PDI Technologies will host its second annual PDI Connections Live event starting this weekend, August 24-27, in Denver. The company reimagined its decades-long PDI Users Conference last year to focus on more in-person connections, networking, hands-on workshops and industry thought leadership.

The 2025 event will feature:

• Over 160 classes and hands-on workshops for PDI users.
• 13 Market and Industry Leadership panels with forward-thinking industry experts.
• Networking opportunities, including “Coffee Talk” roundtable discussions and speed networking rounds, with over 1,000 attendees.
• An expo with 31 exhibitors and 18 PDI booths.

“Connections Live is one of my favorite events of the year, where 1,000+ customers and peers come together for networking, learning and the kind of conversations you won’t find anywhere else,” said Bethany Allee, chief marketing officer at PDI. “It's a dynamic week where leading experts and the PDI team demonstrate how we're converging solutions across the ecosystem to create meaningful impact.”

A key focus of this year’s event is loyalty. A general session will feature a panel on loyalty programs with insights from Jessica Starnes, director of loyalty and tobacco category manager at Weigel’s Inc., Henry Miller, marketing manager at Shell Mobility North America, Shell, and Amber Keen, director, mobile operations at Phillips 66.

“This year, I'm especially excited to see loyalty take center stage in our general session and hear directly from our customers about their loyalty journeys,” said Allee. “With so much energy around deepening customer connections, it's the perfect forum to explore what's working, what's next and how we can deliver even more value to the customers we serve—and the millions of consumers they serve every day.”

Other sessions will focus on loyalty topics such as loyalty marketing best practices, using data for personalization and loyalty app best practices.

And as AI continues to impact retail operations, customer experience and back office and corporate processes, Neda Dibai, chief information officer at PDI Technologies, and Bill Reich, Sr. director, product management, AI & Agentforce specialist at Salesforce, will discuss how AI is driving smarter decision-making, improving efficiency and enabling more personalized, connected experiences across the store during a session titled “The AI-Powered Retail Experience.”

Linnea Geiss, chief operating officer at PDI Technologies, and Lisa Blalock, president of BP US Convenience & Mobility and a NACS Board of Directors member, will share lessons on leadership, innovation and navigating change in the convenience and fuel industry during “Lessons in Leadership for Everyone from Women in Convenience.”

“This inspiring and inclusive conversation is for everyone—regardless of role or gender—who wants to lead with impact, support diverse teams and shape the future of retail,” said PDI.

According to PDI, other sessions at the event will include:

• What's Up at the Pump—Fuel Trends Today and Tomorrow with GasBuddy: Join GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan as he talks with Lonnie McQuirter, owner and director of operations at 36 Lyn Refuel Station. Learn how macroeconomic influences and regional variations have impacted our industry over the past 25 years and what’s next in this sometimes volatile fuel landscape.
• Gaming Your Way to Customer Hearts and Wallets: Gamification isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a powerful tool for customer engagement and loyalty. Learn how top brands are using game mechanics to build emotional connections, increase transaction frequency and drive app usage.
• The Global Road Ahead for EV and Alternative Fuels: As EV adoption rates change globally and new fuels gain traction, what does the future look like for convenience and fuel retailers? Join industry experts as they explore how infrastructure, policy, corporate sustainability initiatives and consumer demand are reshaping energy strategies.
• Decoding Gen Z and Millennials with Data: Unlock the purchasing power of younger consumers through data-driven market intelligence. Experts from Blue Bear Creative, a social media-first digital agency built to help CPG and restaurant brands grow sales, will unpack what these shoppers expect across hot categories like Better-for-You (BFY) snacks, Ready-to-Drink (RTD) beverages, cannabis, foodservice and more.
• Unlocking New Revenue with C-Store Media Networks: Retail media is a hot topic—and c-stores are uniquely positioned to benefit when they transform their digital and physical assets. Learn how electronic shelf labels, digital signage and other channels help connect brands and shoppers in-store and before they arrive. This session will cover the building blocks of a successful retail media network and show how to gain a competitive edge.

NACS Daily editors attended PDI Connections Live in Washington, D.C., last summer. Check out their top takeaways from the event, which highlighted personalization, how to grow baskets and how to effectively incorporate new technology and use AI going forward.

Learn more about the 2025 PDI Connections Live event and see the full agenda.