The Best Of IAQs
One of Convenience Store News’ most popular features is IAQs (Infrequently Asked Questions), and here we gathered some of the best from the past few years
Jim Monroe
Foodservice Director Handee Marts Inc.
What would you most like to change (about you, the world, etc.)?
I would like to be less hyper, and get rid of all the politicians because they screw things up so badly. This would solve 95 percent of all world problems.
What actor would play you in a movie about your life?
The Rock. Don’t you see the physical resemblance?
If you were to change careers, what would you want to do?
Be a hockey coach and coach youth hockey again so I could play with people at my same skill level.
If you were stuck on a deserted island with no hopes of rescue, who is the last person you’d want with you?
President Obama because he would figure out a way to tax me.
Bob Sleeper
Director of Technology Rutter’s Farm Stores
If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
Billy Joel. I grew up in a very musical environment and Billy Joel’s music is tied somehow to most events in my lifetime. Even my daughters grew up humming his tunes and singing his lyrics.
What c-store product do you like most?
Grandma UTZ’s hand-cooked, kettle- cooked potato chips. They are just amazing!
If you won the lottery, your first purchase would be …
I would buy a 1972 Pontiac GTO. My grandfather owned [one], and I have a vague recollection of being with him when he picked it up new at the showroom. Many years later he sold it to me when I needed a car. It ended up having an unfortunate meeting with a deer …
If you were to open your own chain of convenience stores, what would you name them?
Between the volatile gas business, government regulation, credit card fees and declining cigarette sales, you’d be crazy to jump into this business! So … Crazy Bob’s Market!
What is your favorite TV show?
“M*A*S*H.” Every show was funny with a message, and usually very creatively done. You can’t argue with success when the TV show lasted longer than the war it was based on!
Danna Huskey
Category Manager E-Z Mart Stores Inc.
Which convenience store product do you like the most?
My favorite product in c-stores is fresh-brewed coffee. I’m a coffee junkie.
What gadget or device can’t you live without?
I can’t live without my cell phone. I have to keep in touch with my daughter who’s 16, driving, a junior in high school, on the color guard line in the band, works part-time, and has a boyfriend and a pack of girlfriends. Keeping up with her is a full-time job.
If you won the lottery, your first purchase would be …
To make sure every child in my family receives funds for their college education. Even the ones who have already paid would get reimbursed by Aunt Danna.
If you were to change careers, what would you want to do?
I think penning a book would be nice, but I don’t think it would be a wise career change. I would probably starve.
What did you want to be when you were young?
My dream job would have been a roadie for Aerosmith. Prior to that, a ballerina, a nurse, a vet, a lawyer, but then I discovered boys and rock n’ roll - hence the roadie gig.
Tim Cote
Vice President of Marketing Plaid Pantry
If you were to change careers, what would you want to do?
I was a meteorology major in college, so maybe I’d become a meteorologist. It’s kind of an interesting profession. People expect you to be wrong a significant amount of the time and just accept that as OK.
What is the most important event to happen in your career? How has that impacted your current role?
I was working on a Sather’s two-for-$ 1 peg bag candy set at a Kmart while in college and realized I really liked retail a lot more than I liked meteorology. I decided right there that someday I would become a candy buyer.
If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
I would eat broccoli. I eat 100-200 pounds of it every year. It’s a weird choice, but it is this vegetarian’s favorite vegetable. Hot peppers or tomatoes rate a close second. I plant a couple dozen of each in my garden every year.
What convenience store product do you like the most?
Since we don’t sell broccoli, Diet Pepsi.
Ben Englefield
President Englefield Oil Co.
If you won the lottery, your first purchase would be …
A 60-foot Viking fishing boat. I could travel everywhere in it and could go to where the big ones are biting!
What did you want to do when you were young?
I always wanted to be a dentist. My mother’s family was all dentists, and was on “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” for having the most dentists in one family.
What convenience store product do you like the most?
I like our deli sandwiches the most. We make them fresh, and I eat them often. Not bad margins either.
