What role do you think convenience stores should play in the community?

With more and more people ordering online and having their needs sent to their homes, many brick-and-mortar stores are going out of business. However, this presents a huge opportunity for convenience. Convenience stores provide valuable access to food, fuel and other necessities. We give the gift of convenience and time to the soccer moms in a hurry and the shift worker on the way to their job. We support our nonprofits, like the local Little League teams, and host fundraisers to help people in need.

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

As a member of the NACS Political Engagement Committee, I have made a commitment to being engaged and involved in all the issues that affect our companies and industry. We apply grassroots efforts to educate our representatives and senators on issues that affect the industry, which has helped us become a respected and trusted resource in our states. Through our political engagement programs, our Kwik Trip employees know that no matter how big or small, they can make a difference for our organization, company and the state they live in.

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

Currently, the FDA is proposing banning convenience stores like us from selling e-cigarettes, while still allowing them to be sold in other retail stores. This is an unfair advantage to those other stores, and we need to have a level playing field. The FDA cannot choose winners and losers in the marketplace. Additionally, the biodiesel blenders’ tax credit has been a critical tool in bringing biodiesel into the market. Fuel marketers have been able to use this incentive to make sure consumers have a wide range of fuel choices. The uncertainty surrounding the extension of this tax credit each year makes it vital that we have an active political engagement program that strengthens existing congressional relationships and provides opportunities to create new relationships.

What c-store product could you not live without?

No question, it would be our Karuba Coffee–it fuels me every day.