, region and district goals and standards. • She has served at every level of the Swedish Match Professional Women Rising employee resource group, including as a board member. First benefiting as a mentee, she has since served as a mentor to junior members of the sales organization, helping women with career development guidance, skills and training development, as well as aiding them in gaining exposure to senior levels of the organization. • Over the past four years, Himenes has invested significant amounts of time, discretionary effort and passion into mentoring and developing women in the Swedish Match sales organization. According to her nominator, she is a positive team builder who consistently demonstrates her leadership ability and care for the wellbeing of her team.

• Hinojosa’s journey from part-time cashier to district manager of one of the highest-volume districts in Circle K’s Texas Business Unit is a testament to her grit, talent and unwavering commitment to developing others, her nominator said. • She is widely known as a mentor, advocate and role model across Circle K, not only within her district but also throughout the business unit. She plays an active role in developing store managers in training and mentoring participants in Circle K’s 12-month College to Convenience program. • “Leilani is a shining example of how frontline team members can grow into impactful leaders who pay it forward by mentoring the next generation. Leaders like Leilani are essential to our success — they support our stores, develop our people and drive the growth of Circle K through a strong culture of succession and shared purpose,” ACT’s leadership team stated.

• Hoffman’s role touches nearly every aspect of Casey’s, either directly or indirectly, and her business acumen expands well beyond her primary role and responsibilities. She is often sought out for assistance with complex cross-functional issues. • With direct leadership over four supply chain analysts, most of whom have been in the workforce for less than five years, Hoffman dedicates weekly one-on-one mentoring time to each team member. She takes them through mind-mapping exercises to get a full picture of not only their skill set, but also their interests, and then ties that to projects that will either help them develop a gap or further grow a strength. • Hoffman’s team has affectionately coined the term, “You got Hilaried,” which means she is coaching you to be able to answer your own question rather than providing a direct answer. This consistency in approach and real-time coaching has led her team to be one of the highest-performing at Casey’s.

• As region director of operations for 7-Eleven's Lone Star Region – Dallas/Fort Worth, Mangum leads a high-performing team of market managers and area leader consultants, overseeing operational performance and driving strategic initiatives across multiple locations in partnership with franchisee independent operators. • Since joining 7-Eleven four years ago, Mangum has distinguished herself as a champion of internal talent development. Under her leadership, the region has achieved an impressive 85% internal promotion rate — an outcome driven by her focus on leadership training and succession planning. • Mangum’s leadership philosophy centers on mentorship and professional growth. She is deeply committed to empowering individuals at every level of the organization, ensuring they have the tools, support and opportunities to succeed. Her efforts have not only elevated team performance, but also made a lasting impact on the careers of many within her current and prior region assignments.

• Promoted to her current role in May 2024, Michalski oversees cross-functional teams and collaborates closely with senior leadership to drive enterprise-wide cost optimization initiatives, enhance operational efficiencies and streamline business processes to align with 7-Eleven’s long-term strategic objectives. • She not only drives significant financial impact, but also contributes to 7-Eleven’s culture of mentorship, inclusion and continuous improvement, her nominator said. Michalski leads the 7Mentoring program, through which she’s facilitated professional development and career advancement opportunities for over 700 individuals. In addition, she co-chaired the retailer’s 7-Network of Executive Women associate business resource group and is an active participant and founder of the 7-Network of Black Professionals. • Outside of work, Michalski has a passion for helping others. She currently serves as chief financial officer for Legacy Village Inc., a health-focused nonprofit organization.

• Stanley is a key leader in RaceTrac’s food operations, supporting field teams across three regions spanning six states. Through collaboration with category managers and other partners at the retailer’s store support center, she oversees food safety, food programs and food offers, ensuring smooth execution. She also manages the opening process for all new RaceTrac sites and works with directors in the regions she supports to cultivate future talent. • Her hands-on approach to leadership training and development has made her a trusted resource. This past year, Stanley played a key role in team development by mentoring and promoting four operations training supervisors to operations supervisors, reinforcing RaceTrac's culture of growth. • Outside of work, Stanley is the founder of The Harriet Hall Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides information, advice, scholarships and mentorship to minority women and girls in Jamaica.

