NACS Loss Prevention and Safety Symposium

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.

Carlos A. Canino retired as the Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Division on January 31, 2020, after 30 years of service as an ATF Special Agent.Mr. Canino was responsible for leading the men and women of the Los Angeles Field Division in enforcing federal laws and regulations related to firearms, explosives, and arson.

A seasoned law enforcement professional, Mr. Canino began his ATF career as a Special Agent in 1990, in Yakima, Washington. Rising through the ranks at ATF, Mr. Canino has served in several leadership positions including Deputy Assistant Director Field Operations (West) Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles and Miami Field Divisions, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division, ATF Mexico Country Attaché and Supervisory Special Agent in St. Louis, Missouri. He also served as a street agent in Los Angeles, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Mr. Canino is a member of several professional organizations including the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Mr. Canino is a two-time recipient of the International Narcotics Officer Association Medal of Valor. He is a recipient of the United States Attorney General Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement, the ATF Foreign Service Medal and a two-time recipient of the ATF Distinguished Service Medal.

A Watertown, Massachusetts native, Mr. Canino earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Westfield State College, Westfield Massachusetts in 1988. He was inducted into the Westfield State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009, and the School of Criminal Justice Hall of Fame in 2017. Mr. Canino was named Westfield State’s Distinguished Alumnus of the year in 2014.

Byron Coleman, CPP, is the Manager of Asset Protection and Security for Wawa Corporation. Wawa is a family of more than 1,000 stores and 45,000+ associates with a shared purpose of “Fulfilling Lives, Every Day” for our customers, communities, and each other. With proud roots as a family-owned business, Wawa has evolved into a one-stop convenience retailer offering fresh food, beverages, and fuel.

As a security management professional with over 25 years of Senior Management Loss Prevention experience, Byron has led asset protection teams at Mercantile Stores, Macy’s, and Kirkland’s Home Décor Stores. Byron is board certified in security management as a Certified Protection Professional. He is an active leader in ASIS and the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators.

Byron’s education includes Organizational Leadership studies at Middle Tennessee State University, Threat Assessment training, and he has authored an article on special events security titled “Surviving the Star Trek.” Byron has been recognized for his outstanding leadership involving active shooter incidents, disaster response, and riot events.

Byron is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys investing in others as a faith leader in his church. He and his wife live in the greater Philadelphia, PA area, and their expanding family currently includes three granddaughters.

Michael Junk currently leads the government and public affairs team for the QuikTrip Corporation. Headquartered in Tulsa, QuikTrip Corporation is a privately held company that operates over 1,100 convenience stores and travel centers across 20 states. Following the election of Governor Kevin Stitt in 2018, he served as chief of staff to the governor. Prior to his service in state government, Michael was Tulsa’s Deputy Mayor. From 2007 to 2016, Michael served on the staffs of U.S. Senator James Inhofe and U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, MD.

In November 2022, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Michael to the Oklahoma Transportation Commission where he currently serves as the At-Large Commissioner, representing all 77 counties in Oklahoma.

Art Lazo is the Vice President of Asset Protection for 7-Eleven Inc. In his current role, Art and his team provide Asset Protection support for over 13,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Art has been with 7-Eleven for the last 11 years but has held many leadership positions in retail Asset Protection over the past 30 years. Art is passionate about safety and security as well as making sure that the AP function is integrated into all necessary business functions. Art believes that strong partnerships with law enforcement are crucial to a successful program. In 2024 Art was appointed to Governor Abbot’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force for the state of Texas.

Margaret Hardin Mannion is Manager of Government Relations for the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). In her role, Margaret focuses on key issues such as retail crime, public safety, SNAP, food traceability, and credit card swipe fees, advocating for the interests of the convenience and fuel retailing industry. Margaret joined the NACS government relations team in 2019 as Grassroots Manager, overseeing NACS’ grassroots initiatives, including Day on the Hill and NACS In Store.

Richard Marianos is a senior law enforcement consultant, having served more than 27 years at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives fighting violent crime. He most recently served as Assistant Director in the Office of Public and Governmental Affairs, and as Special Agent in Charge ATF's Washington Field Division.

Marianos began his career with ATF in September 1987 in the Chicago Field Division where he worked on complex-gang investigations. and was recognized as a national expert using the continuing criminal enterprise and RICO statues to dismantle some of the most dangerous street gangs and organized crimes groups in America.

