NACS Innovation Leadership Class of 2019
Building on MIT’s prestigious reputation and innovative culture, this program combines research-based management frameworks with practical hands-on experiences, and offers networking opportunities for top-tier convenience industry leaders. Attendees (from retail companies only) will directly apply methods and frameworks to their own businesses – to build innovation capability and improve business results.
Held on MIT’s campus, the NACS Innovation Leadership Program offers convenience leaders the opportunity to:
- Learn how to build an innovation culture – focused on skills, desire, freedom of action, high commitment and high integrity
- Recognize and overcome mental models that inhibit innovation
- Leverage the principles and processes of design thinking
- Identify choices for responding to disruptive competition
- Develop digital business models
- Apply innovative methods for designing work and operating models that engage employees/create competitive advantage
- Experience first-hand MIT’s entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem
The power of innovation at MIT can’t be denied. A 2015 research study determined that MIT alumni have created over 30,000 companies with over 4.6 million employees and nearly $2 trillion in annual revenues – which would be the world’s 10th largest GDP if measured as a country.
For any questions, or to request more information, please contact:
Brandi Mauro
Education Program Manager
bmauro@convenience.org
(703) 518-4223
Support provided by
“It was a wonderful experience. Mentally powerful and rewarding, also exhausting. Thanks to NACS for staying focused on our industry and helping raise the tide with education courses like this.”
-Joey Hobson, VP Marketing, Maverik, Inc.
“As a life-long learner, and someone who desires to constantly sharpen the saw, I see tremendous value in this program. I plan on attending Cornell next, and will send several more of my team members to these courses.”
-Gary Price, VP of Operations, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores
Not sure which program to attend?
Please contact NACS Education to schedule an advising session.
Schedule Consultation >
(703) 518-4223
The NACS Master of Convenience designation acknowledges the hard work and investment NACS members have made in their personal leadership development. It is awarded to convenience retailers who have attended 3 or more of the 5 NACS Executive Education programs. For questions, contact Brandi Mauro, NACS Education Program Manager: bmauro@convenience.org or (703) 518-4223.
Presidents, CEOs and VPs within forward-thinking, innovation-seeking retail companies that are leading the convenience and fuel retailing industry.
Participant Roles
Participating Companies Include
- Core-Mark International, Inc.
- Esmax Limitada
- Maverik, Inc.
- Pilot Travel Centers LLC
- Sheetz, Inc.
The NACS Innovation Leadership Program at MIT is designed to be relevant, engaging and useful to senior level executives who are interested in driving innovation across their firms, particularly in the areas of:
- Customer experience
- Operating models
- Supply Chain
- People engagement and culture change
The program integrates lessons and tools drawn from the worlds of strategy, design thinking, digitalization, machine learning, ecosystems, neuroscience and organizational psychology. This is a program not just about creativity, ideation, or managing the product development process. Other elements of the program include: Exposure to the MIT Ecosystem and Exposure to NACS Program Endowers.
Participants leave with a change plan focused on implementing selected innovation opportunities in their organizations.
Check out the sessions from last year’s program. The 2020 sessions will be posted once confirmed.
Design Thinking & Service Process Innovation (S. Eppinger)
Successful innovation based on three factors – customer desirability, technical feasibility, and business viability. Structured practice for systematic design and development.
Innovation Leadership & Culture (C. Chilton)
Engaging innovation from workforce via 3 intersections: Skills (‘Able To’), Motivation (‘Want To’), Autonomy (‘Allowed To’).
Innovation Strategy: Thinking Clearly About Disruption (P. Azoulay)
A set of choices for dealing with new competitors – based on the nature of the competition. Why we are slow to respond and what to do about it.
Operational Model Innovation (Z. Ton)
Developing a high integrity/high commitment operational culture.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in the Supply Chain (D. Simchi-Levi)
Trends in supply chain digitization; implications for you and customer experience.
Working Harder/ Working Smarter (S. Dodge)
Designing work as a capability, focusing employees/increasing accountability, implement innovative change, especially in management processes.
Digital Business Models (N. Fonstad)
Strategic framework based on balance of customer objectives to supply chain/partners.
Innovation Portfolios (N. Fonstad)
Applying a ‘test & learn’ approach across diverse types of innovation to identify sources of value.
