
The future of convenience is changing, and leaders—like you—need strategies and insights to remain competitive and be empowered to facilitate leadership that drives growth while navigating disruption.
The exclusive 2025 NACS Leadership Forum is a 3-day event that brings together top executives of industry-leading companies to discuss and explore how to lead in today’s hyper convenience-focused world. In a retail environment that moves at an unprecedented speed, you will discover the steps top retailers are taking to grow and scale their organizations.
Attendees will explore the future of convenience through world-renowned speakers and industry leaders during sessions packed with insights and top-of-mind opportunities for convenience retailers.
In addition, superior high-touch networking opportunities set the Leadership Forum apart from other industry events. During the 3-day program, Top-to-Top Business Meetings between participating Hunter Club supplier companies and invited retailers are the doorway to uncovering new opportunities that unlock growth, innovation and expand the shopper experience.
This exclusive event is a powerful catalyst to align leaders, develop solutions, explore new strategies, and fuel collaboration.
To be considered for the 2025 NACS Leadership Forum, visit the registration tab and complete the request form.
This agenda is regularly updated. Check back often for updates.
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8:00 am – 9:00 am
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Retail Engagement Committee Breakfast
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9:00 am – 12:00 pm
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Retail Engagement Committee Meeting
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11:00 am – 5:30 pm
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Registration Open
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1:00 pm – 4:55 pm
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Top-to-Top Business Appointments (by invitation only)
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5:00 pm – 5:15 pm
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Welcome from the 2025 Leadership Forum Moderator
Tom Brennan, Chief Merchandising Officer, Casey's General Stores, Inc
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5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
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Leadership Masterclass: Leading with Purpose
Brian Hannasch, Special Advisor and Former President and CEO, Alimentation Couche-Tard
Henry Armour, President and CEO, NACS
Brian Hannasch has led one of the world's leading convenience and fuel retail operations for 25 years. His industry experience, business acumen and leadership have helped drive Alimentation Couche-Tard’s strategic growth and performance. With more than 16,000 stores across 31 countries and territories, Brian will share how Couche-Tard capitalizes on opportunities within the evolving global convenience retail landscape.
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6:15 pm – 6:30 pm
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Master of Convenience Awards Presentation
Join us as we celebrate our new NACS Master of Convenience recipients. This designation honors those who have prioritized self-improvement by successfully completing three or more of the five NACS Executive Education programs. With the support of their organizations, these individuals are contributing to the growth and excellence of their company and the convenience retail industry as a whole.
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6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
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NACS Welcome Reception
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Evening
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Open Evening for Dinner
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8:00 am – 5:00 pm
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Registration
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8:00 am – 9:00 am
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Leadership Breakfast
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9:00 am – 10:00 am
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The Transformative Power of Food
Chef Jeff Henderson, Award Winning Chef, New York Times Best-Selling author, Entrepreneur & Motivational Speaker
Jeff began his culinary career in an unlikely place: prison. While serving a nearly 10-year sentence, he discovered a passion for cooking, which led to executive chef positions at the Bellagio and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Jeff will share his life-changing experience and insights on how foodservice can grow your business and transform lives by strengthening ties among your staff and community.
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10:00 am – 11:00 am
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Slowly, Then Suddenly: The Trip Driver Pivot to Food
David Portalatin, Senior Vice President and Industry Advisor, Food and Foodservice, Circana
The industry’s food-forward focus looks like an exponential curve, beginning slowly and accelerating at an increasingly fast rate. In 2023, the industry saw prepared foods rank No. 1 in inside sales contribution. And with gross margins exceeding 50%, retailers are embracing food as an important trip driver, basket builder, and differentiator. David will examine this pivot and share with convenience retail can win against QSRs, fast-casuals, and delivery services.
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11:00 am – 11:20 am
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Networking Break
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11:20 am – 12:15 pm
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Building a Food Forward Culture
Jessica Williams, Founder & CEO, Food Forward Thinking
Philip Santini, Sr. Director of Advertising & Food Service, The Rutter's Companies
Dr. Jay Ellingson, Chief Science Officer, Kwik Trip, Inc
Building a food culture impacts every aspect of your operation. Going beyond menu development, organizations that excel in food understand how their organization's programs, processes and performance take the requirements of being food-forward into consideration. Our panel will talk about the elements of their food culture and share ideas for retailers of all sizes.
