Liz Williams
Liz Williams, President
Foxtrot
Liz Williams is the President and CFO of Foxtrot, a modern convenience store and café that brings together in-store discovery with rapid delivery. Prior to Foxtrot, Liz was CEO of Drybar, the premier blow dry bar specializing in blowouts, hair care products and styling tools and Liz helped found and lead Hart House, a modern quick service restaurant backed by Kevin Hart and other prominent investors.
Liz has deep roots in the restaurant space as the former President of Taco Bell International, a subsidiary of Yum Brands, Inc.’s (NYSE: YUM). In this role, Liz was responsible for the brand strategy, growth and performance of the International business across 30 countries. In her two years leading Taco Bell International, Liz established development agreements for significant growth in India, Brazil, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and France.
Prior to this role, Liz was the Taco Bell Global CFO, leading Finance, Strategy, Information Technology and eCommerce, where she was responsible for all financial elements of the $11B business. While at Taco Bell, Liz delivered eight years of industry leading sales, profit, unit, and brand growth. Liz also spent a year at Yum Leading corporate strategy for the office of the CEO.
Before joining Yum, Liz spent six years with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as Principal in the Consumer and Retail practices in U.S. and Asian markets. She also spent seven years at Dell Computer in various finance, brand marketing and corporate sales positions.
Liz serves as a board member for Stitch Fix (NASDAQ: SFIX), a leading online personal retailer and as a board member for Viant (NASDAQ: DSP), an advertising software provider.
Liz has previously served on the Kellogg Women’s Leadership Advisory Council, on the Yum Brands Purchasing CoOp board, Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions (RSCS), and on the non-profit Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of Orange County board.
Liz received her bachelor’s degree, as a marketing major, from the University of Texas Business Honors Program and earned her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She lives in Newport Beach, California with her husband and two children.
Mike Weber
Mike Weber
Upshop, CMO
Mike Weber has spent much of his career rooted in the retail experience, beginning with retail design and shopper strategy for mass merchandisers, grocers and c-stores. He transitioned from retail strategy to branding, leading strategy for leading organizations such as SAP, Microsoft, Aramco and GSK across London and NYC. After building and exiting a boutique design agency, Weber re-entered retail via technology to lead Upshop's marketing, partnership and thought leadership.
Barbara Stoyko
Barbara Stoyko, SVP Shell Mobility Americas
Shell USA
Barbara became the Sr. Vice President of Shell Mobility Americas, effective August 1st, 2021. In this role, she is responsible for the financial, strategic, and organizational delivery of the Retail businesses in Canada, United States and Mexico. Prior to this role, she was the GM of Sales for the branded wholesale business across the United States, where she led her organization to deliver record new business growth while supporting wholesalers through significant market changes.
Barbara began her career as a Process Engineer at the Puget Sound Refinery in 1992, after graduating with a BS in Chemical Engineering from UCLA, but found her ‘home’ in Retail over the past 24 years. Barbara has developed deep expertise in many areas of the business through her roles in sales, strategy, retail development and operations. Prior to her GM of Sales role, Barbara was the GM of Operations and GM of Network Delivery for North America. She has extensive experience in organizational leadership, strategy development, sales and negotiations, and project management. Barbara has a passion for developing talent and building lasting relationships with her team members and external partners.
Barbara resides in Houston Texas with her husband, Rich, with whom she has three children ages 26, 22, and 18.
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.
JP Patel
JP Patel. CEO
Hari 1 dba Fish River Food Mart
In 2000, the year of clunky Nokia phones and $1.50 gas, a guileless 18-year-old Jigar “JP” Patel left the comforts of his home in India to make a name for himself in America. Even at that young age, it was clear to those around him that JP had that certain spark that drew people to him.
He soon earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Sciences from the University of South Alabama. While in school, he worked a number of odd jobs until he discovered he had a knack for innovative ideas that increased volume and profits for his bosses in their respective stores. He joined the family business of convenience stores and worked from the ground up. With his combined business acumen and tendency to devote himself in his work, he wasn’t cleaning restrooms and manning the register for long!
Fast-forward to 2015, JP is now the co-founder and VP of SAASOA (Strategic Alliance of Affiliated Store Owners of America), the largest such association in the entire Southeast. In the last 7 years, SAASOA has successfully represented approximately 4500 stores owners. JP continues to be instrumental in increasing bottom line profits, partnering with other organizations to increase merchandise and volume and expanding SAASOA’s reach across the Southeast.
