2023 Southern Annual Meeting Magazine

Mayor Teresa Lee Heitmann Welcomes You!

It is with great pleasure that I welcome the Southern Association of Wholesale Distributor’s group to celebrate its 100th anniversary in the charming City of Naples. It just so happens that the City of Naples is celebrating its 100-year anniversary as a city as well! The Southern is dedicated to supporting and building a strong distribution system in addition to enhancing its members ability to conduct a successful, profitable business. I am honored to be serving this amazing city as the mayor. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a returning one, we are sure that our town will leave a remarkable impression. That is, if it has not done so already. While our city may feel small, the opportunities are endless.

When it comes to Art and Culture, our city has it all. While there are many classes and workshops held by the Naples Art Association, it does not stop there. You will find a variety of fine art galleries as there are numerous hidden gems throughout our city. I also strongly encourage you to plan a visit to The Naples Players at Sugden Community Theatre or Gulfshore Playhouse to see a performance or two, for they have enriched our community with culture.

As I am sure many of you are attracted by our year-round warm temperatures, white sands, alluring beaches and breathtaking sunsets, I encourage you to take a tour of our beautiful neighborhoods on the Naples Princess, Dolphin, Sweet Liberty, or our fishing charters at the Naples City Dock. And if you love the outdoors as much as I do, do not forget to plan a trip to Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens and the Naples Botanical Garden.

From our family-owned small shops, cafes, and restaurants to our high-end personable jewelry stores, there is no limit to what you will discover in Naples. I am enthusiastic about the year ahead as we continue to keep the City of Naples the paradise that everyone knows and loves.

Many Blessings,

Mayor Teresa Lee Heitmann

We are proud to be part of the SAWD. As the tobacco category changes, we are focused on supporting our distributor partners. Today, more than 20 million U.S. adult smokers are seeking potentially less harmful alternatives to cigarettes. We are committed to making sure that your success continues, even as the tobacco category changes.

What a way to start a letter right? My hope is by the time I finish this letter you will have a better appreciation for the association to which we all belong; feel my admiration and respect for many in this group who have helped make me the man I am today; and be motivated to increase your support of The Southern.

100 YEARS

Do you know how rare it is for any organization to remain viable for 100 years? 0.5 % of all companies will reach the century mark. Can you imagine how much harder it is for an organization made up of dues paying volunteers to reach 100 years? What is now known as The Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors is an extraordinary organization. This organization has been built on the contributions of GIANTS in our industry. A tapestry of multi-generational family-owned companies woven together with the vendors who have supported them year after year. The Southern has helped lead the industry in all aspects. From our legislative involvement to the way we approach our supplier/ vendor relationships, our association has moved this industry forward. We also serve the communities in which we visit through our “Meetings with a Mission” outreach and our scholarship fund which awards $22,000 annually to children of the industry. The constant characteristic describing The Southern is how this group legitimately cares for each other, our retail partners, and the health of the industry. Fierce, honest competition with the southern grace and respect you will not find in other organizations. The Southern is truly an organization to be celebrated and cherished.

25 YEARS

I will never forget my first visit to the annual convention 25 years ago. I was a young punk with no idea what I was doing, but to steal a Ted Lasso line I was “curious”. I knew I didn’t know much, and I was fortunate enough to ask questions to the right people which led to several in this group taking me in and allowing me to sit at what I always felt was the “adults table”. I didn’t say much, but they were gracious enough to let me listen. When you sit in the room with Sherwin Herring, Jimmy Stewart, Mike and Ricky Jones, and Steve Douglas you can learn a lot! When you can pick up the phone and call Emile Cantrell, Randy Emanuelson, Rob Sincavich,

Hugh Raetzsch, and Charlie Casper, it puts you in touch with so much wisdom and industry knowledge. This is what I came to love most about The Southern, the willingness of this group to take time to pass on their wisdom to the next generation. One of the best compliments I have been paid in my career is when Jimmy Stewart told me I asked good questions. May not seem like a lot now, but to a young man trying to figure this industry out it gave me just the encouragement I needed to start building a pretty cool career. Needless to say, my heroes, mentors, and best friends in the industry come from The Southern.

1 YEAR

This is where I am going to ask you to reflect on what makes The Southern special to you. What are your fondest memories? Who has invested in you? Most importantly, who are you investing in today? As we prepare for the biggest celebration in our association’s history, I ask you to consider what your organization’s level of involvement is in The Southern. If you are fully engaged, then you already know the value of the organization. From board involvement at the Mid-Year, to working for the organization in the legislative arena, to the benefits that come from supporting our vendor community at the annual convention, and finally to something near and dear to my heart: the value of involving your team in our Southern Leadership Division. If your company isn’t investing in the future leaders of your company through the Southern Leadership Division, you are missing out on what I believe to be the single biggest opportunity for team development in our industry. One year. What are you willing to do in this upcoming year to ensure your company and The Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors remains healthy and continues leading the industry as has been our legacy for the last 100 years?

Thank you all for welcoming me into this great organization, it has been my honor to serve as your 2022-2023 SAWD President.

Sincerely,

Chad Pickel

MESSAGE FROM THE SAWD PRESIDENT: CHAD PICKEL, AMCON DISTRIBUTING

A New Family Of Distributors Serving Independent & Chain Retailers as ONE TEAM

Family of Brands Family of Brands

OUR MISSION.

To provide high quality branded products through comprehensive solutions and superior service within the convenience industry. Our vision is to become the premier supply chain partner of convenience-driven products and solutions.

As the convenience industry experiences a continuum of change, we are here to partner with you to deepen consumer satisfaction, strengthening your competitive advantage, and creating new relevance in your store!

OUR ELITE MENTALITY.

Frustrated with BIG & CENTRALIZED distributors? Our model is different...we are intentional with our decentralized model, allowing our team to execute in faster, more responsive ways.

OUR COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS. Convenience retailers are experiencing significant competitive pressures as the industry continues to evolve. We are committed to equipping our retail partners with the right solutions, through our consultative approach, treating each retail partners' operations as if it was our own.

WE SERVE.

We strive to win your business each and every day. You will hear us say, 'everyone serves someone'. Ultimately, our team of associates knows we serve you, our retail partner.

LET US SHARE HOW WE CAN SERVE YOU!

LET US SHARE HOW WE CAN SERVE YOU!

Pride in Our Evolution

As a member and board member of the SLD, I have been privileged to attend many memorable events over the last fourteen years. However, none stands out more than our first trip to New Orleans, Louisiana in 2009. Upon arrival, my wife and I were greeted by the legendary “Boudreaux,” (aka Greg Martin). His task was to keep our group in line, which proved to be no easy feat on Bourbon Street.

Over the years, I have witnessed the industry evolve and change. As the Vice President and CIO for Merchants Grocery Company, I have personally been involved in the recent focus on automation. The SLD has been instrumental in helping me navigate through these times of change.

