Top Women in Convenience

Senior-Level LEADERS

KARLA AHLERT

VP Finance/Treasurer, RaceTrac Petroleum Inc.

• Ahlert’s primary responsibilities include overseeing the company’s capital planning and funding, treasury operations, corporate cash and investments, and trade credit.

• She was appointed to chair RaceTrac’s Finance Committee from 2010–2013, and was selected to represent RaceTrac on the Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX) board in 2013, holding an ongoing board member position.

• She is a member of the Association of Finance Professionals, the Merchant Advisory Group and Fifth Third Bank’s Treasury Advisory Council.

DEBBIE ARMENTROUT

General Manager/Owner-Operator, Allen Oil Co.

• Armentrout is tasked with category management, store sets, marketing, foodservice development, system/technology implementation and inventory control for the company’s Quik Mart and More chain.

• Armentrout and her husband started their careers in gasoline wholesale distribution as the owners and operators of Allen Oil and bought their first c-store 30 years ago.

• One of her first foodservice initiatives was to introduce a homemade Stromboli to the seven-store chain as a unique item to draw in customers.

DAGMAR BOGGS

President, Global Customer Team, Coca-Cola North America

• Boggs is president of the 7-Eleven Global Customer Team, Coca-Cola’s largest convenience retailer with 55,000 outlets in 16 countries.

• She is an active member of the Women’s Foodservice Forum, the Network of Executive Women and Women’s LINC at The Coca-Cola Co.

• Outside of work, Boggs is a founding member of Ribbons of Hope, an Atlanta-based charity for women that identifies worthy causes related to women and families.

KATHLEEN BYRD

Associate Director, National Accounts, Kraft Foods Group

• As the leader of Kraft’s c-store national accounts team, Byrd is responsible for almost 60 percent of the company’s convenience store revenue.

• She is credited with growing national account sales by two times the channel growth across Kraft’s portfolio of five retail business units and the foodservice unit.

• Her professional involvement includes the Women at Kraft Employee Resource Group (ERG) and the NACS Supplier Membership Committee.

MYRA CANTERBURY

President, Simmons Corp.

• Canterbury is involved with future developed programs that will be offered to retailers of several different industry segments that sell and track fuel inventory.

• Her previous role at Simmons was vice president of information technology, and she is a recognized authority in office and system automation.

• She served as chairwoman for the NACS Standards – Device Integration Committee and chairwoman of the E-Commerce Committee for the NACS Supplier Board.

WENDY CHRONISTER

CEO, Chronister Oil Co.

• As chief executive of the family business, she is responsible for the management of its Qik-n-EZ convenience stores in central Illinois.

• Chronister serves on the board of directors of NACS, the Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing, and is chair of the NACS Show.

• Before joining Chronister Oil, she was a partner in the law firm Kirkland & Ellis and a partner in a private equity firm.

NIKI DEPHILIPS

Senior VP, Store Development, Kum & Go LC

• Her primary focus at Kum & Go is to oversee all activities related to site selection, government approvals and construction of 20 new convenience stores annually.

• She began her career with Kum & Go as an administrative assistant at 22 years old and rose to her current position in just 12 years.

• DePhilips is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), received her Six Sigma Greenbelt Certification and was honored as a “40 under 40” in 2014.

KELLY FULFORD

Senior Category Development Manager, General Mills Convenience

• Fulford joined General Mills in 2003 and currently leads the category management team for General Mills Convenience. She is responsible for analyzing category data along with consumer insight research to identify how retailers can drive sales and profit throughout the store.

• She has won several retailer awards including the 2014 Maverik Strategic Snacks Outfitter of the Year, the 2013 Kum & Go Strategic Partner, and the 2012 Circle K West Silver Award of Excellence.

JANE GREEN

VP, Marketing, Swisher International

• Green leads marketing strategy and new product development for mass-market cigars, including all advertising, point-of-sale and field sales support programs.

• She spearheaded the introduction of Swisher Sweets’ limited-edition cigarillos, the first time that limited-edition tastes have been developed for the Sweets brand.

• Green is involved with the Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year program, which is sponsored by Swisher Sweets. Celebrating 25 years in 2014, the program honors an outstanding farmer in 10 Southeast states.

