Defining the Bidding Process for Suppliers of Non-resalable Products
Tuesday, Nov. 6; 2 - 3:15 p.m. Room: C105
This in-depth workshop will give suppliers of non-resalable products a play-by-play instruction guide on how to break into the convenience store channel. Whether it is preparing RFIs, RFQs or RFPs, suppliers will walk away with the knowledge they need to effectively connect with retailers and increase sales.
Moderator: David Bishop, Vice President; Willard Bishop Consulting
Speakers: Jenny Bullard, Chief Information Officer; Flash Foods, Inc. The Jones Co.
Ron Coppel, Vice President, Business Development; Eby-Brown Company, LLC
John Zikias, Chief Operating Officer; Impact 21 Group, LLC
Healthy For Them; Good For Your Bottom Line?
Tuesday, Nov. 6; 2 - 3:15 p.m. Room: C101
Some reports say that Americans are eating and living healthier. They want snacks and drinks that are functional and fresh. Is this just a trend or is this the way its going to be? Do you need to change your merchandising mix? Find out just what 'functional foods' are and if you should stock more of them. Hear what consumers are looking for and from retailers that are striving to make them happy.
Moderator: Rich Libonate, Senior Vice President of Sales; Detour Bars
Speakers: Joe Derochowski, Director of Business Development; The NPD Group, Inc.
Michael Sands, Co-Founder; LesserEvil Brand Snack Company
PCI Compliance: What Now?
Tuesday, Nov. 6; 2 - 3:15 p.m. Room: C107
According to Gartner, a technology consulting firm, "It's almost more dangerous to go to the gas station than it is online. The data is just sitting there. No one even thought about what data is on a POS controller." Still, today's PCI data security standards are increasing the burden on c-store technology and business decision-makers to think about POS security at the gas pump. Even after meeting compliance deadlines, small and medium-sized convenience store retailers face the challenge of keeping abreast of new and evolving standards. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In this highly educational session, seasoned c-store technology providers-representing a variety of systems found in typical convenience/petroleum store operations-will answer your questions and provide guidance for taking preventative steps.
Moderator: Cliff Duffey, Chairman, CEO and President; Cybera, Inc.
Speakers: Eric Ahlm, Cisco Systems
Kirsten Paust, Vice President of Global Retail Systems; Gilbarco Veeder-Root
Squeaky Clean with Car Washes
Tuesday, Nov. 6; 2 - 3:15 p.m. Room: C102
Would you like to clean up by adding a car wash to your facility? Find out what makes a carwash work for you. From start to finish, hear what you need to know about car wash choices, environmental impacts, marketing, and return on investment. What new innovations are happening that mean opportunity for you?
Moderator: Chip Lavigne, President; Lavigne Petroleum, LLC
Speakers: Keith Baker, Treasurer; Slidell Oil Co.
David Carpenter, President; JD Carpenter Companies
Media Training
Tuesday, Nov. 6; 2 - 5:00 p.m. Room: C104
Whether you interact with the media, zoning commissions or your elected officials, effectively getting across your message and positioning your company in a positive light can greatly benefit your business. This hands-on session will help retailers learn how to better communicate and build relationships with key opinion leaders. Attendees will also be able to participate in mock interviews where they can test their newly learned skills. Attendance is limited; please contact Jeff Lenard at jlenard@nacsonline.com or (703) 518-4272 to reserve your spot.
Speaker: Jeff Lenard, Vice President of Communications; NACS
Extreme Store Makeovers - More Than a Facelift
Tuesday, Nov. 6; 3:45 - 5 p.m. Room: C102
Keep your store portfolio fresh by fixing, remodeling, or demolishing stores. Customers, particularly women want updated looks and safe stores. Hear the latest on how smart retailers evaluate when and how to modernize their store base and what actions they take when money is tight.
Moderator: Chip Lavigne, President; Lavigne Petroleum, LLC
Speakers: Rahim Budhwani, Vice President and CEO; 6040, LLC
Geroge Nauman, Chief Operating Officer/Partner; Chute Gerdeman
Eric Zoph, Vice President of Construction; Thornton's, Inc.
