NACS State of the Industry Summit

Abraham Albert joined 7-Eleven in 2015 as a Finance Manager in FP&A. Since 2015 Abraham has held multiple positions, including Sr. Director of Financial Planning, Capital Planning, and Strategy. His current role is serving as the Vice President of Finance and Strategic Planning.

Abraham resides in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Samuel and Wyatt.

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.

John has successfully led organizations to increased value through strategic and operational initiatives in a broad range of industries including convenience stores, travel centers, restaurants, and consumer packaged goods. His areas of expertise include strategy development, procurement transformation, logistics optimization, process improvement and organizational development. In addition to his advisory work, John has contributed as a researcher and author on a broad array of topics from the economy and the impact of COVID-19 to digital technology trends, to changing consumer behaviors. His work has been cited in several business news publications and presented at industry conferences. John has an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Bridget Brennan is Founder & CEO of the strategic advisory firm, Female Factor, and author of the groundbreaking books, Why She Buys: The New Strategy for Reaching the World’s Most Powerful Consumers (Crown Business) and Winning Her Business: How to Transform the Customer Experience for the World’s Most Powerful Consumers (HarperCollins Leadership). She is the world’s most sought-after expert on the women’s consumer market and has helped many of the biggest brands and businesses grow sales and market share with this powerful consumer base. Brennan is a contributing writer on marketing to women for Forbes.com and was named a “Woman to Watch in Retail Disruption” by the Remodista think tank. Brennan's first book,Why She Buys, was called “essential reading” by The Wall Street Journal. Her latest book, Winning Her Business, was nominated for Porchlight Business Book of the Year.

Spencer serves as Co-Head of Matrix’s Downstream Energy & Convenience Retail Investment Banking Group and is responsible for new client development and managing all aspects of client transactions. He advises on company sales, corporate carve outs, capital raises, recapitalizations, special situations, valuations, strategic planning, and assisting clients with acquisitions of target companies.

Since joining Matrix in 1998, Spencer has advised numerous downstream energy companies involved in petroleum marketing and convenience retailing, quick service restaurants, wholesale fuels distribution, propane and heating oil distribution, lubricants distribution, and refined fuels and propane terminaling.

In addition to advising many leading companies he has authored and contributed to several articles on the topics of mergers and acquisitions, access to capital, strategic planning and valuations. He is a member of the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA), the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA).

Denton has been with OPIS since 2001 and serves as the Chief Oil Analyst, responsible for the day to day operations of OPIS’ news and analysis division. In his role, Denton also provides big picture views to OPIS subscribers on a variety of topics from supply and demand trends to anticipating price moves in the futures, spot and retail markets in North America.

During his time at OPIS, Denton has covered a variety of markets from Natural Gas Liquids to U.S. refined spot markets. Before becoming the Chief Oil Analyst, Denton was leading the OPIS refined spots team.

He has been widely quoted and interviewed as an expert forecasting the price of oil and retail gasoline and diesel explaining what moves can mean for the consumer as well as the industry as a whole. Denton is a frequent contributor for major media outlets such as Fox Business, CNBC, MSNBC and CBS News.

Denton is a graduate of Rutgers University and football letter winner.

John Eichberger is Executive Director of the Fuels Institute. Founded by NACS in 2013, the Fuels Institute is a non-profit that evaluates market issues related to vehicles and the energy that powers them. The Institute, led by a diverse Board of transportation experts, is an objective and collaborative research organization that does not advocate.

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 20 years of related experience, Eichberger is a recognized expert on the transportation energy market.

Annie Gauthier is the CFO 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, 2 uncles, 2 aunts, and 240 other team members to refuel & refresh the Louisiana communities where they operate.

She earned her BA in British history at LSU, discovered that law school was not for her and worked for the Louisiana Oil Marketers & Convenience Store Association (LOMCSA) for 3 years before joining the family business in 2005. She has served in various leadership roles with LOMCSA, culminating with President in 2017. Annie is also a founding member of Corporate Works of Mercy Foundation, a private 501(c)3 focused on loving neighbors by living the biblical corporal works of mercy. Her purpose is to chart tomorrow's course from yesterday's lessons. Married to her high school sweetheart and mother to 3 young children, she enjoys cooking, reading, traveling and planning trips (especially to Britain, Ireland and France).

