six decades of growth + resilience

Learning and Growing Together

NACS Annual Reports > Why NACS Matters > Learning & Growing Together

60 Years Strong

60 Years Strong

On August 14, NACS celebrated its 60th anniversary—six decades of industry growth, innovation, hardship, resilience and prosperity.

No doubt the industry was shook to its core during the global pandemic, and we can now see how previous events helped shaped how our industry has responded, adapted and changed in the past two years.

“There is no question that key events from our industry’s past have shaped what and who we are today and that changes in our industry have accelerated in size and intensity in the past few years,” said Steve Loehr, vice president of operations support, Kwik Trip, and 2014-15 NACS chairman, adding that the pandemic will continue to have a dramatic effect on our industry. (NACS Magazine, “Making History”)

Looking ahead, Jeff Miller, 2010-11 NACS chairman, added, “What makes us unique is that we are so nimble and customer-driven that we respond to these insights quicker and more genuinely than other channels.”


“Do we ‘reinvent convenience’ or do we just do a world-class job of knowing our customers and deliver on their changing definition of convenience?”

Jeff Miller
2010-11 NACS Chairman

Jeff Miller

We Are One

The NACS IDEA Conference brought together industry stakeholders who are in some way responsible for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within their companies. The conference was sponsored by NACS Hunter Club members Altria Group Distribution Company, Mondelēz International, The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo Inc.

“More than a year ago several of our leading members came to me to ask if NACS could help them address [DEI] issues,” said Henry Armour, NACS president and CEO. “Everyone expressed a different need, but there was one commonality. These retailers all wanted to find out what others had done and were perfectly willing to share their experiences.”


“This work cannot be done alone. Collaboration and the sharing of information between companies will be crucial in this journey.”

Daillard Paris
Director of petroleum supply and IDEA initiative lead, Sheetz


Facilitated by Michelle Duguid, Ph.D., associate dean of diversity, inclusion and belonging at Cornell University, retailers shared their perspectives, experiences and plans on how they are leading the charge in diversity and inclusion in their companies.

“The biggest takeaway from the IDEA Conference is not only how bold and deliberate many companies are being with the work they are doing around their IDEA efforts but also how they acknowledge that the work is never done,” said Daillard Paris, director of petroleum supply and IDEA initiative lead at Sheetz.


No matter which company was represented, we came together as leaders in our industry on this journey together. When you bring together individuals from different walks of life, various backgrounds and experiences, each bring broader ideas and new perspectives to the conversation.”

Letty George
director of global communications at Alimentation Couche-Tard.


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Advancing Industry Leaders

NACS Executive Education programs develop and advance leaders in our industry. Each of our five programs are designed to create nimble, adaptive strategists and thinkers that help forward-thinking organizations grow and evolve. In 2021, four of the five programs were live and in-person for the first time since 2019.

2021 Executive Education Overview

2021 Executive Education Overview

Those who have attended three or more Executive Education programs earn the prestigious—and impressive—NACS Master of Convenience designation, which acknowledges the leaders who have invested in their personal leadership development. The highest industry-recognized achievement available, becoming a NACS Master of Convenience is a sought-after title that’s cause for celebration.

NACS Master of Convenience
NACS Master of Convenience

Keep Learning

NACS offers world-class educational opportunities with year-round leadership and tactical training opportunities for our members. Explore the right program for you at convenience.org/education.