May Effler just celebrated her 20-year anniversary with Onvo. She enjoys her job at the company’s Gibson, Pennsylvania, location so much that when it came time for her to retire from her position as store manager—a role she’d held for 12 years—she passed the torch to another team member and stayed on as a cashier.

Effler moved to the United States from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1973, and worked in the banking industry until she began as a cashier with Onvo in 2004.

She spoke with NACS Magazine about:

Why she loves working at a c-store:

Convenience stores offer the whole spectrum of anything someone would need, so we are the go-to place for people—from locals to people passing through on their travels. Through that, I have met so many interesting people over the years. We have people from all different cultures and from all over the world that come through our stores. You meet so many people from different walks of life here.

We get a lot of travelers being near the highway, and I like to ask them, “Where are you going on your journey?” I like hearing where they’re from and what they’re doing. It’s about so much more than just serving them and thanking them for their business, it’s about being personable.

What she finds most fulfilling about her job:

It’s being of help to people that need it. A lot of people will ask for directions and I can help them find their way or suggest a shorter route to them. Or if they’re looking for an item and we don’t have it, I’ll tell them where else they can find it, even if its across the street at another store. It’s about always being helpful to a customer—if a customer comes in and has a need, you are the one that serves that need.

It’s kind of like being a nurse. A nurse has a patient that they take care of. In convenience, we are the ones who take care of our customers.

Why she would encourage someone to work at a c-store:

It’s the only place where you’re going to meet every different type of person of race, nationality and ethnicity all in one store. Especially if your store is located on a highway where people are traveling. You’re not going to get that anywhere else, where you can meet all types of people from different walks of life, ask them questions about themselves and learn about their culture.

You also form true friendships here. When my frequent customers come in, I really get to know them and ask about their families and kids. Convenience is a great opportunity to meet and help people.