As the world’s 1st Chief AI Officer for enterprise (2016), Sol has 10 patents and is the best-selling author of ‘Your AI Survival Guide’ (‘Top 50 AI’ books). A 3x TEDx speaker with 1M+ views, and voted FORBES “AI Maverick & Visionary of the 21st Century,” and FORBES “Top 5 Leaders Taking AI to Everyone”, Sol is a former 4x C-Suite exec for Fortune 100 companies and a former Amazon tech exec.
Sol is the inventor of The Human Amplification Index™ (a new way to measure ROI for AI and Automation to determine how well companies are strengthening their business and workforce through AI) and Intellectual Atrophy™ education to ensure we outsource tasks and not critical thinking in the age of AI. Sol played a pivotal role in developing and launching IBM’s Watson in 2011 and now has over 200+ deployments under her belt. As both a practitioner and an executive, she has earned accolades like “50 Most Powerful Women in Tech,” “Top 100 AI Thought Leaders,” and “Top 100 Data & Analytics Leaders.”
Sol sits in the intersection of top-tier leadership in AI, technology, and corporate strategy while bridging innovation with business impact. She serves as public educator and thought leader, shaping conversations about AI, business transformation, and preparation of the future workforce. Her mission is to ensure AI and Automation amplify the workforce and does not displace it.
Tanya Coutray is Vice President, Chief Information and Digital Officer for McLane’s Retail business. She leads technology and digital strategy, driving transformation across supply chain operations and customer experience and translating data, AI, and emerging technologies into measurable business outcomes.
Before joining McLane, Tanya served as Global Head of Data and AI Strategy for Retail, Consumer Goods, and Restaurants at Amazon Web Services, where she advised leading companies on digital transformation, innovation, and the strategic application of data and AI. She previously held senior technology, data, and AI leadership roles at Walmart, leading enterprise transformation across global operations.
Tanya holds a Master of Science in Analytics from Villanova University and dual theoretical and applied Bachelor of Science degrees in Mathematics from Virginia Tech. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, exploring theme parks, seeking out next-generation roller coasters, and spending time with her husband and four children.
Nick Elizondo is Vice President of Digital Supply Chain Solutions at McLane with more than 30 years of experience operating at the intersection of supply chain and technology. He has led large-scale global transformation efforts, including over seven years driving SAP-based global supply chain initiatives deployed across approximately 30 countries. Nick’s expertise spans digital value chain strategy, integrated end-to-end planning, global warehouse management, and M&A technology integration, with a strong focus on advancing digital modernization. Over the course of his career at leading organizations such as PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper, and McLane, he has built a reputation for delivering complex programs that improve operational efficiency and business performance.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology/Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University and has completed executive and specialized certifications from institutions including the Hammer Institute, Kellogg School of Management, and MIT, along with participation in Harvard’s Technology and Entrepreneurship initiatives. Nick is a lifelong learner who believes in continuous growth, surrounding himself with driven teams, and embracing change as a constant in a technology-driven landscape. Outside of work, he enjoys supporting Texas A&M athletics, golfing, traveling, and spending time with family.
Tony Frankenberger was named president and CEO of McLane in August 2020 and is responsible for all aspects of business operations. Tony’s track record of operational excellence has established high-performing teams focused on providing extraordinary customer service. Under Tony’s leadership, McLane is expanding its distribution and logistics capabilities and scaling eCommerce platforms, while serving as a best-in-class employer.
Tony began his career at McLane in 1985 as a washer, fueler, and mechanic in the transportation department. He went on to work in multiple roles in distribution centers, gaining experience across departments and learning the fundamentals of the business. He advanced to leadership positions, serving as a distribution center operations team leader, division buyer, corporate buyer, merchandising manager, product director and regional vice president of operations for McLane’s western region where he was responsible for overseeing McLane west coast distribution centers. Tony spent six years as vice president of merchandising and procurement, overseeing all centralized purchasing and merchandising activities. In 2014 he became president of McLane’s grocery division, helping scale McLane’s business significantly, launching its nationwide retail foodservice program, McLane Kitchen and Fresh Produce+ (now McLane Fresh), and evolving McLane’s private label products subsidiary, Consumer Value Products (CVP). In 2023, Tony was inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements in advancing and innovating the confectionery industry.
Prior to joining McLane, Tony served in the United States Air Force as a staff sergeant and military law enforcement officer. Tony has a bachelor’s degree and MBA in international business from the University of Phoenix. He and his wife Sharon have five children and eight grandchildren and enjoy spending time sailing and scuba diving.
Jacob Jordan is a Category Insights Manager at McLane Company, where he leverages data-driven insights and strategic analysis to support category growth, customer success, and business performance. Since joining McLane two years ago, he has focused on transforming complex data into actionable business solutions that drive results across the organization.
Prior to McLane, Jacob built a diverse career across the agriculture, food distribution, and transportation industries. He began his career in the citrus industry with a grower-packer-shipper of Texas grapefruit and oranges, where he also worked with the repack and distribution of imported Mexican citrus products. He later joined a wholesale fresh produce distributor, where he held positions in transportation, sales, and procurement, gaining extensive experience across the supply chain and developing a broad understanding of food distribution operations.
Jacob also served as Director of Field Operations for the Texas Grain Sorghum Association, where he worked closely with producers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to advocate for farmers while promoting the international marketing and trade of U.S. grain sorghum. In this role, he developed a strong foundation in agricultural policy, stakeholder engagement, and international market development.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership and Development from Texas A&M University and later completed his Master of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma.
Jacob and his family reside in Salado, Texas. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, and pursuing activities that allow him to connect with family, friends, and the natural world.