The future of our industry is on the cusp of major technological advances, with automation being one of the most significant. In keeping with the SLD mission of gaining hands-on experience with current technologies, we took a fascinating tour of the ITG Brands Manufacturing Plant, during the November SLD meeting. We were able to witness the different levels of automation used in the manufacturing and packaging of cigarettes, and I believe that the SLD should continue to explore more opportunities like this to gain insights into the future of our industry.

Change can be daunting, but it is necessary for growth and evolution. As wholesalers and manufacturers, we should be excited about the potential new technologies that will be introduced in the near future. I am eagerly looking forward to all the new possibilities that our industry will see in the coming years.

Sincerely,

Robbie Surratt

Welcome to The Southern’s 100th Annual Meeting!

Dear Southern Friends and Family,

A century after The Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors held its first annual meeting in Atlanta, the organization’s remarkable legacy lives on in ways that never could have been imagined by those who attended the inaugural event.

For 100 years, The Southern has provided networking, education, and kinship for the wholesale convenience industry. We’re honored to have created moments that helped build strong connections, grow businesses, advocate on legislative issues, and advance the industry. Many of you came to The Southern’s meetings as a child and now attend it as part of the business and bring your own children. You in particular, truly understand what it is to experience the magic of The Southern.

During the meeting, our Southern 100th celebrations will give us the chance to say thank you to generations of members, and to honor the brilliant companies and people whose talents, personalities, and exceptional achievements that make The Southern such an enduring part of our culture.

As we look to our next 100 years, the association will never be done. We will continue to provide a venue for members to connect, learn, and advance the industry.

So, as we commemorate our historic anniversary, I want to thank you for helping us carry forth the legacy that previous generations inspired all those years ago. And it is because of you The Southern is what it is today.

With gratitude,

VJ Mayor

We All Can Be Every-Day Heroes

n HEATHER PENNEY

On a bright, clear blue morning I was sent on a suicide mission to find and take down Flight 93. I was a young wingman, new to my squadron. I will never forget the stench of the smoke as we flew over the Pentagon. None of us will ever forget the emotions, sights, sounds, smells of that day – they are forever etched into our nation’s DNA.

Marc Sasseville, my flight lead, and I were a mission failure. It would take too long before Vice President Cheney gave authorization for us to get airborne, and while we still believed that there were hijacked airliners inbound to attack our nation’s capital, the passengers on Flight 93 had already fought their way into the cockpit, wrested control of the plane from the terrorists, and sacrificed their lives by crashing into the Pennsylvania countryside.

What many remember about 9/11 are the fear and anger that sticks in people’s hearts. But I believe that the true legacy of 9/11 is greater than that. What 9/11 revealed to us was something far deeper and far more redemptive about who we are as a nation, a people, and ourselves. Think about the passengers of Flight 93. When they woke up and boarded the plane, they were just going on a business trip, going on vacation, coming home from seeing grandma. They were ordinary, every-day Americans, just like you and me. They did not raise their right hand and take an oath to protect and defend. But they did.

What is totally special and inspiring about their actions isn’t just the incredible magnitude of their heroism –it’s in the totally ordinary, every-dayness of the heroes. They were just like you and me. We all have that perfectly ordinary, every-day hero inside of us. So why wait for a national crisis to bring that hero out? Don’t we need every-day heroes every day?

Heroism doesn’t have to big to change the world. We all have choices, situations, interactions where we can choose to act with a hero’s mindset. That mindset recognizes that we all belong to something that is bigger than ourselves. When we recognize that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, it frees us to be our best self. We can act from our values instead of our fears.

Leaders create this sense of belonging through building a mission-purposed culture.

Culture is made up of the codes, norms, behaviors, beliefs of a group. When we’re part of a group, we adopt and internalize that culture. And this isn’t a bad thing. Sharing the ethos of a culture is how we feel like we belong, we are part of a community, it builds a common connection and shared trust.

This kind of mission-purposed culture is an essential piece of high-performing teams. When we identify and build a culture on the foundation of the behaviors, values, beliefs, and norms that are integral to successful mission outcomes, we strengthen group cohesion, esprit de corps, commitment, and group performance. Culture is key to outcomes.

For example, in military fighter aviation (think Top Gun), accountability, responsibility, and competition are core to our culture. Why? Accountability is crucial because excuses don’t help us understand the root causes of poor mission performance. We have to own our mistakes if we hope to improve our performance. Responsibility matters because no one else is in the jet with us – our performance rests solely on our shoulders, and so how we study, rehearse, and prepare ourselves is our duty alone. Competition matters because war is competition – if you don’t “win,” you or someone else dies. It truly is a matter of life and death. But competition in the squadron is not dirty, we don’t win by putting others down. We push ourselves relentlessly to improve our knowledge and mission execution on every flight.

The amazing thing about a missionpurposed culture is that it empowers and connects people of all backgrounds. A mission-purposed culture enables people to show up authentically and as whole people, and still be fully embraced by the group – because we all share the things that we care about the most.

The problem is when we experience what I call “culture creep.” When leaders are not intentional and diligent about setting, modeling, and cultivating the

culture of their organization, it can get hijacked and devolve into something that degrades your team’s performance.

This is when beliefs, values, and behavior emerge and are normalized in the group that are disconnected from your purpose. Symptoms of “culture creep” include deteriorating team performance, diminished team engagement, individual agendas emerging above group goals, individuals feeling excluded or not being able to show up as their authentic selves. High turnover rates is a clear indication of a broken culture.

A hijacked culture cannot create heroes. It fractures and isolates us, instills fear and silences us. A good leader will not wait for a crisis to create clarity. A good leader will create a mission-purposed culture that enables every member of the group to belong. And having a purpose that is bigger than ourselves is what can unlock the hero within.

Never forget. But perhaps more importantly, let us always remember the heroism, courage, grit, selflessness, compassion, kindness, honor, strength, integrity, service, community, commitment, and connection that we were blessed with witnessing that day. 9/11 revealed the true greatness and character of the American spirit, and that each and every one of us has that 0rdinary, every-day hero inside of us. n

Hospitality SUITE

Be sure to drop by our Southern Hospitality Suite during the day for a cup of coffee or a soft drink and, in the evening, a hosted bar. It’s a great place to meet, make plans with friends, or just relax. Adjacent to the Hospitality Suite will be the Silent Auction to benefit our Education Fund. This Silent Auction features over $15,000 worth of items contributed by the members of the Board of Directors, vendors, and others.

