Convenience Matters

The bones were good at the location Pitmaster Carey Bringle chose for his latest BBQ restaurant, Bringle’s Smoking Oasis. Related Links: Peg Leg Porker Bringle's Smoking Oasis Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Carey Bringle, Pitmaster and Founder of Peg Leg Porker Bringle founded his first restaurant, Peg Leg Porker, in 2013. Peg Leg Porker is named after Bringle and his greatest win, a cancer battle that he triumphed at the age of 17. With his win, he lost his leg, which led him to create a new name and only added more fire to his passion for success. Upon opening its doors in the heart of Nashville, Peg Leg Porker was quickly named one of the hottest BBQ joints in the country by numerous media outlets. His second concept, Bringle’s Smoking Oasis, took over a former auto repair shop. The menu features smoked brisket, pulled pork, beef ribs and an array of homemade sides like Mexican Street corn, chorizo queso and Texas-style baked beans.

A convenience store with its own brewery? Yep! Chicagoland PRIDE Stores have even more innovation and excitement in the works. Related Links: The PRIDE Stores 93 Octane Brewery Parent Petroleum Ideas 2 Go: Parent Petroleum’s Brewing Success The Big Question Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Rose Johnson About our Guest: Mario Spina, owner and CEO, Parent Petroleum Mario is the owner and CEO of St. Charles, Illinois-based Parent Petroleum Co., a wholesale supplier of fuel and lubricants. He also owns and operates 15 The PRIDE Stores, which feature three foodservice concepts—PRIDE Cafe, Urban Counter, and Taco Urbano—plus a wine & spirits store, along with 93 Octane, a brewery.

Retail fueling experts break down current market conditions affecting the price per gallon. Related Links: NACS Fuels Resource Center Fuels Institute Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Paige Anderson, Director of Government Relations, NACS Paige represents NACS members before Congress and the administration on policy issues relating to fuels, energy, cyber and data security, consumer data privacy, climate change, transportation and patent reform. She joined NACS in December 2012 after spending 20 years on Capitol Hill in the office of Rep. Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) as deputy chief of staff and legislative director, and in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. She hails from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and has a B.A. in political science and economics. Paige also earned an M.A. in national security studies from California State University, San Bernardino. John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute John leads the Fuels Institute, a nonprofit, independent think tank founded in

From culture to automation, Jared Scheeler shares how his company is tackling labor challenges. Related Links: "Thinking Big," NACS Magazine, January 2022 Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Jared Scheeler, CEO, The Hub Convenience Stores Scheeler, who is also the 2021-22 NACS chairman, began his career in the convenience industry in 1998 while attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where he worked at Minneapolis-based Bobby & Steve’s Auto World. His engagement with NACS goes back to 2001, when he attended his first NACS Show in Las Vegas. “That’s when I fell in love with the industry,” he said in the January 2022 issue of NACS Magazine. In 2015, Scheeler returned to his hometown and co-founded The Hub in Dickinson, North Dakota.

Not all emissions are equal. A new study explores how energy can determine where EVs and hybrids reduce emissions. Hint: It varies considerably by region. Related Links: Fuels Institute Life Cycle Analysis: Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles  Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute John Eichberger leads the Fuels Institute, a nonprofit, independent think tank founded in 2013 and managed by NACS. Prior to the Fuels Institute, he served more than 14 years at NACS as vice president of government relations and as the director of motor fuels. He oversaw advocacy operations and represented the convenience and fuel retailing industry before the media and federal government. With decades of experience, Eichberger is a recognized and go-to expert on fuels and fuel retailing.

What President Biden's address means for the convenience and fuel retailing industry. Related Links: Merchants Payments Coalition NACS Advocacy  NACS Day on the Hill Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Doug Kantor, NACS General Counsel Doug joined NACS in May 2021 after serving as a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he worked with the NACS government relations team to define effective policy-based solutions on issues ranging from fuels to financial services. He has established and administered coalitions of companies and trade associations that share common legislative and regulatory objectives, including the Merchants Payments Coalition and its work to reform credit and debit card swipe fees.

From flavored milk to supporting service dogs and veterans, Kurt Weigel shares how the 90-year-old company is just getting started. Related Links: Weigel's NACS Ideas 2 Go | Weigel's NACS HR Forum Smoky Mountain Service Dogs Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky and Britt Brewer About our Guest: Kurt Weigel, Recruiting Manager, Weigel’s Stores Inc. You'll find Kurt Weigel at the Powell, Tennessee-based Weigel's, handling recruitment and customer concerns and overseeing the company's annual Weigel's Family Christmas. He has been with Weigel's for nearly two decades and previously taught middle school in Charlotte, North Carolina. Weigel's traces its roots back to 1847, when Carl Augustus Weigel emigrated from Saxony, Germany, and purchased a 470-acre farm for $1,000 in Wartburg, Tennessee. Fast-forwarding to 1964, Bill Weigel opened the first Weigel’s convenience store located on Oak Ridge Highway. Today there are 70 Weigel's stores throughout East Tennessee.

