NACS Human Resources Forum

Rachel Allen is a dynamic leader in Talent Acquisition, boasting over 15 years of industry experience. Known for her strategic acumen, Rachel is adept at fostering collaboration across teams to meet and exceed organizational objectives. As the Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at 7-Eleven Inc., she guides a robust team responsible for both corporate and field recruitment, ensuring excellence in talent sourcing and placement. Rachel’s communication skills are unparalleled, and her knack for building strong relationships is well-known. She champions a forward-thinking approach among her recruiters, leveraging her expertise in technology to streamline recruitment processes and boost efficiency. Her innovative use of data and design thinking has led to the development of cutting-edge digital solutions, including AI and automation tools.

In 2023, Rachel’s leadership and strategic prowess earned her a spot among the top 10 talent acquisition professionals by OnCon. Her team at 7-Eleven also garnered recognition as a top 10 talent acquisition team and received the Best Use of Technology Award at the Tiara Awards from TALiNT Partners.

Rachel is an alumnus of Texas A&M University, where she graduated cum laude with a B.B.A. in Finance. She further expanded her global perspective through an International Business study abroad program at the University of Las Vegas in Turin, Italy. Her professional credentials include a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI).

Tiger was founded 41 years ago in Charlottesville, Virginia as a home heating oil distributor. Since it’s humble beginnings with only two trucks on the lot, Tiger has grown to four divisions in multiple states. Those four divisions are Fuel Distribution (Tiger Fuel), Solar Installation (Tiger Solar), Car Washes (Tiger Wash), and Gourmet Gas Stations known as The Markets. Tiger’s first gourmet gas station was founded in 1991 and will grow to it’s 10 location in fall of 2023. Tiger prides itself in being an employee focused company and remains a family owned and operated.

Shaleena Arreguin is an HR professional located in Charlottesville, VA. Recently promoted to Director of HR for Tiger Fuel Company with previous experience as a HR Manager and Generalist. Most of her experience has been working to support c-stores, car washes, and home health agencies. While attending West Virginia University, Shaleena earned her Bachelor’s in Agribusiness Management and Rural Development alongside a minor in Equine Studies. She just recently earned her SHRM-SCP in 2022 further solidifying her place as a genuine human resource professional. Currently she is an active member of the SHRM Charlottesville Chapter serving on the Virginia State SHRM Annual Conference Committee. Shaleena personally prides herself in having resiliency and spreading the essence of positivity both at work and in her personal life.

In her time outside of Tiger Shaleena spends much of her time with her family. Not only her human family but her furry one too. She has a horse named Cricket, two collies named Joey and JJ, and one cat Penny. Shaleena was on her college equestrian team and to this day still very involved in the equestrian community including serving as the Secretary of the Charlottesville Chapter of the Virginia Dressage Association.

Leslie Beale is the visionary CEO and founder of Profusion Strategies, LLC, a leading executive and leadership development firm. With over two decades of experience in building and leading high-performing teams, Leslie has transformed the leadership capabilities of more than 2,000 mission-critical leaders and executives through personalized coaching and team experiences. Her firm's training programs have reached over 5,000 professionals across the United States, consistently helping clients overcome significant challenges and unlock their full potential.

Before launching Profusion Strategies, Leslie spent 15 years as an accomplished attorney and executive in diverse settings, including international corporations, large regional law firms, and high-growth startups. This first-hand experience, combined with her extensive training as a professional coach, facilitator, and trainer, enables Leslie to develop tailored strategies that bridge the gap between leadership principles and practical application.

An experienced speaker, Leslie captivates audiences with her unique blend of real-world insights and in-depth knowledge. She empowers leaders to embrace change, cultivate resilience, and drive organizational success. Leslie's approach goes beyond information, delivering transformative presentations that provide attendees with actionable strategies to elevate their leadership skills and achieve exceptional results. Engaging Leslie Beale for your next event means giving your audience the keys to unlock their leadership potential and drive meaningful change in their organizations.

Taylor Boyette is the Director of Human Resources of Breeze Thru Markets, LLC located in Cary, NC. Breeze Thru Markets is a chain of convenience stores known for its commitment to quality service and community engagement, Taylor provides strategic HR leadership, supporting managers in employee relations, performance development, and compliance.