CINDY HENDERSON

Executive Director, Operations Support, CST Brands Inc.

• Henderson is marking her 14th year at CST Brands, 12 of which were with Valero Energy Corp. She oversees the retail stores’ daily operations, as well as operations projects, new programs and new initiatives.

• She became involved with the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) a year ago.

• Henderson has 34 years of experience in the industry, previously holding positions with 7-Eleven Inc., a 7-Eleven licensee company and a privately held convenience store company in Texas.

CAROLYN HOOD

Director, Convenience Channel, KIND Healthy Snacks

• Hood joined the company in 2012 to lead KIND’s growth expansion into the convenience channel. She oversees the c-store business for the company’s Western division and works closely with c-store wholesalers such as McLane Co. Inc. and Core-Mark Holding Co., and retailers such as 7-Eleven Inc.

• She helped KIND grow to 20 independent wholesalers and gain huge distribution all-commodity volume for the brand.

• Hood is an advocate for adoption and an incoming board member for nonprofit adoption agency The Gladney Center.

JEANNINE PETERSON

Director of Foodservice, Circle K

• Peterson is responsible for the discovery of new product offerings, and directly negotiates and procures products and equipment from suppliers, vendors and other representatives for Circle K’s Arizona division.

• She oversees 650 stores in her division, or 20 percent of the Circle K locations in the United States, and is responsible for monitoring and evaluating store performance. Previously, she served as a Circle K category manager for 10 years.

• Peterson founded a nonprofit animal rescue and ran it as a founding director until 2008.

SHARON PORTER

Director, Sales & Marketing, Insight Beverages Inc.

• Porter is responsible for new business development in the convenience channel, and development and execution of company and channel marketing strategy.

• She has more than 30 years of c-store industry experience in both retail operations and corporate office chain management.

• Porter participates in numerous roundtables, advisory panels, the NACS Retailer Convention Committee – Content and the NACS Supplier Board Committee – Manpower.

NANCY RIGGS

VP, Quik Stop, C-stores/Small Format Division, The Kroger Co.

• Riggs oversees operations, merchandising, fuel, facilities and real estate and is responsible for budget oversight, sales growth, EBITDA growth, new store growth, store conditions and associate development.

• She won several awards for sales increases and store appearance during her time as a district advisor. As an executive team member at Loaf ‘N Jug, Riggs contributed to the banner’s success in earning the Kroger C-Stores Banner of the Year award for four years. She was promoted to her current position this year.

KATHY RONAN

Customer Sales Executive, Northeast Convenience, The Hershey Co.

• Ronan works in conjunction with c-store partners and internal Hershey teams to provide marketing and consumer insights, as well as develop sales and marketing plans to grow profitability.

• She was instrumental in building a successful partnership between Hershey and Rutter’s Farm Stores, having helped develop Hershey’s participation in the launch of the Rutter’s Rewards program.

• Ronan has been recognized as a top sales performer and honored for her commitment to partner success.

MELISSA ROSEN

Founder & CEO, Locali Conscious Convenience

• Rosen is involved in every facet of the business and has daily involvement in store operations that span menu development to staff training.

• She served as the driving force that grew Locali from a simple neighborhood market to a thriving three-store chain. Rosen plans for Locali to begin national expansion via corporate-owned and franchised units in 2016.

• As a small business consultant, Rosen advises local food artisan startups and woman-owned entities. She was named one of Los Angeles’ most influential businesswomen of 2010.

TOBI-LEE RUSSELL

VP of Human Resources, Cumberland Farms

• Russell is responsible for talent management, acquisition, benefits and engagement at Cumberland Farms, where she drives organizational change through strategic design, development and implementation of leadership, employee engagement, recruiting and training, and benefit initiatives.

• She leads a team of 28 human resources professionals.

• To enhance company leaders’ skills at engaging and motivating their teams, Russell designed and implemented a leadership development roadmap.

BECKY SHOTWELL

President, Stop’nGo of Medina

• Shotwell has been involved with the family-owned c-store business since 1987 and has experience in store operations, training, acquisitions and marketing.

• She is a past chair of the Ohio Association of Convenience Stores board and has served on the board for more than 20 years. She also served as a past chair for the National Convenience Store Advisory Group.

