Melvin Maddux
Melvin Maddux, Global Sourcing & Innovation
Gourmet Foods International
June 28, 1967 - October 24, 2024
Melvin was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable founding member of The Vision Group. His expertise in the production and distribution of food products, his insights on new product innovations gathered on his global travels, and his insatiable curiosity helped give life to TVG and encompassed the philosophy of the Vision Group Network, “Sharing today to shape tomorrow”. We will miss him.
Melvin Maddux worked for Gourmet Foods International (GFI) in Worldwide Global Sourcing and Innovation, for all Gourmet Product Categories. Melvin brought a worldwide perspective in terms of brand management, retail solutions, innovation, and global procurement. Melvin was an industry veteran with more than 40 years of experience, in both retail and brand management. Melvin lived on three continents and had done business in 6 of the 7 continents around world during those 40 years.
Melvin assisted in the development of proprietary brands at HEB Grocery Company in Texas, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company in New Jersey, AEON Group in Tokyo, Japan, Lotte Group in South Korea and Lianhua Supermarket Holdings Co. Ltd in Shanghai, China, while working for Daymon Worldwide. Melvin was elected as the youngest Vice President and Officer, at that time with Daymon. Melvin performed various leadership roles in developing those businesses into the successes they still appreciate today.
There are very few people that understand all aspects of the retail business, as well as the destinations around the world to procure high quality safe foods. Melvin’s life work had been studying all channels of retail trade around the world, while fostering relationships with the best manufacturers in those respected countries. Melvin had flown more than 5,000,000 miles and visited thousands of factories and most retail chains in the major markets worldwide.
At GFI, Melvin developed and launched many proprietary brands from different parts of the world to include Italy, USA, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Canada, Portugal Mexico, Japan, China, South Korea and France to name a few countries over the last few years with great success, with a focus on finding the best people with the best products. In his last 7 years with Gourmet Foods International Melvin set-up more than 200 new suppliers and developed and launched more than 1,800 items from around the world selling exclusively to GFI customers.
Melvin Maddux and his wife Janet were married for 31 years, with twin daughters that were born in Tokyo, Japan. Melvin and wife have lived in Japan, China, South Korea, New York, New Jersey and spent extensive time in Europe, before moving back to Central, Texas, now living in Salado. Melvin’s daughters are attending the University of Oklahoma (OU) where one daughter is a Double Major in Business and Entrepreneurship and the other as Pre-med, they are both in their Junior year at OU. Melvin enjoyed cooking international foods, spending time on the lakes and rivers in Texas, and all High School Sports.
Melvin was always visiting stores, taking photos, and consistently looking for new innovative ways in every aspect of the business from new equipment, food products, transportation efficiencies, GFI E-commerce platform from across the globe. Melvin believed there is an opportunity to learn every day and applied “first principles thinking” to everything that was done to create something new or different, never being satisfied with the status quo.
Kris Klinger
Kris Klinger, VP Auxiliary Services
Boston University
Kristian Klinger, Vice President, Auxiliary Services began his tenure at Boston University in October 2022. Kristian has more than 30 years of experience in hospitality and auxiliary services. He spent the previous two plus years as Senior Associate Vice President of Auxiliary Services at Syracuse University. In this role, he oversaw operations in Food Services; Housing, Meal Plan, and I.D. Card Services; Parking and Transportation Services; Drumlins Country Club; Minnowbrook Conference Center; the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center; the Lubin House; the Syracuse University Campus Store and Trademark Licensing.
Prior to joining Syracuse University, Kristian spent 11 years as Assistant Vice President within the University of Southern California’s (USC) Auxiliary Services department. While at USC Kristian also taught an introduction to foodservice class that was part of a Master’s in Dietetics program through the USC Davis School of Gerontology. Kristian earned his EdD at the USC Rossier School of Education, his MBA at the USC Marshall School of Business and holds a bachelor’s degree in German and International Relations from the same university. Kristian is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he proudly served our country as an air traffic controller.