HOURS OPEN:

June 21st: After dinner (about 10:00pm) - Until June 22nd: After Dinner (about 10:00pm) - Until

The “Southern Hospitality Suite” is provided to all convention delegates by the Manufacturer & Broker Representatives on your Southern Board of Directors:

Altria Group Distribution Company

Burdette Beckmann

Creative Data Research

Dot Foods

ITG Brands

Jack Link’s Protein Snacks

Lil’ Drug Store Products

Matrix Brokerage

National Tobacco

ProCat Distribution Technologies

Reynolds

Republic Brands

Swedish Match

Swisher International

The Hershey Company

Golf TOURNAMENT

NAPLES GRANDE GOLF CLUB

TUESDAY, JUNE 20TH TEE OFF 8:00 AM

Naples Grande Golf Club is a highly acclaimed, Rees Jones-designed private course located a short drive from downtown Naples. Renowned golf architect Rees Jones designed a par 72 championship course that proves both interesting and challenging. Each hole at this demanding course promises an exhilarating new experience. With extraordinary elevations and unique water features expertly incorporating the indigenous Florida foliage, this course offers stunning fairways for year-round play for Premier Club members and guests of Naples Grande Beach Resort.

CODE OF ETHICS

(From the original formation of the Association)

FIRST: To manufacturer or handle only goods that are made of pure and palatable ingredients; goods which are pure, wholesome, and valuable for human consumption as food; to support any reasonable laws which may be enacted for the purpose of protecting the purity, wholesomeness and cleanliness of candy products.

SECOND: TO strive at all times to upbuild the Confectionary Industry; to cooperate with the retail dealer in arriving at an understanding of the proper quantity to buy and the care to give it, that he may at all times furnish the consumer with goods that are wholesome and valuable for food.

THIRD: To deal justly and honorably with my dealer customers, in order that they may realize just rewards with fairness to all concerns; to sell to those retailers who can handle my goods with credit to themselves, to me, to the manufacturer of the goods and with maximum service to the Public.

FOURTH: To deal justly with the manufacturers whose goals I distribute; to do my business with manufacturers whose goods I can handle in fairness to myself and all concerned; to deal only with the manufacturers who respect and practice the principles of my Code of Ethics, thus encouraging me in practicing my Code of Ethics, both in letter and spirit.

FIVE: To act in fairness toward my employees; paying deserved salaries or wages and giving them that personal cooperation which will enable them to develop their lives and improve their usefulness; to respect their personal rights and grant such privileges as will contribute to their proper development, into more valuable, contented American citizens; to accord equal opportunities and favors to all.

SIXTH: To earnestly endeavor to prevent the use of any means or device in the sale of candy which embodies the element of chance or gambling, believing such practices tend to develop the gambling habit amongst children, thus resulting in injury to the Public.

SEVENTH: To cooperate in all lawful ways with offices and members of our association in the promotion of the welfare of our association in the promotion of the welfare of our industry; to use this Code of Ethics as a Guide which will serve to encourage me and my fellow confectioners to an ever-Higher Plane of Service, knowing the untold value of its practice will bring to the Candy Consuming Public.

A NOTE ABOUT ANTI-TRUST

As this meeting begins, we must remind you of certain essential ground rules which must be respected, not only at this meeting, but on every occasion, social or otherwise, during any meeting of The Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors.

There can be absolutely no discussion between or among competitors at any time concerning prices you charge or propose to charge your customers, the price you pay or propose to pay your suppliers, or the terms and conditions under which you buy and sell the products in which you deal.

The antitrust laws are designed to encourage competition at all levels of production and distribution. The Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors is committed to adherence to those laws. Please keep these principles in mind for the benefit of us all.

Hugh Raetzsch, Lyons Speciality

LIBERTY AWARD Randy Long, Long Distribution

Hugh Raetzsch, Lyons Speciality

Darrell McGuffin, Harcdec’s

Matt Domingo, Reynolds

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. Donations for children receiving transplants form the backbone of our organization.

COTA makes a strong and positive impact on each transplant family who chooses to become part of our Family. Since 1986, that impact has resulted in life-giving hope for thousands of transplant families from generous contributors donating more than $150 million to assist thousands of children and young adults needing a life-saving organ or tissue transplant.

COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps

Rafe Cross’ Story

Rafe was a sweet, energetic 3 year old little boy when he was in the fight of his life the day after Thanksgiving 2020. He started not feeling well and was referred to OU Children’s medical center in OKC. His condition continued to decline despite all the doctor’s effor ts and on Tuesday, Dec 8, 2020, Rafe was flown by air ambulance from OU Children’s to Cincinnati Children’s to be near a transplant center if needed.

Rafe continued to have daily highs and lows and was placed on the waiting list for a liver transplant. While on the waitlist, his condition rapidly declined which necessitated that he receive daily MARS therapy to help rid his body of the buildup of deadly toxins due to his liver not functioning properly.

With God’s guiding hand, a perfect match was found for Rafe and on Friday, Dec 18. 2020, he received a new liver.

Rafe is truly an amazing little boy! He is an “all-boy” boy. He loves playing outside, T-Ball games, riding the tractor with Daddy, doing crafts with Mommy and anything, and we mean absolutely anything, to do with dinosaurs.

meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Transplant procedure costs range from $100,000 to more than $800,000. Once the transplant is complete, families face significant transplant-related expenses, including medication; transportation to and from the center; lodging; and expenses while parents are out of work and often living with the hospitalized child far from home. These out-ofpocket expenses add up to tens of thousands of dollars annually for transplant families with lifetime totals exceeding $1,000,000. In cases where a shortfall exists, COTA helps bridge the financial gap by allocating donations for families receiving transplants.

Contributions to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association are used to assist the organization in our mission to help transplant families. n

He has consistently exceeded the doctor’s expectations of his recovery and he is now home in Oklahoma. He makes periodic trips back to Cincinnati to check in with his doctors there and monitor his progress.

The prayers, calls, texts and love shown to our family has been overwhelming and we cannot express how much each and every one means to us as we continue with Rafe in his recovery. He is truly our little walking miracle.

As you can imagine, the costs associated with Rafe’s medical care were absolutely astronomical. We asked for assistance from COTA to assist with transplant-related expenses. The support of our family, friends and community for the COTA for Rafes Fight campaign has made us very aware that we live in a wonderful place. We appreciate each and every one who donated.

May God bless you all,

Greg and Hillary

Merchants Grocery Company A Company You Can Count On

“Congratulations to The Southern for 100 years of service to the industry! We have made some great memories with the best of friends because of The Southern. We are truly blessed. Merchants Grocery has grown, and is a better company because of The Southern!”

Elvin Smythers Former CEO & President 41 Years of Service

26TH ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION

TO BENEFIT THE EDUCATION FUND

THE AUCTION WILL BE OPEN FOR BIDDING JUNE 21-22.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21ST

9:00 TO 5:00 PM AND AFTER DINNER

THURSDAY, JUNE 22ND AFTER AWARDS DINNER

The Southern’s Education Fund was established a number of years ago to provide educational opportunities for members, their employees and family members. The Silent Auction, which will be held during the convention, will raise money for the fund. Our Education and Convention Committees last year were successful in raising over $15,000 for our Education Fund through the Silent Auction. With your support and participation, we hope to exceed that figure this year. Items are offered through the generosity of Southern members and vendors.

