Casey’s General Stores Inc. has been recognized by the Women’s Forum of New York at its Breakfast of Corporate Champions event on Nov. 8 for achieving at least 40% female representation on its board of directors. Women hold 40% of the convenience-store company’s board seats.
- Casey’s General Stores Inc. is No. 3 on CSP’s 2023 Top 202 ranking of convenience-store chains by store count.
Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s has more than 2,500 convenience stores in 16 Midwestern states. It just expanded into Texas, its 17th state.
Casey’s 10-member board includes four women:
- Judy Schmeling (lead independent director), former COO, HSN Inc., and former president, Cornerstone Brands
- Cara Heiden, retired co-president, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
- Larree Renda, retired executive vice president, Safeway Inc.
- Allison Wing, CEO of Oobli Inc., formerly known as Joywell Foods Inc.
“Casey’s is committed to gender balance and diversity across our entire organization. Having a diverse board of directors is one example of this focus and we are honored to be recognized by the Women’s Forum of New York,” said Darren Rebelez, chairman, president and CEO of Casey’s.
This year’s Women’s Forum salutes the 233 companies from the S&P 500 and Fortune 1000 that have achieved 40% or more of female representation on their corporate boards. All Corporate Champion honored companies, from 2011 to 2023, have exceeded the national average of board seats held by women, according to BoardEx data.
The Women’s Forum recognizes the critical role of Casey’s leadership in accelerating change to help make gender equity a business priority, and for driving intent to action, it said.
Having 40% women on the board exceeds the national S&P 500 average of 33%, said Janice Ellig, CEO of Ellig Group, and founder and Chair of the Women’s Forum of New York’s Breakfast of Corporate Champions. “Casey’s commitment to gender diversity has been recognized for exceeding the national average and will be making their fourth appearance at the biennial Breakfast of Corporate Champions,” she said.
The Women’s Forum Corporate Board Initiative focuses on company leadership, including CEOs, directors and nominating and governing chairs working to advance the appointment of women with the overarching goal to achieve gender parity on corporate boards.
The Women’s Forum of New York is a network of women leaders across all sectors of business, industry and spheres of influence throughout New York City. The by-invitation membership of more than 500 women is dedicated to the advancement of women’s leadership through programs that personally and professionally enrich members’ lives, including The Education Fund, which enables women whose potential has been disrupted by adversity to resume their education, and the Corporate Board Initiative, which extends and expands the contribution of women leaders through corporate board participation. Founded in 1974, the Women’s Forum of New York is the founding flagship of the International Women’s Forum, a global organization of more than 8,000 women leaders and, currently, 76 forums around the world.
Separately, Winsight, parent company of CSP, with Leading NOW, a women-driven enterprise, is currently holding its first annual C-Store Women event in Napa, California, Nov. 8-10. The event is designed to empower and grow women’s careers in the c-store industry. The event and newsletter will include career development education, problem-solving, networking and experiences that will build confidence and teach future leaders how to get and stay ahead.
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