Innovative Recruitment Techniques
Tuesday, Nov. 6; 3:45 - 5 p.m. Room: C107
Faced with high employee turnover rates and a diverse applicant pool, HR departments in c-stores should always be looking for new ideas to help improve recruitment. Hear from industry expert Susan Stang of PBS, Inc. about some interesting new techniques that companies are using to entice applicants including the use of technology and with the help of existing employees. Discover what industry leader Sheetz, Inc. is doing to find and retain the best employees. Bring ideas to share and something to write with as you will take home a ton of new ideas after this valuable workshop.
Moderator: Debra Denker, Corporate HR Manager; Molo Oil Company Big 10 Mart
Speakers: Susan Schwaderer, Payroll Manager; Sheetz, Inc.;
Susan Stang, President; Performance - Based Selection Ltd.
Measuring In-Store Customers
Tuesday, Nov. 6; 3:45 - 5 p.m. Room: C101
Are you effectively reaching the customers that enter your store ? The Nielsen Company's In-Store Division and a consortium of retailers, manufacturers and marketers are making great advancements to develop a syndicated system to measure customer traffic within the store. By analyzing this information along with sales data, retailers and product marketers will ultimately be able to identify new advertising opportunities at retail and accurately evaluate the effectiveness of in-store marketing activity. This presentation will address the potential of syndicated audience measurement at convenience stores and its potential to have a profound impact on future marketing strategy. Retailers and manufacturers will also learn how to best capitalize on the changes ahead effective deployment of product displays and in-store signage.
Moderator: Casey McKenzie, Consultant; Impact 21 Group, LLC
Speakers: George Wishart, Global Managing Director; The Nielsen Company
Fast, Fresh and Fabulous Foodservice: Are You Dishing Up the Right Mix?
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 7:45 - 9 a.m. Room: B401-02
Fresh and healthy food is what today's customer is looking for. Whether the approach is commissary-style or at-the-store, you will hear from retailers who have successfully made it "to the top of the food chain." Do you have what it takes for your customers give their permission to dine with you?
Moderator: Alvin New, President/CEO; Town and Country Food Stores
Speakers: Kevin Higar, director/operator, Product Development; Technomic
Ron Coben, Executive VP & Chief Marketing Officer; SSP Partners
Kipp Violett, Corporate Sales Manager; QuikTrip Corporation
Health Care Insurance Crisis
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 7:45 - 9 a.m. Room: B406
With healthcare costs skyrocketting and new laws on the books every day, hear ideas on how to successfully provide coverage to your employees.
Modertors: Tracie Lilly, Chief People Officer; The Spinx Company, Inc.
Tim Luy, Director of Operations for Commerical Health; Federated Insurance
Speakers: Nichole Torsey, President; Mount Counties Supply Company
Luke Burchard; Innovative Health Strategies, Inc./AWACS.MD
Amy Leger, Human Resources Manager; Aldin Associates dba Chucky's Food Stores
Lois Osorno, Director, Human Resources; Aloha Petroleum, Ltd. Dba Island Mini-Mart
Opening General Session Featuring Archie Manning
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 9:15 - 10:45 a.m.
When people think of Archie Manning, they think football. He set Saints passing records, played in two Pro Bowls and was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1978. He was the first player in Saints history to be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame. But Manning's appeal transcends his athletic achievements. People far and wide have been inspired by his warm personality and sense of humor. He currently serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional and national companies, including Reebok, Gatorade, AstroTurf, Direct TV and CBS Sports.
Brewing the New Coffee Customer
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Room: B404
Hot, iced, flavored, or mixed - serve it up however they please. Hear how these retailers have figured out what's hot with their caffeine-hungry customers.
Moderator: Jennie Jones, VP of Marketing; S & D Coffee, Inc.