The Stewart Family: Mint Condition

By University of Georgia/Andrew Davis Tucker

THE CANDY STARTS OFF AS MOLTEN GOLDEN SUGAR.

The liquid gold flows onto a metal table to cool. Then, the 100-pound ball of pure sugar rolls to the taffy puller where it’s blasted with cold air that turns it a bright, glossy white. The workers add the flavoring—today it’s triple distilled 100% pure peppermint oil—and a bright red stripe. After that, it’s onto the batch roller where the log of candy is rolled down to size and chopped into bite-sized pieces that look like satin buttons, glistening under the fluorescent lights.

They’ll ultimately make their way into a graining room after packaging, where the candy will develop the matte texture that’s kept Stewart Candy Company customers loyal for many years.

Known originally for their peppermints and other soft candies, the family-run Stewart Candy Company has deep Georgia roots in Waycross, with three generations of Stewarts proudly calling the University of Georgia their alma mater. They will be celebrating 100 years as a family business in 2022.

That love affair with red and black started early. James E. Stewart Jr. BBA ’52, known to all as Papa Stewart, made sure of it.

“Learning to sing ‘Jesus Loves Me,’ as a child was immediately followed by ‘Glory, Glory to Old Georgia,’” says Deen Stewart BS ’88. Deen and his twin brother Sam BS ’88 are the youngest Stewart children and both managing partners in the company. Carrying on that tradition is one of Sam Stewart Jr.’s BS ’17 most cherished memories.

The Stewart family will boast a total of 16 UGA graduates once Joe Cook Stewart earns his bachelor’s degree in 2022. All six of Papa Stewart’s children graduated

from the university, along with six of his grandchildren (not to mention several in-laws).

THE VALUE OF A UGA EDUCATION

“There was never any question that the Stewart children were going to college, and UGA topped the family’s list. Education has always been extremely important to Daddy,” says Amy Stewart Fletcher BSEd ’85, MEd ’89, the third Stewart child and a managing partner of the company.

When Mary Stewart Bishop BBA ’17, a human resources specialist for Stewart Distribution and one of Papa Stewart’s grandchildren, was studying at UGA, she remembers Papa Stewart asking to borrow her textbooks.

“One day I came in, and he was reading a book on calculus,” Bishop says. “I was like, ‘Papa, this is not light reading.’”

That drive to keep learning helped Papa Stewart stay ahead of the curve. He was an early adopter of just about every technology,particularly those that helped the business—even if that meant taking up a conference room-sized space with an early generation computer.

The company itself was a family affair from the start.

“When we were little, he’d give us a crayon, and we did inventory down at the Albany Avenue store (the original storefront for Stewart Candy Company),” says Ivy Stewart Monroe BSEd ’81, the second eldest of the Stewart six. Sara Stewart Cotton ABJ ’87, the fourth

The Stewart Candy company, located in Waycross, celebrates 100 years as a family business in 2022. And what a family it is. Come next spring, the Stewart family will boast 16 UGA graduates, and the company that bears the family name includes three generations. (From left) James E. Stewart III BBA ’80, Jake Stewart AB ’09, John Stewart, Mary Stewart Bishop BBA ’17, Amy Stewart Fletcher BSEd ’85, MEd ’89, James E. Stewart Jr. BBA ’52, Ivy Stewart Monroe BSEd ’81, Sara Stewart Cotton ABJ ’87, Deen Stewart BS ’88, Jordan Stewart, Sam Stewart Sr. BS ’88, and Sam Stewart Jr. BS ’17.(Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Stewart child, created the artwork used for the Stewart business logo today.

father) and two employees—to its current staff of 245 employees, Papa Stewart’s adage has served the company well. In addition to making candies ranging from traditional like butter mints and honey, the company has added quirkier flavors like key lime pie and huckleberry.

For Papa Stewart, leadership has always come down to action. Guided by his strong religious faith and selflessness, his focus has always been to do what’s right—by the family, by the business’s employees, by the customers, and by the community, says Cotton. And he’s passed that expectation down to his children and now grandchildren who work at the company, says James E. Stewart III BBA ’80, a managing partner and the oldest child.

A SWEET FUTURE

As the business has grown from three— Granddaddy Stewart (Papa Stewart’s

Stewart Candy also expanded into a large distribution supplier in the late 1970s. Stewart Distribution serves customers throughout Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina with everything you can think of, from candy to Herschel Walker wings. Grandson Jake Stewart AB ’09 is the company’s director of purchasing for the 179,000 square foot warehouse.

The family won’t be stopping any time soon. With five of Papa Stewart’s grandchildren now involved in the business and the fifth generation well on its way with seven great-grandchildren, Papa Stewart can feel confident that the Stewart Candy Company and Stewart Distribution will be in capable hands to carry on his and his father’s legacy. n

“When we were little, he’d give us a crayon, and we did inventory down at the Albany Avenue store (the original storefront for Stewart Candy Company).”

Four generations of Stewarts. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Next-Level Camaraderie

This past November the Southern Leadership Division (SLD) headed to The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel in downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for their annual Business Resource Meeting. We kicked off the 3-day meeting with a Round Table Discussion. Facilitated by Robbie Surratt, SLD President, this popular session allows attendees to get together in an informal setting to discuss issues related to the industry or a specific business process while sharing best practices.

Following the roundtable, we partnered with ITG to support United Way of Greensboro, and specifically The Servant Center of Greensboro. We rolled up our sleeves and stuffed sixty backpacks of hygiene products for the homeless and disabled, particularly veterans.

After lunch, we headed over to ITG, for a plant tour. ITG Brands, LLC is the thirdlargest tobacco company in the U.S., long-time member, and supporter of the association. ITG pulled out all of the stops on this very informative tour. A special thank you to CEO, Kim Reed and Michael Abhulimen for taking time out

of their busy schedules to share with the group ITG’s practices and where its future is heading. Also, a huge thank you to Joe Dilger for pulling everything together!

On day two, we kicked off our Foodservice Workshop, with Tim Powell, Managing Principal, Foodservice IP (FSIP). As managing partner, Tim is responsible for recommending and developing business strategies, market sizing, designing qualitative and quantitative research methods, strategic planning and project management. He helped attendees understand the current foodservice landscape and what to look out for in the future. Special thanks to SLD member Mari Miro-Narlock from Spotlight Innovations for all her help in planning this wonderful educational opportunity.

Following the Foodservice Workshop, the team was ready for their team building activity. Team building activities are an essential part of the SLD meeting in order to build effective working relationships, foster trust among members, understand and improve communication skills or just to have fun! This year we went to Battl

2022 SPONSORS

Grounds for an axe throwing competition. It was close, but John Wall from Stephenson Wholesale pulled off the win.

