FEATURE
FORGING THEIR PATH
This year’s record class of Future Leaders in Convenience are ready to lead the industry forward By Melissa Kress & Danielle Romano
have been anything but routine. In the face of supply chain challenges and labor woes, against the backdrop of the still-spreading coronavirus, the convenience channel has needed the stability of its senior leadership more than ever.
THE PAST 20 MONTHS
and marketing to operations and technology — and they have one thing in common: they are all ready to take up the reins to lead the industry into the coming years, regardless of the challenges.
However, challenges often offer the perfect chance to think outside the box and do things differently, and that’s where the next generation of convenience store industry leaders are stepping up to the plate.
Now in its fourth year, the goal of FLIC is to celebrate and help develop the next generation of c-store industry leaders by recognizing the achievements of a select few emerging leaders, while providing a forum for talented young businesspeople to hone their leadership skills.
This year, Convenience Store News honors the largest class yet in its 2021 Future Leaders in Convenience (FLIC) awards program. The group includes 25 c-store retailer executives — all 35 years old or younger — who are already proving their leadership skills on multiple levels.
The honorees were selected based on nominations from their peers and mentors that showcased their accomplishments over the past 12 months. They will be celebrated at the fourth-annual Future Leaders in Convenience Summit, being held Nov. 11 in Des Moines, Iowa.
They excel across all areas of the industry — from category management
The 2021 Future Leaders in Convenience are:
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