As Vice President for Auxiliary Services, Kristian and his team below have oversight and leadership responsibilities of Food Services and Convenience Stores, Housing, Parking and Transportation, Events & Conferences, Agganis Arena, Fitness & Recreation Center, Barnes & Noble @ BU, Vending Services and Trademark and Licensing. As Auxiliary Services touches nearly every aspect of University life, Kristian and his team collaborate with other campus and community leaders to advance a number of key initiatives in an effort to enhance the living and learning experience for the University’s diverse student population.
Steve McKinley
Steve McKinley, CEO/Founder
Urban Value Corner Store
Steve McKinley is the CEO and Founder of Urban Value Corner Store (UVCS), a Dallas-based company redefining how convenience retail integrates into residential communities. Since launching UVCS, Steve has led the development of a new amenity category—bringing full-service corner stores and autonomous SMART Store Coolers directly into multifamily and single-family environments to enhance the resident experience. With a clear focus on the belief that “Convenience Is the Amenity®,” Steve has guided UVCS through steady growth, building a portfolio of innovative retail solutions that serve both developers and residents. His approach combines operational discipline, curated product assortments, and technology-driven insights to create a daily-use amenity that drives occupancy, retention, and overall community value. A recognized voice in the convenience and multifamily industries, Steve has spoken at national conferences, including the NACS Show, where he emphasized the role of purpose-driven culture in operational performance. Under his leadership, UVCS was named a 2025 Outstanding Independents Award winner by Convenience Store News. Steve continues to lead UVCS with a forward-looking vision—building scalable retail platforms that meet the evolving expectations of modern communities while delivering measurable impact for property owners and residents alike.
Don McKenzie
Don McKenzie, CEO
The Imagine Group
Don McKenzie is a seasoned chief executive and board member with a track record of building, transforming, and scaling marketing and communications businesses through organic growth, operational improvement, and strategic acquisitions. His leadership experience spans privately held, private-equity-backed, and public companies, with a consistent focus on value creation, technology-enabled transformation, and talent development.
Don currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of The Imagine Group, a national provider of visual communications, print production, and experiential marketing solutions serving the retail, convenience store, grocery, QSR and entertainment industries. Under his leadership, the company has focused on operational excellence, technology-driven capabilities, and strategic growth initiatives designed to strengthen market leadership and long-term enterprise value.
In addition to his executive role, Don serves on the Board of Directors of OSG Connect, a leader in Customer Communications Management, where he contributes expertise in corporate strategy, industry transformation, and growth initiatives.
Throughout his career, Don has held senior leadership roles at several prominent organizations, including President & Chief Growth Officer of Innovairre, and previously President and CEO of SourceLink, Direct Group, Petsky Prunier, CC3, and SuperCoups. In these roles he led large-scale business transformations, executed acquisition and integration strategies, and drove sustained operational and revenue growth.
Don has also advised leading organizations and investors on strategy and competitiveness. His advisory experience includes service on the Competitiveness Council at Cerberus Capital Management, as well as advisory roles with HomeValet and Azimuth GRC.
An active contributor to the marketing and communications industry, Don previously served two terms as Vice Chairman of the Direct Marketing Association, the world’s largest trade association supporting nonprofit and commercial direct marketers. He is also a frequent speaker at domestic and international conferences on topics including M&A strategy, data-driven marketing, leadership during transformation, and integrated communications.
Dennis McCartney
Dennis McCartney, Director of Operations
Landhope Farms
Dennis McCartney is a seasoned operations, marketing, and community relations professional with more than two decades of leadership experience in retail convenience, foodservice, and organizational development. He currently serves as Director of Operations for Landhope Farms, where he oversees multi-location operations, strategic initiatives, employee development, branding, and customer experience across one of Southern Chester County’s most recognizable independent convenience retailers. His background combines hands-on operational leadership with a strong passion for creative marketing, team culture, and community engagement.
