CSP announced the winners of its 11th annual Category Manager of the Year awards on Wednesday at Convenience Retailing University in Austin, Texas.
Winners were selected in seven categories: behind the counter, center store, dispensed beverages, foodservice, loyalty + tech/operations, nonalcohol beverages and alcohol.
Each category had two winners—one from a chain with 201 or more stores, and one from a chain with 200 stores or fewer. See who the 2026 finalists were here.
CSP’s 2026 Category Manager of the Year winners are:
Behind the Counter
Large chain
Alex Kupper (bp)
Small chain
Jessica Starnes (Weigel's)
Center Store
Large chain
Michael Burke (bp)
Small chain
Rebecca Gregory (Weigel's)
Dispensed Beverages
Large chain
Stephen Murray (Sheetz)
Small chain
Matthew Rogers (OnCue Marketing)
Foodservice
Large chain
Kate Weisman (EG America)
Small chain
Madison Malone (Southwest Georgia Oil Co./SunStop)
Loyalty + Tech/Operations
Large chain
Lanna O’Connor (RaceTrac)
Small chain
Abigail Cerra (Chestnut Market)
Nonalcohol Beverages
Large chain
Danna Engelbrecht (Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores)
Small chain
Daniel Scott (Sampson-Bladen Oil Co./Han-Dee Hugo’s)
Alcohol
Large chain
Nick Gierer (Sheetz)
Small chain
Kathy Williams (Campbell Oil Co./Minuteman FM)
2027 CMOY nominations are open now
This year, CSP is opening its 2027 CMOY nominations earlier than ever before. Submit nominations by Nov. 1. Anyone can make a nomination by clicking here.
The six nominees with the most submissions in each category—three from chains with 201-plus stores and three from chains with 200 or fewer stores—will advance to the finalist voting round in December.
To qualify, nominees must still hold their position or work for another convenience-store chain as of Dec. 1.
CSP will honor two winners in each category, one from a c-store chain with 200 or fewer stores and one from a chain with 201 or more stores. The winners will be announced at CSP’s 2027 Convenience Retailing University.
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