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

The convenience and fuel retailing industry is made up of so many different components—retailers and suppliers, employees and customers, products and services … the list goes on. It is easy to slide into the groove that most directly affects your own business. Engaging with the NACS’ political engagement team has allowed me to view the industry in a much more comprehensive way and realize that while others are dealing with issues that might not directly affect me, they could dramatically affect the industry as a whole. It’s in our best interests to support our industry from top to bottom to ensure that it remains a great place to do business.

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

Liability protections for essential businesses and tax incentives for essential workers—the convenience and fuel retailing industry has remained open, and store-level employees continue to go above and beyond to support their communities every day, proving beyond a doubt that these businesses are truly “essential” to our economy. Retailers and employees should be protected and recognized for their efforts.

What c-store product could you not live without?

Epic Bars—I enjoy all of the flavors, but Bison Bacon Cranberry is my favorite. Quality meat, fruit, nuts, seeds and spices combine for a unique on-the-go snack. It’s hard for me to walk out of a c-store without one or two of these!