We ended the meeting on day three with a recap and idea share of what was learned during the Foodservice Workshop. Next steps to ensure a successful program were also a topic of discusson. n

Spouse’s SOCIAL

Jennifer Pickel would like to extend an invitation to all spouses and guests attending the Annual Meeting to join her for the Spouse’s Social which will be held on

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

10:00AM UNTIL 11:30AM

This is an ideal opportunity to meet some of the other attendees while enjoying brunch. This event is also a great meeting place to gather with friends prior to going out for the day.

Please check your onsite schedule for location.

SAVE THE DATE

SLD BUSINESS RESOURCE MEETING

NOV 14-16

SHERATON GRAND NASHVILLE DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE, TN 2023

SAVE THE DATE for this year’s Southern Leadership Division’s annual conference. It is designed specifically for emerging leaders and provides an excellent educational format that focuses on leadership skills, management training and business planning.

Show DEALS

A major component of the House of Deals (scheduled for Friday, June 23) are the Show Deals vendors provide to our wholesale members.

Show Deals are a tangible benefit that allow wholesalers and vendors to build and strengthen business relationships.

ATTENTION 2023 VENDORS

Orders will be placed directly between the wholesaler and vendor during the House of Deals, along with agreed upon delivery dates.

NOTE: Show Deals will be extended for two weeks after the Annual Meeting expiring on Friday, July 7th.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Note: This is a tentative schedule of events. All details subject to change. The-Southern.org will always have the latest information. The on-site program supersedes all pre-printed materials. All times are EDT.

TUESDAY, JUNE 20

2:00 - 5:30PM

Registration Desk Open, Acacia 1, Foyer

8:00AM - 1:30PM Golf Tournament: Naples Grande Golf Club offers varied elevations and unique water features. A portion of our Rees Jones designed course was centered around a 30-acre lake that is the picturesque backdrop for one of the more challenging golf holes.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21

9:00AM - 5:00PM

Registration Desk Open, Acacia 1 Foyer

9:00 - 10:00 AM Chair/Vice Chair Meeting, Banyan 1

10:00 - 11:00 AM Committee Meetings - Convention (Banyan 2), Education (Mangrove 1), Special Projects (Banyan 1), Government Affairs (Mangrove 2)

11:15AM - 12:00PM Finance & Budget Committee Meeting, Banyan 2

12:00 - 1:00PM Executive Committee Meeting, Banyan 2

2:30 - 3:30PM Board of Directors’ Meeting, Acacia 1-3

4:00 - 5:00PM

SLD Board Meeting, Acacia 4-6

5:30 - 6:00PM New Vendor Reception, Sunset Veranda

All Buyers and First-time Vendors

6:00 - 6:45PM Welcome Reception, Sunset Veranda

All invited

7:00 - 9:00PM Chairman’s Dinner, Acacia 1-3

(For Board of Directors and Past Presidents)

After Dinner-Until Hospitality Suite, Vista Ballroom, Open to All Continue our Southern themed evening with cocktails, dancing and entertainment at our Hospitality Suite. Shop our Silent Auction, whose proceeds fund the $22,000 in annual scholarships given out each year to deserving member students, as well as funding education sessions and more.

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

7:30AM - 5:00PM Registration Desk Open, Acacia 1 Foyer

7:30 - 8:30AM Kick-Off Breakfast, Royal Palm Foyer

(Continental) Join us for a fresh breakfast and plenty of coffee to help you get ready for a jam-packed schedule.

EDUCATION SESSIONS

8:00 – 9:10AM SESSION 1, Royal 1-3

“Warehouse Technology of the Future”

Ed Romaine, VP of Marketing and Business Development, ConveyCo Technologies

This session will focus on exploring the warehouse and business requirements to find the RightFIT level of technologies and automation required to increase your KPIs. Needless to say, there is no shortage of new technologies available in the marketplace, but what level and type of automation makes sense for you is the question. Axioms such as “if a little is good, a lot is great, and one size fits all,” does NOT apply to today’s warehouse KPIs. To find the RightFIT, we will review the levels of automation and how and where they make sense.

9:20 – 10:30 AM SESSION 2, Royal 1-3

“A Uniquely Hershey Approach to Diversity”

Rocio Huerta, HR Manager, The Hershey Company

Lori Thomas, MBA, Sr. HR Manager, The Hershey Company

Diversity is a source of energy and innovation at The Hershey Company. Their values of togetherness, integrity, making a difference and excellence have helped them build a uniquely Hershey approach that enables them to hire the best candidates, understand their diverse consumers, create more diverse and inclusive communities, and ultimately live their purpose of making more moments of goodness. Rocio and Lori, who developed the program, will expertly lead us through their process.

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM First Lady’s Social, The Catch Patio

10:45 AM – Noon GENERAL SESSION, Royal 1-3

“Honoring Those Who Were the Real Heros”

Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Most widely recognized for her service on September 11, Heather “Lucky” Penney was part of the first wave of women to fly Air Force fighter jets. As the first female fighter pilot in her unit, she scrambled on 9/11 against Flight 93. Unarmed, had she and her flight lead been successful, they would have had to sacrifice their lives by ramming the airliner. Heather will share her story to honor those whom she views as the real heroes of Sept. 11: the passengers on a cross-country flight who prevented terrorists from further devastating a shocked nation.

1:00 - 5:30PM Ten-2-Profit, Royal 4-8

Fast-paced and full of energy, these 10-minute “appointments” with buyers and vendors can be used to showcase new products or services, conduct a mini-business review, or introduce anticipated program changes.

6:15 - 7:00PM Get Acquainted Reception, Orchid Foyer

7:00 - 9:00PM Awards Banquet , Orchid Ballroom

This evening is an opportunity to recognize some of The Southern’s best –those who have demonstrated extensive commitment to service and achievement in the industry.

After Dinner-Until Hospitality Suite, Vista Ballroom

Open to All

FRIDAY, JUNE 23

7:30 - 8:30AM Breakfast, Royal Foyer

8:00 - 8:30AM General Membership Meeting, Royal Palm 1-3

8:30 - 1:00PM Registration Desk Open, Acacia 1 Foyer

8:45 - 10:15AM House of Deals, Royal 4-8

Use this additional time to review and discuss “show deals”, write orders, share samples or simply use it to catch up with your business partners. In an environment that is fun and relaxed, this event is a great way to discuss next steps and finalize opportunities.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

ED ROMAINE

Ed Romaine has spent over 30 years involved with organizations looking to utilize automation to optimize their distribution, manufacturing, and warehousing operations. Focusing on the customer’s processes, systems and equipment automation and business requirements, Ed has helped dozens of organizations improve their profitability. He is a frequent contributor to hundreds of publications, blogs, podcasts, and online publications and a frequent speaker at dozens of Supply Chain, Logistics, Lean and Facility organizations and functions.