Varish Goyal is the CEO of Vintners Distributors, Au Energy and Loop Neighborhood Markets, a family of companies that operates 130 stores and supplies fuel to 80 dealers. Varish is a second-generation family member whose father, Nick Goyal, started the company. Varish is a proven operator who as lead his company through multiple rounds of growth. His strategic focus has recently led to the launch of a new lifestyle convenient market brand called Loop, the first of its kind in California.

Varish has been working in the convenience and petroleum retail industry since 2002. His first project was to implement a centralized price book, accounting and back office management system. From there, he leveraged the new IT system to become heavily involved in operations eventually taking the role of operations and price book manager. In 2005, he took over the role of Marketing Manager and Buyer. He is experienced at fueling, marketing, operations, finance, IT, mobile applications for retail, business intelligence and most recently new brand development. He is a member of the NACS Research Committee, Study Group 900 and YPO.

Varish holds a bachelors degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University and earned a MD/MBA degree from Wake Forest University. He is currently married to his wife of 19 years, Mansi, and they have a son, Aayush (16) and a daughter Vunshika (10). His hobbies include reading, tennis, football, snow skiing and anything related to technology.

Kevin Hill leads the Financial Planning & Analysis team at RaceTrac, one of the largest family-owned and operated convenience and fuel retailers in the South. Kevin particularly enjoys the intersection of data analytics and finance, and he has spent a significant amount of his time at RaceTrac automating reporting and finding new ways to visualize and report on key metrics through Power BI. He is also responsible for annual forecasting, long-range scenario planning, and strategic project analysis. Kevin is a Georgia native and studied Finance at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Leroy Kelsey is the director of research at NACS and is responsible for disseminating key industry metrics that provide NACS retail and supplier members with performance benchmarks, shopper insights and information critical to the industry’s advocacy efforts on payment cards, motor fuels and tobacco. Prior to NACS, he spent five years with Intel and Motorola and five years with Safeway in a variety of roles in business analytics, finance and cost control. Kelsey received a BS in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, an MBA from The Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University and an executive certificate in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

He and Tracy Kelsey are the proud parents of two daughters, Avery and Kennedy. He has run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, but more recently enjoys quiet evenings with the family.

Petros Keshishyan (KEH-SHISH-YAWN) is the Senior Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at United Pacific, which owns and operates several-hundred Rocket convenience stores and fuel stations under various banners like 76, Conoco, Phillips 66, Chevron, Shell and United Oil, located in the three West Coast states (CA, OR, WA) plus Colorado. He has been in this role since the early 2016.

At United Pacific Petros leads a team responsible for providing financial planning, forecasting and analytics support to the entire portfolio of stations, as well as continuous evaluation of acquisition opportunities in effort to roll-up retail fuel and convenience businesses. He also leads the company’s Business Intelligence team which provides data-driven, near-real-time decision making tools and support to fuel, c-store and car wash operations teams.

Petros joined United Pacific from Ports America, a private-equity held national port operations company, where he was a Finance Manager for the newly acquired (at the time) West Coast container operations, responsible for transforming the business from a family-owned operation and integrating into a world-class port services provider. Before Ports America, Petros spent over 20 years at Albertsons, where he started his career in retail as a courtesy clerk (aka bagger) at his local grocery store, later becoming a cashier, and eventually moving onto various roles in operations, accounting and finance.

He holds a Bachelor’s of Accounting degree from the California State University Northridge, and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from University of California Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business. He, his wife and three boys currently reside in Whittier, CA in the Greater Los Angeles metro area.

Brian King is the Assistant Vice President of Accounting for Sheetz, Inc., a convenience store chain headquartered in Altoona, Pennsylvania with over 675 stores located in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland.