• As a sales manager, Gary assesses and develops area sales representatives’ (SR) skills, provides direction and training to improve sales abilities, and leads the hiring process for SRs. She’s responsible for managing district sales managers and area managers, as well as assisting the customer service manager and team. In addition, she works closely with all departments to assist in growing the business. • Gary served as a mentor in Core-Mark’s Rising Stars Program this past year and dedicated herself to ensuring that her mentee had all the tools needed to thrive. Once the program was successfully completed, she had a list of others that she wanted to mentor next — with action plans in place tailored to their individual needs. • According to her nominator, Gary has spent her 38-year career at Core-Mark making everyone around her better, either by being a great role model or directly mentoring them. She is a humble and inspirational leader passionate about sharing her knowledge.

Tanisha Sanders

Maggie Timoney

Mette Uglebjerg

YOU MIGHT SAY the convenience store industry is part of Sandra Delli Carpini's DNA. As a teenager, she began working with her parents, Valia and Mario Coletta, at their first gas stations in Providence, R.I. — a business that sprung from their desire to realize the American Dream when they moved to the United States from Italy. Delli Carpini eventually took over the family business and with her husband Andy Delli Carpini, grew Colbea Enterprises LLC to 78 locations across Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. That growth included the launch of the Seasons Corner Market brand in 2012 and, more recently, the rollout of the Corner Market Café brand, which opened its 12th location in 2024. Colbea, with 57 Seasons branded c-stores currently, has the highest market share in Rhode Island and continues to grow as a favorite local brand under Delli Carpini's vision. As she has said, “We are not just any convenience store, we’re Rhode Island’s convenience store." Along the way, Delli Carpini has been driven by her mission to continue her parents' legacy by not only being part of the community, but also giving back in the most meaningful way. The company contributes to local youth teams, hospitals, charities and the military — to name just a few. Charitable endeavors through the Seasons brand reached new heights in 2024. Notably, almost $100,000 was donated to the Hasbro Children’s and Boston Children’s Hospitals, and a combined $270,000 was donated to the Alzheimer’s Association of Rhode Island, The Tomorrow Fund for children with cancer and the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation through Angels Giving Back, a nonprofit Delli Carpini founded in 2019. She also continues to reinforce Colbea's culture, ensuring the organization meets the standards set by her parents. According to her nominator, every team member works with a sense of pride to deliver excellent standards, highlighted by Colbea winning the Crystal Award from Shell in 2022 and 2023 for being the No. 1 ranked wholesaler in the U.S. Last year, one of Colbea’s stores was awarded the 2023 Global Retailer of the Year award by Shell Mobility. Delli Carpini prioritizes and assumes responsibility for the professional development of both corporate and frontline store personnel at Colbea. Through her mentorship and leadership, she’s facilitated numerous team members' advancement to higher-level positions within the organization. Operations aside, she is an active member of the National and Regional Wholesale Councils for Shell in the U.S., taking part in strategic decision-making for the retail and convenience landscape across the country alongside Shell leadership and her fellow council members.

Sandra Delli Carpini Chief Marketing Officer Seasons Corner Market/Colbea Enterprises LLC