In 1997 Marianos was promoted to resident agent in charge of the Colorado Springs Field Office, Phoenix Field Division where he oversaw large-scale investigations into violent crime, to include outlaw motorcycle gangs, ethnic street gangs, and firearms trafficking organizations. In 1998 he was named Incident Commander and led ATF in the shooting investigation at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. During this tour Marianos received two Distinguished Service medals and was ATF employee of the year.

In 2005, Marianos was promoted to deputy chief of the Public Affairs Division at national headquarters, and in 2008 became deputy chief of the Special Operations Division, overseeing five special response teams and operations throughout the country, and was selected as Commander of Executive Service Function (ESF-13) to handle all law enforcement deployments associated with natural disaster in the United States.

In 2009, Marianos was promoted to Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division in where he managed all functions and programs to include the administration of budget; employee and information security matters; continuity of operations, human capital, training and continuing education initiatives, property, and facilities of Washington DC Field Division to include ten Resident Agencies throughout Northern Virginia. Additional responsibilities included to plan, direct, implement and evaluate a comprehensive law enforcement and regulatory strategy. He successfully managed all administrative and programs matters, including budget formulations, allocations of human resources, material resources and technological solutions. Marianos served as the lead ATF representative to other federal, state, and local law enforcement organizations, industry groups, Congressional staff, political and community groups, the media, and the public. During this tenure Marianos was the recipient of two D.C Metropolitan Police Department Medals of Merit and received two U.S. Attorney Office District of Columbia Awards for Investigative Excellence.

In 2013 Marianos was promoted to Senior Executive Service under President Barack Obama as the Assistant Director in the Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives. In this position he was responsible for the development and implementation of the Bureau’s communications activities, which include media relations, brand management and executive and employee communication through its Public Affairs Division; along with oversight for media relations of all 25 ATF field divisions (4800 employees) throughout the United States and abroad.

Marianos was born in Chicago, Ill., and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Northern Illinois University and a Masters in Police Executive Leadership in 2003 from University of Colorado. He is currently on staff at Georgetown University, where he teaches several advance master’s level courses for law enforcement executives worldwide.

Wes Pate is a leader in Asset Protection for Refuel Operating Company, LLC, a convenience store chain with 227 locations in the Southeast, based in Charleston, SC. He currently leads the organization's Loss Prevention, Inventory Audit, & Risk Management functions, as well as Fleet Management. He has also spent time leading and supporting the Facilities & Maintenance as well as Environmental Teams for the organization. Prior to Refuel, Wes spent time in Asset Protection at Kmart & Sears Holdings, Burlington Stores, & BJ's Wholesale Club. He holds an MBA from Gardner-Webb University as well as a B.S. In Criminal Justice Administration.

Lori Buss Stillman is the Vice President, Research and Education for NACS. Joining NACS in 2019, Lori leads the association’s industry-leading research portfolio, which includes the NACS State of the Industry suite of products and events, Convenience Voices shopper research) that provides moment-of-truth insights into shopping behavior, monthly data insights from the CSX database and other research and insights programs critical to the convenience and fuel retail industry. She assumed responsibility for NACS Education programs in 2022, including event content, online learning, and Executive Education programs available at Yale, Cornell, MIT, Kellogg, and Wharton.

Stillman has a deep background in data analytics, decision support, business development and consulting. Most recently, she served as executive vice president of analytics, insights and business intelligence for Advantage Solutions. Leveraging 30+ years in the FMCG industry, she also has served as senior vice president of new client acquisition for Information Resources Inc., vice president of marketing and business development for WEBCO General Partnership, and senior vice president of strategic business development for Nielsen.

Stillman earned a B.A. in business communications from Maryville University. She is active in the advancement of our industry, holding board level positions with the NACS/Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council, Conexxus and with the Western Michigan University Food and CPG Marketing Program Industry Advisory Board. She is also a frequent speaker on the disruption taking place across the retail landscape.

Lori makes her home in Northern Virginia, with her husband and daughter.

Mark Stinde is the Vice President of Asset Protection at Casey’s, overseeing Asset Protection, Inventory, and Safety. With over 35 years of retail experience, Mark has held executive leadership roles in asset protection, operations, and safety. Before joining Casey’s, he led Asset Protection programs for Kroger, JC Penney, 7-Eleven, and Circuit City. His extensive experience also includes various leadership roles in Asset Protection at The Home Depot.

Mark is actively involved in several retail industry organizations. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for the Loss Prevention Foundation, an Editorial Board Member for LP Magazine, and a Board Member of the Asset Protection Leadership Council for the Retail Industry Leaders Association. Most recently, Mark has engaged with the NACS LP Working Group.

Mark earned his MBA from Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business.