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

As a business owner in this channel, the greatest benefit that NACS political engagement has provided me is timely and comprehensive education on the regulatory issues impacting our industry and most importantly, actionable solutions I can support at the grassroots level. Whether it is participating in Day on the Hill, attending state organization meetings or leveraging relationships with state congressional leaders, being prepared and able to communicate our messages clearly and concisely is very powerful.

One of the most important benefits that NACS provides its members (both retailers and suppliers) is the incredible work that is being done every day on the Hill to protect the best interests of the convenience and fuel retailing industry. The rate of regulatory change is increasing rapidly, and it is even more important than ever to ensure that Congress and federal government agencies understand the true impact of these changes on our channel and are educated on the best ways to execute them.

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

Given the COVID-19 crisis, my worldview has shifted, as most everyone’s has. I am incredibly proud to be working in an “essential” industry that has done incredible things at the national, state and community levels to celebrate the heroes in health care and essential businesses who are putting themselves at risk to serve us. Therefore, I have been extremely focused lately on those legislative bills that support our customers, small businesses and essential employees.

That said, any issue that can negatively impact our channel is always on my radar. The most important thing is to be on the front-end of these “winds” and be able to influence them as quickly as possible. Therefore, legislation on electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, payments standards and consumer data privacy are now taking a greater share of my energy. As a consultant on loyalty and payments, the last two are particularly relevant to our customers and could put the convenience channel (and consumers) at a huge disadvantage. Anything that unfairly targets our channel and/or gives other industries an unfair advantage is a huge red flag for me.

What c-store product could you not live without?

I would have to say that bottled spring water is my go-to item. The other items in the basket can vary dramatically, depending on the trip, but most often will include a protein bar, pistachios or gummy bears. Of course, when traveling, foodservice items become imperative for breakfast, lunch and dinner; therefore, testing out new salads, pizza, tacos or other foodservice offerings is research—or at least that is what I tell myself!