• Awards presented to Shotwell include the Medina County Development Business Leader of the Year Award and the Medina Jaycees Distinguished Service Award.

TERESA SMITH

VP of Operations, Tom Thumb, C-stores/Small Format Division, The Kroger Co.

• Smith leads the operations team across four states and participates in planning, analysis and approval of capital projects.

• She coordinates store openings, including startup support, merchandising, training, store sets, point-of-purchase and execution of all. Additionally, she participates in the site selection and remodel design processes.

• Smith lists “shaping a culture laser-focused on both associate and customer engagement” as one of her most important missions.

KARIN THRIFT

Director of Sales, Convenience, Clif Bar & Co.

• Thrift creates and executes the c-store strategy for Clif Bar and develops trade spend, customer event budgets and account-specific marketing plans.

• Along with leading and mentoring a team that executes strategy through a national broker network, Thrift co-leads the sales team training task force that is responsible for the ongoing professional development of the entire sales team at Clif Bar.

• She helped co-found Discover Y.O.U., a leadership skills development program for high-school students.

GINNY WEBB

Chief Information Officer, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores

• Webb is responsible for technology solutions that support the current business along with future growth.

• She recruited and hired a team that is responsible for technology infrastructure, applications and support, and worked with other business teams to deliver new financial processes and reporting plus a mobile app for Love’s TireCare business.

• She prioritizes collaboration, mentoring and empowerment to allow her team members to own their decisions and responsibilities.

WHITNEY WOODWARD

VP of Human Resources, RaceTrac Petroleum Inc.

• Woodward leads RaceTrac’s human resources team in attracting and hiring top talent, assessing and developing current talent, and retaining and rewarding RaceTrac’s store support center and field team members.

• She oversees approximately 100 team members.

• Woodward is a founder of RaceTrac’s LEAD program, a women’s initiative designed to link, empower, achieve and develop future leaders, and is enrolled in a Women’s Leadership Program through the Kellogg School of Management.

MENTORS

SHERRY BEVERS

Senior Customer Accounts Manager, U.S. Oil/U.S. Venture Inc.

• Bevers has held several roles during her 29 years at U.S. Oil. She has a team of six outside customer service reps that she enjoys mentoring.

• Called “mama bear” by some of her reps, Bevers’ goal is to get her team as excited about their careers as she is about hers. Last year, she took the lead on the company’s acquisition of 160 branded dealers to ensure they all felt welcomed and fully supported. She also brought to life an enhanced online customer portal.

DIANA FARQUHAR

Floating Training Manager, Alon Brands Retail

• Farquhar serves as the floating trainer for the Abilene, Texas, region. She has been with Alon since 2002.

• A former store manager, she is the first person managers call when new programs are implemented in the stores. She was one of the key people when the company started scanning, and again when it introduced Pinnacle software. Her peers say she “gives her heart every time she walks into a store.”

• Farquhar is involved in fundraising to purchase service dogs for autistic children. Her grandson is autistic.

TONJALIA GREEN

Zone Manager, Houston Southeast & Southern Louisiana, CST Brands Inc.

• Green joined CST Brands Inc. in May 2013 after more than 30 years with Valero Energy Corp. She has been a store manager, retail auditor, area manager and later promoted to a zone manager in the Southern Region. She has seven direct reports and a work team of 675 people.

• As a mentor, Green shares her wisdom freely with anyone from direct reports to co-workers looking to move up in the organization. “Our employees are our most important asset,” she said.

CASSANDRA MATOS

Product Director, Confection & Snacks, McLane Co. Inc.

• Matos began her career with McLane Co. Inc. in 1999.

• Her current role as product director includes direct oversight and accountability for 22 McLane teammates (two category managers and 20 purchasing specialists).

• Not only does she lead by example, but Matos also has a knack for grooming new McLane teammates and future leaders. Always willing to take time to explain and coach, she is responsible for the growth and development of many current leaders within the McLane organization.

DAYNA REED

Director, Promotions & Market Research, RaceTrac Petroleum Inc.

• Reed joined RaceTrac in 2009. She assumed her current role in 2012 and leads the charge to inspire, create and direct successful marketing promotions that drive guests to RaceTrac stores.