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12:15 pm – 1:15 pm
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Lunch
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1:15 pm – 1:20 pm
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Overview of Convenience Gives Back
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1:20 pm – 2:00 pm
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The Changing Role of the Forecourt
John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute
Art Sebastian, CEO, NexChapter, Inc
Joseph Bona, President, Bona Design Lab, Inc.
As the retailer value proposition continues to evolve, operators are looking at their forecourts with fresh eyes. By leveraging digital technology, site design and signage, retailers can identify new ways to enhance their forecourt and streamline their offer with clearer communications and messaging. Our industry panel will explore the how operators can maximize the full potential of their footprint to grow awareness, drive conversions and boost revenues.
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2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
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Customer Experience Magic
Duncan Wardle, Founder, id8 & innov8; Former Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney
Today's customers will seek personalized and seamless experiences, which can help you drive engagement and create memorable shopping trips to your stores. Duncan will share insights from his 20-plus years at Disney to create “Customer Experience Magic” by better understanding your customers and transforming your company’s culture with amazing results.
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3:00 pm – 4:15 pm
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Convenience Gives Back
Join your industry peers as we roll-up our sleeves and make a difference in the fight against hunger.
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3:30 pm – 5:25 pm
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Top-to-Top Business Appointments (by invitation only)
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6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
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NACS Gala Reception
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7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
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NACS Gala Dinner
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9:00 pm – 12:00am
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NACSPAC VIP Party
(must be a NACSPAC contributor to attend, please reach out to Katie Bohny with any questions)
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8:00 am – 11:00 am
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Registration
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8:00 am – 9:00 am
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Leadership Breakfast
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9:00 am – 10:00 am
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Winning the Dinner Daypart
Farley Kaiser, Sr. Director, Culinary Innovation, McLane Company, Inc.
Joey Hobson, Chief Marketing Officer, Maverik
Mark Jordan, CEO, Refuel Operating Company
When 4:00 pm rolls around, an estimated four out of five consumers don’t know what they are having for dinner. This session will highlight opportunities for convenience retailers to leverage their location, proximity and foodservice offers to capture share of the dinner daypart. Our panel of industry experts will share ideas you can use to develop and grow evening mealtime solutions.
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10:00 am – 11:00 am
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Innovation Lessons From Our Collective Past
Jason Liebig, Star and Lead Storyteller for the History Channel's hit television series, "The Food That Built America" and "The Mega-Brands That Built America"
In this session, CPG and mega-brand expert storyteller Jason Liebig will share entertaining and insightful brand tales that highlight the importance of the experience side of our business, both from company and customer-facing perspectives. With a passionate lens focused on brands and branding, Jason brings to life a singular continuity of innovation knowledge developed from a decades-long pursuit that has given him his reputation as America’s most notable brand historian. You'll hear unforgettable stories of triumph, missteps, fortune, and lessons learned—each offering actionable insights you can use to elevate your business. Leaving you energized, inspired, and equipped with fresh strategies to propel your organization into its next growth phase.
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11:00 am - 11:10 am
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Closing Remarks
Henry Armour, President and CEO, NACS
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11:30 am – 12:30 pm
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Committee Lunch (for committee members only)
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11:45 pm – 12:15 pm
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Supplier Executive Committee Meeting
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12:30 pm – 3:30 pm
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Supplier Board Meeting
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12:30 pm – 4:30 pm
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Research & Technology Committee Meeting
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3:00 pm – 3:15 pm
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Supplier Board Executive Session & Debrief
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6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
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Joint Supplier Board and Research & Technology Dinner
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CEO and President
NACS
Read bio >>
Henry Armour is the president and CEO of NACS. He grew up working in his family’s retail businesses, Armour Oil Company, rising to the position of vice president and COO in 1977. In 1980, he joined The Standard Oil Company of Ohio, where he served as manager of development strategies. He later founded West Star Corporation, which grew to include 59 NOW! convenience stores, truck stops and quick-service restaurants in the Pacific Northwest until he sold the company in 2004. In 1988, Armour founded Epoch Corporation, which operated retail enterprises in California.
He became president and CEO of NACS in July 2005, having also served as the association’s chairman in 2002 and 2003. Armour earned a BA in economics from Stanford University, an MSc in economics from the London School of Economics, and an MBA and PhD in economics from Stanford University.