Speakers: Brian Bradley; S & D Coffee Inc.;
Margaret Heery; Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
John Schaninger, Vice President, Sales and Merchandising; Quick Chek Corporation
Gateway to the Future of Connectivity
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Room: B309
Learn how retailers are connecting to their supplier partners through a single connection point - the Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology Standards (PCATS) Gateway. The Gateway helps reduce the number of invoice errors resulting from multiple entry-points of price data across the supply chain. Synchronization of price and promotion data helps retailers maintain accurate price books. The Gateway is an excellent option for smaller retailers and suppliers who wish to achieve the same benefits as their larger counterparts already engaged in the electronic data exchange.
Moderator: John Hervey, Executive Director & CEO; PCATS
Speakers: Kraig Adams, Director Collaborative Industry Development; The Coca-Cola Company
Julie McGill, Vice President of DSD Customer Programs; 1SYNC
Global Achievement Award Competition
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 11:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. Room: B207
The Global Achievement Award seeks to promote new ideas and information sharing in a global context to identify our industry's potential leaders. Formerly known as the Global Scholarship Competition, the participating associations are NACS in the United States, the Association of Convenience Stores in the United Kingdom(ACS), the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores in Australia and New Zealand (AACS), the Ontario Association of Convenience Stores in Canada and independent retailers in South Africa. Each country will select one supplier and one retailer for the final battle to be held at the NACS Show 2007. Hear the up-and-coming industry leaders present their ideas to this year's question: Present the key concepts of the store of the future that would best satisfy the needs of the changing consumer habits and provide long term competitive advantage.
Moderator: Michael Davis, Vice President, Retailer Services; NACS
Speakers: James Lowman, Chief Executive; Association of Convenience Stores Federation House
Global Store Design Innovations
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Room: B213
See the world's best convenience formats without ever leaving Atlanta! This workshop will feature images and narratives from the most innovative store designs around the globe.
Moderator: Dan Munford, Partner; Insight Research
Gone Green? Cashing in on the Growing "Green" Movement
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Room: B308
Businesses across the country from retail giant Wal-Mart to the local family-operated convenience store are making more money by going 'green.' Explore a variety of successful business strategies explained by a green marketing and sustainability strategy consultant with 14 years of green experience. Learn how selling more 'environmentally friendly' products and services and improving back-room operations will simultaneously reduce costs and improve environmental performance.
Speaker: Scot Case; TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc.
Loyalty Lessons Learned: How Your Competitors and Other Channels are Building Relationships with Your Customers
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Room: B401-402
Loyalty programs have been in use in the supermarket business for more than a decade, but only recently have they begun to produce strong business benefits for both small and large retailers. In this session you'll hear how supermarket operators have moved up the learning curve to get an ROI from their loyalty programs, e.g., how they move to control costs and capture the benefits of increased spending by their loyal shoppers. This session will deliver these experiences in a way that allows convenience store retailers to apply them to their own businesses.
Moderator: Jeffrey Miller; President; Miller Oil Co., Inc.
Speakers: Bill Bishop, President; Willard Bishop Consulting, Ltd.
Amy Brinkmoeller, MIS Director; Dorothy Lane Market
Supervisors at Their Best: Report from the NACS Leadership Challenge Class of 2007
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Room: B403
The NACS Leadership Challenge program brings the brightest supervisors in our industry together each year to learn and develop their leadership and management skills. This session will feature six months of research by this year's scholars addressing key operational issues for convenience retailers. Topics to be addressed include: increasing inside sales by improving measurable levels of store associate satisfaction, developing store managers and increasing profitability.
Moderators: Doug Mackay, President; Glenn Douglas Group
Bill Mackay, Managing Director; Glenn Douglas Group
The Future of Motor Fuels: Biofuels and Beyond
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Room: B406
The future of motor fuels is an ever changing concept -- biofuels, ethanol, hydrogen, coal oil, retrofilling. This workshop will expose all of the future motor fuel contenders and what they might mean for your and your business from supply and pricing to infrastructure issues.
Moderator: Arleen Alexander, President; Petroleum & Convenience Marketers of Alabama
Speakers: Edmund Burke, Chairman of the Board; Dennis K. Burke, Inc.