Brian joined Sheetz in 2014 after holding management roles with Kraft Heinz and a large regional public accounting firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Brian resides in Central Pennsylvania with wife, Susan, and two adorable Labrador Retrievers, Lexi and Callie

B.S. Accounting from Saint Vincent College (Latrobe, Pennsylvania)
MBA, Waynesburg University (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania)
Certified Public Accountant
Chartered Global Management Accountant

Personal interests include golf, cycling, motorsports, hiking with the dogs, helping out at a local craft brewery, and spending time with family & friends (not necessarily in that order).

Ruth Ann Lilly, Sr. Vice President of Marketing at GPM Investments, joined GPM in August 2017. She has more than 30 years of combined Operations and Marketing experience in the channel. In addition to the Category team, she also manages the fast REWARDS loyalty team, Advertising, and the Sales Managers who are responsible for execution of Marketing initiatives in stores.

Ruth Ann graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Marketing. She was recognized as a Top Woman in Convenience in 2017 and is a 3-time recipient of the Category Manager of the Year. She lives in Richmond, VA with her 3 children and as many rescue dogs she can sneak into the house without it being classified as a kennel!

Chuck graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1986 in Electrical Engineering and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1991. In 1993, Chuck married Crystal Call, also an HBS 1991 graduate, and moved to Salt Lake City, shortly thereafter opening their first hotel, Crystal Inn. Together, they grew the portfolio to 14 hotels. Since 2011, Chuck served in various roles including Director, Chief Operating Officer and President of FJM Management, also serving its subsidiaries as Board Chairman for Big West Oil and TAB Bank. In 2016, Chuck was named Chief Adventure Guide for Maverik, Inc., the premier regional convenience retailer operating 300 stores across the intermountain west from its base camp in Salt Lake City. Crystal and Chuck enjoy skiing, bicycling, boating and travel with their four children: Drew, 21; Lexi, 18; and twins Hailey and Erica, 16. He is an avid pilot and has been an active member of Young Presidents Organization since 1997.

Gabe Olives is a POS and payments guru and an undeniable industry expert in the convenience channel for technology, fuel management, legislative affairs, POS/BOS and payments. As Chief Information Officer of Impact 21, Gabe has applied his industry savvy to many projects. He has engaged in transitions for large retail and fuel acquisitions, to include refining, fuel pipeline and logistics, fuels wholesale/transportation, retail automation (merch, food, fuel) Distribution (wholesale, commercial bakeries/commissaries), with specific emphasis on the migration of IT, accounting, financial reporting, and treasury. He assists in the implementation of a multiparty logistics consolidation project for a major retailer, supported a major technology company in a successful new product introduction, and engaged in EMV planning, certification, and execution.

Gabe’s knowledge, gained from his long history in technology, energy management and government relations and his 30+ years in the convenience store industry, is an asset to the industry. He served on the Board of Directors of Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association and as Chairman of their Fuels Committee. Gabe has been very active as an advocate for process improvement and technical standards including many speaking engagements at NACS, SIGMA, and Conexxus. Gabe currently leads the BDX committee for Conexxus and serves on the board of Advisors. Gabe served as Chairman of Conexxus in 2015 and served on the Board of Directors of PCATS, as its Chairman in 2009. In 2010, he was honored by CSN magazine as the Top Tech Executive of the Year.

Gabe’s background spanned many aspects of the industry, including operations, marketing, and construction during his first ten years in convenience. He served as a senior executive at Turkey Hill Minit Markets, a best-in-class IT organization and division of the Kroger Company, responsible for petroleum marketing, information technology, and legislative affairs and in a senior position with Rutter’s for petroleum marketing. A self-described marketer with a passion for technology, Gabe advanced Turkey Hill’s processes to support all aspects of retail automation and guided the organization through the transition from major to private branded fuel operator. Over the years, Gabe has worked closely with most solution providers in the convenience channel as either a retailer directly or as the only two-time Chairman of Conexxus with experience in all aspects of retail technology.

A Pennsylvania native, Gabe graduated from the University of Scranton. He takes pleasure in spending time with his family and giving back to his community through active involvement at Bishop McDevitt private high school in Harrisburg, PA. In his spare time, Gabe can be found working alongside his wife on their property, playing sports, swimming, or golfing at any chance he gets.