President
Bona Design Lab
Read bio >>
Joseph is a highly respected and internationally recognized branding and design leader in the global convenience and fuels industry. With over 30 years of industry knowledge and experience along with a proven track record, he has developed leading edge solutions for may global organizations by bringing the right elements of their business into focus to drive growth and increase performance. His approach extends beyond achieving good-looking design, he begins with a deep understanding of consumer insights, benchmarking against leading competitors and developing sound business strategies and operational fundamentals that drive the creative vision and bringing to life real-world solutions that integrate the science of retail with the art of design.
Prior to establishing BONA DESIGN LAB in 2016, Joseph was co-founder and President of GroupRed which was he started in 2001 and later merged with CBX in 2005. During his career, he has personally directed and guided a wide range of initiatives for such companies as Shell, Topaz, PetroChina, Oxxo, MOL, AMPM, Wawa, Duane Reade and Sak’s Fifth Avenue to name a few. His extensive experience spans six continents providing him a unique perspective on global trends, as well as practical knowledge of how to adapt and respond to local markets. Joseph is a frequent speaker at NACS, NRF, Convenience Summit Europe & also was a featured expert on the History Channel’s, Modern Marvels series bringing his expertise to television.
Chief Merchandising Officer
Casey's General Stores, Inc
Read bio >>
Tom is the Chief Merchandising Officer of Casey’s and he has been in the role since the end of October 2019. He is responsible for reinventing the guest experience in stores and for the brand. Tom leads an amazing team of merchandising, food service, marketing, advertising, and guest insights professionals who work every day to bring relevant, engaging, and convenient offerings along with delicious food to Casey’s guests. He joined Casey’s from CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., the parent of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, where he was Chief Operating Officer responsible for the operations and support of over 3,000 restaurants across the United States. Prior to CKE, Tom spent 11 years at 7-Eleven in a variety of leadership roles in merchandising, category management, store development and operations. Before 7-Eleven, he worked in the financial planning and analysis group at Target Corporation and he also served six years active duty as an Armor Officer in the U.S. Army. He holds a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Chief Scientific Officer
Kwik Trip Inc.
Read bio >>
Jay Ellingson, Ph.D., is the Chief Scientific Officer at Kwik Trip Inc. in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and leads the food safety sciences behind the company’s food protection system. In 1995, he received his Ph.D. in molecular microbiology from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He did his postdoctoral fellowship training was with the USDA, Agriculture Research Service, National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, where he developed and patented a molecular diagnostic method for the detection of Johne’s disease in dairy cattle.
As the director of Marshfield Clinic Laboratories–Food Safety Services in Marshfield, Wisconsin, Jay developed and patented a molecular diagnostic method for detection of E. coli 0157:H7. He is an adjunct professor in the Microbiology Department of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and has mentored and graduated several Masters of Science students in the Microbiology program.
Executive Director
Transportation Energy Institute
Read bio >>
John Eichberger is Executive Director of the Transportation Energy Institute. Founded by NACS in 2013 as the Fuels Institute, the Transportation Energy Institute is a non-profit social welfare organization that publishes fact-based research designed to answer relevant market questions, not advocate for any specific outcome. Led by a diverse Board of transportation experts, the Institute is an objective and collaborative research organization that does not advocate. Its peer-reviewed reports are geared toward all industry stakeholders and, because of its non-advocacy approach, it has become the most diverse organization in the transportation sector.
Previously, Eichberger served more than 14 years at NACS representing the convenience and fuel retailing industry before the media and federal government.
With more than 25 years of related experience, Eichberger is a recognized expert on the transportation energy market.
Special Advisor and Former President and CEO
Alimentation Couche-Tard
Read bio >>
Brian worked for BP-Amoco for 12 years before joining Couche-Tard in 2001. He was named COO in 2010 and appointed president and CEO in 2014, with oversight for the global operations of the company. Over the last 20 years he has been involved in leading the business strategy and operations of Couche-Tard together with the Executive Committee. Brian earned a B.A. in finance from Iowa State University and an M.B.A. in marketing and finance from the University of Chicago.
Award Winning Chef
New York Times Best-Selling author
Entrepreneur & Motivational Speaker
Read bio >>
From humble beginnings in South Central Los Angeles to imprisoned drug dealer, and now an award-winning celebrity chef and best-selling author, Chef Jeff is a role model for anyone who needs the encouragement to reinvent their lives. Since he discovered his passion and gift for cooking in the unlikeliest of places –prison –Jeff has completely turned his life around, and today serves as a popular and powerful voice for self-transformation. Jeff started his professional culinary career as a cook for Chef Robert Gadsby in Los Angeles. His first chef position was at the Coronado Island Marriott. He went on to work at Ritz-Carlton, Hotel Bel-Air and L'Ermitage (currently Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills).
