NEW and NACS salute role of women in c-store industry

The group was welcomed by Sonja Hubbard, outgoing chairman of NACS and CEO of E-Z Mart, and Network Champion Dan Vucovich, vice president and global chief customer officer of The Hershey Company. Noting that she was the first woman to chair NACS, Hubbard said the c-store business was changing, and predicted that the number of women executives in the industry would continue to grow. Vucovich praised Hubbard and saluted the Network for advancing women in the consumer products and retail industry.

Observing that "NACS has been a long-time supporter of the Network,” NEW Executive Director Joan Toth thanked NACS and E-Z Mart for hosting the reception. "The convenience store industry is one of our core retail channels,” she said. "We welcome any opportunity to advance our mission in this important business.”

In other news from the NACS show, Jennie Jones, vice president for S&D Coffee and a former Network board member, was named 2009-10 chairman of the NACS Supplier Board. Tom Joyce, vice president of customer industry affairs for The Hershey Company, was named chair-elect and will succeed Jones as 2010-11 chairman. Jones and Joyce were named to their positions during the NACS Supplier Board meeting in Las Vegas.

Hubbard’s leadership role at NACS has been assumed by the group’s new chairman, Jay Ricker, president of Indiana-based Ricker Oil Company.

NEW Champion Dan Vucovich of The Hershey Company addressed the reception, along with outgoing NACS Chairman Sonja Hubbard, CEO of E-Z Mart, shown left.

NEW member Ann Dozier of Coca-Cola with Carol Smiles of Mars Snackfood.

NEW member Denise Campbell of Frito-Lay spoke with Linda McKenna-Welch of Convenience Store Coaches.

Kristalin Farrelly and Kelley Strout of Cadbury.