WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. -- John Schaninger, a 38-year veteran of convenience-store retailer QuickChek Corp., has left the company to pursue other interests.
He is succeeded by former Rite Aid and H-E-B executive Rob Easley, who joined the company in February in the newly created position of senior vice president of merchandising and marketing.
Schaninger joined QuickChek in 1978 as an assistant manager and worked his way up through the ranks in positions of increased responsibility, including regional district leader and vice president of operations. In 2004, the company named him to his current position of vice president of sales and marketing.
“John has played a vital role in the growth of QuickChek,” said QuickChek CEO Dean Durling. “He felt the time was right to pursue other opportunities. We thank him for his many years of service and all the contributions he has made.”
“I loved it,” Schaninger (left) told CSP Daily News about his time at QuickChek. “From the day I waited on my first customer as an assistant manager, through all of the great leaders and mentors that I have worked for, I have grown, been challenged and hopefully made a difference in people's lives. What could be better?”
Concerning his departure, Schaninger said, “We have a tremendous marketing team at QC. Best in the industry. I decided that this is the perfect time for me to think about what I love most in our industry, and determine where I could make the biggest impact in the future. I will miss the team tremendously, but expect even better things to come for QC.”
Schaninger plans to remain a fixture in the convenience-store industry.
In the meantime, “I have some writing to finish, and some guitars to pick, and then I expect to re-enter the industry in some capacity as I begin my new adventure,” he said.
Schaninger took first place for singing and performing an original song on acoustic guitar in the 2011 CSP Convenience Retailing University CRU's Got Talent contest.
Before joining QuickChek, Schaninger worked in his family’s grocery business. He is married to radio host Shelli Sonstein.
Easley (right) has nearly 25 years of retail experience, including 16 years with San Antonio-based grocer H-E-B. He was also COO of Camp Hill, Pa.-based drugstore chain Rite-Aid; Lenexa, Kan.-based Westlake Ace Hardware; and Fletcher, N.C.-based natural and organic food retailer Earth Fare.
“We are very pleased to have Rob Easley join our senior management team,” said Durling. “While we are celebrating our first 50 years, Rob’s strong background in marketing, strategic planning and operations will help us grow to the next level as we look to our future.”
More changes at QC
In other personnel moves, QuickChek has promoted Don Leech, who has been with the company for 31 years including the past 14 as a director of operations, to vice president of real estate and development. Leech began his career at the company’s Middletown, N.J., store in 1985 and also has held the positions of assistant store leader and district leader.
Also, the company has promoted Robert Porcelli to a regional director of operations. He began his career as an assistant store leader in Franklin, N.J., in 2005 and has been promoted several times during his career as a store leader, district leader in New Jersey, and most recently as a district leader in New York.
And the company has also promoted store leaders Matt Murphy, Jennifer Quiles and Kevin Woodring to district leaders.
Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based QuickChek has nearly 150 convenience stores in New Jersey and New York.
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