In 2000 Jeff left Los Angeles to take a chef position at Caesars Palace where he made history as the first African American Executive Chef. A few years later, he accepted a position at Bellagio and made history once again. Jeff is the creator and star of the Food Network's reality series, The Chef Jeff Project, former host of Family Style with Chef Jeff, and the star of Flip My Food. In his latest book If You Can See It You Can Be It (Smiley Books/Hay House), he reveals his hard-knock, yet transformative, life lessons to help others realize their potential, discover their hidden business aptitudes, make life-changing decisions, and gain a new foothold on the ladder to success.
Jeff’s story has been featured on Oprah's Life Class, Good Morning America, Today, CNN, ABC News, The Steve Harvey Show and in major publications such as USA Today, People Magazine, New York Times, Newsweek, the Washington Post, and many others. His life story is being turned into a feature film by Sony Pictures based on his New York Times Best-Selling memoir Cooked (HarperCollins).
Jeff resides in Las Vegas with his wife Stacy and their five children.
Chief Marketing Officer
Maverik
Read bio >>
Joey Hobson is the CMO- at Maverik—with in-store P&L accountability including everything from Foodservice/Beer/CSD/Candy to Cigarettes, Snacks and Dispensed Beverage. He oversees the Merchandising, Foodservice, Category Management and Marketing teams.
Joey joined Maverik in 2011 and has loved nearly every minute of it. Prior to joining Maverik, Joey worked in the consumer-packaged goods industry at Kimberly Clark, working on Huggies, Scott and Cottonelle brands in various Brand Marketing and Shopper Marketing roles. He spent two years in Bentonville calling on Walmart before he decided he loved his wife and life much more than work and decided to move on to work in the last great frontier of retail, the Convenience Channel.
Joey graduated with an MBA from Brigham Young University with an emphasis in marketing. He earned his BS in Global Trade at Brigham Young University.
Joey, his wife and four kids live in Farmington, UT. His favorite adventures include mountain biking, wake surfing and traveling with his wife. He loves BYU athletics which has been a lifelong frustration with some highs and more lows, but at least BYU beat Utah last time they played.
CEO
Refuel Operating Company
Read bio >>
Refuel was founded in Charleston, SC, in 2008 by Mark Jordan, following the successful creation of an earlier C-store company, which Mark sold to The Pantry in 2005. Following that, Mark improved his earlier thoughts on convenience, design, and execution. Refuel was launched with the intention of being the best in class. Forming a partnership with private equity sponsor First Reserve in 2019, there have been 18 acquisitions over five years and 24 new additional builds over the same period, bringing the store count to 230 stores today. With one convenience/food-only location in downtown Charleston, their stores now span South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Recently, Refuel rebuilt a store in Rolling Fork, MS, which was destroyed by a tornado in 2023. This rebuild was a proud moment for the company due to the speed Refuel (DoubleQuick in Mississippi) was able to mobilize, rebuild, and begin serving the community again.
Mark graduated from The Citadel in 1993 and has completed the Urban Economics and Real Estate program at The University of Wisconsin, Value Investing at Columbia University, NACS Financial Leadership at Wharton, among many other continuing education programs.
Mark is a competitive sailor and loves to travel. He has four children: Caroline, Graham, Thomas, and Zoe.
Senior Director of Food and Beverage
McLane Company
Read bio >>
Chef Farley Kaiser is Senior Director of Food and Beverage for McLane Company, one of the largest distributors in America serving convenience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. Farley leads a team focused on developing innovative programs for quality food service in convenience stores. Her strategic vision and culinary skills have been instrumental in reshaping the c-store food landscape, most recently through launches of McLane Fresh and McLane’s Innovation Kitchen—McLane’s innovative retail foodservice program featuring high-quality, fresh food and beverage brands with on-trend products for all dayparts that can be customized for retailers of any size.
Farley has more than 25 years of experience in the culinary industry. As a chef educator for more than 10 years, including a role as Culinary Department Chair at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, she mentored aspiring chefs and played a role in helping them start their own journey into the culinary industry. Farley jumped into the world of research and development as the corporate executive chef for Buffalo Wild Wings where she focused on core menu item optimization as well as innovative LTO development for the national brand. She then joined the team at Wawa where she was introduced to convenience store processes launching many menu items over the years. After managing food and beverage for GetGo she then headed to McLane’s headquarters in central Texas, where she resides with her family. Outside of her professional achievements, Farley is a dedicated wife and mother of three, a passionate chef, teacher, and speaker. She’s also a crafting enthusiast and an avid lover of the outdoors, often found cheering on her kids at their sports events.