Which business person do you most admire, and why?
Without a doubt it’s my father. He has taught me so much, most importantly about how to treat our employees and our customers. Without them our company is nothing.
Steve Keane
Sales and Merchandising Director for the Central Division 7-Eleven Inc.
What is your favorite place to visit?
Any golf course is my favorite place. I have been lucky enough to play some very nice courses in Las Vegas and Hawaii, and would love to be on any of those right now.
If you were to change careers, what would you want to do?
I would be a teacher. I’ve always thought those who have learned things through experience have a responsibility to teach others.
What c-store product do you like the most?
I love the grill products. A lot of creative thinking has gone into making products that roll, and the amount of variety out there is incredible. It is very unique to our trade channel, and most everything I’ve ever had is very tasty.
What is your favorite TV show?
I like “The Office” because it exaggerates the funniest behaviors of everyday people. It makes me laugh!
Scott Shakespeare
Director of Adventure Image Maverik Inc.
If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Steak. Ask anyone, I almost always order steak: breakfast, lunch or dinner.
If you could be another person for a day, who would you be?
A woman. Maybe then I could unlock the secrets to the universe and rule the world!
If you were to open your own chain of convenience stores, what would you name them?
Something bold and over the top. ‘Go big or go home’ is not just a cute statement. I would create a brand that makes people say: “I can’t believe they are called ___! That’s so cool!”
What c-store product do you like the most?
Chicken wings. I just love wings. We stopped carrying them for a while, and I thought I would need a 12-step program.
What did you want to be when you were young?
I really only had two dreams: become a film maker or a pilot. The summer before college I literally flipped a coin - heads, pilot; tails, artist. It came up tails. Film-making seemed too far out of reach with a family, so I opted for graphic design - art with a paycheck!
Art Stawski
President Loaf ‘N Jug
If you won the lottery, your first purchase would be …
Three vacation homes - in New Orleans, Hawaii and somewhere in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.
If you were to open your own chain of convenience stores, what would you name them?
A chain in Louisiana—Rajin’ Cajun.
What c-store product do you like the most?
Coffee, pastries and every snack item we sell that’s not good for me! But why choose, I love them all!
What is the most important event to happen in your career?
When Total decided to sell its operations in the U.S., it gave me the opportunity to join Loaf ‘N Jug and advance my career even further.
Caroline Mowen
Senior Manager of Customer Service Valero Retail Holdings Inc.
What is your favorite place to visit?
I have to say Disney World. My husband loves Disney World! Our first trip was in 1986, and we have actually made more than 20 other visits since that year. The funny part is that I dreaded going ... it was hot, lots of people and so much walking. But now I look forward to going.
If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
I love pizza! But during my first pregnancy I couldn’t even watch a commercial for pizza without getting sick.
What did you want to be when you were young?
I wanted to be a stewardess.
What c-store product do you like the most? Why?
I like a large fountain Diet Coke with no ice. It’s “my coffee” and ice dilutes the full impact of the syrup.
What is your favorite TV show? Why?
My favorite is “The Biggest Loser.” I am amazed at the determination and hard work the participants put forth, and I love seeing the transformation in how they look and how they feel about themselves.
Jon Bratta
Proprietary Brand Director BP/ampm
What is your favorite place to visit and why?
I am really partial to visiting either Yellowstone or Yosemite National Parks. I have lived in the desert, although technically it is chaparral, my whole life. Going anywhere with non-palm trees and green hills for more than 30 days out of the year is really appealing to me.
If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
This may sound self-serving (and not very nutritionally rounded), but it would probably be a fresh-baked pastry item from one of our stores - the croissants, the Conchas, the cheese danish, the cinnamon roll. They are all to die for!
What is your favorite TV show?
I have been a fan of the suspense and action of “24” for years, and now that it is coming to an end, I am disappointed. I also really like the writing in “Lost,” but it is going away too. I guess Monday and Tuesday evenings are going to be open!
What did you want to be when you were young?