MICHELLE MERRELL joined 7-Eleven Inc. 13 years ago and was promoted to her current role of vice president of retailer initiative acceleration in 2024, after serving nearly two years as 7-Eleven’s zone vice president of corporate operations for the western zone. Fostering collaborative relationships with the convenience retailer’s small operators and franchisees is at the heart of Merrell’s role today — no small feat given the size of 7-Eleven, the largest convenience store chain in the U.S. The critical tasks involved in nurturing these relationships include providing strategic consultation and guidance to optimize sales performance, enhancing gross profit per store and bolstering net income. As if that wasn’t enough, Merrell has a hand in orchestrating successful new convenience store launches for the company, which includes the execution of business plans and strategies tailored to the specific needs and dynamics of each channel partner. According to her nominator, she also took on the enterprise-wide rollout of the Retailer Initiative (RI) — the brand's new proprietary retail information system — “without an existing roadmap, successfully driving its implementation across the organization.” In collaboration with the Learning & Development Team, Merrell developed and launched comprehensive RI training, reaching more than 2,000 employees. Furthermore, in partnership with the Operations Team, she helped design two Retailer Initiative Model Markets that launched this year. Her impact is being felt beyond the United States as well, as she facilitated international knowledge sharing by hosting teams from 7-Eleven Japan, 7-Eleven Australia and 7-Eleven Mexico for RI training. Outside of her overall responsibilities at the company, Merrell is an executive sponsor of 7PRIDE, an associate business resource group (ABRG) at 7-Eleven focused on LGBTQ+ professionals and their allies. She’s also a member of another ABRG, the 7-Network of Executive Women, and serves as a member of the internal 7Mentor platform, providing knowledge and expertise to advance the development of employees across the 7-Eleven family of brands.

Michelle Merrell Vice President of Retailer Initiative Acceleration 7-Eleven Inc.

TANISHA SANDERS is no stranger to the convenience retailing industry. For more than two decades, she has been instrumental in shaping federal and state policies that protect consumer choice, strengthen retailer competitiveness and drive sustainable growth for the industry. For three of those more than 20 years focused on corporate and legislative affairs, Sanders has been with ITG Brands leading a team focused on public policy, federal and state affairs, external engagement and corporate communications. Among her key responsibilities, she advocates on behalf of the c-store industry by influencing federal and state legislative agendas that directly impact retail sales and consumer access to products; advises ITG Brands’ president, CEO and board of directors on regulatory risks and strategic policy opportunities; and builds bipartisan relationships with key policymakers to ensure industry stakeholders have a seat at the table in legislative discussions. As her nominator pointed out, Sanders’ leadership has resulted in major policy victories that have directly benefited retailers, consumers and ITG Brands over the past year. Notably, she played a leading role — working alongside industry partners — in influencing the presidential administration to withdraw a federal menthol and flavor ban. This was a key win for not only the tobacco industry, but consumers and retailers as well. Sanders also led the formation of a bipartisan and bicameral Congressional Cigar Association, securing critical support from lawmakers to protect flavored cigar sales, which are a key driver of convenience channel revenue. On the state level, she worked to defeat 25 out of 26 state-level product bans, preserving substantial revenue for convenience stores and ensuring continued consumer access to ITG Brands’ portfolio. Additionally, her efforts protected an estimated $244 million in annual revenue by advocating against state-specific measures that would have restricted the sale of a key product acquisition. Sanders has been serving as both board chair of the ITG Brands Political Action Committee and a member of the Convenience Distribution Association’s board of directors since 2022. She is also a member of both the Washington Heads of Office Leadership Council and the Business-Government Relations Council. “Tanisha’s leadership and impact have been recognized both within ITG Brands and across the industry. Her ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, advocate for fair policies and drive meaningful change has earned her national recognition,” her nominator said. “Her contributions have strengthened the company’s position in the market, enhanced relationships with key stakeholders and reinforced ITG Brands’ reputation as a leader in the convenience sector.” Among Sanders’ many recognitions, she received the 2025 and 2024 Women We Admire Award in Washington, D.C., for her influence, leadership and impact on the convenience industry.