Farley’s commitment to culinary excellence and innovation has made her a respected figure in the industry, driving the evolution of the culinary industry in the U.S.
Star and Lead Storyteller for the History Channel's hit television series, "The Food That Built America" and "The Mega-Brands That Built America"
Read bio >>
Jason Liebig is a current star and lead storyteller for History Channel’s hit television series, “The Food That Built America” and “The Mega-Brands That Built America”.
With career origins in marketing and story creation for DC Comics’ Superman/Batman and Marvel Comics’ X-Men respectively, his early lens into consumer fandom served him as he built his reputation and established his status as a unique voice in the realms of CPG brand history and innovation.
Having consulted on ideation, innovation and design for brands such as Oreo and Skittles, he notably oversaw Big League Chew’s successful first female mascot rollout, and more recently brought his singular continuity of innovation knowledge to Ferrara’s Nerds brand, which has seen unprecedented success since 2021, growing from $50 million to a $500 million brand today.
Behind the scenes, he has drawn from his unusual archive and collection of vintage consumer brand packaging of over 100,000 pieces to consult for hit period television shows including Mad Men, Stranger Things, Young Sheldon, and The Goldbergs.
As a business speaker, he has a reputation for using his passionate storytelling and knowledge of brand history along with his innovation and consumer insight to provide inspirational and entertaining tales that offer not only applicable lessons but also promise to change the way his audience approaches the challenges and opportunities they’re facing.
At heart, Jason considers himself a dreamer who has successfully achieved so many of his own aspirations and wants to offer the encouragement and tools for those looking to achieve their own.
Senior Vice President and Industry Advisor
Food and Foodservice, Circana
Read bio >>
David Portalatin is a trusted industry advisor who works closely with leading food manufacturers and retailers as well
as foodservice distributors, manufacturers, and operators. He shares data and deep expertise on how U.S. consumers
eat and drink, their attitudes and motivations, their personal characteristics, and their use of restaurants and other
foodservice outlets. Portalatin is also the author of Circana’s Annual Report on Eating Patterns in America, a compilation
of food and foodservice research.
Previously, Portalatin was Circana’s analyst in the convenience retailing, automotive aftermarket, and motor fuels
industries. Before joining the company in 1999, he held various positions in foodservice wholesale distribution and
convenience retailing.
Portalatin is a frequent speaker at food and foodservice industry events, corporate conferences, and executive meetings.
A recognized industry thought leader, his comments have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal,
The Washington Post, and many other national media outlets.
Sr. Director of Advertising & Food Service
The Rutter's Companies
Read bio >>
Originally from New Jersey and having worked professionally in NYC for 11 years, Philip made his way to Lancaster, PA, where he has been part of the Rutter’s team since August of 2023. In his position, he oversees Rutter’s Award-Winning food service program, as well as their advertising department. With an impressive background in the culinary and marketing fields, Philip brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this exciting role.
Prior to joining Rutter’s, Philip played a pivotal role in launching the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) program at the Tin Building in NYC, working with world-renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and the Howard Hughes Corporation. Additionally, he served as the General Manager for Eataly, overseeing operations across nine locations and contributing to the development of QSR concepts.
Philip holds an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s degree in Food Service Marketing from Johnson & Wales University, along with an MBA in Global Business-Organizational Leadership.
CEO
NexChapter, Inc.
Read bio >>
Art Sebastian stands at the helm of NexChapter, Inc. as its visionary leader and CEO, spearheading a growth advisory firm dedicated to propelling the convenience retail industry forward. With an extensive background spanning over twenty-five years in retail and consumer packaged goods, Art brings a wealth of expertise to empower clients across retail, brands, and technology.
In his previous role at Casey's, Art spent five transformative years steering the ship of Digital Transformation and establishing the Omni-channel Marketing Organization. During this tenure, he orchestrated the implementation of a world-class technology ecosystem, setting the stage for the successful launch of Casey's leading loyalty program, e-commerce business, digital marketing initiatives, and retail media network.
Before Casey's, Art served as the VP of Digital Shopping and E-Commerce, leading the Digital Transformation at Meijer. His leadership journey also includes a stint as the Vice President of Category Leadership at Kraft Foods.
