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

I truly believe that convenience stores are the heart of the community, especially in smaller communities where they may be the only game in town. So much revolves around what we do and what we offer on a day to day basis. We are absolutely essential to the fabric of American society, and I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that. Beyond that, we have a responsibility to unite, support and provide smiles to the communities we serve. We can do this by building our stores as gathering places for morning coffee, by donating to worthwhile community organizations and by developing personal relationships with our guests.

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

function of my leadership at The Hub. It’s not just one of those extra things I deal with if I have the time. It’s kind of like what I tell people who want to work out or exercise more. They need to make their workout time a non-negotiable part of their calendar, just like a one-to-one with a team member. The same concept applies to political engagement. There are so many issues that affect our industry and our companies, so we need to stay informed. We need to build personal relationships with our elected officials. And we need to take the time necessary to do all of that. It’s critical in protecting our businesses, and we need to treat it as a non-negotiable. I know I do. My personal political engagement has helped my company in many ways. I see the way my members of Congress vote, and it makes me feel my voice has been heard. But I have to say, it feels extremely good to influence my representatives in ways that help the industry as a whole. More than once, the elected officials from my district have been the lead sponsors on legislation that was voted into law and helped our industry greatly. Whether it’s true or not, I feel like I personally played a big part in that. It doesn’t get much better than being able to help the greater good of our industry as a whole. And the best part is, we all have the power to do that.

What federal legislative or regulatory issues keep you up at night (with respect to the convenience store industry)?

there are a few issues that frustrate me to no end. The first is the exorbitant amount of money we all pay in swipe fees. I really hope that all convenience retailers get as infuriated as I do when looking at monthly P&Ls. What Visa and Mastercard are doing to us and our consumers is dead wrong, and we all need to stand up with a strong, united voice and do something about it. One other longer-term concern I have, even though it may not directly affect me like it will in more populated areas, is the future of EV charging stations. It’s vital that our industry leads the country in the installation of EV chargers and not let other interested parties beat us to the punch. With public utilities fighting for the space, and now General Motors announcing that they’ll be installing them at all of their dealerships around the country, we have some work to do. And Congress must play a role in ensuring we can do so on an even playing field.

What c-store product could you not live without?

Maybe it’s the North Dakotan in me, but I’m a sucker for Dot’s Pretzels. The taste is incredibly addicting! I’m proud that they’re a North-Dakota-based company, and I’m proud that I’ve been able to introduce them to so many others in our industry. Now you can get them in all 50 states!