I was into all the stuff boys wanted to be when they grew up. It ranged from fighter pilot to baseball player. I pursued the baseball player piece through the end of college, until my arm finally said “no more!”
Kim Howe
Senior Vice President of IT Kum & Go LC
If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
Do you mean besides Kum & Go food? Then the next easy choice is sushi. I could eat it every day.
If you won the lottery, your first purchase would be …
I would hire a personal masseuse. Assuming I keep working after I win, I’ll have the stress of the money and the stress of the job to deal with. I think one massage per day would do the trick.
What convenience store product do you like the most?
Right now I am hooked on the f’real mango smoothies.
What was the last movie you saw?
What rating would you give it? I just saw “Marmaduke” with the kids. Enough said!
What did you want to be when you were young?
What do you mean when I WAS young?
What gadget (i.e. BlackBerry) can’t you live without? Why?
I love my iPhone! I just love all the apps, and it keeps my kids busy when I need a break!
David Caudill
Senior Director of IT Thortons Inc.
What is your favorite place to visit?
The ocean. I love to scuba dive and snorkel. It’s fun to visit an entirely different world for a bit.
If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
Peanut butter.
If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
Stevie Ray Vaughn. I would love to hear him play live. He was an amazing blues guitar player. Maybe he could teach me a few licks!
If you won the lottery, your first purchase would be …
I would buy an ocean front house in the Caribbean so I could scuba and golf whenever I wanted.
If you were to change careers, what would you want to do? Why?
I would be a guitarist. I started playing about five years ago. I’m still not that good, but I enjoy playing when I have free time.
If you were to open your own chain of c-stores, what would you name them? Why?
Rockers. I think a music theme would make it a fun place to work.
What did you want to be when you were young?
I wanted to be a baseball player. I played sports growing up and loved it. Once I got to college I knew the books were my route to a good career.
Tom Newbould
Manager, Retail Marketing TravelCenters of America
If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
Boy, would I get bored with one food, so I would have to say potatoes. There are so many different ways to prepare it.
If you could be another person for a day, who would you be?
I would be Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, not to live like a rock star for a day, but to be able to sing. I am so off key, I tried to become part of our church’s choir, but they preferred that I sang from the pews.
If you were to change careers, what would you want to do?
There are two things that I would like to do, one is teach. The second is I would one day like to own an ice cream store. I love ice cream, and I continue to come up with different flavors that I would create.
What convenience store product do you like the most?
This is an easy one: Hostess Cupcakes. I have always loved those. As a kid, I used to ride my bike to the corner Open Pantry cstore and buy packs of cupcakes for 27 cents. To this day, I still make some special stops at cstores to pick them up.
What is your favorite sandwich?
A simple turkey and cheese, with lettuce, tomatoes, a bit of salt and pepper and a sprinkling of oil and vinegar, on a soft roll or fresh bread.
What did you want to be when you were young?
I really wanted to be mayor of the town I grew up in. As soon as I turned 18, I ran for a political seat in Parma, Ohio, and won. I quickly saw the ugly side of politics in a simple, elected, nonpaid position — so I turned to business.
Peter Chappell
Senior Category
Manager Mac’s Convenience Stores
If you could be another person for a day, who would you be and why?
I would be Elton John for his ability to play and compose music, not necessarily his lifestyle.
If you won the lottery, your first purchase would be?
A 1966 Dodge Charger — the muscle car I always wanted, but never could afford when I was growing up.
If you were to change careers, what would you want to do?
I would become a professional trumpet player in a big band traveling around the country. It would be a great way to see the world while doing something I love to do.
Who is your mentor?
A British vice president of merchandise when I was in my early buying days, who had a critical but compassionate eye, and who impressed upon me that “no one said life had to be fair.”
What gadget can’t you live without?
I play the piano every day in my house. It helps me relieve stress and gives me a sense of accomplishment in this ever-stressful environment in which we live.
What is the most important event to happen in your career?
