Jennifer Schmidt-Brekenfeld
Jennifer Schmidt-Brekenfeld, Geschäftsführerin Tank & Rast GmbH
Autobahn Tank & Rast Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG
Jared Scheeler
Jared Scheeler, CEO
The Hub Convenience Stores, Inc
Jared Scheeler is the CEO of Dickinson, ND based The Hub Convenience Stores. The Hub consists of five locations in the energy-rich Bakken Oil Region of western North Dakota. Established in 2015, The Hub is a future-focused retailer with an emphasis on foodservice and technology. Boasting large store footprints and a unique branding package, The Hub is poised for accelerated growth.
Scheeler was born and raised in Dickinson, ND. Upon graduating high school he attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. While attending college, he took a part-time job at Bobby & Steve's Auto World's flagship convenience supercenter in downtown Minneapolis and fell in love with convenience retailing. Jared worked for Bobby & Steve's for fifteen years before he and his family moved back home to start The Hub.
Jared and his wife, DeAnn, are in an active stage of their lives as their four children (Abby, Annabel, Jack, and Molly) are working their way through the busy years of their schooling. DeAnn serves as the Director of Mission Advancement for Trinity Catholic Schools in Dickinson, while Jared moonlights as the head coach of the girls basketball team at Trinity High School.
Scott Sawant
Scott Sawant, V.P. of Convenience Retail
HRA Group
VP of Convenience Retail, Horizon Group
Scott Sawant is a seasoned convenience retail executive known for building powerful vendor partnerships, accelerating sales growth, and leading high performing teams across the Southeast. As VP of Convenience Retail at Horizon Group—part of the Horizon Retailers Association supporting thousands of independent and multi unit convenience stores across the region—Scott plays a central role in driving value for retailers through strong supplier alignment, operational execution, and strategic program development. [hraga.com]
With deep expertise in vendor relationships, contract negotiation, logistics, distribution management, and P&L analysis, Scott has a proven track record of turning category insights into actionable growth strategies. He leads large, cross functional Foodservice and Grocery teams, overseeing everything from merchandising and marketing initiatives to full scale retail program execution.
Scott excels in client management, serving as the primary point of contact for key partners, strengthening long term relationships, addressing operational needs, and delivering solutions that increase in store sales performance. His ability to identify revenue opportunities, pitch new products and services, negotiate agreements, and shift market share from competitors has made him a trusted leader among both retailers and major CPG partners.
A strong driver of new business development, Scott consistently prospects, networks, and engages new customers—leveraging tradeshows, industry events, and direct outreach to generate high value leads. He coordinates complex projects with internal teams, provides actionable reporting on market trends and sales performance, and ensures flawless execution of client programs from concept to rollout.
Scott’s hands on leadership extends to team development, where he trains and supports new sales professionals while fostering a culture of accountability and customer first service. His disciplined approach to operational reporting—including GAP and backorder management—ensures stores receive the right products at the right time, helping retailers optimize assortment and maintain strong inventory health.
Driven, strategic, and relentlessly relationship focused, Scott continues to advance HRA Group’s mission of empowering convenience retailers through innovative solutions, stronger vendor connections, and meaningful marketplace support,
Michael Sansolo
Michael Sansolo, President
Sansolo Solutions
Countless studies and years of work with some of the world’s most innovative companies gives Michael Sansolo a unique and diverse view of the changing nature of trends impacting shoppers, employees, competition, economics, supply chains and management. A long-time senior vice president of the Food Marketing Institute and now a consultant, speaker and author, Sansolo has traveled the globe working with companies on adjusting to new market conditions.
He currently serves as the research director of the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Councils of North America, working with these groups on emerging business topics such as social networking, emerging technology, store management and changing consumer wants and needs.
Sansolo recently authored Business Rules! a collection of diverse and useful lessons in business success. Stories are gathered from companies of all sizes and lessons from professional sports, Broadway Theater, a New York City catering company and pop star Lady Gaga.
Previously, Sansolo co-authored The Big Picture: Essential Business Lessons from the Movies, a book that identifies creative lessons in leadership, marketing and workplace dynamics gleaned from movies as varied as The Godfather and Young Frankenstein. Topics in the book include ethics, brand building, crisis management, outside-the-box thinking and diversity. Sansolo also writes a weekly column on wide-ranging business trends for www.MorningNewsBeat.com, a daily blog with nearly 35,000 readers.
Michael Sansolo
Michael Sansolo, President
Sansolo Solutions
Countless studies and years of work with some of the world’s most innovative companies gives Michael Sansolo a unique and diverse view of the changing nature of trends impacting shoppers, employees, competition, economics, supply chains and management. A long-time senior vice president of the Food Marketing Institute and now a consultant, speaker and author, Sansolo has traveled the globe working with companies on adjusting to new market conditions.
