NACS State of the Industry Summit

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.

Andrew joined Wawa in January 2016 and has held roles focused on identifying savings opportunities and driving greater efficiency, increasing productivity in Wawa’s stores, and developing Wawa’s long term corporate strategy. In Andrew’s current role, he is responsible for studying consumer behavior through research and customer data analysis, and leveraging those learnings to bring new customers in, energize existing customers, and enhance the customer experience.

Prior to joining Wawa, Andrew worked as a management consultant at Bain and Company in Chicago, where he focused his time across multiple industries, including foodservice and retail. Andrew earned an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his bachelor’s degree from Wharton as well. In his free time, Andrew enjoys exploring Philadelphia with his wife and three children, and playing tennis and ultimate frisbee.

John Benson has nearly 20 years of experience working with convenience stores, restaurants, food manufacturers, and other multi-site consumer companies. John has a proven track record of driving organizations to increased value through revenue and growth strategy development, operations, and organizational development.

Spencer serves as President of Matrix and Co-Head of the Downstream Energy & Convenience Retail Investment Banking Group (DER). As Co-Head of DER, he is responsible for new client development and managing all aspects of client transactions. He advises clients 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 companies of various sizes, with the majority of those being 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. Examples include: Carroll Independent Fuel Co.; CrossAmerica Partners, LP; Revere Gas, Inc.; Quarles Petroleum, Inc.; Dixie Gas & Oil; Freeman Gas; Global Partners, LP; SC Fuels; Pester Marketing Company; E.J. Pope and Sons, Inc.; Ports Petroleum Company, Inc. & Ports Investments, LLC; Tedeschi Food Shops, Inc.; and The Wills Group.

Spencer has advised many of the leading companies in the downstream energy industry. He has authored and contributed to a number of 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) and a former member of the investment committee for the Fuel Fund of Maryland, Inc.

Prior to joining Matrix, Spencer was a senior business valuation consultant with Ellin & Tucker, Chartered, a nationally recognized business valuation, consulting and accounting firm, and a commercial lender with NationsBank (now Bank of America). As a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, he is a member of the CFA Institute and is also recognized as an Accredited Senior Appraiser by the American Society of Appraisers. Spencer holds a B.S. degree (with honors) from West Virginia University and an M.B.A. from Baylor University.

He is a member of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors, serves on the Board of Directors for Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance Company, is actively involved with The Bennett Institute’s Physically Challenged Sports Program at Kennedy Krieger and previously served on the Board of Visitors for University of Maryland’s Hospital for Children and the Board of Directors for The CollegeBound Foundation. He is also qualified as a FINRA General Securities Representative (Series 7), General Securities Principal (Series 24), Uniform Securities Agent (Series 63) and Investment Banking Representative (Series 79).

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.

Brad Clarkin is the Vice President of Production Operations at Kwik Trip. With a career spanning 19 years at Kwik Trip, Brad has been instrumental in overseeing four key production facilities: a bread and bun bakery, a sweets bakery, a commissary, and a dairy, all of which are crucial to the company's vertically integrated operations. He holds a Business Administration degree from Upper Iowa University.

Chris brings over 13 years of expertise in market and consumer research within the FMCG industry. He specializes in thought leadership and data storytelling, leveraging diverse data sources to uncover hidden market trends and drive impactful results for major FMCG companies.

Currently serving as Vice President of Food Thought Leadership at NIQ, Chris is responsible for creating forward-looking insights that help manufacturers navigate the evolving retail landscape. His published works, including "From Trend to Tumble," "Quick Bites, Big Business," "Retail Reshuffle," and "Brewing Omni Success," reflect his passion for delivering actionable, data-driven strategies.

Throughout his career, Chris has supported both small and emerging manufacturers, as well as renowned, industry-leading companies, in achieving their goals. His extensive project portfolio spans multiple categories and channels, including traditional brick-andmortar and eCommerce.

Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA from Loyola University Chicago, further complementing his strategic and analytical acumen.

Mark created the Yesway concept and strategy while at Brookwood Financial Partners, Yesway's parent management company, and he currently serves as its founder and Chief Strategy Officer. In the years since Yesway's inception, Mark has overseen many aspects of Yesway's operations, including formulating and driving the company’s strategy, growth plans, strategic partnerships, and operational initiatives.