ROCIO HUERTA

Rocio Huerta is the Human Resources Manager, leading the bilingual transformation of the Hershey Hazleton Plant. She has worked for Hershey since 2015 starting at the Monterrey, Mexico Plant before transferring to the Hazleton facility 2 years ago. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. She has over 13 years of Human Resources experience, specializing in Employee Relations, Development, and Culture.

10:30AM - 11:30PM

Distributors Forum, Acacia 1-3

Representatives of all distribution companies are encouraged to attend. This meeting is open to distributors only.

11:45 - 12:30PM Executive Committee Meeting, Hibiscus

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Naples Grande Resort

475 Seagate Drive, Naples, FL 34103

To make hotel reservations, visit https://book.passkey.com/go/SAWD23

Deadline for group rate is May 31, 2023.

REGISTER NOW

prereg.net/2023/sawd

1st Distributor Attendee: $800

Each Additional Distributor: $600 Spouse and Children are FREE. Everyone MUST register for a badge.

LORI THOMAS, MBA

Lori has been the Senior Human Resources Manager for the Hershey Hazleton plant for over 7 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Labor & Industrial Relations from Penn State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Wilkes University. With over 20 years of HR experience, she has a real passion for people and enjoys helping others achieve their full potential.

HEATHER PENNEY

Heather is a combat-tested fighter pilot, flying on the opening night of Operation Iraqi Freedom and serving two combat tours. Today, she is a Senior Resident Fellow for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, where she conducts extensive research on cutting edge defense policy and technologies with a focus on leveraging the critical advantage that only aerospace power affords.

THANK YOU!

Allison Wholesale

Altria Group Distribution

Amcon Distributing Company

Andalusia Distributing

Ashland Specialty Company

Atlantic Dominion Dist.

Benestar Brands

Burdette Beckmann

C&B Distributors

Caldwell Wholesale

Charles C. Parks Co.

Cheyenne International

Church Point Wholesale

City Wholesale Grocery

Core-Mark North

Corso, Inc.

Creative Data Research

Davison Fuel & Oil

Dot Foods

Douglas Companies

Franklin Supply, Inc.

Golbon

Glidewell Distributing

Great Midwest Tube

Gummer Wholesale

Hardec’s

Home Folks Wholesale

Imperial Trading Company

ITG Brands

J.F. Johnson, Inc.

J.L. Gaddy Wholesale

Jack Link’s Protein Snacks

Kellogg’s

King III Solutions

Lil’ Drug Store Products

Long Distribution

Lyons Specialty Co.

M.R. Williams

Matrix Brokerage

Merchants Grocery Company

National Tobacco Company

PDQ Sales

ProCat Distribution Technologies

Renfro Supply Co.

Republic Brands

Reynolds

Smith Wholesale Co.

Smokey Mountain Chew

Southco Distributing Company

Stephenson Wholesale

Stewart Distribution Co.

Swedish Match of North America

Swisher International Team Sledd

The H.T. Hackney Company

The Hershey Company

Venture Sales

W.L. Petrey Wholesale

Warren Oil Co.

Wishing All The Southern Attendees Great Success and Sunny Days!

A.C. MAY Pelican Cigar Co. Lake Charles, LA 1985 - 1986

KEN CALDWELL Caldwell Wholesale Tobacco Co. Shreveport, LA 1992 - 1994

JACK COFER James D. Cofer, Inc. Atlanta, GA 1994 - 1996

DICK BRAY Premier Beverage & Equipment Franklin, TN 1989 - 1990

GRADY SMITH TVC Wholesale, Inc. Florence, AL 1988 - 1989

JOHN GREEN P.M. Green & Sons Cleveland, TN 1979 - 1980

SCOTT FISHER Spartan Automatic Retailers Memphis, TN 1990 - 1992

JOHN HEAD Head Distributing Company Smyrna, GA 1986 - 1988

DUANE SCHNEIDER DUSA Distribution Center, Inc. Melbourne, FL 1996 - 1998

BOB PIERPOINT Imperial Trading Co., Inc. Elmwood, LA 1998-2000

MIKE JONES Andalusia Distributing Andalusia, AL 2000-2002

STEVE SHING Grocery Supply Co. Sulphur Springs, TX 2002-2004

SHERWIN HERRING Southco Distributing Company Goldsboro, NC 2004-2006

MARK DAVENPORT J. T. Davenport & Sons, Inc Sanford, NC 2006-2008

JIMMY STEWART Stewart Distribution Waycross, GA 2008-2010

RICKY JONES Andalusia Distributing Andalusia, AL 2010-2012

DICK DUNHAM Stephenson Wholesale Co. Durant, OK 2012-2014

RANDY LONG Long Distribution Corinth, MS 2016-2017

PAULA GLIDEWELL Glidewell Distributing Fort Smith, AR 2014-2016

RANDY EMANUELSON Team Sledd Wheeling, WV 2017-2018

STEVE DOUGLAS Douglas Companies Conway, AR 2018-2019

SCOTT MCPHERSON Core-Mark Colleyville, TX 2019-2020

MARTY HOWELL H.T. HACKNEY Opp, AL 2020-2021

HUGH RAETZSCH LYONS SPECIALITY Port Allen, LA 2021-2022

2022-2023 SAWD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

CHAD PICKEL SAWD President AMCON Distributing Crossville, TN

SAM STEWART SAWD 1st Vice President Stewart Distributing Waycross, GA

VJ MAYOR, CAE SAWD CEO LaGrange, GA

HUGH RAETZSCH SAWD Board Chairman Lyons Specialty Port Allen, LA

APRIL GARVER SAWD 3rd Vice President SouthCo Distributing Goldsboro, NC

JACK CASANOVA SAWD 2nd Vice President Church Point Wholesale Church Point, LA

2023 SAWD STATE DIRECTORS

DON CHILDERS Home Folks Wholesale Augusta, GA

KEITH LANDEN Franklin Supply Franklin, LA

ROSS HAYNES Hardec’s Elizabethtown, KY

JACK PARKER The Corr-Williams Co. Pearl, MS

JACK CASANOVA Churchpoint Wholesale Churchpoint, LA

DAN MCINTYRE PDQ Sales & Marketing Jackson, KY

NELSON PARKER Allison Wholesale Paint Rock, AL

PAULA GLIDEWELL Glidewell Distributing Fort Smith, AR

LIZ JOACHIM Corso, Inc. Biloxi, MS

SUSIE MUNSON Douglas Companies Conway, AR

ARKANSAS

CARLOS ZUMARRAGA Zuma & Sons Medley, FL

FLORIDA

APRIL GARVER SouthCo Distributing Goldsboro, NC

NORTH CAROLINA

JAKE STEWART Stewart Distributing Blackshear, GA

GEORGIA

CHRIS HOBSON Core-Mark Tampa, FL

FLORIDA

2023 SAWD STATE DIRECTORS

GREG CROSS Stephenson Wholesale Durant, OK

BILL WILKERSON J. L. Gaddy Wholesale Hickory Grove, SC

CHAD PICKEL Amcon Distributing. Crossville, TN

STEVE YAWN McLane Temple, TX

CHRIS SMYTHERS Merchants Grocery Co., Inc. Culpeper, VA

ROBIN RAY Atlantic Dominion Distributors Virginia Beach, VA

CHAD GUMMER Gummer Wholesale Heath, OH

JOHN PRICKETTE Grocery Supply Company Sulphur Springs, TX

OKLAHOMA

TENNESSEE TEXAS TEXAS

RANDY EMANUELSON Team Sledd Wheeling, WV

WEST VIRGINIA

LAWSON WILLIAMS M. R. Williams Henderson, NC

JIM NAIFEH Standard Distributing Co. Sapulpa, OK

NORTH CAROLINA OKLAHOMA

CHRIS D’AMICO BTC Wholesale Alabaster, AL

TENNESSEE

Order Management

Full spectrum of ordering solutions, including mobile ordering, real-time access to customer information and interactive customer portal.