• She provides mentorship and direction to a team of nine, eight of them women and the majority of them are less than five years into their careers. Under her leadership, 15 of her team members have been promoted.

• Reed’s passion for mentoring extends beyond the job as she volunteers with Everybody Wins, a children’s literacy program.

RISING STARS

TARA ANDERSON

Category Manager, Lunch Daypart, Holiday Stationstores

• Anderson’s responsibilities include management of more than 500 Holiday stores in 10 states, for which she develops and drives retail initiatives by implementing programs for fresh food, cold and frozen dispensed beverages, and 21 branded fast-food locations.

• She also creates operational tools such as product guidelines, foodservice training programs, planograms, company contest initiatives and store sampling events.

• After two years of focusing on Holiday’s culinary, freshness and integrity in ingredients, Anderson has changed the culture of the company’s food program.

LETI ANDRADE

Director, Human Resources Integration, CST Brands Inc.

• Andrade oversees all aspects of human resources integration for new stores and industry acquisitions, as well as benefits, payroll, employee relations and training for new employees integrated through acquisitions.

• She has 18 years of experience in various human resources leadership roles in industries including health care, professional services, hospitality and education.

• Andrade is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Southern Management Association.

KELLY ANDRUS

Manager, Credit Card Services, Tesoro Refining & Marketing Co.

• Andrus is responsible for payment card acceptance, payment accounting, payment chargebacks and planning around payment acceptance (for example, EMV).

• She actively participates with the Merchant Advisory Group and sits on both the Communications and Advocacy committees, as well as the National Petroleum Energy Credit Association’s Retail Program Planning Committee.

• Andrus previously worked at Alliance Data for nearly 11 years, where she held various positions in merchant banking.

LINDA BELL

Regional Operations Manager, Turkey Hill Minit Markets, C-stores/Small Format Division, The Kroger Co.

• Bell, who holds an MBA from Rosemont College, is responsible for the sales, profitability and overall operations of 83 stores in seven markets in central Pennsylvania, as well as implementing business and strategic plans for each district and establishing programs to protect the company’s assets including shrink, security/safety, internal theft and regulatory compliance.

• After serving in the U.S. Army, Bell began her career in 1995 with Amoco/BP as a field specialist and foodservice coordinator.

LAUREN BOWERS

Regional Manager, GSP

• Bowers is responsible for the management of more than 10 retail accounts (Alon Brands, Circle K, QuikTrip, Stripes and Tesoro among them). Her job entails account service, maintaining client relationships, project management and coaching/mentoring the account team, as well as having control over the central U.S. geographical sales/account region, which includes budget oversight and account team management.

• Under her guidance, GSP won an American Advertising Award in innovative branding for work completed for Stripes.

PERRI BRACKETT

Account Executive, Procter & Gamble

• Brackett, who has been with P&G for 30 years, manages the largest portion of its convenience channel business, which includes the Texas/Southern market. Her region is delivering three times the current business performance compared to the U.S.

• She is one of the Dallas Morning News’ “Community Voices” columnists and is on the Network of Executive Women College Outreach Committee, where she coaches and mentors women in the MBA program.

KAREN BROWN

Category Team Leader, Anheuser-Busch

• Brown leads all category management functions, including space management, pricing analysis, promotional analysis, assortment and more, and is responsible for beer category growth for the third largest c-store account in the U.S.

• She specializes in providing shopper-centric retail solutions to drive total store business and consults retail channels by building joint business plans utilizing trade marketing, revenue management, shopper insights, point-of-sale data and space management.

MICHELLE DELAMIELLEURE

Senior Manager of Consumer Insights, General Mills

• DeLamielleure oversees a team of six and manages General Mills’ primary and analytic research budgets both internally and externally with key retailers, as well as determines what research the company performs to address key business issues.

• She won General Mills’ Best Manager of the Year, Champion Award for work on Progresso soup, and has been named manager of General Mills’ mentoring program.

ALISSA ECKER

Manager, Strategy & Customer Development, C-store Integrated Supply Chain, Kraft Foods Group

• Ecker is responsible for the execution and integration of supply chain strategies within Kraft and growth channel customers, with key projects including joint business planning and collaboration on E2E projects driving cost savings and network efficiencies.