He currently serves as the research director of the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Councils of North America, working with these groups on emerging business topics such as social networking, emerging technology, store management and changing consumer wants and needs.
Sansolo recently authored Business Rules! a collection of diverse and useful lessons in business success. Stories are gathered from companies of all sizes and lessons from professional sports, Broadway Theater, a New York City catering company and pop star Lady Gaga.
Previously, Sansolo co-authored The Big Picture: Essential Business Lessons from the Movies, a book that identifies creative lessons in leadership, marketing and workplace dynamics gleaned from movies as varied as The Godfather and Young Frankenstein. Topics in the book include ethics, brand building, crisis management, outside-the-box thinking and diversity. Sansolo also writes a weekly column on wide-ranging business trends for www.MorningNewsBeat.com, a daily blog with nearly 35,000 readers.
Donna Sanker
Donna Sanker, President US
Parkland USA
Donna is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience in retail, franchising, marketing, commercial and operations. She’s currently the President of Parkland US, a division of Parkland Corporation - one of North America’s fastest growing independent supplier and marketer of fuel and petroleum products and a leading convenience store operator. Parkland USA includes a retail network of 212 retail stores, as well as a commercial business that delivers fuel, DEF, and lubricants to a national network of 50 cardlock locations and over 30,000 commercial customers.
Donna was previously the President of Parkland’s Canadian business, which included a Retail network of 2,000 gas stations and convenience stores, and a Commercial business with 160 cardlock locations and over 200,000 customers. Prior to joining Parkland, Donna worked for BP in a variety of leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer of BP’s US retail business (ARCO and ampm) and Chief Marketing Officer of North America. Donna holds a Master of Science from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Mark Samuels
Mark Samuels, EVP of Convenience Retailing
Dash In/The Wills Group
Mark Samuels is a Retail Executive with over 35 years of experience in the Foodservice, Convenience, and Retail industries. Mark currently serves as Executive Vice President of Convenience Retailing for the Wills Group and leads the Company’s customer facing businesses that include Dash In Food Stores and Splash In Eco Car Wash.
During Mark’s 26-year career at the Wills Group, he held several key leadership roles within the organization. Over the past decade, the Wills Group has been focused on transforming its portfolio of Brands. Dash In, under Mark’s leadership, has focused on creating a disruptive convenience concept based on a standardized building design, restaurant quality food and beverage, and a new visual identity; all of which will enable rapid growth. Additionally, Splash In has focused on delivering a superior wash experience for our guests that exists as part of an integrated offering with Dash In Fuel and Convenience, as well as stand-alone Express Exterior wash facilities.
Mark Holds an Executive MBA from Loyola College of Maryland and undergraduate degrees in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Business Management, and Psychology.
Mark Samuels
Mark Samuels, EVP of Convenience Retailing
Dash In/The Wills Group
Mark Samuels is a Retail Executive with over 35 years of experience in the Foodservice, Convenience, and Retail industries. Mark currently serves as Executive Vice President of Convenience Retailing for the Wills Group and leads the Company’s customer facing businesses that include Dash In Food Stores and Splash In Eco Car Wash.
During Mark’s 26-year career at the Wills Group, he held several key leadership roles within the organization. Over the past decade, the Wills Group has been focused on transforming its portfolio of Brands. Dash In, under Mark’s leadership, has focused on creating a disruptive convenience concept based on a standardized building design, restaurant quality food and beverage, and a new visual identity; all of which will enable rapid growth. Additionally, Splash In has focused on delivering a superior wash experience for our guests that exists as part of an integrated offering with Dash In Fuel and Convenience, as well as stand-alone Express Exterior wash facilities.
Mark Holds an Executive MBA from Loyola College of Maryland and undergraduate degrees in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Business Management, and Psychology.
Rick Sales
Rick Sales, President
Abierto
With over 20 years of experience in the convenience store and convenience foodservice retail industries, Rick is a seasoned leader and innovator in on-premise digital engagement solutions. As the president of Abierto Networks, he is passionate about integrating cutting edge technology to address common industry issues and designing the store of the future. A pioneer in experiential marketing and digital communication, Rick and his team recently delivered transparent LED displays (OPEN.LED) that are redefining forecourt engagement. His mission is to help retailers evolve their thinking around engagement, resulting in increased sales and revisits, improved employee satisfaction and retention, and the growth of strong brands that foster loyal fans.
On a personal note, Rick loves to play golf (despite his admitted lack of skill) and practices the Korean martial art of Tae Kwon Do.