JP is also a recognized public speaker and specializes in leadership training and coaching and has successfully served a range of clients including corporate professionals, small business owners, and non-profit and for-profit organizations.
His drive to increase representation among minorities in the convenience store industry led to his association with NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores).
At NACS, JP is a member of Board of Directors and also a part of Member Services Committee, Political Engagement Committee and Legislative Committee.
His magic touch is not limited to the business world. He mentors under represented teenagers and young adults in choosing the path best suited for them. He is a recognized advocate of service and mental health initiatives through The Art of Living. He is a unifying member of the community, bringing together people from all religions, ethnicities, ages and genders to participate in personal health workshops.
As seen through his business drive and his giving nature, JP is truly one of the rare individuals who is sincerely passionate about helping and bringing people together from all walks of life.
Natalie Morhous
Natalie Morhous, President
RaceTrac, Inc.
Natalie Morhous, President of RaceTrac, Inc. began her career with RaceTrac in 2012. However, as a third‐generation leader in the 85‐year‐old, family‐owned business, Natalie has been a TracFanatic since birth.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, RaceTrac owns and operates more than 770 retail fuel and convenience stores across 11 states under the RaceTrac and RaceWay brands. The RaceTrac family of companies also includes Energy Dispatch, the transportation company that hauls fuel for RaceTrac and
Metroplex Energy, the wholesale fuel supplier which secures bulk fuel to supply RaceTrac and RaceWay stores and other third‐party companies. RaceTrac delivers on its mission to make people’s lives simpler and more enjoyable by offering competitive and meaningful career opportunities, providing a reliable
shopping experience to guests, and giving back to causes near and dear to the RaceTrac family and its guests.
In Natalie’s nine years with the company, she has served as Director of Strategy and Development, Executive Director of Strategy and Solutions, Executive Director of Energy Dispatch and Vice President of Energy Dispatch. In February of 2019, Natalie assumed her current role as President of RaceTrac, Inc. Outside of RaceTrac, Natalie serves on the National Association of Convenience Stores Legislative Committee. She is also a board member of Our House, an organization dedicated to ending the cycle of homelessness for families, and she is a member of the Young President’s Organization.
Under her leadership, RaceTrac has had many exciting new developments. The organization has expanded its footprint to Tennessee and Kentucky, opened new store types including a travel center format and welcomed franchisors into the RaceTrac family. She is excited to continue her family’s legacy of leadership and innovation within the convenience store industry.
Natalie and her husband, Hunter, have been married since 2013. They have a son named Wills, a daughter, Hailey, and two dogs – Mason and Reese. Natalie loves water sports, trying new restaurants and any excuse to spend time with her family.
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.
Douglas Haugh
Douglas Haugh, Chairman
TRUX
Doug Haugh has over twenty five years experience working in the energy and technology industries building businesses organically and by working with both buyers and sellers on dozens of M&A transactions. Doug has lead growth strategies in the retail convenience store, fuels marketing, supply & trading, renewable products, lubricants, technology, and distribution sectors.
Most recently, as President of Parkland USA from 2017 to 2022, Doug grew earnings by 15x and completed 20 acquisitions in less than four years. Doug currently serves as a Board Director of BioBlend Renewable Resources, a renewable bio-based products company that now has over 50 fully commercialized bio-based products. In addition Doug serves as board chairman for TRUX.
Doug began his career with Exxon, serving in marketing and business development. Previously as Co-Founder and COO of FuelQuest, Doug created supply chain management and tax automation solutions throughout the downstream energy industry for clients like Wal-Mart, Ryder, 7-Eleven, UPS, and Chevron. As President and Chief Strategy Officer of Mansfield Energy, Doug was the driving force behind Mansfield’s corporate strategy, acquisitions, partnerships, and alliances.
Dedicated to building a strong sense of community and continuous education Doug created Engineering Leadership, a non-profit foundation focused on educating and engineering future leaders. A passionate supporter of his industry Doug serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Convenience Stores.
In 2006, Doug was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Energy Technology, Houston and Gulf Coast Area. He was honored as a 2009 Clemson Alumni Entrepreneur by the Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Clemson University. He was named to the CIO 100 in 2010 and 2011 by CIO magazine. In 2022 Doug was named Retail Executive of the Year by Convenience Store News.
Doug graduated Magna Cum Laude from Clemson University in Chemical Engineering and holds an MBA in Technology Management. Doug was born overseas in Scotland. He and his wife of 24 years, Athena, have lived all over the U.S. from Charleston to San Francisco, and have two children Asa and Gavin.
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.