Beyond his role at NexChapter, Inc., Art extends his influence as an advisor to technology startups and as a valued member of the Shoptalk Advisory Board. Most recently, Art was appointed as Chairman of the C-StoreTEC Advisory Board, a new platform introduced by CSP.
Founderid8 & innov8
Former Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney
Read bio >>
As Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney, Duncan helped teams at Disney Parks, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar, Imagineering and Animation to innovate, creating magical new storylines and amazing experiences for consumers around the globe.
He now brings his Disney experience to audiences around the world, delivering a series of keynotes, masterclasses and ideation forums, that help people capture unlikely connections, leading to both disruptive thinking and revolutionary ideas.
He is a multiple TEDx speaker and frequent contributor to Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and Forbes, and he teaches Innovation and Creativity Masterclasses at Yale and Harvard Universities. Duncan holds the American Citizen Award presented at the White House, an Honorary Doctorate from Edinburgh University, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, presented by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth
Founder & CEO
Food Forward Thinking
Read bio >>
Jessica Williams founded foodservice consultancy Food Forward Thinking in 2017. Her company partners with travel centers, truck stops, convenience, restaurants, and groceries to bring ideas to life.
Williams supports retailers by designing profitable new menus, planning new product pipelines, reinventing menu items, selecting equipment and planning back of house design, calculating nutrition facts, and training new products. Extensive international travel, multi-unit scaling and commercialization, and product launches on global, national, regional, and start-up scales provide an unmatched perspective to product development in the convenience industry.
Williams enjoys working with teams across the country to create new menus, teach product development, and troubleshoot the unique challenges faced by the convenience industry. Her ultimate goal is to create enjoyable jobs that provide delicious food and drinks to hungry travelers.
Williams formerly led new product development at Yum! Restaurants, International where her roles included food and equipment innovation for global applications for Kentucky Fried Chicken, an international assignment in Dubai to launch new products and platforms in the Middle East, and leading the reinvention of the nostalgic Chicken Littles sandwich for KFC in the United States with Yum! Brands. Williams also led fresh food innovation for Thorntons convenience chain where she was responsible for overseeing quality, and creating and launching dozens of products. Williams has a degree in food science and resides on her family’s farm in beautiful Central Kentucky.
NACS offers a limited amount of complimentary invitations to retailers who meet the event requirements. Invitations are offered to operations, marketing, and foodservice executives of medium and large companies and to individuals in leadership roles. If you would like to be considered, please complete the Leadership Forum Invitation Request Form.
To optimize retailer participation, the attendance guidelines are as follows:
Company Owned/ Operated Stores |
Complimentary Registrations |
Paid Registrations |
1-10 |
0 |
Capped at 1 |
11-50 |
2 |
Capped at 1 |
51-200 |
3 |
Unlimited |
201-500 |
5 |
Unlimited |
501+ |
5 |
Unlimited |
* Retailers must meet all invitation requirements.
Registration is complimentary for invited retailers who register by December 6, 2024. After this date, see below for applicable fees.
Attendee Type |
Registration Fee |
Registration Deadline |
1 Night Hotel Credit (room & tax) |
Complimentary Retailer Attendee |
$0 |
December 6, 2024 |
|
Complimentary Retailer Attendee |
$299* |
February 13, 2025 |
|
Paid Retailer Attendee |
$1,299 |
February 13, 2025 |
|
Spouse |
$599 |
February 13, 2025 |
|
NACS Leadership** |
$0 |
February 13, 2025 |
|
*Invited retailers who register up until February 13, 2025, may be eligible for registration reimbursement if they attend the Top-to-Top Business Appointments and the NACS Gala Dinner. These reimbursement forms will be sent at the event's conclusion. Paid retailer attendees will be responsible for all registration costs.
** NACS Leadership Attendees include current members of the Board of Directors, All Past Chair/Presidents of NACS, and 5 Star NACSPAC Donors from retailer companies.
Contact Lori Stillman, Vice President of Research and Education at lstillman@convenience.org for questions about invitation qualifications or applicable fees.
All inquiries are subject to review. Individuals who are selected for a 2025 invitation will be contacted by the NACS Leadership Forum team.