Vehicle sales trends have massive implications for the economy and the future of fueling. What’s affecting sales now, and what could change in the next five years? Related Links: National Automobile Dealers Association NACS Fuels Resource Center Fuels Institute Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and John Eichberger About our Guest: Patrick Manzi, Chief Economist, National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Patrick Manzi works with NADA and the American Truck Dealers (ATD), a division of NADA. He regularly speaks to various audiences about the auto industry and is responsible for many of the association’s monthly and annual economic reports including NADA Data and ATD Data.

Foodie, writer, and TV personality Al Hebert is passionate about food and where to find it: at the local gas station. Related Links: Gas Station Gourmet NACS Magazine Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky and Rose Johnson About our Guest: Al Hebert, Founder, Gas Station Gourmet Al Hebert lives for America's gas stations. He created Gas Station Gourmet in 2007 and has been writing his column for NACS Magazine since 2011 to bring the story of America's independent convenience stores—especially those with unique foodservice—to thousands of industry leaders. He's a news producer and reporter by trade and a frequent speaker at industry events like the NACS Show. When Al is not enjoying a great burger or fried chicken at a local convenience store, you can find him on NEWS 15 KADN in Lafayette, Louisiana.

From subscription snack boxes to opening The Goods Mart at 30 Rockefeller in New York City, Rachel Krupa is redefining convenience one store at a time. Related Links: The Goods Mart NACS Ideas 2 Go: Doing More and Doing Good Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky and Britt Brewer About our Guest: Rachel Krupa, Founder, The Goods Mart Rachel Krupa has had her finger on the pulse of the health and wellness industry for most of her adult life. As someone whose foundational pillar is to do good and feel good, she has turned her observations, introspections, and unwavering passion into a thriving business—not once, but twice. Opening a mission-driven public relations agency, Krupa Consulting, in 2010 and then opening a better-for-you convenience store, The Goods Mart, in 2018, Rachel has paved her own path and become one of the most sought-after experts and advisors in the health, wellness, and food landscapes.

Our conversation explores how 7-Eleven's Evolution stores are a testing ground where customers can experience the retailer's newest innovations and products. Related Links: NACS Ideas 2 Go: 7-Eleven's Evolution NACS Ideas 2 Go: Retail Evolution Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Molly Long, Vice President of Store Evolution & Design, 7-Eleven Molly Long is responsible for all design-related activities associated with both the physical store as well as the customer experience inside of 7-Eleven, including new stores, remodels, platform innovation, and new store formats. She has a strong track record for leading transformational change inside the company. She founded the Store Evolution Team to transform the customer experience through laboratory stores, which are now influencing the designs and platforms for all new stores and remodel standards.

German retailers are redefining and adapting to new consumer behaviors and their expectations of Berlin's convenience retail market. Related Links: NACS Convenience Summit Europe NACS Magazine | Berlin: The Future of Convenience Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky About our Guests: Christian Warning, Managing Director of The Retail Marketeers Warning is the founder and managing director of The Retail Marketeers, a Hamburg, Germany-based sales and marketing retail think tank. He focuses on developing and delivering award-winning convenience retail formats and marketing strategies. Warning worked with Royal Dutch Shell for 13 years in different retail management roles and has a robust list of global retail industry clients that includes Total, Orlen, Valora, Ahold, Lekkerland, Verifone, Costa, and PepsiCo. He is an advisor to the NACS International Board of Directors and is a NACS relationship partner based in Germany. Mark Wohltmann, Director of NACS Global Wohltmann is responsible for the strategic development of NACS

The customer experience starts at the forecourt and extends to the inside of the store. Add a local and community focus to the mix and retailers can create a winning offer. Related Links: Cenex Cenex LIFT Initiative Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our guest: Akhtar Hussain, Director of Refined Fuels Marketing, Cenex Akhtar Hussain is the director of refined fuels marketing at CHS, where he is responsible for Cenex brand marketing, retail development and retail imaging and equipment for Cenex, which has more than 1,500 convenience store locations across 19 states. In his more than 10 years at CHS, Hussain has held a number of roles including manager of petroleum equipment and manager of refined fuels marketing. A Minnesota native, he received his degree in marketing from Metropolitan State University. Kyle Knutson, CEO of Synergy Cooperative Kyle Knutson is CEO of Synergy Cooperative, a locally customer-owned cooperative located in Northwest Wisconsin. Kyle and his team run the local Cenex-branded location in Cu