Caley Johnson; National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Ron Lamberty, Vice President, Market Development; American Coalition for Ethanol
Will Your Business Survive a Pandemic?
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Room: B405
What will you do if and when a pandemic strikes? It could take as little as two weeks for a pandemic to reach the US from Asia. Are you ready? You'll learn how to plan, communicate and execute your own plan from operators who have their pandemic plan in place.
Moderator: Jay Ricker, President; Ricker Oil Company
Speakers: Bob VandePol, President; Crisis Care Network;
Deborah Sunday-Dalton, Supervisor, Benefits, Admin & WC; Speedway SuperAmerica LLC
Cooking with Beer: A Special Feature in the Foodservice Area
Wednesday, Nov. 7; 4 - 4:45 p.m.
Enjoy a fun, fast-paced demonstration from leading beer companies as they cook meals using beer as a key ingredient. Take a short break in the afternoon during the Show to stop by the lounge in the foodservice area and enjoy samples of the chef's creations - then wash them down with your favorite brew. Walk away with recipes and other fun prizes.
Attracting and Retaining the Best People: Disney Style
Thursday, Nov. 8; 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. Room: B406
Finding, hiring, and holding onto top talent continues to cause anxiety in every organization. In this engaging presentation given by the world-renowned Disney Institute, discover valuable insights for keeping your pipeline filled with top talent and then keeping the best talent to fuel growth and results. Given today's wide variety of recruitment tools, you will see why Disney's common sense approach works so well and why it could work for you, too.
Speakers: Anthony Barham, Regional Business Manager; Best-Wade Petroleum Inc. Short Stop Food Stores
Internet Marketing: Way Beyond Your Web Site
Thursday, Nov. 8; 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. Room: B407
Believe it or not, there are businesses out there that fail to remain consistent between their traditional marketing plans and their cyber-marketing plans. This behavior could result in lost business. In cyberspace, people look for specific information and with the vast amount of information available, failing to have a target market is like finding a needle in a haystack. Mass marketing is on its way out the door and specialized marketing is on its way in. Learn ideas on how you can better represent your store and your brand in cyberspace.
Moderator: Jeff Leedy, Senior Vice President/Chief Customer Officer; Rutter's Farm Stores
Speaker: Erik Hauser, Founder and Creative Director; Swivel Media
Industry Leaders Roundtable, Presented by NACS Magazine
Thursday, Nov. 8; 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. Room: Murphy Ballroom
One of the most popular and unique components of NACS Magazine has been its monthly leadership interview with CEOs of leading industry supplier companies, conducted by retail CEOs. This session will feature several CEO's who have participated in the interviews along with CEO's of leading convenience store chains in a dialogue about the evolving retailing industry, challenges, opportunities and personal perspectives.
Jobbers Serving Retailers: Components of a Great Business Relationship
Thursday, Nov. 8; 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. Room: B404
In these times of volatile fuel prices, stringent credit terms, inconsistent fuel supply, and branding restrictions, cooperation is the key to a successful business. Hear from the jobbers and independent retailers who have found a winning way to work together to meet these constant and changing challenges. This session will be a "nuts and bolts" look at jobber/retailer relationships. Learn how to optimize your working relationships to maximize your profits.
Moderator: Dan Gilligan, President; PMAA
Speaker: Betsi Bixby, President; Meridian Associates, Inc.
Live Longer, Live Better: The Ultimate Physical
Thursday, Nov. 8; 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. Room: B405
The most important thing in your life is you. And taking care of you should be your first priority. Hear from renowned lifestyle professional Ronald Brown, M.D. as he details the steps you must take to ensure you lead a long and healthy life.
Moderator: Jay Ricker, President; Ricker Oil Company
Speaker: Ronald Brown; Carolina Health Span Institute
CEO Presentation on Retail Business Strategy
Thursday, Nov. 8; 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. Room: Murphy Ballroom
Interested in knowing what a leading retail CEO has to say about strategy, competition, and growth? If so, you won't want to miss one minute of this general session.