The Leadership Forum is an exclusive event made available to our Hunter Club supplier members. NACS reserves the right to limit the number of additional registrations in order to maintain an appropriate balance between retailers and suppliers.
|
Number of Invitations |
Cost
(per attendee) |
Above Invitation Allotment
(per attendee) |
Hunter Club Gold |
4 |
$6199 |
$7699 |
Hunter Club Silver |
2 |
$6199 |
$7699 |
Hunter Club Bronze |
1 |
$6199 |
$7699 |
Current Hunter Club members are welcome to register for the Leadership Forum. Registration is open - Access Exclusive Hunter Club Registration (login required).
Please contact Leigh Walls, Director, Supplier Relations and Hunter Club Liaison at
lwalls@convenience.org for more information on becoming a NACS Hunter Club member.
All 2025 Leadership Forum events and accommodations will take place at:
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
4750 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island, FL 32034
Telephone: (904) 277-1100
All attendees are responsible for booking and guaranteeing their own hotel accommodations. A link to reserve your hotel will be included in your registration confirmation.
NACS Group Rate: $349+tax; $25 resort fee/night
Hotel Reservation Deadline: Friday, January 10, 2025
Hotel Reservations: Reserve hotel room at Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island
NACS has negotiated a group rate of $349/night + tax & resort fee on your behalf. All charges and hotel reservations are the responsibility of the guest. A form of payment will be required when booking your hotel accommodations. Confirmation numbers will be provided by the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island immediately following confirmation of your reservation.
-
Invited Retail Attendees: Complimentary invited retailer attendees are eligible for a reimbursement of one hotel night if all attendance requirements are met (participation in Top-to-Top appointments, if applicable and attendance at the NACS Dinner, if RSVP’d attending). Reimbursement forms will be sent to all eligible retailers at the conclusion of Leadership Forum. Paid Retail attendees will be responsible for the cost their entire hotel stay.
-
Supplier Attendees: Supplier attendance is limited to NACS Hunter Club Member companies. All Hunter Club attendees will be responsible for the cost of their entire hotel stay. For more information on how to participate, please contact Leigh Walls, Director, Supplier Relations and Hunter Club Liaison at lwalls@convenience.org
Hotel reservation links will be provided in your registration confirmation once registration is complete.
Omni Amelia Island Resort
Rate: Starting at $537++ per night
Distance to the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island: 3.5 miles from RCAI
Residence Inn Amelia Island
Rate: Starting at $207++ per night
Distance to the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island: 3.6 miles from RCAI
Attendees must book their own flight accommodations. The cost of flights and ground transportation are not included in the event registration fee.
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
- 27.9 miles from hotel
- Travel time: 50 minutes
Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport
- 1 mile from hotel
- Travel time: 5 minutes
All transfers must be arranged by the attendees and are not included in the registration fee. Below is information Barrs Transportation to reserve transfers to/from the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Cost vary depending on the number of passengers in the transfer.
Ubers and taxis are available from Jacksonville International Airport to the hotel; however due to limited Uber/taxi availability on Amelia Island, advance return ground reservations are highly recommended.
Car Service Information
For questions regarding hotel, please contact
Kaitlin Bivens
Meetings & Events Manager
kbivens@convenience.org
+1 703-518-4249
The NACS Leadership Forum is a world-class event that brings together established leaders from the convenience and fuel retailing industry to explore high-impact and meaningful approaches to business in a dynamic setting.
What is Leadership Forum?
The NACS Leadership Forum is an invitation only event. Invitations are predominantly offered to operations, marketing, and food service executives of medium and large convenience retailing companies; to individuals in leadership roles from retail companies that demonstrate substantial engagement with NACS and is an exclusive membership benefit to our Hunter Club Suppliers.
What changes have been made to the registration and benefits?
NACS has implemented changes to the fees and benefits available to invited guests of the NACS Leadership Forum. These necessary changes ensure NACS can continue to provide high-touch networking, engagement and executive-level programming—hallmarks of the NACS Leadership Forum— while maintaining fiscal responsibility to our association and to the NACS supplier member companies who so generously support this industry event.
What is the Agenda for Leadership Forum?
The 2025 Leadership Forum will begin on Tuesday, February 11 – Thursday, February 13. Top-to-Top meetings will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, while the committee meetings held in conjunction with the Leadership Forum will take place on Thursday afternoon, February 13.
Will I be reimbursed for my travel expenses?
All travel expenses are on your own. Qualifying retailers, current members of the Retail Board of Directors, Past Chairs/Presidents and 5 Star NACSPAC Donors from retail companies are eligible for a reimbursement of one hotel night if all attendance requirements are met. Reimbursement forms will be sent to all eligible retailers at the conclusion of Leadership Forum. Paid Retail attendees will be responsible for the cost their entire hotel stay.