Tanisha Sanders Senior Vice President, Corporate & Legislative Affairs ITG Brands

AS A SEASONED LEADER in the alcoholic beverage industry, Maggie Timoney brings a wealth of expertise, notably 15 years of concentrated experience impacting the U.S. convenience store industry. Her comprehensive background encompasses everything from fostering distributor relationships and driving sales to strategic planning and human resources. Timoney has led Heineken USA as CEO for the past six years. With her move to the top of the C-suite structure, she became the first woman CEO for a major beer company in the United States. Her appointment is a significant milestone in an industry traditionally dominated by men and a testament to her leadership. That leadership comes at a pivotal time as the alcoholic beverage industry expands into the nonalcoholic space, with customers actively seeking more options. Timoney was instrumental in bringing Heineken 0.0, now the top-selling nonalcoholic beer, to the U.S. market. One of Heineken's strategic initiatives for 2024 was to grow in that space within the convenience channel. With the help of her team, Timoney successfully integrated a promotional plan for Heineken 0.0 for Dry January — which also served as a formative test-and-learn program for 7-Eleven Inc., the largest convenience retailer in the U.S. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, Timoney is passionate about supporting and mentoring women in their careers, both internally and externally, knowing that women want to see themselves represented in leadership, according to her nominator. She fosters mentorship programs for team members at all levels to develop talent for the organization, as well as the industry. "Maggie has the incredible ability to naturally make space for others at the table, making sure their voice is heard and opinions and viewpoints considered," her nominator pointed out. Her career has been a testament to that. Over the course of her employment, Timoney has not been afraid to step outside her comfort zone. Along the way, she has proven that by doing so, you can be a catalyst for rounding out skillsets for future leadership roles. She has openly said that CEOs don't have all the answers — and that they're not supposed to — but that empowering her team and playing to their strengths is how you win as a team. "Maggie maintains focus on the things within her control — most importantly, her people — and ensuring they are her No. 1 priority. But [she] doesn't just say these things, she exemplifies them," her nominator stressed. "She has successfully implemented a powerfully positive culture at Heineken USA and it bleeds into her business partners. Whether a distributor, retailer, marketing agency or news outlet, she exudes inclusivity."

Maggie Timoney President & CEO Heineken USA

TWO YEARS AGO, Alimentation Couche- Tard Inc. (ACT) advanced its journey by launching a five-year strategic plan focused on strengthening its customer experience and winning the offer — two key areas of focus that continue to guide the company’s growth today. Mette Uglebjerg has played a critical role in bringing that vision to life. As senior vice president of global food and marketing, she has more than 200 team members globally under her guidance. Uglebjerg oversees foodservice strategy and marketing execution across ACT’s global organization. Her role bridges operations, product development and brand positioning to fuel growth, deepen customer engagement and enhance profitability on a global scale. For more than 30 years, Uglebjerg has been redefining what convenience retail means — one meal, one customer and one innovative idea at a time. From back offices to boardrooms, she has seen the industry evolve and has been at the forefront of shaping it. Her passion for winning the customer isn't just a strategy, it's a way of thinking that has transformed food, marketing and operations into a seamless experience that keeps the retailer’s customers coming back, according to her nominator. "We are in a situation now where we want to become much more customer-centric and we have a golden opportunity to embed customer insights even more in our decision-making," Uglebjerg said. "This approach has driven initiatives such as meal deals, addressing customers' increasing focus on value and the 'Talk2Us' platform, allowing us to listen directly to our customers." Uglebjerg brings deep operational experience to her leadership. Before her current role, she was senior vice president of European Operations, overseeing ACT’s multiple business units and growing the company's footprint, including the acquisition of TotalEnergies in early 2024. Before that, as vice president of Denmark, she oversaw all operations execution. Beyond business results, she is committed to leadership development, mentorship and best-practice sharing. She is an executive sponsor of the company's diversity and inclusion initiatives and actively mentors individuals across the organization. Uglebjerg also plays a key role in integrating new markets, ensuring that new team members embrace the global retailer's award-winning culture and customer-centric approach. "Mette brings a rare blend of humbleness, passion and strategic vision to her work. Not only is she a leading contributor to our success, but she also embodies our One Team spirit, always doing the right thing for our team members," ACT President and CEO Alex Miller said.

Mette Uglebjerg Senior Vice President, Global Food & Marketing Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc./Circle K

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