Ideas 2 Go General Session
Thursday, Nov. 8; 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Room: Murphy Ballroom
This fast-paced video presentation delivers the ultimate in store tours. See and hear new ideas that are making a difference in retailers' operations across the country - and around the world. Make sure you bring your notepad to jot down ideas to take back to your business.
Cooking with Beer: A Special Feature in the Foodservice Area
Thursday, Nov. 8 (repeat session); 4 - 4:45 p.m.
Enjoy a fun, fast-paced demonstration from leading beer companies as they cook meals using beer as a key ingredient. Take a short break in the afternoon during the Show to stop by the lounge in the foodservice area and enjoy samples of the chefs creations - then wash them down with your favorite brew. Walk away with recipes and other fun prizes.
Attention Independent Operators: Work Smarter, Not Harder
Friday, Nov. 9; 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Room: B308
Do you waste a lot of time, energy and money on a task your competitor completes with ease? This workshop is designed for independent operators (1 to 5 stores) and will teach you the basic "how-to's" to make you more business savvy. Learn simple methods to make tasks more manageable. In this highly-interactive workshop, you will interact with retail experts who have tackled some of the most common issues.
Moderator: Lew Claycomb, Chief Operating Officer; Quarles Petroleum
Speakers: Mark Wells, President; LJT Management Services;
Rob Razowsky, Executive Director, COO; Rmarts;
Ted Roccagli, Territory Marketing Manager; Mansfield Oil Co.
Consumer Insights and Analytics -- Purchasing Habits at the Pump
Friday, Nov. 9; 8 - 9 a.m. Room: B406
As gas prices fluctuate, consumers have become intelligent gas shoppers, and with the rise in non-traditional fuel channels such as supermarkets and warehouse clubs, they have more choices than ever. This American Express / Insights Marketing Group presentation strives to answer questions about why consumers choose traditional vs. non-traditional fuel channels – what drives them there, keeps them loyal, and would get them to change behavior. It addresses these questions through video-taped customer intercepts and quantitative analysis. Be sure to attend and gain insight into what your customers are thinking about when they make purchasing decisions.
Moderator: Richard Oneslager, CEO; Balmar Petroleum, Firsthand Management LLC
Speakers: John Holcombe, Vice President & Principal; Insights Marketing Group, Inc.
Lee Shufro, Vice President; American Express
¡Escucha! What You Need to Know about Selling to the Hispanic Consumer
Friday, Nov. 9; 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Room: B407
Hispanic immigrants - and their children - are changing the way that America does business. This observation is supported by the fact that since 2000, Hispanics have driven more than 50% of the total population growth in the United States. During this session you'll learn about various elements of the Hispanic market, attitudes and behaviors relative to shopping at convenience stores, and best practices when marketing to Hispanics. Walk away with practical insights that will help your stores more fully realize the potential of connecting with the Hispanic consumer.
Moderator: Nicolas Medina, Global Standards & Practices Manager; ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing
Speaker: David Morse, President & CEO; New American Dimensions, Inc.
GenderSpeak: Promoting Effective Workplace Communication Between Men and Women
Friday, Nov. 9; 8 - 9 a.m. Room: B405
Men and women grow up in different cultures. As a result, each learn different lessons about "appropriate" behavior and what seems natural to one gender can be mysterious and baffling to the other. This workshop will help both men and women comprehend the rules of the other gender and value these differences. It will help identify and dissect the barriers that members of the opposite sex find most intrusive. You will leave this workshop having a clearer picture of leadership styles, teamwork tendencies and communication habits of your colleagues.
Moderator: Verina Baxter; Calfee Co. of Dalton, Inc.
Speaker: Michele Hanson, CEO; ExecuInsight LLC
How to Survive a DOT Audit
Friday, Nov. 9; 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Room: B404
Do you know what the top 10 violations DOT auditors look for? What would you do if your company was in violation? After this workshop, your fears of a DOT audit will be eased. Learn the top 10 violations and how to become proactive in preparing for them. Understand what you are required to provide and what you are not. Hear from one unfortunate retailer who went through a DOT audit and survived.
