What role in the community do you think convenience stores should play?

Convenience stores should be considered the center of dependability in the community. They are expected to be open at odd hours, have the products people need and provide efficient service so customers can be on their way. I think we deliver exceptionally on these promises.

What does NACS political engagement mean to you and what benefits have you experienced from being politically engaged?

The work of the NACS Government Relations team is so important. Not only do they influence policy in Washington, D.C., but they provide valuable resources to association executives across the country to help advocate for the best interests of retailers at the state level. I have personally cited NACS in countless pieces of testimony over the years. If you aren’t at least getting NACS Daily or periodically checking the advocacy page on convenience.org, then you’re missing the boat.

What federal legislative or regulatory issues keep you up at night?

Because I have personally spent hundreds of hours defending the flavored tobacco category for our retailers, I am moderately concerned about the FDA’s proposed rulemaking for menthol cigarettes and characterizing flavors in cigars. I would encourage every retailer to write to the FDA in opposition. More broadly, I worry about regulatory mandates that are devoid of specific plans to achieve their goals and what that means for our industry. I despise sloppy policy.

What c-store product could you not live without?

I’ve been known to pick up an afternoon bag of peanut M&M’s and a FIJI water!