Karl Doenges represents NACS on the coming disruption in mobility and how that effects convenience retailers. In this role, Karl focuses on NACS’ EV charging infrastructure program, monitoring and engaging the EV industry and theTransportation Energy Institute Electric Vehicle Council.

Previously, he was an advisor for fuel, energy, technology and water to Cranberry Capital, Vice President of Marketing and Government Affairs for Gradiant Corporation, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Business Development for Sweetwater Energy, President at Clean Fuel Distribution, Consultant to Protec Fuel Management and Director of Global Marketing at Wagner and Brown, Ltd.

Karl worked as a Senior Advisor in the United States International Trade Administration, focusing on the energy exporting team. Previously he was Director of TV Production at the White House and was in the George W. Bush Presidential Campaign.

Karl is a member of the State Bar of Texas, served on the U.S. District Export Council for the U.S. Department of Commerce, is an international business graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, earned his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) and Masters of Business Administration from Texas Tech University.

As Director, Sales Strategy and Enablement, at Numerator, Jenna Freese is a seasoned consumer packaged goods and insights expert with a background in analytics and creative, data-driven storytelling. Jenna started her career at MillerCoors and spent time in Marketing at The Boston Beer Company. Before joining Numerator’s Sales Strategy and Enablement team, Jenna worked as a Consumer Insights Consultant and Customer Education Manager at Numerator, helping leading brands unlock consumer understanding and the insights they need to grow in ever-changing markets.

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 and a daughter Vunshika. His hobbies include reading, tennis, football, snow skiing and anything related to technology.

Eric Hildenbrand is Chief Strategy Officer of McLane Company, one of the largest distributors in the United States, serving restaurants, convenience stores, drug stores, and mass merchants. Eric advances McLane’s corporate vision and enterprise strategy, oversees the company’s business development activity, and leads its transformation.

Eric joined McLane in 2013, and has held leadership roles including Chief Transformation Officer and General Counsel. As Chief Transformation Officer, Eric designed the company’s transformation goals and initiatives, built its transformation team, and led its change management efforts. As McLane’s General Counsel, he provided strategic legal advice on transactional, litigation, regulatory, and operational matters, with a focus on reducing overall legal and compliance risk while growing revenue and income.

Eric was previously a Senior Counsel and Compliance Officer for General Electric Capital’s Equipment Finance business. Before joining GE, Eric was a lawyer with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, specializing in defending companies and individuals in Securities and Exchange Commission, Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, and Congressional investigations, as well as conducting internal investigations for public companies. Eric also has experience in SEC reporting matters.

Eric has published articles on accounting and tax compliance. He has also guest-lectured on compliance and ethics at the Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas.

Eric focuses his chartable work on providing students with access to higher education. He is an active Rotarian, leading his club’s scholarships and educational activities and mentoring students in Central Texas.

Eric received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. He received his undergraduate degree in political science from Muhlenberg College, where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees.

Eric, his wife, and three children live in Temple, Texas.

Doug Kantor joined NACS as its General Counsel in May 2021.

Prior to that, Kantor most recently served as a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP. In this role, he worked with a range of clients, including NACS, to address public policy issues ranging from fuels to financial services. Kantor also established and administered coalitions of companies and trade associations that share common legislative and regulatory objectives. During his tenure at Steptoe, Doug also served as counsel to the Merchant Advisory Group, Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America, National Grocers Association, National Retail Federation, Merchants Payments Coalition, and Main Street Privacy Coalition, among other groups.

Kantor’s legal experience includes appellate litigation, campaign finance law counseling, privacy law counseling, defending state attorney general investigations, litigating securities enforcement actions, and class litigation.

Prior to Steptoe & Johnson, Kantor practiced at Collier Shannon & Scott PLLC. He also served as Special Counsel & Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Prior to attending law school, Kantor served as a public school teacher.

Kantor received a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

Steve Lerch is an award-winning international public speaker and consultant, and a highly respected voice in the world of digital strategy, marketing, consumer behavior, innovation, and leadership.

An in-demand public speaker, Steve has spoken at conferences, trade shows, and board meetings from California to the Netherlands and everywhere in between. He’s served as a guest lecturer at prestigious institutions like Georgetown University and the University of Pittsburgh as well as given keynote speeches for multiple college and high school graduations. His high-energy style perfectly blends humor, inspirational stories, insightful data, and actionable advice, which makes him a perfect choice for larger more inspirational keynote addresses as well as more specific breakout and education sessions.

