CSP's 2015 Retail Leader of the Year—Speedway Convenience Stores president Tony Kenney—was born outside of Cleveland and briefly studied for a career in pharmacy before turning his attention to business and accounting. Here's a brief look at Tony's road to the top of Speedway after graduating in 1976 from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a degree in accounting.
1976
Tony joins Marathon Oil as an accountant in domestic production accounting. He meets future wife Jean, also in accounting. Marathon incorporates Emro Marketing to oversee company-operated stations.
1977
Moves to international accounting. Over the next several years, he takes on roles as a division controller for Marathon Pipe Line and as an audit supervisor.
1990
Takes on the role of commercial manager for Emro Marketing.
1991
Speedway chooses Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as its corporate cause. By 2015, it raises more than $68 million
for the network of hospitals.
1998
Marathon and Ashland Petroleum merge, creating Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC. Speedway and SuperAmerica retail chains form subsidiary Speedway SuperAmerica LLC. Tony named VP, fınance and ITS, for Speedway SuperAmerica.
2001
Appointed vice president of business development for Marathon Ashland Petroleum. Tony begins work on the Speedy Rewards loyalty program.
2004
Marathon buys out Ashland’s share of the joint venture.
2005
Promoted to president of Speedway SuperAmerica.
2010
SuperAmerica stores sold to Northern Tier Energy on Dec. 1.
2011
Company spins into two separate entities, Marathon Oil and Marathon Petroleum Corp., on July 1. Retail division renamed Speedway LLC.
2012
Speedway acquires 88 stores from GasAmerica and enters Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
2014
Speedway acquires the Hess retail assets of more than 1,200 stores in 15 states. Tony and the executive team introduce the “One company, one vision” mission to unite both retail chains culturally.
2015
By November 2015, Speedway rebrands more than 1,000 of the former Hess retail sites.
2016
In April, Tony celebrates his 40th anniversary with Marathon Petroleum Corp. and Speedway.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.