Customer Centric Thinking: UI/UX (R. Gosline)
Unpacking the customer journey as not just a process, but a set of linked behavioral decisions.
Implementation Challenges in Making Innovation Happen (R. Fernandez)
3 Lenses of Change.. Your Brain and Theirs – bringing others along; addressing both organizational and personal obstacles.
To get a better understanding of the schedule for the week, take a look at the Program Curriculum (PDF). The curriculum is subject to change.
The NACS Innovation Leadership Program takes place on the campus of MIT and is administered by faculty of the Sloan School of Management. Check back periodically to meet the 2020 presenters.
Registration for the 2020 Innovation Leadership Program is now open!
Register Now
Registration Pricing:
NACS Retail Member - $3,995
A tuition endowment from Gilbarco, Mondelez, PDI, and Shell makes this program most affordable for all participants. Program tuition is $3,995 which includes instruction, course materials, and scheduled meals.
Please note: Registration is limited to retailer, distributor, and state association member companies only. State Associations, please contact Brandi Mauro at bmauro@convenience.org to register.
Scheduled meals are included in the total cost of the program, but lodging and travel are not included. Participants are responsible for their own hotel accommodations and travel. NACS has reserved a block of rooms at the Boston Marriott Cambridge at a special rate for NACS Innovation Leadership Program attendees from Saturday, October 31 through Friday, November 6th: $309 per night, plus all applicable taxes/fees. The last day to receive the discounted rate is Thursday, October 1st, 2020.
Boston Marriott Cambridge
50 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 494-6600
To make a reservation, call Marriott Central Reservations at 1-800-228-9290 and say you are with the NACS Innovation Leadership Program room block, or follow the reservation link below:
Book A Room
Each individual guest will be responsible for all room, tax and incidental charges and will be asked for a credit card when making the reservations. Guests will also need to present a credit card upon check-in. If any guests are Marriott Bonvoy members, please remember to include your account number when making your reservation.
Attendees are also welcome to make reservations at a hotel of their choosing. For any questions regarding hotel accommodations, please contact Erin Garay, Meetings & Registration Coordinator, at (703) 518-4244 or egaray@convenience.org.
The cancellation deadline is September 1, 2020. Transfer of registration to another person within your company may be possible and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Registration cancellations must be sent in writing and emailed to bmauro@convenience.org. All cancellations received on or before September 1, 2020 could be charged a $250 administrative fee. After September 1, 2020, the full amount of the registration fee could be forfeited.
Innovation Leadership Program participants must book their own lodging accommodations directly with the hotel of their choosing. NACS has reserved a block of rooms at the Boston Marriott Cambridge at a discounted rate for NACS Innovation Leadership Program attendees from Saturday, October 31 through Friday, November 6th. The cancellation policy for standard reservations at the Boston Marriott Cambridge is 72 hours prior to arrival to avoid cancellation fee. If cancelled within the 72hrs of arrival one night + tax will be charged.
Boston Marriott Cambridge
50 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 494-6600
Given the current CDC recommendations, masks will be required for all.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own masks; however, masks will be available if needed.
NACS and MIT will follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If gloves are recommended in November, then gloves will be provided for all participants and masks made available.
Yes, sanitizing stations will be available throughout the facilities.
If you are not allowed entrance due to COVID concerns, then NACS and the university will work to deliver a comparable experience for the attendee. Refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The university will observe social-distancing guidelines. Classroom set-ups will ensure safe distances between attendees. Break areas and the dining room will also have modified spacing as well.
Yes. If travel bans are in place, then NACS will provide registration refunds or deferrals to next year. Please alert Brandi Mauro at
bmauro@convenience.org as soon as possible and prior to September 1, 2020 to make the necessary changes.
If the program needs to be cancelled, then you will be notified prior to September.
All registered participants will be notified of updates or changes via direct email as soon as they are made. In addition, the program’s webpage will also be kept up to date.
While social distancing guidelines are in effect, handshaking is not advised.
Cleaning policies are in line with the university’s guidelines and CDC recommendations.
MIT is following Massachusetts Department of Health guidelines as well as receiving updates from university leadership who are closely following government guidelines for the health and safety of our students, participants, visitors, faculty and staff.
Massachusetts General Hospital is located 1.5 miles from the academic building. Urgent care facilities are nearby with an on-call doctor.
NACS and MIT will observe and follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).