Nacstech 2010

CSNews and NACS partner to provide expanded coverage

Convenience retailers and suppliers gathered in New Orleans in May to attend educational workshops and hit the trade show floor in search of the latest and greatest in c-store technology at NACStech — the industry's premier technology event.

This year's show, held May 5-7, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, incorporated several new elements — including a new collaborative partnership between NACS and Convenience Store News. CSNews is now the exclusive convenience trade media partner for NACStech, and as such, had an expanded presence at the show.

The content in this special section is produced by the staffs of both NACS magazine and CSNews, and includes coverage of the newly rebranded NACS/CSNews CIO Roundtable and workshops held at NACStech.

NACS/CSNews CIO Roundtable

This year in New Orleans, more than 1,200 convenience and petroleum industry professionals attended NACStech, the industry's premier technology event. Convenience Store News was the exclusive convenience trade media partner for NACStech this year and partnered with NACS on its newly rebranded NACS/CSNews 5th annual CIO Roundtable, which was held on the first day of the show.

Sponsored by Gilbarco Veeder-Root, KSS, NCR and Pinnacle Corp., the roundtable featured leading c-store retailer technology executives discussing the latest challenges and opportunities in the industry and at their companies.

RETAILER ATTENDEES Casey's General Stores: Rich Schappert, senior director of information technology; CHR Corp./Rutter's: Bob Sleeper, director of technology; CHS/Cenex: Roger Tripp, production and development manager; Flash Foods: Jenny Bullard, CIO; Kum & Go: Kym Howe, senior vice president, IT; Kwik Trip: Tom Colbert, director of IT; Love's Travel Stops: Roger Ahuja, loss prevention director; Murphy Oil: Charles Jarrett, director of retail IT; Quick Chek: Maria Fidelibus, vice president, IT; QuikTrip: Chris Truesdell, CIO; The Pantry: Ed Collupy, vice president, retail and POS systems; RaceTrac Petroleum: Will Alexander, vice president of IS and special projects; Thorntons: David Caudill, senior director of IT; Valero Energy Corp: Cheryl Thomas, vice president, retail systems, and James Maxey, director, development and maintenance.

NACS Hank Armour, president and CEO; Michael Davis, vice president, member services; Erin Pressley, vice president, editorial.

CSNEWS Don Longo, editor-in-chief; Tammy Mastroberte, executive editor and roundtable moderator; Linda Lisanti, senior editor; Scott Seltz, vice president, convenience group publisher; Michael Hatherill, publisher.

SPONSORS Gilbarco Veeder-Root: James Kelly, project manager, security and compliance, and Mark Williams, marketing manager, payment security; KSS: Rick Bilberry, global vice president of sales, and Ian Thompson, global vice president of professional services; NCR: John Saccomanno, director, retail industry marketing, and Mike Inderrieden, director, human factors-self-service; The Pinnacle Corp.: Bob Johnson, president, and Drew Mize, vice president, product management and marketing.