What meals are included in my registration?
Coffee breaks and some meals are included in your registration. See chart below for specifics.
Day
|
Breakfast
|
Lunch
|
Reception
|
Dinner
|
Tuesday, February 11 |
Committee Members Only |
On Own |
|
On Own |
Wednesday, February 12 |
|
|
|
|
Thursday, February 13 |
|
Committee Members Only |
N/A |
N/A |
What is the attire for this event?
All daytime events are business casual. Jacket (no tie), and equivalent formality for ladies, is suggested for dinners and receptions. A festive touch of old Hollywood attire will add to the elegance and ambience of our NACS Reception and Gala Dinner.
What is the NACS Gala Dinner?
The NACS Gala dinner on Wednesday will offer an evening of networking and fellowship with other Leadership Forum attendees. Participating Hunter Club companies can host tables during the dinner. More information will come from Leigh Walls when instructions are available.
Will there be a NACSPAC Event?
Yes, there will be a NACSPAC VIP Party on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 from 9:00pm to 12am. All participants must be a current NACSPAC contributor to attend. More information will come from Katie Bohny when logistics are finalized.
What is the deadline to register for Leadership Forum?
Please register by Friday, January 17, 2025, so we can confirm your schedule. Registrations will be accepted after January 17th, but meetings with retailers and suppliers are subject to availability.
How do I book a hotel room for Leadership Forum?
Using the link provided in your registration confirmation, you will be able to make your own hotel reservations at the Ritz-Carlton. The hotel cut-off date for reservations is Friday, January 10, 2025. Hotel rooms cannot be guaranteed after the deadline and are subject to availability. The hotel may sell out of group rated rooms, so please book your rooms early. The group rate is $349 plus $25 resort fee plus taxes per night.
Will a copy of the attendee list for Leadership Forum be provided?
Yes. The final attendee list will be made available on-site at the event. Past attendee lists are available. Please note, NACS does not share email addresses of any event attendees without expressed consent.
What other meetings are happening during Leadership Forum?
NACS hosts a number of committee meetings during Leadership Forum. These meetings are open to committee members and invited guests only. Participation in the committee meetings does not guarantee an invitation to Leadership Forum.
What are Top-to-Top Business meetings?
A key feature of the NACS Leadership forum program, Top-to-Top Business meetings are 35-minute sessions where participating Hunter Club supplier companies can request to meet with participating retailers. There are nine (9) time slots for these meetings over the course of the event. The intended goals of these meetings are to strengthen relationships and facilitate forward-looking business conversations.
As a retailer, how can I participate in the Top-to-Top Business Meetings?
During the registration process, all retailers will need to indicate if they are available for Top-to-Top Business meetings for each day. If you indicate you are available, your name and company will be shared with the participating suppliers for them to request a meeting with you. If a request is received, you will be made aware before the NACS team confirms your meeting time slot. Full participation is encouraged when meetings are requested. Exceptions can be made in the instance of business conflicts. All communications related to Top-to-Tops for participating retailers will come from NACS.
As a supplier, how can I participate in the Top-to-Top Business Meetings?
A limited number of suites are available for purchase by Hunter Club members to host one-on-one private meetings with Retailers. Meetings are 35-minutes long and will take place on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Please contact Leigh Walls for more information.
What is the cancellation policy for the Leadership Forum?
NACS Leadership Forum is a world-class, invitation-only event made possible by the generous financial support of the participating supplier companies. Invited retailer attendees are strongly encouraged to be available for Top-to-Top Business Appointments and all other networking events when requested by suppliers. Final review/confirmation of all your event details will be provided approximately one week prior to the event.
Registration Cancellation/Changes: To cancel your participation, please contact Anna Serfass on or before January 17, 2025. Any fees paid will be returned in full if written cancellation notice is provided by January 17, 2025. After January 17, NACS will review all refund requests to assess forfeiture, full or partial refund depending on circumstances. Substitution or transfer of your event registration to another person within your company can be done at any time without penalty.
Hotel Cancellations/Changes: Please remember to cancel or change your hotel reservation at least 72-hours prior to your arrival. You make these changes directly with the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island by calling (904) 277-1100, or by emailing Kaitlin Payne. NACS is not responsible for any costs associated with hotel cancellations.
Is there any fine print I should be aware of?
By attending the event, all attendees consent to the terms and conditions below.