Born in Baltimore, entered the family heating oil and coal business right out of high school. Initially serving as one of the company truck mechanics. At my brothers coaxing, starting selling gasoline under the CITGO brand in 1984. Took over as President in 2007. Purchased Highs Dairy Stores in 2010.

Entering our 116th year of operation along with the 4th generation of family ownership. Resides in Monkton Md. Married to wife Joanne for 39 years, son John Jr. Is the VP of marketing for Highs, daughter Angela runs social media for the combined company’s. I enjoy boating, the beach, farming and outdoor sports.

Favorite volunteer pursuit is being Board Chair for Saint Frances Academy Catholic School in downtown Baltimore.

Don Rhoads is the President of The Convenience Group, LLC, a convenience store chain operating in Washington State. Don began his convenience store career in 1989 as President of the Quick Shop Minit Mart, a 51 unit convenience store chain located in Vancouver, Washington. Don also owns and operates a Cannabis producer and processing facility in Oroville, Washington.

Prior to Quick Shop Minit Mart, Don was Business Development Administrator for the Small Business Development Center located at Washington State University. Additionally, Don was President of Columbia River Development Association, operating as a Small Business Administration 504 company in Washington State and Vice President of Columbia River Economic Council located in Clark County, Washington.

Currently, Don is a Board and committee member of the National Association of Convenience Stores, Board and Executive Committee member of Washington Food Industry Association, and past President and Board Member of Washington Association of Neighborhood Stores.

Don has served on many nonprofit and charitable organizations.

The Convenience Group was awarded the 2018 Washington State Retailer of the Year by the Washington Food Industry and Independent Grocers Association.

Don attended St. Mary’s College, Western Washington University, National Development Council and Wharton School Executive Program for Economics and Finance.

Don resides in Vancouver Washington with his wife, Jennifer and their two children, Donnie and Giovanna.

Art Sebastian is the Vice President of Digital Experiences & Marketing at Casey’s and he has been in role since the late 2018. As VP, Digital Experiences & Marketing he is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the company’s E-Commerce business, Digital Technologies, Guest Loyalty Program, Digital Marketing and Social Media.

Sebastian joined Casey’s from Meijer, where he was Vice President of Digital Shopping responsible for the E-Commerce business, Digital Product Management, Digital Marketing and New Business Ventures. Prior to Meijer, he spent 6 years at Kraft Foods as Vice President of Category Leadership & Shopper Insights. Before Kraft, Sebastian worked at analytics and consulting firm IRI Worldwide and with Albertsons Inc.

He holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of DeVry Chicago. Art recently completed an Executive Education course at MIT’s Sloan Business School. Art has been an active advisory board member of the Western Michigan Food & CPG Marketing Program for the better part of the last decade. He, his wife and three children currently reside in Des Moines, IA.

Mike Wilson is the Chief Operating Officer for Cubby’s Inc., a convenience store chain based out of Omaha, Nebraska with 41 stores in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Wilson, a graduate of the University of Kansas, has experience with the former Kangaroo/The Pantry Inc., CEFCO, and Cruizers Convenience Stores for Holmes Oil Co., based in Chapel Hill, N.C.

With over two decades in the business, Wilson is a staunch advocate of employee engagement in the c-store environment. This South Carolina boy continues to learn to enjoy the sometimes frigid and snowy Midwest!

Wilson is married to Leslie, and they have 5 children ranging from 11-23 years old. A huge fan of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wilson enjoys taking time to enjoy their basketball games and spending time with his family.

Retailers and suppliers are eligible to attend the NACS State of the Industry Summit.  You do not have to be a NACS member to attend, however, NACS members receive a discount on their registration.

Association/Academia Attendee
Pricing: $999/person
Association/Academia Attendees require approval prior to registering for the 2023 NACS State of the Industry Summit. This registration does not include a complimentary license to access the State of the Industry Report of 2022 Data. Please contact soireg@convenience.org for assistance.

Media individuals/organizations are not eligible to attend/participate in the NACS State of the Industry Summit.