Warehouse Management

Streamlined fulfillment process with integrated RF, dynamic replenishment, hands free picking, inventory control, returns management, and delivery management.

Purchasing

Automated ordering and replenishment system that reduces inventory, increases turns and improves buyer productivity.

Financial Management

Flexible, fully integrated financial suite that adapts to a distributor’s specific rules and helps achieve optimal financial management.

Business Management

Comprehensive operational reports with easy-to-read graphs and charts that deliver vital business information to all levels of management.

AT-LARGE DIRECTORS

2023 SAWD BROKER REP, SLD REP, & LEGISLATIVE LIAISON

MAX WEINER Broker Representative Burdette Beckmann Inc. Chesapeake, VA

ROBBIE SURRATT SLD Representative Merchants Grocery Culpeper, VA

MATTHEW DOMINGO Legislative Liaison Reynolds Winston-Salem, NC

WEBB ROBERTS Broker Representative Matrix Brokerage Chapel Hill, NC

GREG CROSS Stephenson Wholesale Durant, OK

EMILE CANTRELL Imperial Trading Elmwood, LA

WELDIE MURRAY Renfro Supply Company Williamsburg, KY

MATTHEW DIERSEN Core-Mark North Rockmart, GA

Our History

F.M Jones and his wife Frances (Mimi) started the business in our current building in Andalusia, Alabama, in 1956. F.M. drove a “retired” Lance truck selling candy, gum, and snacks throughout the South Alabama countryside.

After college, sons Larry, Mike, and Ricky joined the business and formalized internal office and accounting procedures and streamlined the purchasing and warehouse operations. It was during this time, the 60’ s and 70’s, that the Company grew to a full -line supplier for convenience stores.

Continued growth and cutting-edge technology became the primary focus of the 80’ s and 90’s, with F.M. and Frances (Mimi) easing into retirement, naming sons Mike Jones, President, Ricky Jones, Vice-President, and grandson Billy Jones, Director of Purchasing and Computer Operations.

This dynamic, family -owned company has expanded the original building to almost 66,000 square feet, maintains a fleet of 14 trucks, employs over 75 employees servicing over 450 stores in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida.

While promoting teamwork and personal growth among our staff, we at ADC listen to our customers and continually strive to meet their needs, as well as stay on top of the ever -challenging and changing standards within the industry as a whole.

Today, Mike is CEO, Ricky is President, and Billy is Vice -President. Ricky ’s son, Chris has also joined the team as ADC’s CFO.

2023 SAWD MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVES

JOEL PALMER Swedish Match

MATTHEW DOMINGO Reynolds

ANDREW PANAGOPLOS Republic Brands

CASEY COOPER National Tobacco

MICHAEL ABHULIMEN ITG Brands

BOB TROAST The Hershey Company

TOM BRICE Lil’ Drug Store

SCOTT HILL Country Fresh Meats

DEVIN FOGLEMAN Dot Foods

BRANDON MOHR Altria Group Distribution Co.

JEBB MAGINNIS Creative Data Research

STEVE STOMEL ProCat Distribution Technologies

SHANE MILLER Swisher

OFFICERS

Robbie Surratt, Merchants Grocery, Culpepper, VA, President

Jeff Thompson, Douglas Companies, Conway, AR, SLD 1st Vice President

Stacey Goldsberry, AMCON, Omaha, NE 2nd Vice President

Joe Dilger, ITG Brands, Atlanta, GA, SLD Secretary

Morgan Allain, Franklin Supply, LA, Board Chairman

DIRECTORS

Colby Carmichael, Long Wholesale Dist., Corinth, MS

Bradley Cross, Stephenson Wholesale, Durant, OK

Jason Demetre, Swedish Match, Atlanta, GA

Patrick Donnelly, Trend Sales, Memphis, TN

Kim Duet, Lyons Specialty, Port Allen, LA

Kevin Herring, SouthCo Distributing, Goldsboro, NC

Jimmy Jones, National Tobacco, Louisville, KY

Jessica Kovacs, Team Sledd, Wheeling, WV

Andy Kruth, Reynolds, Winston-Salem, NC

Darrell McGuffin, Hardec’s, Elizabethtown, KY

Maria Miro-Narlock, Spotlight Innovations, Luling, LA

Ben Pinti, Lil’ Drug Store, Cedar Rapids, IA

Steven Potts, Stephenson Wholesale, Durant, OK

Joni Rhoney, Jack Link’s, Minong, WI

Madison Roberts, Matrix Brokerage Co., Roanoke, VA

Mark Rollins, Swisher International, Duffield, VA

Brad Stephens, Renfro Supply, Williamsburg, KY

Randy Stephens, Altria Group Distribution Co., Richmond, VA

Caroline Stewart, Michael Foods, Atlanta, GA

John Stewart, Stewart Distribution, Blackshear, GA

Jordan Stewart, Stewart Distribution, Waycross, GA

NAPLES, FL • 2024

We’re heading back to Naples, FL!

June 17-20, 2024

Naples Grande Beach Resort is the perfect place to have our 101st Annual Meeting. With a wide variety of activities, events, recreation and relaxation, there is something for everyone! Sunbathe on sugar-sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, make a splash in one of three resort-style pools, indulge in seven unique dining options, hit the links at our private Rees-Jones golf course or treat yourself at a luxury Naples day spa.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION AT THE-SOUTHERN.ORG

Striving for Excellence

The Southern’s 99th Annual Meeting was held at the Sawgrass Marriott in beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It was another great week of catching up with friends, conducting business, gaining new perspectives, and enjoying a beautiful property. This year for our Meetings with a Mission initiative, we partnered with the K-9’s for Warriors. We are proud to announce that we collected close $4,000 in cash (in addition to a $1,000 check from The Southern). This organization provides highly-trained Service Dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. Thank you to everyone who supported this great cause!