Prior to the formation of Story Arc Consulting, Steve spent nine years at Google crafting his unique perspective on the topics of innovation, strategy, and digital marketing. For five years at Google’s Mountain View, CA headquarters, he brought this unique point of view to dozens of major consumer electronics businesses, working hand in hand with the likes of GoPro, OtterBox, Roku, and many others. Steve leveraged this digital expertise to help with the launch of hugely successful consumer electronics companies like Nest and LifeProof, by assisting them in the design of their first-ever digital marketing campaigns.

After moving to DC in 2015, Steve helped to launch Google’s first foray into the world of Advocacy and Association marketing. He helped the country’s largest membership organization, advocacy groups, non profits, government agencies, and agricultural checkoff programs better utilize digital tools and strategies to understand and reach their desired audiences.

Leveraging his nine years at Google and the experience gained from serving as a digital strategy consultant to dozens of the world’s most well-known brands, Steve brings independent consulting services to companies of all sizes and across all industries. Steve specializes in offering a high-level outside perspective on a company's overall vision, goals, and approach to marketing, challenging organizations to think more strategically and to evolve past strategies to embrace a digital first world. He also offers more specialized expertise in digital marketing, influencer marketing, consumer journey mapping, attribution strategy, and website design.

Ben serves as President of Majors Management and has been with the company for 15 years. Majors is an owner, operator, lessor, and supplier of 1,400 convenience stores in 21 states. Majors operates stores under the MAPCO banner and leases stores to 3rd party operators as Hop-In. Additionally, Majors supplies fuel to independent operators partnering with leading petroleum brands including BP, Shell, Chevron, Exxon, Marathon, CITGO, Mobil, Texaco, Valero, Phillips, Sunoco, 76 and Alon. As President of Majors, Ben is responsible for the company's growth and has overseen $700 Million worth of acquisitions for the company over the past several years. Ben holds a B.S. degree from the University of Georgia and a J.D. from Georgia State University and serves on the Chevron Marketer council.

Marco has over 20 years of experience in large-scale transformation for food and non-food retailers. He is highly experienced in multiple topics such as category management, buying/procurement, own brands, pricing/promo, operations, organization, strategy, M&A, and digital. He also has significant project experience in food/FMCG, fashion, luxury, and travel.

Dr. Thomas J. Weinandy is a Senior Research Economist at Upside, a digital marketplace that helps grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores, and gas stations drive measurable, incremental profit through targeted cash-back promotions. He specializes in consumer behavior, industry insights, and macroeconomic trends, leveraging big data analytics to help brick-and-mortar retailers optimize promotions, adapt to economic shifts, and build long-term customer loyalty. His investigations on digital technology, cross-shopping behaviors, and evolving consumer spending habits have been widely recognized, including a feature on The Today Show.

Dr. Weinandy holds an M.B.A., a Ph.D. in Applied Economics, and has published research in the Journal of Marketing Analytics, United Nations Chronicle, and Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade. A frequent speaker at industry and retail conferences, he also co-authored Artificial Intelligence with Microsoft Power BI (O’Reilly). His work provides food retailers and suppliers with actionable economic insights to navigate pricing challenges, shifting consumer preferences, and digital disruption.

In his current role, Mark Wohltmann is responsible for the strategic development of NACS|Global, the exclusive, worldwide network, supporting its members’ businesses and their careers within the convenience- and fuel-retailing industry.

Mark has more than 20 years of experience in research & consulting, with a focus on FMCG/CPG and Retail. Prior to joining NACS in late 2016 Mark worked in Strategic Product Development with the Nielsen Company in Europe, developing solutions for clients from the Convenience Retail, HoReCa, eCommerce and Tobacco industry. Prior to this Mark worked with the start-up USP Market Intelligence, setting up Germany's largest convenience retail panel, as well as with Combera (Advantage Smollan), developing Marketing- and sales strategies for FMCG companies, entering the convenience retail sector.

Mark started his career in the advertising industry, focusing on trade marketing and sales advertising in impulse retail channels, working with Dorland in Berlin and with Grey and BBDO in Duesseldorf after studying business administration at the University of Siegen and being trained in advertising consulting.