Moderator: Gene Vonderau, Director of Member Services & Safety; Alabama Trucking Association
Speaker: David Word, Transportation Manager; Town & Country Food Stores, Inc.
Industry Benchmarking, Leveraging CSX: the NACS SOI Database
Friday, Nov. 9; 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Room: B403
Compare your chain's 2007 year-to-date performance against NACS State of the Industry [SOI] trends of over 130 companies. NACS and CSX will convey their interpretation of major industry dynamics that will determine if 2007 can expect to beat 2006 and, if not, why not. We will be going "live" on our website to do this, thus also giving you the inside track on the latest tools CSX users have at their disposal. NACS and CSX also will examine the primary benchmarks that are constantly monitored by top profit-performing companies in the Industry. CSX subscribers as well as anyone [Retailers and Suppliers] with a thirst for timely, customizable data, is encouraged to attend. No matter what your area of responsibility, trust there will be something for everyone [senior management, category managers, analysts, etc], so bring your whole team.
Moderator: Fran Duskiewicz, Senior Executive Vice President; Rutter's Farm Stores
Speaker: Dae Kim, Vice President, Research; NACS
Ben Meyer, National Sales Manager; CSX, LLC
Proprietary Foodservice for Small Operators
Friday, Nov. 9; 8 - 9 a.m. Room: B309
There are multiple components involved when determining which direction to take with a foodservice program. This workshop is designed for growing companies having upwards of 15 stores. Learn the facts behind a successful foodservice department and from retailers that have made it work.
Moderator: Jack Cushman, Vice President of Foodservice; Nice N' Easy Grocery Shoppes, Inc.
Speaker: Deborah Holland, President; Food Sense, Inc.
Closing General Session Featuring Karl Rove
Friday, Nov. 9; 1:45 - 3 p.m.
Karl Rove, President Bush's chief strategist and trusted advisor, will offer insight into the 2008 general election and the current administration. He is regarded as "the architect" of President Bush's successful 2000 and 2004 election campaigns and played a vital role in the major policy decisions made during the presidency.
Managing Key Categories
Friday, Nov. 9; 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. Room: B403
Learn how to manage your key sales and profit in four categories - cigarettes, soft drinks, beer and foodservice beverages. The NACS 2007 SOI reports that these four categories contribute 70% of sales and over 57% of the average c-store gross profits. This seminar will provide you information that you can take back to your store and immediately apply to increase your sales and gross profits.
Moderator: Steve Montgomery, President; b2b Solutions, LLC
Protecting You, Your People and Your Business
Friday, Nov. 9; 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. Room: B404
This session will teach operators to identify the key factors in reducing crime, loss due to accidents, and fines and penalties associated to the improper sale of age-restricted products. The takeaways from this session will include a checklist on improving service, and maintaining a safer operation, a security & safety audit and incident report forms.
Moderator: Michael Davis, Vice President, Retailer Services; NACS
Managing Key Categories
Friday, Nov. 9 (repeat session); 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Room: B403
Learn how to manage your key sales and profit in four categories - cigarettes, soft drinks, beer and foodservice beverages. The NACS 2007 SOI reports that these four categories contribute 70% of sales and over 57% of the average c-store gross profits. This seminar will provide you information that you can take back to your store and immediately apply to increase your sales and gross profits
Moderator: Steve Montgomery, President; b2b Solutions, LLC
Protecting You, Your People and Your Business
Friday, Nov. 9 (repeat session); 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Room: B404
This session will teach operators to identify the key factors in reducing crime, loss due to accidents, and fines and penalties associated to the improper sale of age-restricted products. The takeaways from this session will include a checklist on improving service, and maintaining a safer operation, a security & safety audit and incident report forms.
Moderator: Michael Davis, Vice President, Retailer Services; NACS
Expo Hours
| Sunday, Oct. 5 | 12:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | |
| Monday, Oct. 6 | 12:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | |
| Tuesday, Oct. 7 | 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