Our Southern Annual Golf Tournament provided a great day for networking with customers and prospects, as well as some friendly competition. This year it was held at the Dye’s Valley Course at the beautiful TPC Sawgrass. Thank you to our sponsor ITG Brands for their continued support of this event and The Southern.

It was standing room only for this year’s education sessions. Leah Brown, Talent Retention Strategist, Crescendo Strategies kicked off our Education Sessions by sharing strategies for keeping employees longer. Next, Shawn Burcham, CEO of PFSbrands and Founder of GRITT Business Coaching, shared best practices, trends, and success stories that he’s seen from his experience in the foodservice industry. Immediately following, Rowdy Gaines shared his inspiring story of perseverance during our General Session.

This year’s Ten-2-Profit was an overwhelming success. With over 650 individual meetings occurring during this event, the room was a-buzz with excitement before, during and after. The House of “Deals” on Friday was a great way to end this very busy week.

None of this would be possible without the continued support of all of our sponsors. We salute them for their commitment to The Southern each and every year. n

Taking it to San Juan, Puerto Rico

This year’s Board of Directors Midyear Meeting was held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Situated on the beautiful northern coast on Isla Verde, the Royal Sonesta is a blend of urban chic and Old West charm. With temperatures in the high 70s/low 70s, it was a nice break from a cold winter, even just for a few days.

This annual planning meeting is very important as Board members meet to discuss financial matters, education resources, government affairs issues and other programs for the association. This is also a great opportunity for the Board to share key knowledge to ensure another successful year for our industry and all our members.

During free time, the fishermen and women in the group headed out to San Jose Lagoon to fish in the beautiful (and calm) water for Tarpon. A good day was had by all although some boats caught more than others.

We ended the week with a guided walking tour through Old San Juan and ended the night with a wonderful dinner and a lively Flamenco Show. We thank our board members who were able to take time out of their busy schedules to get together. A special thanks to all our sponsors, whose continued support makes this meeting possible.

Altria Group Distribution Company

Burdette Beckmann

Creative Data Research

Dot Foods

ITG Brands

Lil’ Drug Store Products

Matrix Brokerage

National Tobacco

ProCat Distribution Technologies

Republic Brands

Reynolds

Swedish Match

Swisher International

The Hershey Company

Congratulations 2022 SAWD Scholarship Winners

SINCE 2012, THE SOUTHERN HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $100,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS to employees and children of its member organizations. Thanks to the Southern Education Fund and the Annual Silent Auction, scholarships are awarded to students who show their creativity by writing an essay on a trend or challenge in the convenience industry. The 2022 essay question was “Employees and employers are always looking for the right fit. What kind of workplace culture do you look for when pursuing a professional opportunity?”

Beginning in 2020, we awarded an additional scholarship called the Greg Martin Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was created to celebrate all that Greg did for our members, our businesses, our association and the industry over the last 20+ years. The Greg Martin Memorial Scholarship goes to the top elected entrant with the essay and details of that individual being shared with Greg’s family each year.

Choosing only four of these submissions from our 4-year college applicants and one

for the Technical Scholarship was not easy for the scholarship judges! The Southern will be announcing the 2023 winners in June. Best of luck to everyone who has applied! n

Above left: Congratulations to Carter Barnes, winner of one of the 2022 Southern Scholarships! Carter is attending the University of Georgia and is the son of Kevin Barnes with Stewart Distribution.

Above: Congratulations to Cecilia Roberts, winner of one of the 2022 Southern Scholarships! Cecilia is attending the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and is the daughter of Calvin Roberts with The H.T. Hackney Company.

Left: Congratulations to our 2022 Scholarship winner Erin Krachey, daughter of Douglas Krachey with Farner Bocken/Core-Mark. Erin is attending University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Above: Isabella Helms, daughter of Thomas Helms with Turning Point Brands, a division of National Tobacco, is the winner of the 2022 Greg Martin Memorial Scholarship. She is currently attending Hillsdale College. Congratulations, Isabella!

The winner of our 2022 Technical Scholarship is Jaden Edstrom, son of Joseph Edstrom with Republic Brands. Jaden is currently attending State College of Florida. Congratulations Jaden!

Like most children, I had an arbitrary idea of what I wanted to be when I grew up. While becoming a doctor or veterinarian never appealed to me, having a hotel, setting up a storefront, and playing “restaurant” with my sisters always did. As a little girl, my entrepreneurial spirit had me selling brownies to neighbors, crafting potholders for family members, and even selling buckeyes at my neighborhood art fair for $0.50 apiece.

At a very young age, the world of business fascinated me, and even still, it continues to intrigue me as new experiences refresh my love and wonder for it. However, it was not until I got my first real job at the age of thirteen that I started to pick up on the intangible things which make a good company function and flourish. Working at a country club taught me the goodness of hard labor, babysitting showed me the beauty of leadership, and being employed at a freelance business revealed the importance of order and a shared common goal. Moreover, being the oldest of five girls also helped me discern what attributes make for a good, careerestablishing company.

In a big household, the job of delegating responsibilities often falls upon the eldest child, as does being a good example, and a

hard-working contributor yourself. And yet, the beauty of being a part of a big family is seeing each member work together for the good of the whole by joyfully partaking in the mundane tasks of everyday life. All these experiences combined have made it clear to me what I admire in the workplace: a community of people who are not just working together toward one common goal, but who are also striving to cultivate talents and develop skills that will make them valuable assets to the entire company. I can attest to the combined power of diligence, determination, and initiative in approaching various work-related situations, and yet, I can only imagine how much further one organization could spread its mission if every individual were to fully utilize these gifts.

When I first began attending Hillsdale College, I was immediately enamored by all the students who so diligently pursued their studies and never once ceased striving for excellence. There was this healthy sense of competition between each student as one was always trying to meet the standard that the other set, but there was also this beautiful camaraderie, a celebration of every small improvement and achieved goal. The students had formed a loving community: the respect they had for one another was so great that

they could not help but hold each other to a higher standard. The love they had for one another was the type of knowing love that a gardener has for his rosebush, the love that painfully urges him to prune his roses so that they might bloom and bear fruit in the future.

One could not help but notice that each student truly wanted to see his friends grow both in knowledge and skill, wisdom and understanding. And so, even though I am constantly challenged, I happily accept each task because I know that there is purpose behind their pruning. In every company I have ever worked for, I have always looked for an organization that would challenge me and urge me towards excellency. I want the future company that I partner with to be for me what the students at Hillsdale College have been for me since my enrollment. By working hard and being an encouragement to others, I can only hope that my future colleagues will be pruned as I have been, that their minds will be developed and their hearts improved upon. All in all, if I am ever so fortunate to be a part of a company that remains unflagging in pursuit of these principles, I am confident that I will be able to both see and partake in opportunities which exceed my wildest vocational dreams. n

“Employees and employers are always looking for the right fit. What kind of workplace culture do you look for when pursuing a professional opportunity?”

BY ISABELLA HELMS