As a supplier member, what does NACS political engagement mean to you, and what benefits have you experienced from being politically engaged?

I attended my first NACS Show in 1988 in Las Vegas, and from that very first Show I was hooked. I was so blessed to find an industry early in my career that felt like home. For the past 30 years, I have always served on the supplier side of convenience retailing. This industry has fed my family and put my kids through college, and some of my best friends in the world have come through our industry.

Political engagement, in my opinion, is one of the unsung foundational pillars for convenience retailing. Our industry touches almost every sector of consumer retailing and unlike many industries that only have single-issue exposure, we must fight on multiple fronts with local, state and federal regulations that if unchallenged could impact retailers and suppliers alike. This really is what hits home for me—that we need to be engaged not just in our day-to-day jobs, but also in helping the industry that has helped all of us put food on the table.

What federal legislative or regulatory issue keeps you up at night?

The current issues that keep me up at night these days revolve around the FDA and the nutritional labeling guidelines (or lack thereof). This is a perfect example of lawmakers passing some sound-good/feel-good legislation without considering the economic impact. Much like some of the "E" fuel legislative efforts, the potential impact of this legislation could have a big economic impact on our retailers, and without retailers, there is no need for suppliers. So, we have to be involved.

What c-store product could you not live without?

Breakfast burritos. That is the breakfast of champions!