Taylor earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics from Meredith College, where she was recognized for Human Resources Excellence. Before joining Breeze Thru Markets in 2022, she spent several years as an HR Professional with Luihn VantEdge Partners, LLC, supporting 54 quick-service restaurant locations. She obtained her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification in 2022, demonstrating her commitment to HR excellence and professional growth.

Outside of work, Taylor enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two boys.

Nate Brazier has over 20 years of experience working in the retail and convenience store industry. Nate is a people first leader and is recognized for his unique ability to inspire, build, and lead high performing teams to deliver a fun and exceptional employee and customer experience.

He currently serves as President and CEO of Stinker Stores where his goal is to ensure that Stinker delivers on their purpose of making our world a better place – one employee, one customer and one communityat a time by being a Bright Spot in the lives we touch.Stinker serves thousands of customers per day in 106 stores located in Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming.

Nate is a proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma. In addition, he holds an MBA from the University of Utah-David Eccles School of Business.He currently serves on the board of the Idaho PetroleumMarketers and Convenience Store Association, the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Idaho Petroleum Storage Tank Fund Board of Directors and is a member of the Winsight/Technomic Operator Advisory Council for the convenience store industry.

As the Chief Human Resources Officer at COC Properties, a holding company managing diverse operating businesses, Kristin Congelli leads strategic talent initiatives that align people and culture with organizational success.

Kristin began her journey at COC Properties in 2016 at Breeze Thru Markets, spearheading the creation and implementation of HR strategies for the growing convenience store chain. Immersing herself in the industry, she attended her first NACS HR Forum in 2017, gaining critical insights and forging a professional network that remains a foundation of her career.

In 2022, Kristin transitioned to her current role at COC Properties, broadening her scope to support multiple entities, including Cary Oil Company, Mackenan Property Group, and Petroleum Information Exchange (PIX). As CHRO, she serves as a strategic architect for talent, driving cultural alignment and tailoring HR solutions to meet the distinct needs of each business under the COC Properties umbrella.

A graduate of Meredith College, Kristin holds a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Human Resources. A college athlete, she brings the same drive and teamwork to her professional endeavors. Inspired by her early experiences in her family’s furniture business, Kristin’s passion for family businesses continues today as she collaborates with the Stephenson family, stewarding their businesses while honoring their values.

With a career grounded in people and purpose, Kristin is committed to fostering cultures where individuals and organizations thrive.

Melissa Brown began her career with the Commission as a Bi-lingual Investigator in August of 2016. Five years later was promoted to the State and Local Government Coordinator for the district at the Nashville Area Office. In December 2022, Melissa was promoted to the Outreach and Education Coordinator for the Memphis District, where she currently serves.

Prior to her employment with the EEOC, Melissa served in the U.S. Army. After completing her military service to our country, she held assignments with the Department of Defense in Family Readiness and Drug and Alcohol Prevention & Treatment Programs. Melissa holds a B.S. in Management and an M.A. In Education from Austin Peay State University. She also holds an MBA in Strategic Leadership and Project Management from Amberton University.

Jenna Collard is responsible for educational programming at NACS to include NACS Show Education Sessions, Executive Education, and other educational programming such as HR Forum, Leadership Forum, and industry webinars.

Prior to joining NACS in 2017, Jenna worked as a corporate trainer for a Washington DC based real estate information company for several years. She earned a BA in Sociology & American Studies from University of Maryland and an M.Ed. in Adult Education and Training from Colorado State University.

In her spare time Jenna loves to come up with new adventures to take her daughters on, travel to take with friends, and run.

Annie St. Romain Gauthier is the CFO/Co-CEO at St. Romain Oil Company in Mansura, Louisiana.  She is responsible for the company's finance and accounting, risk management, HR and strategic and culture development. A third-generation co-owner, she works with her 2 brothers and 300+ other team members to refuel & refresh the Louisiana communities where they operate.  After vowing never to work for her family's business, she worked for the Louisiana Oil Marketers & Convenience Store Association (LOMCSA) for 3 years and fell in love with the industry.  She joined the family business in 2005. She has since served in various leadership roles with LOMCSA, culminating with President in 2017.  She has served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Convenience Stores since 2018.  She earned her Master of Convenience certification from NACS in 2021.

Annie earned her BA in British history at LSU, then discovered that law school was not for her.  She took a sabbatical after her first semester and never returned.  

