Clifford Fuel general manager succeeds Thorntons President Tony Harris as Chairman of the National Advisory Group (NAG).

Peter Tamburro
The convenience store industry continues to grow sales at record numbers, but the stakes have never been higher as convenience store owners face competition from multiple retail channels. The National Advisory Group (NAG) has been working overtime to create an environment where small, mid-sized and family-owned retailers can interact with each other and share ideas for reducing operating costs and increasing sales.
NAG is now pleased to announce that Peter Tamburro, the general manager of New York-based Clifford Fuel Co., has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors. Tamburro, who takes the reigns from Tony Harris, president of Thorntons Inc., will serve a two-year term helping to oversee the direction of NAG and content for its annual conference.
“NAG has been a great resource during my career providing me the platform to learn and share information with such great companies.” Tamburro said. “Thanks to Tony Harris and all the past chairmen who have helped make NAG what it is today. I look forward to facing the challenges ahead and playing a role in the success of NAG.”
Tamburro has a long history in the convenience store industry and NAG. He was elected to the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) Convenience Store Hall of Fame, which honors retailers for exceptional achievement in the convenience store industry, earlier this year. He has served on the NYACS Board of Directors for 10 years, two of them as Chairman, and is on the NYACS Executive Committee and Convention Committee.
“Peter has been an important part of the NAG family for more than 15 years. His leadership, vast industry experience and willingness to help other retailers ensures that NAG will continue to be in good hands for the next two years,” said John Lofstock, NAG executive director. “I would also like to thank Tony Harris for two wonderful years at the helm of NAG. The association experienced double-digit growth during each of his years as chairman culminating with a very successful NAG Conference in Savannah, Ga. in September.”
Tamburro is a native of Hudson N.Y., where he worked for a Nice N Easy franchisee called Valley Oil Co. from 1983 to 1993, helping develop 10 Nice N Easy locations and several Citgo and Mobil marts in the Hudson Valley. He was promoted to Vice President of Store Operations.
In 1993, when Valley Oil was sold to Mid-Valley Oil (Xtra Mart), he was hired by John MacDougall, President and founder of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes in Canastota NY, as Director of Franchise Operations, providing support to 18 separate owners operating 75 stores combined.
In 1997, he became Vice President of Franchise Operations, taking on additional responsibilities for marketing, foodservice and store operations. He later was promoted to Senior Executive Vice President. After Nice N Easy was sold to CST Brands in 2014, Tamburro joined Clifford Fuel.
He and his wife Pamela reside in Oneida NY and have two sons, Patrick and Matthew.
NAG AT WORK FOR THE INDUSTRY
The National Advisory Group (NAG) is part of The Convenience Store Decisions Group. It is a retail trade association driven by retailers for retailers and is an organization committed to building profits and relationships. NAG is aimed at small, mid-size convenience and family-owned convenience store chains and the executives that run them.
NAG members meet annually to examine pressing issues affecting the convenience store and petroleum industry. Through education, networking and NAG’s world-class Information Exchanges, NAG members and the supplier companies that support them have formed lasting friendships and partnerships that have helped storeowners increase profits, reduce operating costs and explore new ideas for expanding their business.
As the convenience store and petroleum industry continues to evolve, training the next generation leaders of tomorrow is more important than ever before. NAG relaunched the Young Executives Organization (YEO) in 2012 to help young executives have a group that is solely focused on exchanging personal experiences with peers in their age group. YEO accomplishes this mission by leveraging the experience of NAG members to help foster superior leadership skills and through an annual roundtable for next-generation executives.
NAG is also committed to helping convenience store retailers develop the executive leaders of tomorrow through higher education. In keeping with that theme NAG is proud to offer scholarship funding for children of NAG members.
For information about NAG, YEO or membership, visit http://www.nagconvenience.com or email Executive Director John Lofstock at [email protected].