Changing Lives for the Better in Convenience
Wednesday’s General Session featured words of wisdom from the new NACS Chairman.
Oct 08, 2026 | 2 min read
Lonnie McQuirter, director of operations for 36 Lyn Refuel Station and the newly named 2026-27 NACS Chairman, opened Wednesday’s General Session by sharing a video of a preschooler who said he wanted to work at a gas station when he grew up. The audience of parents and teachers laughed like they had when another preschooler said he wanted to be a T. rex. However, McQuirter suggested that the first youngster’s perception was shaped by the “community” he felt more than recognition of the career status.
“Our store, 36 Lyn Refuel Station, sits in one of the most diverse communities in the country,” said McQuirter. “We have customers from all walks of life; some well-off, others less so. We’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. While other industries close their doors, we stay open. While other fields get the headlines, we get the people—the tired, the hungry, the grieving, the ones just trying to make it through the day or night.”
McQuirter said retailers conduct more than transactional interactions—they take care of people. “So the next time someone tells you convenience stores don’t matter, remember that people like the four-year-old boy see it. Then hold your head high. This work matters. It always has, and it always will.”
Reflecting on his more than 20 years in the industry, McQuirter said he believes success comes from two competitive advantages: investing in people and endless curiosity.
“You have to hire right, train them, support them and let them share the vision,” he said.
He described how he regularly takes his staff out to a fine dining restaurant. They don’t—he wants them to enjoy a great meal and learn how those establishments excel. “I want my team to experience that. And I want them to exemplify that at the store,” McQuirter said.
He also encouraged retailers to remain curious. “The moment we think we know everything is the moment we stop growing.” Reframing the job from selling convenience to selling an experience will lead to success and underscore “how important we really are in everyday life.”
“We’re not just conducting transactions, we’re cultivating relationships,” McQuirter said. “And most of all, we are important because sometimes without realizing it, we change lives for the better.”