• She has made improvements in leadership in five key areas: Eby-Brown/Armada Dry Network consolidation, c-store bracket pricing audit/compliance, opportunities with McLane Co., customer service and striving for supply chain improvements.

LEAH EMANUELE

Assistant to the Director of Marketing, GetGo (Giant Eagle Inc.)

• Emanuele develops and executes grand-opening launch plans for new GetGo locations and manages communication to store teams for all promotional activities.

• She presides over a grand-opening budget of more than $1 million, with a main goal of building community excitement about new GetGo locations, including scheduling VIP parties, radio remotes, ribbon-cuttings, sweepstakes and more.

• She is a member of Giant Eagle’s Young Professional Organization.

JESSICA IRWIN

Merchandising Manager, Center of Store, GetGo (Giant Eagle Inc.)

• Irwin establishes the category plan, negotiates marketing agreements and delivers sales and margin goals for the candy and general merchandise/seasonal categories for GetGo. In the past year, the c-store chain’s seasonal business experienced double-digit growth under her watch.

• Prior to joining GetGo, she spent nine years working in parent company Giant Eagle’s merchandising department.

• The University of Pittsburgh graduate led the retailer’s United Way campaign in 2014.

AMY JOWELL

Zone Merchandising Leader, 7-Eleven Inc.

• Jowell manages 7-Eleven’s South Florida zone from a merchandising aspect, which consists of approximately 500 stores.

• She’s achieved a 9.4-percent increase in revenue and a 9.6-percent increase in gross profit under her tenure, grabbing the top spot within the retailer’s Eastern Region, and is on pace for a second consecutive record-breaking year.

• A four-year 7-Eleven veteran, she is an active member of the Network of Executive Women.

ELENA LAU

Regional Operations Manager, Loaf ‘N Jug, C-stores/Small Format Division, The Kroger Co.

• Lau coordinates daily operations for nine convenience stores (all with gas), as well as four car washes and three food locations that average monthly sales of more than $1.1 million. She also mentors and manages a team of more than 80 associates.

• Her team won Kroger’s Most Profitable District award in 2013 and 2014 and the Committed to Community award in 2012 and 2014. Lau has also received the President’s Choice Award for her customer-first attitude.

ABBY PANFIL

Retail Director, Sales Strategy & Planning, Kellogg Specialty Channels

• Panfil leads the internal group that collaborates with the Kellogg Specialty Channels’ retail sales team, responsible for driving growth in the c-store, vending and alternative retail channels.

• She won the 2013 Golden K Award for performance excellence with the internal team and for customer responsibility.

• The Purdue University graduate participates in the Supply Chain and RQT Task Force. She is also the Southwest community leader for Kellogg’s Women’s Employee Resource Group, Women of Kellogg.

SHAUNNA PATRICK

Director, West Area Convenience Business, The Hershey Co.

• Patrick is responsible for managing and delivering sales targets and financial budgets for The Hershey Co.’s West Area convenience business, which spans from Texas to Oregon.

• The 10-year sales and category management veteran has held leadership roles at Anheuser Busch In-Bev SA in addition to Hershey.

• Patrick is involved with several charitable organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club of America.

JAMIE RODGERS

Senior Manager, Food Programs & Offers, RaceTrac Petroleum Inc.

• Rodgers leads a team that manages food programs for more than 380 RaceTrac locations. She implements strategies to grow the retailer’s foodservice business via new product development, item optimization and promotions.

• Rodgers and her team have been instrumental in growing food sales and margins at RaceTrac while reducing product waste. She helped create the c-store chain’s new Speedy Avocado made-to-order foodservice program.

• She is an active member of RaceTrac’s LEAD women’s initiative.

STACIE TONNIGES

Category Manager, Cigarettes & Tobacco, Casey’s General Stores Inc.

• Tonniges is responsible for many facets of Casey’s tobacco category, including analyzing sales and profit margins, negotiating contracts with manufacturers, analyzing competitors and adding new items to the category.

• A Casey’s veteran of five-plus years, her tobacco product and merchandising decisions are implemented throughout more than 1,850 c-stores in 14 states.

