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

I’m personally very interested [in political engagement] when it comes to historical aspects because you can learn from history. When you discuss the future of politics, you can look back at history and see what can happen, and in what direction the political future can follow if a wrong decision is made.

NACS is a great source to hear firsthand what is going on in the federal government and how this would have an impact on our industry, my customers, my company or even myself. The government relations team helps me better understand how I can use my voice to make a difference.

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

I am very concerned about taxes and electric vehicles (EVs) and the impact those issues could have on the convenience industry. With respect to EVs, there is a big push by politicians to move toward EVs and adding more publicly accessible EV chargers without ensuring that there is a competitive market for EV charging. In my home state of Texas, for example, convenience and fuel retailers are unable to charge EV drivers for the charging of their vehicles. The ability to resell electricity, for the purposes of charging EVs and not being regulated as if the retailer were a utility, is a critical element in creating a competitive, private-sector-driven marketplace for EV charging. With the focus on EVs and climate change in Washington, it is imperative that our experience and voices be heard.

NACS Day on the Hill provides a great opportunity to educate Congress on these issues and others that are important to our industry. As a first-time attendee in 2021, I got to support convenience retailers and share our story directly with our members of Congress. We were able to push the needle forward on our issues. It’s a powerful event that I encourage everyone to attend.

What c-store product could you not live without?

Well, that’s easy, ice cream and peanuts!