Annie is a founding member of Corporate Works of Mercy Foundation, a private 501(c)3 focused on helping neighbors in need by living the biblical corporal works of mercy. Her purpose is to chart tomorrow's course from yesterday's lessons.    She enjoys cooking, baking, reading, traveling and planning trips (especially to Britain, Ireland and France).  Annie & high school sweetheart, Adam, live in their hometown of Mansura, LA, and are parents to 3 children: Samuel, Ellen and Henry.  

Jayme Gough is the Director of Research and Development at NACS. She joined NACS in June of 2017 after having worked for the Alexandria City Public Schools for several years. In addition to administering the NACS State of the Industry Compensation survey and analyzing data for the annual SOI Compensation Report, she manages the NACS category definitions and assists with the State of the Industry enterprise and consumer insights portfolio. She has a passion for helping businesses achieve success using data-drive strategies. Jayme holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Bates College and is a certified project manager.

Kayla Hall is Vice President of HR at Refuel Operating Company. Founded in 2008, Refuel is a premium retail fuel distribution and convenience store brand, proudly operating across the markets of South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas. We are fueled by a drive to innovate and grow and we have no intention of slowing down.

Kayla joined Refuel in July of 2022, as the Director of Training and Engagement and quickly took on additional responsibilities and more and more of the HR department including Compensation and Talent Acquisition. She earned her SHRM-CP certification and has been leading the full HR team since January of 2024 and was promoted to VP in July of 2024. Prior to coming to Refuel, Kayla spent most of her career with Starbucks in a variety of roles supporting Operations, Training, and Development. Since coming to Refuel, Kayla has grown a huge appreciation for the C-store industry and has really enjoyed getting to be a part of such a rapidly growing company. The leadership team is united by a common goal: to make a positive impact on our communities and ensure our team members feel valued and supported and that is something she is proud to be a part of!

In her free time, Kayla loves to spend time with her husband Christopher and her three girls, Audrey (14) , Nora (12), and Charlotte (10). Kayla loves beach days with her family and supporting her girls at Volleyball games and Dance recitals. You can also find her baking all things sourdough whenever she gets the chance.

Crystal Halsey is a seasoned HR and Training leader with over 20 years of experience, including more than 8 years at GPM Investments, LLC. GPM Investments is a wholly owned subsidiary of ARKO Corp. and the sixth-largest convenience store chain, operating over 3,200 locations across 33 states and Washington D.C. With a focus on retail, wholesale, petroleum supply, and fleet fueling, GPM Investments provides fuel and merchandise to millions of consumers daily.

As the Director of Training and Leadership Development, Crystal leads the Training Department, driving the development and execution of strategic training and leadership programs. She also manages GPM's HRIS and LMS systems, aligning HR strategies with business objectives to achieve measurable results. Crystal’s expertise extends to fostering a high-performance culture, balancing the needs of individuals and the organization, and ensuring compliance with employment laws and training compliance.

Outside work, Crystal enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her six children and two fur babies.

Julie joined Casey's in 1994 as Legal Counsel as its first employment law counsel. She became Vice President of Human Resources/Legal Counsel in 2003 with oversight, in part, of the departments of Human Resources, Payroll, and the Child Development Center. In 2010, Julie was promoted to Senior Vice President, Corporate General Counsel and Human Resources. In August of 2015, her area of focus changed slightly to align with her last position of Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary where she oversaw the Company’s legal, compliance, regulatory and risk areas housed primarily in the departments under her direct supervision of Legal, Enterprise Risk Management, Risk Management (including Worker’s Compensation, Security and Food Safety), and the Project Management Office. She also served as the Company’s secretary with oversight of SEC compliance and coordination of Board matters. Julie served on the NACS Board of Directors for many years culminating with the position of Chairman from 2020-2021.

Before joining Casey's, Julie was an attorney for Shearer, Templer, Pingel &Kaplan. Julie has been active in a number of organizations including the Association of Corporate Counsel (Iowa Chapter), Iowa State Bar Association (past chair of the Corporate Counsel Section), Drake University Law School Board of Counselors and Delta Theta Phi International Law Fraternity, where she served four years as its president. She currently serves on the non-profit Boards for the Wildwood Hills Ranch of Iowa, the James Arthur Albert Foundation, and the Affiliated House Corporation of Gama Phi Beta at Iowa State University. She is also a board member of SuckerPunch Gourmet LLC.

