Alon’s Avsha Klachuk Earns CSNews Top Tech Executive Award

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Avsha Klachuk, director of marketing technology for Alon USA LP, is Convenience Store News'' 2014 Top Tech Executive, while Flash Foods' implementation of a mobile app earned it the 2014 Outstanding Tech Implementation Award. Both will be honored at a ceremony later this year.

The CSNews Technology Leadership Awards, now in their 11th year, are awarded annually. The Top Tech Executive honor is given to an industry executive who demonstrates vision and innovation, and leads the way for his or her company and the industry to take full advantage of tech solutions.

Klachuk has served Dallas-based Alon USA since January 2001, where he leads the development and integration of leading-edge fueling and point-of-sale systems. His work currently involves incorporating AVii, radio frequency vehicle identification and cellular-based mobile commerce technologies into the petroleum/c-store network as part of a comprehensive, new state-of-the-art marketing management system.

Throughout his career, the Israeli native has worked to advance technology in the convenience store industry as a whole as well. In 2011, he served as chairman of the board for the Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology Standards (PCATS). Prior to this appointment, Klachuk spent many years advocating and supporting technology standards.

Outstanding Tech Implementation

The Outstanding Tech Implementation Award recognizes a convenience store retailer for utilizing technology in an exceptional way during the past year. Flash Foods' new mobile app stands out for its variety of features and positive customer feedback.

The  app includes a store locator, fuels pricing, mobile coupons, Rewards in a Flash loyalty benefits and the retailer's GoBlue mobile payment option. Designed in association with  National Payment Card Association, Pinnacle Corp. and Zingon, the app launched as a beta payment option in June and was fully rolled out to the public in October.

Flash Foods is owned by The Jones Co. and operates 172 convenience stores in Georgia and northern Florida.