This year’s 40 Under 40 class represents a wide range of individuals who boast innovative thinking, business smarts, community engagement and professionalism. It’s also what keeps the c-store industry sprinting forward.
A CSD Staff Report
Regularly when pundits evaluate athletes they often compile career statistics, crunching the numbers to determine the best quarterback, most talented goalie, elite point guard or top outfielder.
Numbers come into play in everyday business as well when evaluating staff. Often the best employees, managers, directors or executives who demonstrate intangibles such as creativity, leadership, originality and loyalty are harder to quantify.
The individuals in the following pages represent big corporations and small retail chains—but all demonstrate the type of qualities that most employers seek. Each member of this year’s 40 Under 40 class plays an important role in determining the future course of his or her respective company.
Included are category managers, financial officers, marketing directors, vice presidents and CEOs. If you look closely, you’ll find that all of the individuals in the 2017 class likely share many of the same qualities—qualities that go above and beyond the regular stat line of a good employee or a responsible manager.
ON THE BALL
There are few industries that better connect to the people within a local community than c-stores. They are there for the customers that come in every day for a cup of joe or a breakfast sandwich or to fill up their gas tanks. And because many on this year’s list belong to family-owned companies, these young professionals are that much more in tune to ensuring their customers are receiving the highest quality service, each and every day.
Those who work in this business are members of an evolving and diverse industry, which is not surprising given the diversity of U.S. consumers who frequent today’s c-stores. As the face of the channel’s customer base becomes even more diverse, companies willing to embrace social media, technology and even meal kits are becoming more successful.
The challenges in 2018 will be numerous: local laws that stifle business growth, rising healthcare costs, a booming ecommerce movement and the ongoing search for capable workers loom large. However, the young professionals that make up this year’s group seem up to facing any obstacles.
CSD and the National Advisory Group’s (NAG) Young Executives Organization (YEO) tallied the votes, crunched the numbers and came up with 2017’s 40 Under 40 class.
For those interested in nominating your future leaders for the class of 2018 or to join YEO, contact CSD Editor and NAG Executive Director John Lofstock at [email protected].
To view this year’s 40 under 40 class click here.
