People on the Move: E-Z Mart, Marathon Petroleum & Weigel's

NATIONAL REPORT — Retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in the convenience store industry are only as good as their management teams and employees. In this special roundup, Convenience Store News runs down the most recent executive changes, new hires, promotions and people achievements happening in the industry. 

Acosta Inc. 

Tom Corley has taken on the role of chief operating officer at Acosta, a full-service sales and marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods industry. He is responsible for overseeing the sales and foodservice divisions. 
 
Corley has more than 30 years of industry experience, formerly with Kraft Foods Group and General Foods, including more than 15 years in senior leadership and sales roles with responsibility for customer collaboration, new business development, field sales commercialization, acquisition integration, and organizational development. 

E-Z Mart Stores Inc.

Sonja Hubbard, president and CEO of E-Z Mart Stores, was named chair of the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) board of trustees. ARA is a public-private partnership investing in research that stimulates innovation, encourages collaboration and strengthens economic opportunity.

Its board is comprised of chancellors from Arkansas research universities and business leaders from across the state. The board is committed to creating opportunities in the areas of research, commercialization and job creation.

GasBuddy

GasBuddy announced Walt Doyle as the company's new CEO. His appointment comes as GasBuddy opens a new Boston office, a strategic move for the company's growth. 

Previously, Doyle was the founder and CEO of Where Inc., a location-based media company that was acquired by PayPal Media Network in 2011. After the acquisition, Doyle started the PayPal Boston office and served as the general manager for two years before becoming a venture partner at Highland Capital.

In other GasBuddy executive news, David Banks joined the company as chief information officer. Banks was formerly with Cumberland Farms Inc. where he oversaw the implementation and launch of several innovative technology and mobile products, including Cumberland Farms' SmartPay.

Additionally, Joshua Herzig-Marx, formerly with Google, has been hired as vice president of product development; and Mike Schneider, formerly with Skyhook Wireless, has been named chief marketing officer and will lead the company's efforts in branding, user experience and acquisition.

GasBuddy co-founders Dustin Coupal and Jason Toews will remain on the leadership team to advise on product and growth strategies.

Getty Realty Corp.

Getty Realty appointed Danion Fielding as vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. Prior to joining Getty, Fielding held various positions in real estate, finance and investment banking. 

Most recently, he was the founder and principal of Wilbraham Capital, a real estate private equity company focused on building a portfolio of medical office buildings.

Grindmaster-Cecilware

Grindmaster-Cecilware brought on David Williams as national account director. In this position, Williams is responsible for creating new business opportunities while developing existing customers to drive growth. He recently worked for Clipper Corp. as director of national account sales.

The beverage equipment supplier also appointed Gregory A. Meyer as director of engineering. He most recently worked as a contract engineer and Six Sigma consultant, with previous experience in the commercial appliance industry at Manitowoc Food Service.

Gulf Oil LP 

Gulf Oil hired Jay P. Davis as its new team leader for oil supply and trading. Davis, an ex-senior director of fuels supply and transportation at 7-Eleven Inc., CITGO Petroleum Corp. and Wawa Inc., brings more than 20 years of energy industry experience to his new role. 

"We are committed to the Gulf brand and its growth, and as such we are excited to welcome Jay onboard," said Jerry Ashcroft, CEO of Gulf Oil LP.  "He joins our strong team of talented individuals dedicated to providing limitless opportunities for our organization to expand and continue to succeed."

Rick Dery, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, is departing the company to pursue other opportunities in the energy industry. During his tenure leading the Gulf marketing department, Dery was instrumental in the resurgence of the iconic Gulf brand flag that now flies in 34 states and Puerto Rico.

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

J. Michael Wilder, vice president, general counsel and secretary for Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC), retired March 1. Suzanne Gagle, formerly assistant general counsel, assumed the role of vice president and general counsel, while Molly Benson, also formerly assistant general counsel, assumed the role of vice president, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer.

Wilder joined Ashland Petroleum Co. as a staff attorney in 1978 and held several positions of increasing responsibility at Ashland and its affiliates. In 1998, when Marathon Ashland Petroleum was formed, Wilder was named general counsel and secretary of the joint venture. He was promoted to his current position with MPC in 2011.

Gagle began her career with MPC in 1992 and has held several positions within the law organization, including senior group counsel for MPC operations.

Benson began her career with MPC in 1998 and has held several positions within the law organization, where she supported both MPC operations and corporate organizations. 

Republic Tobacco LP

Steve Wegert joined Republic Tobacco LP as key account manager. Previously, Wegert was national chain account manager at cigar maker Commonwealth-Altadis Inc., where he worked for nearly 20 years.

ROG Consulting 

ROG Consulting, a team of c-store consultants who have real-world experience, added two senior consultants: Joe Terrenella and Howard Algeo.

Terranella brings more than 30 years of petroleum and convenience store automation experience to ROG clients, both as an industry software provider and an accountant for fuel distributors.

Algeo recently served as director of business development for Paster Training, an independent food safety training firm. In this capacity, he worked with convenience stores nationwide in identifying, developing, testing, implementing and improving training programs.  

VP Racing Fuels Inc.

VP Racing Fuels made a couple of personnel moves in the early part of 2016.  

The company named Jeff Mitchell as director of supply, responsible for procurement of materials for all VP divisions and supply chain management. During 18 years with 3M, Mitchell acquired extensive background in consumer and industrial products, chemicals, films and adhesives in both plant and headquarters locations across the United States. 

In addition, VP Racing Fuels appointed Anna Crowder as quality control manager, responsible for overseeing the ISO certification for VP's Texas facility and working on quality assurance for all company divisions and product lines. Most recently, she taught courses dealing with quality in a laboratory environment at Fort Sam Houston's Medical Education Training Center in San Antonio. 

Weigel's Inc.  

Bill Weigel, chairman of Weigel's, received the Younger Entrepreneur Award at the annual Tennessee Veterans Business Association (TVBA) dinner in late January.

The Weigel family has partnered with TVBA for the past four years by networking with other local businesses that support veterans, and recruiting veterans to become a part of Weigel's convenience stores.

Son Kurt Weigel accepted the award on his father's behalf. "It's a special honor to accept this award on behalf of my dad," he said. "The Younger Entrepreneur Award represents my dad's passion, spirit and vision to create opportunities, especially for those who gave unselfishly for our freedoms."