VIEWPOINT
The Business Case for Diversity & Inclusion Convenience Store News and Altria launch a new platform for discussion, innovation, engagement and action IT’S BEEN A YEAR since George Floyd’s death. The recent conviction of Derek Chauvin has done little to quell the nationwide protests and unrest, which have sparked conversations about race and justice in the workplace and at home.
Convenience store industry companies, many of which have programs in place, are now prioritizing heightened awareness and action around their diversity programs. To facilitate engagement among all stakeholders in the convenience channel around diversity and inclusion (D&I), Convenience Store News is partnering with exclusive underwriter Altria Grouop Inc. to launch an industrywide initiative. This new platform is a multi-touch digital and print program that will focus on the business case for c-store retailers and their supplier partners to place a greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion. The first phase of the program’s rollout has already begun. Modeled after our successful Top Women in Convenience Advisory Board, we’ve started to form a c-store industry Retailer D&I Advisory Board. So far, the board consists of representatives from companies that have exhibited strong diversity among their leadership. Derek Gaskins of Yesway, Elisa Goria of Alimentation Couche-Tard/Circle K, and Treasa Bowers of 7-Eleven are our charter members. Watch for announcements of additional members over the next few months.
The initiative will officially launch June 15 with a special webcast in which I’ll be joined by Gaskins, Jayson Council, a thought-leader on diversity and an associate faculty member at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, and Altria’s Danielle Holloway, senior director for industry engagement. We will discuss: • Why is diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) important in our industry? • How do you maximize DEI? • What’s missing from current best practices? • How important is philanthropy and community activation? • From a futurist standpoint, what’s next? • What do we need to know about DEI that we don’t know? • Where is a good starting point? • How do we self-diagnose? • How can we leverage data? • What are some areas that we can control, micro and macro, to create change? In addition to a series of educational webcasts, the new CSNews D&I platform will include guest columns in our magazine from D&I experts (see page 84), and a virtual networking conference. We believe this new platform will result in real innovation, engagement and action that will improve the convenience store industry. For comments, please contact Don Longo, Editorial Director, at (201) 855-7606 or dlongo@ensembleiq.com.
EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS (2013-2021)
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Brett Atherton Bolla Management
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 Finalist, Best Profile, August 2012
2020 Eddie Award, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Series of Articles, September 2019 2018 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Website Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2017 Business to Business, Editorial Use of Data, June 2017
Rick Crawford Green Valley Grocery
2017 Eddie Award, 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
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 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
2015 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Single Article, February 2014
2013 American Society of Business Press Editors, Midwest Regional Azbee Awards Bronze, Best Editorial/Commentary, July 2012
Jim Hachtel Eby-Brown Co.
2014 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2013 Business to Business, Retail, Single Article, February 2013
Chris Hartman Rutter’s
2013 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2012
Ray Johnson Speedee Mart
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
Laura Aufleger OnCue Express
Jack Lewis GPM Midwest
Joe Lewis ExtraMile Convenience Stores Ruth Ann Lilly GPM Investments Danielle Mattiussi Maverik Inc. Vito Maurici McLane Co. Inc. Matt Paduano Lakeport Markets Jonathan Polonsky Plaid Pantries Inc. Greg Scriver Kwik Trip Inc. Bill Stein Core-Mark Roy Strasburger StrasGlobal
2020 Trade Association Business Publications Intl. Tabbie Awards Honorable Mention, Best Single Issue, September 2019 2016 Trade Association Business Publications Intl. Tabbie Awards Silver, Front Cover Illustration, June 2015
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