NACS State of the Industry Summit

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.

Jeff joined the NACS leadership team in September 2023. He is responsible for the overall strategy and execution for engaging senior leaders in new and existing member companies and their employees. He also leads the NACS Retailer Engagement Team and engages with other NACS teams that drive and support industry engagement.

Jeff has extensive industry experience, with senior executive positions at Travel Centers of America, Alimentation Couche-Tard/Circle K and BP. He earned a B.S. from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix and a Master’s in marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

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.

Nathaniel joined the Casey’s team in August 2017. He leads the strategy and execution for all facets of fuel including supply, transportation, retail and commercial. Prior to Casey’s, he held several leadership positions across fuel and operations over ~13 years at Murphy USA. Nathaniel received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ouachita Baptist University and holds an MBA from Southern Arkansas University.

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.

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

Robert Hampton serves as the Vice President of Technology Services and Innovation at Jacksons Food Stores, a prominent convenience store chain boasting over 360 company-owned locations across seven western states. Jacksons distinguishes itself through vertical integration, overseeing both grocery and fuel distribution channels.

Having joined Jacksons in 2015, Robert swiftly ascended to the role of Chief Information Officer in 2017 and currently holds the position of Vice President. Prior to his tenure at Jacksons, Robert demonstrated his expertise as the Director of Global Infrastructure and Operations for AECOM, overseeing a Center of Excellence. His extensive career in the IT industry spans various roles within public and private sector companies since 1991.

Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Robert actively contributes to academia and industry initiatives. He serves on the External Advisory Board for the Computer Science Department at Texas Tech University and the Industry Advisory Board for the Computer Science Department at Boise State University.

In the convenience industry, Robert remains deeply engaged, participating in key associations such as NACS and Conexxus. Presently, he holds the position of Vice Chairman for Conexxus and plays a crucial role in the content planning committee for NACS.

Robert holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Currently residing in Meridian, Idaho, he brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the intersection of technology, innovation, and convenienceretail.

John Harmon is a technology and equity analyst with more than 20 years' experience in the US, Europe and Asia. John focusses on the IoT, payments, wearables, drones, sensors, beacons and data analytics. He is Head of the Coresight US analyst team, and received a BS and an MS in Engineering from Stanford University.

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.

Sanjeev joined Casey’s in August 2021. As the CIO, Sanjeev's drive is to make IT Smart and Convenient for Casey’s Guests and Team Members. Before joining Casey’s, Sanjeev led the Technology and Operations organization at Travelers. Prior to Travelers, Sanjeev spent 13 years at John Deere in various leadership roles delivering solutions that allowed customers to be more productive and profitable while growing the precision technology business from a $150M to over a $1B dollar recurring revenue generator in 6 years. Before John Deere, he spent 5 years at Daimler Chrysler AG leading Vehicle Engineering operations and Technology integration. Sanjeev holds an Executive MBA and a MS & BS in Electrical & Electronics Engineering. He is passionate about helping support underprivileged female children in furthering their education to follow their dreams.

Gray grew up in the convenience industry with the opening of the family’s first convenience store in 1963. Involved in the family business, comprised of 87 stores, Gray gained experience in all phases of convenience store and chain retail operations. Gray has been involved on a variety of projects, including heading global product management for three of the world’s largest retail petroleum equipment and systems suppliers and vice president of research & technology for NACS. Gray managed product portfolios that included payment platforms for EMV migration markets from Malaysia to Canada, as well as mobile/RFID payments initiatives. He also established NACS’ card payments program which saved the industry $60 million in its first year of operations and currently serves over 1,500 stores, doing 100 million transactions annually.

Crystal Washington, CSP works with organizations that want to leverage technology to increase profits and productivity!

As a technology strategist and certified futurist, Crystal takes complex social media, app, and web topics, and makes them easy to understand and accessible for everyday people.

Crystal’s clients comprise Fortune 500 companies including Google, Microsoft, and GE and as a sought-after keynote speaker, she has entertained and educated audiences around the globe.

She has appeared in numerous publications including Entrepreneur, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Forbes and is regularly called on by major television networks as a tech expert.

Crystal is the author of the books One Tech Action: An Efficiency Guide for Busy Non-techie Professionals to get More Done, Build Better Relationships, and Enjoy More Free time and The Social Media Why: A Busy Professional’s Practical Guide to Using Social Media Including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+ and Blogs for Business.

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.

Amy began in the convenience store industry in 1999 with Flash Foods. She began working in the IT department on the Helpdesk. She remained in the IT department working in various positions and assisted with numerous projects. Flash Foods was one of the first convenience stores to implement Computer Assisted Ordering and Item level inventory. Amy was involved in these implementations as well as implementing their loyalty program in the early 2000’s. In 2016, Amy decided to move on to work with GATE Petroleum in Jacksonville, Florida. She served as Pricebook manager during her tenure there. In 2021, she took the position of Director of Enterprise IT for Friendly Express and Lewis & Raulerson located in her hometown of Waycross, GA.

Amy has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Mercer University. She enjoys spending time with her family and cheering on the GA Bulldogs and the Braves! Go DAWGS! Go BRAVES!

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 2024 NACS State of the Industry Summit. This registration does not include a complimentary license to access the State of the Industry Report of 2023 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.