I started my career as the sales contract administrator for a uranium mining company in Northern Canada. After I was summarily let go — as a complete surprise to me - I started my new career as a merchandise buyer in Toronto. I made sure I would never be caught up again in my job and always strove to do my utmost to make a difference.
Richard Oneslager
President Balmar Petroleum/First Hand Management
If you could be another person for a day, who would you be?
I would be Jimmy Buffet, but taller. Can you think of anyone who has had more fun making boatloads of money?
If you won the lottery, your first purchase would be?
Wait … How much did I win? If we’re talking lotto money it would be a NetJet membership. Private jets are the ultimate game changer. I guess my first flight would be to meet a top tax attorney.
If you were to change careers, what would you want to do?
I would teach at a college by day, and tend bar at night. I love academia, and I love mixing drinks. Maybe I would earn a Ph.D. in mixology.
What c-store product do you like the most?
I can’t make it until noon without my Diet Coke - preferably fountain. I’ve never been a coffee drinker, but Diet Coke is the nectar of the gods.
What was the last movie you saw? What rating would you give it?
The last thing I watched was “Rear Window” — one of my favorites. Hitchcock, Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart. I love totally non-redeeming stuff like “Knocked Up,” but “Rear Window” is just a classic.
What did you want to be when you were young?
I wanted to be a private investigator, live on a boat in Marina Del Rey, Calif., and have a pet chimp. I saw too much TV as a kid.
Who is your mentor?
I’ve never had one. Maybe I wouldn’t be so misguided and aimless if I had.
Nancy Couch
Loss Prevention Director Maverik Inc.
If you could be another person for a day, who would you be?
I would be Warren Buffett, because I know what it’s like to be poor and struggling, and I would like to experience what it’s like to be a rich, successful icon who everyone admires. What motivates people like that? Maybe the same thing that motivates people who are working their way up in the world. I’d like to find out.
If you won the lottery, your first purchase would be?
Tickets for family and friends for an extended tour of exotic places like Australia and New Zealand. We could enjoy a whole new world of experiences, and if someone got out of sorts or disagreeable, we could just leave him or her behind. There are times when I could see leaving my husband in a boiling pot stirred by a bunch of Down Under island cannibals.
If you were to change careers, what would you want to do?
I would love to be a psychologist or a counselor to help those in need. Selfishly, if I were talented enough, I would become an actress such as Julia Roberts. Or I would at least like to know who does her liposuction.
What did you want to be growing up?
When I was a kid I wanted to be a race car driver. Sometimes my husband still has to remind me I am not Mario Andretti.
Who is your mentor?
My husband likes to think he is my mentor, and he is on a parttime basis. My mentor is not so much a person, but the qualities and “can-do” ideas I derived from growing up in a large family with parents who had lived through the Depression. I learned about making do, getting along, sacrificing, helping others and working hard.
Which business person do you most admire and why?
One of the second-generation owners of Maverik, Val Call, a genuine treasure. He had a special ability to motivate company employees, and you just knew he liked and cared about you.
Lloyd Sanford
Director of Operations TravelCenters of America
What is your favorite place to visit?
My favorite place is anywhere warm. Living near Cleveland, things can be very gray and cold from December through March. Any chance to get away somewhere warm is always welcome.
What is your favorite TV show?
My favorite show is any and every sporting event, but if I had to pick one, I’d say “Law & Order.” It seems there’s always three different episodes playing at any given time, so it’s hard to miss.
If you were to change careers, what would you want to do?
I would pursue something in architecture or design, preferably in the retail segment. This is something I have always enjoyed and feel comfortable working with, and was actually an area of interest for me when I started college, but a questionable guidance counselor pointed me in a different direction.
What did you want to be when you were young?
I wanted to be a quarterback in the National Football League or a rock star. Doesn’t everybody?
If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
My life probably wouldn’t last much longer, but I have to go with cheeseburgers and potato chips.
Which business person do you most admire?
I admire any entrepreneur, and have respect for anyone who had the vision and tenacity to start their own business from scratch.