VIEWPOINT
Top Women in Convenience Keynoter Epitomizes Courage & Commitment Paralympian Melissa Stockwell’s adversity fuels her success MELISSA STOCKWELL was the first American female soldier to lose a limb in Iraq. Rather than let it defeat her, she used the adversity to fuel her success. You’re not going to want to miss hearing her keynote speech at this year’s Top Women in Convenience (TWIC) awards reception in October.
A first lieutenant, Stockwell lost her left leg when a roadside bomb exploded while she was leading a convoy in Baghdad. She was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for her service in Iraq. But she used that adversity to fuel her subsequent success as the first Iraq veteran chosen for the Paralympics. She competed in three swimming events at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, and was the U.S. team’s flag bearer at the closing ceremonies. After the Beijing Paralympics, she turned to the triathlon, winning the Women’s TRI-2 (above the knee amputee) class in 2010, and then successfully defended her title in 2011 and 2012. She is currently training for the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. Married and the mother of two, Stockwell believes anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it. She hopes her audience at this year’s TWIC awards ceremony walks away with a greater appreciation of life and an “I can do anything” attitude. Stockwell’s appearance is being made possible by TWIC gold sponsor Procter & Gamble.
Inside this issue, we profile the 45 female leaders (five Women of the Year, 15 SeniorLevel Leaders, 20 Rising Stars and five Mentors) who are this year’s Top Women in Convenience winners. We are looking forward to honoring them at our 2018 TWIC Awards Reception, being held Monday, Oct. 8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. I especially want to congratulate our five Women of the Year (see their stories starting on page 32). They each exhibit the kind of “I can do anything” attitude espoused by Stockwell: • Line Aarnes, Vice President, Global Marketing, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc./Circle K • Laura Aufleger, Vice President, Corporate Communications, OnCue Marketing • Dawn Gillis, Senior Director, Acquisition Integration – Tech Services, 7-Eleven Inc. • Missy Mathews, President, Childers Oil Co./Double Kwik C-stores • Maura Scott, Vice President, Sales, Northeast, Altria Group Distribution Co. It is with great pride that we celebrate the success of the 2018 Top Women in Convenience winners. For comments, please contact Don Longo, Editorial Director, at (201) 855-7606 or dlongo@ensembleiq.com.
EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS (2013-2018)
2016 American Society of Business Press Editors, National Azbee Awards Gold, Best How-To Article, March 2015 Bronze, Best Original Research, June 2015 2016 American Society of Business Press Editors, Midwest Regional Azbee Awards Gold, Best How-To Article, March 2015 Silver, Best Original Research, June 2015
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
2018 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award Finalist, Best Editorial Use of Data, June 2017
2013 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award Best Single Issue, October 2012
2013 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award
2013 American Society of Business Press Editors, Midwest Regional Azbee Awards Bronze, Best Editorial/Commentary, July 2012
2017 Eddie Awards, Folio: magazine Winner, Business to Business, Retail, Single/Series of Articles, May 2017 Honorable Mention, Business to Business, Retail, Single/Series of Articles, June 2016
2015 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Single Article, February 2014
4 Convenience Store News C S N E W S . c o m
Jon Bratta Core-Mark International Inc.
Jack Lewis GPM Midwest
Rick Crawford Green Valley Grocery Edward Davidson ER Davidson & Associates (7-Eleven Inc., retired)
2016 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2015 Business to Business, Retail, Single/Series of Articles, August 2015
2016 Trade Association Business Publications Intl. Tabbie Awards Silver, Front Cover Illustration, June 2015
Vito Maurici McLane Co. Inc.
Finalist, Best Profile, August 2012
2015 American Society of Business Press Editors, National Azbee Awards Silver, Best Profile (long form), February 2014 2015 American Society of Business Press Editors, Midwest Regional Azbee Awards Gold, Best Special Supplement, November 2014 Silver, Best Profile (long form), February 2014
Brett Atherton Bolla Management
2014 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2013 Business to Business, Retail, Single Article, February 2013 2013 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2012
Jim Hachtel Eby-Brown Co. Ray Johnson Speedee Mart
Danielle Mattiussi Maverik Inc. Richard Mione GPM Southeast Jonathan Polonsky Plaid Pantries Inc. Greg Scriver Kwik Trip Inc. Roy Strasburger Strasburger Retail