ALBANY, N.Y. -- Andrea Baker of Taylor's Mini Mart, Cooperstown, N.Y., and Donald Castronovo of Frito Lay Inc., Rochester, N.Y., have been elected to the New York Convenience Store Hall of Fame. They will be inducted by the New York Association of Convenience Stores at its annual Chairman's Banquet on May 15, in Syracuse, N.Y., bringing to 29 the number of retailers and suppliers enshrined since NYACS created the Hall of Fame in 1996.
In addition, Steve Altman of Mountain/Service Distributors, South Fallsburg, N.Y., will receive NYACS' 2008 Carl Tripi Award for "low-profile, high-impact" [image-nocss] contributions to NYACS and the c-store industry.
Andrea Baker, general manager of the seven-store Taylor's chain, has served on the NYACS Retail Board since 2000, including two years as chair, during which time NYACS helped win passage of a state law requiring collection of taxes on Indian sales to non-Indians, launched the Responsible Retailers of New York tobacco and alcohol sales training program, honored New York's Foremost Convenience Store Families, staged the annual Fall Conference at West Point and moved its office to downtown Albany. She currently chairs the Membership Committee. Before joining Taylor's, she was a sales manager with Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.
Don Castronovo, senior key account manager with Frito Lay Inc., has served on NYACS' supplier advisory board for 13 years. As its chairman in 2001-2002, he helped NYACS undertake a strategic assessment of the organization and chart its future direction. That same year, he was instrumental in generating a strong turnout for the 2001 Fall Conference in Canandaigua even though it took place just eight days after the 9/11 attacks. Don has remained a constant and positive presence at NYACS functions for many years and is always promoting NYACS membership and involvement to his retail accounts and offering sponsorship, product and volunteer support.
Steve Altman joined his father Ben's company, Mountain Candy & Cigar in 1962. In 1984, it changed its name to Mountain/Service Distributors. Steve and his company have consistently supported NYACS through the years, furnishing sponsorship support, event participation and volunteer leaders such as Barry Skolnick, who chaired the Associate Board in 1994; Bill Freeman and Ed Kennedy, both former Associate Board members; and now his son Josh Altman, incoming chairman of the NYACS Associate Board.
Named for the Carl Tripi, the late chairman of Tripifoods, Buffalo, N.Y., the award honors individuals who have kept a low profile themselves but showed extraordinary commitment and generosity in helping to ensure that NYACS and the c-store industry received the financial and volunteer support needed to remain successful. Previous recipients are Carol Taylor of Taylor's Mini Marts, Ted Marshall of Pit Stop Convenience Stores and Ned Dewey of Reinhardt Corp.
Click herefor NYACS' Hall of Fame page.
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