This timely episode discusses what convenience retailers could expect as the nation's highest court prepares to rule on OSHA’s vaccine mandate. Related Links: Subscribe to NACS Daily NACS Webinar: OSHA's Vaccine Mandate Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Doug Kantor, NACS General Counsel Kantor joined NACS in May 2021 after serving as a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he worked with the NACS government relations team to define effective policy-based solutions on issues ranging from fuels to financial services. He has established and administered coalitions of companies and trade associations that share common legislative and regulatory objectives, including the Merchants Payments Coalition and its work to reform credit and debit card swipe fees. Jon Taets, NACS Government Relations Director Taets joined NACS in March 2014 and advocates before Congress on behalf of the U.S. convenience and fuel retailing industry on policy and regulatory issues relating to labor, health care, taxes, foodservi

How a small and mighty convenience store owner is inspiring other independent retailers to take their business to the next level. Related Links: NACS Ideas 2 Go: "The Hub" Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Jared Scheeler, CEO of The Hub Convenience Stores Inc., is the 2021-22 NACS Chairman. He began his career in the convenience industry in 1998 while attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where he worked at Minneapolis-based Bobby & Steve’s Auto World. His engagement with NACS began in 2001 when he attended his first NACS Show in Las Vegas. “That’s when I fell in love with the industry," he said in the January 2022 issue of NACS Magazine. In 2015, Scheeler co-founded The Hub in his hometown of Dickinson, North Dakota.

Sharing your company story leads to more engaged employees and customers. Related Links: NACS Magazine Article: The Storyteller Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Rose Johnson About our Guest: Kendal Netmaker, Founder, Netmaker Enterprises Kendal Netmaker is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and gifted keynote speaker who is on a mission to empower and motivate people worldwide by sharing his story that regardless of where you come from and what challenges you face, you have the power to enact change.

Solar energy can equal great savings for retailers. Hear about the benefits, challenges and processes to getting started with solar. Related Links: Converting to Renewable Energy (NACS Sustainability Toolkit) Reducing Energy Use (NACS Sustainability Toolkit)  Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare and Paige Anderson About our Guests: John Zimmerman, Partner, Amerlight Energy John enjoys providing sound guidance to clients as they consider how best to incorporate energy-saving strategies, lower operational costs, and increase bottom-line profits. John brings 20+ years of experience in finance, project development, and real estate strategy consulting for owner/users, tenants, and landlords. Jim Vincent, Founder and CEO, Amerlight Energy With over 30 years of experience in project development and business administration, Jim founded the Amerlight brand in 2008 and has worked over the past 13 years to build the company and pave new roads in the field of energy efficiency in solar, energy storage, and LED Technology. Jim is d

Catch up on the facts and the science behind the five-second rule, handwashing and third-party food delivery. Related Links: NACS Food Safety Resources "Risky or Not" Podcast "Food Safety Talk" Podcast Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Dr. Don Schaffner, Extension Specialist in Food Science and Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University Don Schaffner, Ph.D. is the Extension Specialist in Food Science at Rutgers University. His research interests include quantitative microbial risk assessment and predictive food microbiology. He has served on expert committees for the National Academy of Sciences, WHO and FAO.

A vehicle charging area can be more than just chargers in the parking lot corner. Consider a customer-centric experience to surprise and delight charging guests. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and John Eichberger About our Guest: Brent Gruber, Senior Director, Global Automotive at J.D. Power Brent Gruber leads the global automotive supplier practice and the company’s electric vehicle experience studies. As an industry thought leader, he represents J.D. Power within the automotive industry and consults with clients on finding research-based solutions to product and customer issues. Brent’s primary focus is helping clients evolve and grow their businesses through improving products and the customer experience.

Whether privately held, publicly traded or seeking access to capital, bankers and investors are asking companies for their ESG plan. What will you show them? Related Links: ESG Integrity Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS About our Guests: Ryan Scott, Vice President, HBW Resources Ryan Scott is Vice President for Risk Management and Sustainability Reporting for HBW Resources. The focus of Ryan’s practice is to help clients understand and mitigate non-technical risks so they can focus on their core operations and competencies. Ryan works with clients to develop an ESG reporting discipline that enables them to do more than simply check the box by focusing on risk identification/mitigation key operational metrics. Prior to his time at HBW, Ryan worked at Deloitte and Touche’s Strategy and Operations Consulting practice. Serving GMAC, he conducted a bank evaluation and application process to assist its conversion from a state bank into a bank holding company, allowing the client to ac