Edwin de Graaff
Edwin de Graaff, Global Head of Shop Format & Innovation at Shell Mobility & Convenience
Shell
Edwin is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in Retail and Supply Chain Management. Currently, he serves as the Global Head of Shop Format & Innovation at Shell Mobility & Convenience, where he spearheads strategic initiatives for customer offerings, including the development of retail design of EV-Hub, Shell Café, modular store concepts, and many other projects. He also holds a position as the Director and Board Member of Shell TapUp B.V.
Throughout his career, Edwin has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, leading teams of over 50 professionals and enhancing Shell's non-fuel retail capabilities. His leadership approach focuses on developing people, fostering a collaborative environment, and empowering his team to achieve their full potential. Edwin's strategic leadership in optimizing supply chain strategies has been instrumental in driving significant improvements and efficiencies.
Edwin's extensive retail expertise includes negotiating multi-billion-dollar deals and overseeing retail procurement globally for the retail supply chain. His leadership in contract negotiations and supplier relationship management has driven significant cost efficiencies and value creation.
Edwin holds executive education credentials from MIT, Wharton, and Kellogg, and has a background in Business Economics and Information Management. A persuasive communicator and thought leader, Edwin frequently represents Shell at industry events, sharing insights on convenience retail, innovation, future outlook, and business practices.
Outside of work, Edwin enjoys golf, hockey, cycling, and spending time with his wife and 3 children. He speaks 4 languages, Dutch, English, German and Spanish.
Varish Goyal
Varish Goyal, CEO
Loop Neighborhood Markets
Varish Goyal is the CEO of Vintners Distributors, Au Energy and Loop Neighborhood Markets, a family of companies that operates 130 stores and supplies fuel to 80 dealers. Varish is a second-generation family member whose father, Nick Goyal, started the company. Varish is a proven operator who as lead his company through multiple rounds of growth. His strategic focus has recently led to the launch of a new lifestyle convenient market brand called Loop, the first of its kind in California.
Varish has been working in the convenience and petroleum retail industry since 2002. His first project was to implement a centralized price book, accounting and back office management system. From there, he leveraged the new IT system to become heavily involved in operations eventually taking the role of operations and price book manager. In 2005, he took over the role of Marketing Manager and Buyer. He is experienced at fueling, marketing, operations, finance, IT, mobile applications for retail, business intelligence and most recently new brand development. He is a member of the NACS Research Committee, Study Group 900 and YPO.
Varish holds a bachelors degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University and earned a MD/MBA degree from Wake Forest University. He is currently married to his wife of 19 years, Mansi, and they have a son, Aayush (19) and a daughter Vunshika (13). His hobbies include reading, tennis, football, snow skiing and anything related to technology.
Rajdeep Golecha
Rajdeep Golecha, CEO
PriceEasy
Raj is a tech entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of PriceEasy.AI and WorldData.AI. His research on pricing and game theory has been selected by the World's Top 100 scientific journals. PriceEasy.AI is used by over 20,000 convenience stores to price and operate intelligently. WorldData.AI bring the world's key external data into one place and is used by thousands of analysts and researchers. Before founding WorldData.AI in 2017, Raj earned his MBA from Michigan State, and spent his early career at data dependent companies like Wolverine and BP.
Frank Gleeson
Frank Gleeson, President and CEO
NACS
Highly experienced international business leader, CEO, Chairman and Board Level Senior Executive. A proven track record in driving outstanding performance for both turnaround and growth strategies within complex and high-paced organizations.
Strategic leader and entrepreneur with a successful background in building and leading top performing teams focused on exceeding goals in the key areas of sales, marketing and sector/product development.
Annie St. Romain Gauthier
Y-Not Stop – St. Romain Oil
CFO/Co-CEO
Annie Gauthier is the CFO/Co-CEO at St. Romain Oil Company in Mansura, Louisiana. She is responsible for the company's finance and accounting, risk management, HR and strategic and culture development. A third-generation co-owner, she works with her 2 brothers, 2 uncles, 2 aunts, and 350 other team members to refuel & refresh the Louisiana communities where they operate.
Annie earned her BA in British history at LSU, then discovered that law school was not for her. She worked for the Louisiana Oil Marketers & Convenience Store Association (LOMCSA) for 3 years before joining the family business in 2005. She has served in various leadership roles with LOMCSA, culminating with President in 2017. Annie is also a founding member of Corporate Works of Mercy Foundation, a private 501(c)3 focused on helping neighbors in need by living the biblical corporal works of mercy. Her purpose is to chart tomorrow's course from yesterday's lessons.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Adam, and mother to 3 young children, Samuel, Ellen and Henry, Annie lives in her small hometown of Mansura. She enjoys cooking, reading, traveling and planning trips (especially to Britain, Ireland and France).
Annie St. Romain Gauthier
Y-Not Stop – St. Romain Oil
CFO/Co-CEO
Annie Gauthier is the CFO/Co-CEO at St. Romain Oil Company in Mansura, Louisiana. She is responsible for the company's finance and accounting, risk management, HR and strategic and culture development. A third-generation co-owner, she works with her 2 brothers, 2 uncles, 2 aunts, and 350 other team members to refuel & refresh the Louisiana communities where they operate.
Annie earned her BA in British history at LSU, then discovered that law school was not for her. She worked for the Louisiana Oil Marketers & Convenience Store Association (LOMCSA) for 3 years before joining the family business in 2005. She has served in various leadership roles with LOMCSA, culminating with President in 2017. Annie is also a founding member of Corporate Works of Mercy Foundation, a private 501(c)3 focused on helping neighbors in need by living the biblical corporal works of mercy. Her purpose is to chart tomorrow's course from yesterday's lessons.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Adam, and mother to 3 young children, Samuel, Ellen and Henry, Annie lives in her small hometown of Mansura. She enjoys cooking, reading, traveling and planning trips (especially to Britain, Ireland and France).
Rob Garf
Rob Garf, Head of Strategy and Insights
Cordial
Rob is Head of Strategy and Insights at Cordial. He has spent his career on various sides of the retail table - as practitioner, industry analyst, strategy consultant, and software executive. Rob’s worked with executives worldwide to help them accelerate digital transformation. He was most recently VP and GM of Retail and Consumer Goods at Salesforce where he led Product Strategy and Industry Insights. Rob's a member of NRF’s Digital Council, one of 50 top Retail Voices by NRF, a RETHINK Retail Top Expert, and on the Executive Leadership Committee for the Retail AI Council.
Stephanie Galentine
Stephanie Galentine, COO
Lassus Bros. Oil, Inc.
Stephanie Galentine, Chief Operating Officer at Lassus Brothers Oil, Inc., has been a part of the company since 1995. Her career in the convenience and fuel retailing industry has been marked by her diverse roles and her unwavering focus on people. Whether it's through training, professional development, or fostering a culture of servant leadership, Stephanie firmly believes that the well-being of individuals is the cornerstone of all successes.
Stephanie's commitment to servant leadership extends beyond her professional relationships. She actively participates in her parish and dedicates time to volunteer work and fundraising for the local community. Married with three sons, she treasures the moments she spends with her family, cherishing quality time as often as possible.
Nick Franco
Nick Franco, SVP Sales and Customer Success
ThinkSys Inc.
Accomplished executive business and technology leader. Over 20 years experience driving revenue in the multi-site C-store, retail, and restaurant industries. Proven track record of building C-level and partner relationships, developing channel programs, and leading enterprise sales.
Experienced in custom software development, AI, networking, network security, cybers security, PCI compliance, IoT, edge computing, multi-site retail technology and operations.