Julie earned a J.D. from Drake University Law School and a B.A. in political science from Iowa State University. She and her husband Tom are the parents of four children and 1 granddaughter.

About Casey’s: Headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Casey’s General Stores, Inc. operates more than 2,400 convenience stores in 16 Midwestern states. Casey’s offers self-service fuel, a wide selection of grocery items and an array of freshly prepared food items. Among the most popular of Casey’s prepared food are its made-from-scratch pizzas, donuts, subs and sandwiches. Casey’s operates from three company distribution centers, enabling an approximate delivery of 90% of in-store products as well as 55% of fuel.

Erin Matosziuk is Assistant Vice President of Talent at Sheetz, Inc., a major restaurant and convenience chain across the Mid-Atlantic. She is responsible for Talent Acquisition, Talent Development and HR Technology and Services with the objective of maximizing the performance and potential of the company’s diverse workforce.

Erin also serves on the Board of Directors for the Sheetz Share the Love Employee Relief Fund.

Erin joined Sheetz in October 2011, as the Manger of Employee Relations and served in that capacity for six years. Prior to Sheetz her roles included, Human Resources Generalist for General Cable Corp., Director of Sales for Holiday Inn Express/Hampton Inn, and General Manager of Perkins Family Restaurant.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in management with a minor in marketing from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and a master’s degree in human resource management from Saint Francis University. Convenience Store News recognized Erin as one of the “Top Women in Convenience” in 2022. She’s also established herself in the human resources field by earning several certifications, including Professional in Human ResourcesÒ, Strategic Workforce Planning, Korn Ferry Leadership Architecture, Korn Ferry 360, Korn Ferry Assessment of Leadership Potential and Korn Ferry Strategic Effectiveness Architecture.

In her free time, Erin enjoys reading and traveling with family. She and her husband Mike reside in Altoona, Pennsylvania, with their two children: Connor (18) and Jake (16).

Elizabeth Pierce is a financially trained CEO/COO with international retail experience who thrives in fast-paced high-growth environments. She is a natural leader who designs and executes complex strategies to navigate business transformation and growth. Her proudest moments are in building and developing multicultural and multifunctional teams that drive business performance as well as individual growth.

Elizabeth currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of EG America.

Before being named COO in 2024, Elizabeth was President of Applegreen USA. She was responsible for overseeing the company's expansion into a $1bn revenue enterprise, managing 280 locations across 18 states, and leading a team of 8,000 employees. Elizabeth played a key role in the development of strategic partnerships and the integration of multiple acquisitions, ensuring the company's growth and success in the US market. Prior to relocating to the US in 2017, Elizabeth held various finance exec roles at Applegreen Ireland and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Elizabeth earned a Masters of Accounting from Michael Smurfit School of Business, Dublin, and a Bachelor of Business & Legal Studies from University College Dublin. She is also a Chartered Accountant (ACA/FCA) and holds a Diploma in International Financial Reporting from the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Kevin Paul Scott has traveled to six continents and spoken to leaders from more than 100 countries.  Kevin co-founded the leadership consultancy ADDO, which is Latin for "Inspire." For consecutive years, ADDO was the #1 Small business on the Best Places to Work list in Atlanta. ADDO developed the national Chick-fil-A Leader Academy program, the Baltimore Ravens Leadership Institute, and helps companies attract and develop top talent. Kevin is the author of three books, including his latest The Lens. Kevin is a frequent guest on numerous media outlets, including Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC.

With over 20 years of experience in Human Resources, Jennifer Turner has consistently demonstrated her ability to align HR strategies with business objectives, fostering a proactive approach to people management. As a senior HR leader, she collaborates with executive leadership to optimize talent management, enhance employee engagement, and ensure compliance across all HR functions. Passionate about creating a positive employee experience, Jennifer focuses on developing performance-based compensation structures, integrating wellness initiatives, and designing leadership development programs that empower employees and strengthen workplace culture.

Prior to joining Cary Oil in 2009, Jennifer held key HR leadership roles, including Division HR Manager, Training Manager, and Recruiter, at industry-leading companies such as Waste Industries, IBM, and GlaxoSmithKline.

A native of Cary, North Carolina, Jennifer earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Archaeology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her master’s in human resources from North Carolina A&T State University. Committed to enhancing the lives of those around her, she actively volunteers with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, EENP (Ears, Eyes, Nose, and Paws), and the Raleigh Rescue Mission.