When employees perform below expectations, chances are it’s not a training issue. Often, employees fail because of the systems that are supposed to support them. Researchers tell us that when employees who know how to perform the dutiesof their jobs aren’t performing them, lack of training is rarely the cause. Job-related training salespeople say otherwise,…

Vic Shealy, president of Citizens Fuel Co./Citi Stop Convenience Stores (Asheville, NC), has concentrated on soft benefits since he bought the business in 1974. “We don

Rutter’s Farm Stores (York, PA) has appointed Brian Matlock vice president of foodservice. A native of Monterey, CA, Matlock is a veteran of the convenience industry. Prior to joining Rutter’s, he served Worsley Cos. (Wilmington, NC)as category manager, fresh foods and proprietary beverages. From 1997 to 2004,Matlock worked in logistics, operations and merchandising for 7-Eleven…

Deploy Solutions has developed a recruiting and talent management solution configured specifically for the convenience store industry called C-Store Advantage. The foundation of the program directs all applicants to a kiosk and/or Web solution when applying for an available position, which helps achieve consistency and compliance in the application process. Then, using assessments for traits…

Completing parts of the hiring process by way of Web, phone or kiosk can sidestep store-level shortcuts. Faithfully performing every part of the hiring process every time youhire someone is just smart business. The problem, however, is that some hiringtasks are unpleasant and most are so repetitive that managers may be temptedto take risky shortcuts.…

Waterway Gas & Wash Co. (Chesterfield, MO) has added Michelle Sausen as its director of merchandising. Before joining Waterway Gas &Wash, Sausen served McLane Grocery Distribution as vice president of sales for the company’s Western and Minnesota divisions. Keith Morrow, chief technology officer for 7-Eleven Inc. (Dallas,TX) and the company itself have been named among…

– Stop’n Go of Medina (Medina, OH) has named Rich Frank as its new general manager. Frank had been with Stop’n Go as a consultant and project manager for two years and was instrumental in the implementation of a number of projects, including a prototype Stop’n Go store that opened in late April. – R.J.…

Jim Fiene started his c-store career as a thirdshift worker at a Speedway SuperAmerica store while studying cinematography at a Milwaukee technical college. He dreamed of one day making movies as a big-time Holywood director, but he soon realized the convenience retailing industry provided all the drama and excitement he could ever want. "I thrive…

BP enlists a third-party ’matchmaker’ for help in recruiting African-American Executive leadership at BP West Coast Products LLC (La Palma, CA) hasbeen faced with the difficult challenge of attracting African-American franchiseesto its ampm store brand. The stores, which market ARCObranded gasoline, arenot being viewed as an attractive option by African-American entrepreneurs,according to Tony Padulo, director…

To make its uniforms more appealing to employees, QSR king McDonald's is preparingto invest $80 million in new duds that could put employees on People magazine'sBest-Dressed List. A report in Advertising Age says the chain has had serious discussionswith design moguls Russell Simmons, P. Diddy and Tommy Hilfiger, among others,to develop uniforms that riff on…