The four days of NACS Show general sessions will dive into the role of inspiration, from creating compelling customer experiences and building exceptional teams to inspiring innovation and defining how purpose and inspiration intertwine. The general sessions will take place October 3-6 during the NACS Show in Atlanta.
The NACS Show brings together 25,000 global convenience retail industry professionals for four days of learning, buying and selling, networking and fun—from the 50-plus education sessions, four general sessions, multiple networking opportunities and the 425,000-square-foot expo.
General Session highlights include:
- October 3: Kevin Paul Scott, co-founder of leadership consultancy ADDO Worldwide, will deliver the opening keynote and introduce the case of inspiration, a theme that will carry throughout the week.
- October 4: A focus on how inspiration can elevate the customer experience. “The Power of Road Trips” panel will feature Stephanie Stuckey (chair, Stuckey’s Corp.), Al Hebert (reporter/news producer and founder of “Gas Station Gourmet”) and Stafford Shurden (farmer, restauranteur and creator of “Gas Station Tailgate Review”).
- October 5: Inspiration discussions related to operations, beginning with a “Redefining Your Workforce” panel featuring Zeynep Ton, professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, president of The Good Jobs Institute and author of the new book “The Case for Good Jobs: How Great Companies Bring Dignity, Pay & Meaning to Everyone’s Work.” Another panel discussion on “Inspiring Innovation” will feature industry innovation and technology leaders, moderated by Gray Taylor, executive director of Conexxus.
- October 6: Actor, author, philanthropist and WWE Superstar John Cena will talk about how inspiration can lead to remarkable achievements and make a difference in everyday life.
Cena has been the face of the WWE for more than two decades and is a 16-time World Champion. He has carved out a career as an actor and host and is also a best-selling author of the book “Do Your Best Every Day to Do Your Best Every Day,” a collection of inspirational quotes geared toward children, and “Be a Work in Progress,” a collection for adults.
Cena devotes much of his time and energy working on behalf of numerous charitable causes. He is the only celebrity to grant nearly 700 wishes with Make-A-Wish.
In addition, new episodes of NACS Ideas 2 Go videos will debut throughout the four days of general sessions.