The convenience-store industry continues to evolve, and the people in the industry continue to advance with it, whether it’s new hires, promotions or retirements. Read on for news about retailers, suppliers, associations and more.
Obituaries
Terrence "Terry" Patrick Gallagher Sr., the “patriarch” of the Gallagher family, died Oct. 28, of natural causes at his home in Boulder, Colorado, according to his obituary. He was 91 years old. An industry veteran, Gallagher began his professional career in 1956 at Oriental Refining, where he became president of Asamera Oil U.S. He continued in this position until 1984 when he purchased the retail arm of the company, Gasamat. From there he evolved the Gallagher family business into real estate, fuel, tobacco and liquor stores and later helped found Smoker Friendly International. Gallagher, born on the family farm north of Boulder, is survived by his wife, Mary Pat, and his children, among other family members.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Nancy, his parents, his brothers Jack, Daniel, Jim, George, Bill and Leo, his sister Mary, his grandsons Matthew Gallagher and Hunter Britegam.
Retailers
Arko Corp. has appointed Jordan Mann (pictured above) as interim chief financial officer. He will serve as interim CFO in addition to his role as the Richmond, Virginia-based company’s senior vice president of corporate strategy, capital markets and investor relations. Mann succeeds Robb Giammatteo, who is leaving to pursue a new opportunity outside the channel. Carlos Pinzon is the new vice president of foodservice and branded QSR franchises of GPM Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arko Corp. Pinzon has been at Richmond, Virginia-based GPM Investments for nearly 14 years.
- GPM Investments is No. 7 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
John Lukas, vice president of information technology, at RaceTrac, Atlanta, will retire at the end of this year. The retailer is creating a brand-new chief information officer role to lead the company’s information technology team and partner with senior leadership on organization strategy. The company has promoted Tyler Grubbs to the role of vice president of retail and digital technologies from executive director of digital and store technology. He will report to the new CIO and will lead the strategic and operational technology initiatives that power the company’s in-store and digital customer experiences across all RaceTrac, RaceWay and Gulf retail locations.
- RaceTrac is No. 17 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
Convenience-store retailer EG America, Westborough, Massachusetts, has appointedReid Evans to head of data and artificial intelligence (AI), according to a LinkedIn post from Evans. In his new role, Evans will focus on identifying automation and analytics use cases for the convenience-store chain. Evans was most recently owner of Reid Evans Consulting for two years and he said he has worked with EG America as an external consultant for several years.
EG America is No. 6 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
Chicago-based InConvenience Inc., behind the convenience and gas banners The Gas Spot and The Goods Spot, has named Melissa Shelley (pictured above) as the company’s category execution manager. Shelley has over 13 years of experience in the convenience-store channel, most recently as a business account manager for c-store supplier Crossmark, Plano, Texas. Prior to Crossmark, Shelley was with Core-Mark/Eby-Brown as a project manager and national account manager in Circle K’s Heartland Division. InConvenience currently operates 20 Gas Spot and Goods Spot locations in Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas, with five additional store remodels planned or in progress.
Cape Girardeau, Missouri-based PAJCO Inc., which operates the Rhodes convenience-store chain with businesses in southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky, has hired Robert Cisneros as the company’s new chief operating officer. Prior to his new role, Cisneros spent more than 29 years at Procter & Gamble in various roles and locations within the consumer-packaged goods company. In his new role, Cisneros will oversee daily operations across Rhodes’ more than 30 locations.
- PAJCO Inc is No. 183 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
Suppliers
Mark Hanson, co-founder and president of smokeless tobacco company Black Buffalo, Chicago, has been recognized by Goldman Sachs, New York, at its annual Builders and Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. “We are pleased to recognize Mark as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of 2025,” said David Solomon, chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. “Under Mark's leadership, the Black Buffalo team has not only built a successful enterprise, they are redefining industry paradigms."
Associations
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), Alexandria, Virginia, will have a new president and CEO beginning Jan. 1. Frank Gleeson (pictured above), former president and CEO of Aramark Northern Europe and 2018-2019 NACS chairman, is set to succeed Henry Armour, who has held the role since July 2005. Gleeson, who was president and CEO of food, facilities and uniform services provider Aramark Northern Europe from 2017-2024, will step into the role as the fourth CEO in the association’s 64-year history. NACS said Armour will provide support to Gleeson and continue to lead international activities at the organization. Annie Gauthier, CFO/co-CEO of St. Romain Oil Company and its Y-Not Stop convenience-store chain, Mansura, Louisiana, has been named chairman of the NACS.
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