Throughout his career, Dennis has built a reputation for driving innovation while maintaining a strong focus on customer service and operational excellence. He has led numerous successful marketing campaigns, foodservice initiatives, and business growth strategies, while also mentoring management teams and fostering workplace cultures centered on accountability, positivity, and continuous improvement.
Dennis began his career at a small Sunoco Mini Market in Berea, Ohio as a third shift cashier. Through perseverance and continuing education, he worked this way through store management, district management, regional merchandising management and finally into the corporate marketing department at Sunoco Aplus as the Category Manager for retail and prepared foods. He has now been the Director of Operations at Landhope Farms for nearly 14 years, where he is a change agent, rainmaker and firefighter (not literally).
Dennis wears many hats in the organization and likes it that way. Overseeing the finance department and project manager, Dennis also solely manages the marketing, procurement, category management, vendor relationship management and overall stewardship of the brand. Dennis finds great enjoyment in the autonomy given him by ownership to make Landhope Farms the best it can be. That effort, and that of his team, recently earned Landhope Farms the title of Grand Prize Winner in the 2026 Outstanding Independent Operators Award from Convenience Store News.
In addition to his corporate leadership role, Dennis serves as President of the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce, where he advocates for local businesses and community collaboration throughout the region. Under his leadership, the Chamber has expanded member engagement and launched successful community-focused events, including the Oxford Harvest Festival, which quickly became a signature regional attraction.
Dennis is especially passionate about building strong community partnerships and supporting local nonprofit organizations. He has helped spearhead charitable initiatives involving food insecurity relief, local fundraising campaigns, and business-community collaboration efforts. Known for his high-energy leadership style, creativity, and relationship-building abilities, Dennis is committed to creating positive experiences for customers, employees, businesses, and the broader community alike.
George Martinez
George Martinez, Head of Business Strategy
AisleAI Inc.
George’s 34 years of beverage and consumer products experience includes 26 years within the Pepsi-Cola system. George has demonstrated a track record of growing businesses, brands, and people while holding positions such as Sales Manager, President, General Manager, CEO and Chairman. He has a diverse experience in building consumer brands in large cap corporate environments, as well as within private and small cap business ventures. He has held numerous leadership positions in various functions, including Selling and Delivery, General Management and Sales Management. He is recognized as being high-energy, hands on, and results driven. His outstanding sales and sales management success have been a result of his ability to bring people, organizations, and teams together for a common cause and developing trusting relationships. These relationships foster a “customer for life” attitude and they deliver business results for all parties involved.
George is a high impact executive that leverages exceptional communication skills, a highly collaborative approach, positive demeanor, a key process discipline, and focused leadership style that generates the greatest level of performance and productivity from any organization he leads. George has a thirty year proven track record of results with management experience for all traditional functional departments across immense employee populations and full P&L accountability.
George and his wife Lisa currently reside in Chandler, Arizona. They have 3 children Lisa Renee, Eric and Michael. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and his Associates Degree from Northern College of Wyoming.
James Maxey
James Maxey, Industry Expert
Trinity University
James Maxey is an accomplished business executive and educator blending corporate and store level information systems management with a passion for teaching. James worked in the convenience store industry for over 27 years and now works at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas (7 years) where he teaches courses on advanced Excel modeling, data visualization, corporate finance, and personal finance. He has developed courses preparing students for certifications in Microsoft Excel underscoring his commitment to practical, career-ready education.
Prior to his current role in academia, James held senior executive roles in the convenience store industry where he led the Information Services department. His expertise spans vendor negotiations, systems development, corporate governance, cross-functional project management, and POS application development all focusing on corporate and store-level employee efficiencies and customer relationships.
When working in the convenience store industry James actively participated in technology leadership where he served on the NACS Technology Committee board of directors and led the implementation committee. James also presented at numerous industry conferences focusing on topics including pricebook best practices, data analytics, and B2B ecommerce.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, James’s contributes to his community by serving on the San Antonio Ronald McDonald House board of directors. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Houston and a BBA in Marketing from Texas Tech University.
