SAVANNAH, Ga. — As it grows, Parker’s has hired attorney Kate Lawson Smith as chief of staff. In her new position, Smith coordinates with the convenience-store retailer’s leadership team to ensure the successful execution of company initiatives and strategy and serves as the director of community affairs and outreach.
“Kate is a natural leader and has strong analytical skills as well as exceptional communication skills,” said Parker’s founder and CEO, Greg Parker. “She is an ideal addition to our team and will help us as we continue to grow within our existing footprint and in exciting new markets.”
The chain is executing on a strategy to expand its footprint from the company’s headquarters in Savannah, Ga., to Charleston, S.C. The company is investing $50 million in the Charleston market to set up nine convenience stores by the end of the year. Also, Parker’s has been included on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America for the fifth time. To make the cut, companies needed to achieve significant revenue growth from 2015 to 2018.
Parker’s has experienced 20% to 24% annual growth every year for the past 19 years, it said.
“We’re deeply grateful to all of our loyal customers for making this incredible recognition possible,” Parker said. “We’re absolutely thrilled to be honored, once again, as one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies, delivering the ultimate in customer service, technology and foodservice to our customers.”
Before joining Parker’s, Smith worked as a litigation attorney at HunterMaclean in Savannah, where she represented and advised clients in a wide variety of matters. She also executed administrative duties within the law firm, such as mentoring junior associates, planning and hosting monthly lunch presentations and coordinating participation in the annual Legal Food Frenzy to benefit state food banks.
- Parker’s is No. 118 in CSP's 2019 Top 202 ranking of c-store chains by number of company-owned retail outlets.
Founded in 1976, Parker’s has 58 convenience stores in southeastern Georgia and South Carolina.
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