CSN Kicks Off Top 50 Forum

6/12/2002
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- The 8th Annual Convenience Store News Top 50 Forum, a networking event for retail executives and suppliers in the convenience store and petroleum marketing industry, is underway at the posh Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Fla.

Speakers include keynoters Jim Keyes, President and CEO of 7-Eleven Inc., and Todd Buchholz, economist and author of the highly acclaimed "Market Shock."

Emceeing this year's conference is Betsy Hosick, global commodity manager for San Ramon, Calif.-based ChevronTexaco Corp. Today's seminars include "How to Recession-Proof Your Business" with Rich Mione, marketing director at Worsely Cos. Inc.; Andy Weber, CFO at Roundtree Capital Inc.; and Chris Havens, formerly with Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corp. Recreational activities include Beach Olympics and golf.

The conference, developed as a networking event to bring together retailers and suppliers to discuss operational and marketing trends and challenges in the convenience retail channel, continues tomorrow with two seminars featuring Stan Sheetz, President and CEO, Sheetz Inc.; and Howard "Blackie" Bowen, a principal with Liberty Petroleum LLC.

One of the attendees, Joseph Farah of the 200-unit Hasty Markets in Ontario, Canada, said he viewed the Top 50 Forum as an ideal opportunity to gain new insights in the c-store channel. "Hopefully it will help put us ahead of the curve by going to events like this," he said.

Carlos Horcasitas agreed. He and May-May Au-Huie, both of Mid-Atlantic Petroleum, were enjoying the networking opportunities at the opening cocktail reception. "It's always exciting to meet new people in the industry," said Horcasitas.
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