• The Iowa State University graduate was recently elected to the board of directors for the National Association of Tobacco Outlets.

KIM WILLIAMS

Senior Category Advisory Manager, The Coca-Cola Co.

• Williams leads the national account team for Coca-Cola’s second-largest U.S. convenience store customer. She collaborates with the shopper insights team and applies her learnings to identify customer and sales growth opportunities.

• She helped Coca-Cola earn the honor of “most valuable supplier” for the large c-store retailer’s West Region for the past two years.

• Prior to joining Coca-Cola, the Emory University MBA graduate was a three-time President’s Award recipient at Abbott Laboratories.

SINGLE-STORE OWNERS

GIGI COLOSIMO

General Manager/Owner-Operator, On The Go

• Colosimo has been in the convenience store business for more than 30 years.

• She rebranded her Exxon station as “On The Go” with matching graphics that also included an upgraded coffee bar.

• Colosimo has turned her eye toward category management. She went category by category, and made sure her product mix was superior to her competitors and that she was priced aggressively to gain volume.

MELISSA LACOUR

Owner, Black Bear Convenience Store

• She was a truck driver for many years, as well as a clerk for NAPA Auto Parts before she and her husband bought a sporting goods store. After her husband had a heart attack, they purchased a convenience store/gas station, which she operates herself.

• A self-taught entrepreneur with only a sixth-grade formal education, Lacour has increased revenue for the Black Bear Convenience Store, while also inspiring the entire community with her dedication to community service.

D’JUANA MCCARTNEY

Part Owner/Manager, Wooly’s One Stop

• McCartney oversees all aspects of the store, from hiring and firing to budget and layout. Her stated philosophy is “Customer service comes first; we’ll deal with our problems after the customer is taken care of.”

• McCartney is a mentor to her employees at work and at home. She has reportedly saved marriages, fixed broken homes, helped abused and neglected children, sheltered battered wives and counseled customers.

• She is an elected school board member and plays an active role in the community.

STORE MANAGERS

LESLIE CONSIDINE

Complex Manager, Ports Petroleum Co. Inc.

• Considine oversees one store with seven employees, where her responsibilities include customer and vendor relations, ensuring federal and state safety and labor regulations are followed, employee management and more.

• When the company purchased three gas stations in southern Indiana and Ohio, she spent weeks away from her own station to provide two of the locations with training and support.

• Considine is a part of the company’s new manager mentoring program.

TINA FELTON

Store Manager, Rutter’s Farm Stores

• Felton supervises 32 employees and oversees the management and implementation of operations procedures, marketing initiatives, human resources policies, and executive directives including sales growth, customer service, employee training and hiring, expense management and merchandising.

• Since May 2006, she has been promoted to store manager at three higher volume Rutter’s locations.

• Felton was named Store Manager of the Year in 2013 and was a Store Manager of the Year finalist in 2014, 2012, 2011 and 2008.

VERONICA HOLGUIN

Store Manager, Alon Brands

• Holguin oversees five employees at her store, where she manages daily operations including staff training, scheduling, inventory order management, maximizing sales by implementing the placement and promotion of new product lines, and promoting the store.

• She joined Alon Brands as a sales associate in 2001, was promoted to assistant manager two years later and during her time with the company, has managed five stores, earned her associate’s degree and served in the Army Reserve.

SOO SANG

Store Manager, CST Brands Inc.

• Sang is responsible for 12 employees at her location, as well as the total store operation including profit and loss, employee staffing and retention, employee training, safety/security, environmental compliance, customer service, marketing/merchandising, and more.

• She began working for Valero Energy Corp. (now CST Brands) in 1981 at the age of 23, shortly after coming to the United States from Korea. She started as a customer service representative before working her way up to assistant manager and then store manager.

JANET STEMBRIDGE

Store Manager, RaceTrac Petroleum Inc.

• Stembridge oversees one store and 13 team members. She manages the day-to-day operations, develops team members, increases sales and builds lasting relationships with RaceTrac guests.

• For eight consecutive years, Stembridge has earned a spot on the RaceTrac Chairman’s Council, an annual competition that recognizes RaceTrac store managers in each region who rank in the top 10 percent for profitability, inside margin, team member performance and guest feedback.