Sid Kulkarni is Vice President of Data, Analytics, and AI at McLane Company, Inc., one of the largest distributors in America, serving convenience store, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. Sid joined McLane in 2025 and leads McLane’s enterprise data, analytics, and AI strategy with a focus on modernization, operational impact, and scalable innovation.
Sid is recognized for his extensive expertise in data engineering, cloud platforms, advanced analytics, and enterprise AI. He has built and led high-performing global teams and is known for transforming complex data capabilities into measurable, high-value business outcomes.
Prior to McLane, Sid served as vice president of Intel’s Data and AI Platforms, where he directed global strategy for large-scale data infrastructure, advanced analytics capabilities, and AI-driven transformation across the organization. His leadership centered on modernizing data ecosystems, accelerating AI adoption, and driving measurable business outcomes. Sid previously led data and analytics organizations at Lowe’s, Oracle, and PubMatic, where he oversaw modernization initiatives, built cloud‑native platforms, and strengthened decision intelligence across retail, product, and enterprise technology environments. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief Technology Officer at FICO, shaping data and decisioning technology strategies for global customers.
Sid holds multiple certifications in product management, data, and innovation, underscoring his commitment to continuous learning and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.
Sean Luce is the Vice President of Sales – Convenience, Travel and Military for McLane Company, one of the largest supply chain services and distribution organizations in the United States, serving convenience stores, travel centers, military commissaries, mass merchants, and chain restaurant customers across the country. In this role, Sean is responsible for leading McLane’s Convenience, Travel and Military sales organization, working closely with customers and internal teams to develop strategic growth initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and deliver innovative solutions that help customers succeed in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
With more than 32 years of experience at McLane Company, Sean has built a distinguished career defined by leadership, customer focus, and a deep understanding of the distribution and retail industries. Sean began his career as a Territory Sales Representative, where he developed firsthand knowledge of customer operations, sales strategy, and market dynamics. Over the course of his tenure, he advanced through a series of progressively broader leadership positions, taking on increased responsibilities across multiple markets, customer segments, and sales organizations.
Throughout his career, Sean has successfully led both customer-facing initiatives and high-performing teams, helping drive business growth while fostering long-term relationships with customers and partners. His extensive experience working with distribution centers, regional operations, and accounts of varying sizes has provided him with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
Sean has served on various NACS committees and currently serves on the NACS Retail Engagement Committee.
Sean earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Angelo State University. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he values spending time with family and maintaining strong community connections. Sean and his wife, Jenifer, are proud parents of three children: Conner, Cambrie, and Chloe.
Cassandra Matos is the Senior Director of Merchandising at McLane Company Inc., one of the largest distributors in the U.S., serving convience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. She leads supplier strategic initiatives while maintaining oversight of purchasing income.
Cassandra began her McLane career in 1999 at its Southwest Distribution Center in Temple, Texas. After several years in operational roles, she transitioned to corporate merchandising as Senior Buyer for McLane’s private label division, where she led the development, launch, marketing, procurement, and sales of the entire private label portfolio.
In 2007, she was promoted to Category Manager, overseeing multiple departments within corporate merchandising. Her leadership and merchandising expertise propelled her into the role of Senior Manager of Supplier Strategic Programs, where she managed Category Managers and a team of buyers. Across these roles, Cassandra directed merchandising insights and procurement for a broad range of categories including cigarettes and tobacco, confection, snacks, general merchandise, automotive, health, beauty and well, perishables, foodservice, and frozen. In 2019 she became Director of Merchandising, taking on direct oversight of a team of Product Directors and full financial accountability for all product categories in corporate merchandising.
Cassandra’s industry leadership has been widely recognized. She was honored as a Top Women in Convenience in 2015 and 2017, recognized as Mentor and Senior-Level Leader respectively. She served on the Convenience Distributors Association (CDA) Board and Industry Affairs Committee 2014 – 2019 and 2026 to present. Her involvement has also included CDA’s Warehouse Delivered Snack Committee and ongoing contributions to McLane’s Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF), where she serves on a committee sharing development content. She has also contributed to McLane’s Inclusion and Belonging Council.
Cassandra has a bachelor’s degree from Tarleton State University. She and her husband, Steve, are lifelong Texans who enjoy spending time with their three dogs—Sadie, Belle, and Lucy—and watching NASCAR. Outside of work, she is passionate about volunteering at her church, reading, and spending quality time with her family.
Vito Maurici is Customer Experience Officer (CXO) for McLane Company, one of the largest distributors in America, serving convenience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. As an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant businesses, McLane buys, sells, delivers, and serves the world’s most beloved brands. McLane has more than 80 distribution centers across the country, employs more than 25,000 teammates, and delivers to nearly every zip code in the U.S.
Vito’s career spans 27 years as a sales and marketing executive. As McLane’s CXO, Vito drives the company’s commitment to innovation and customer experience across the enterprise, designing and implementing key strategies to scale current business, build new relationships, and add value enhancements to McLane’s extensive portfolio of products and services including private label, foodservice, and ecommerce programs.
Maurici joined McLane in 2016. Prior to CXO, he held multiple sales leadership positions, most recently as Senior Vice President of Sales for the company’s grocery division, serving customers across convenience, mass merchandise, drug, wholesale and club, travel, dollar, military and independent retailers. During his tenure, Vito has transformed McLane’s sales mission to focus on delivering solution-oriented services and driving sales while leading more than 300 teammates across the sales organization.
Vito is on the NACS Supplier Board, and before his McLane career, held executive roles at NJOY and Altria, where he successfully oversaw the strategy, execution, and engagement of new product launches, merchandising programs, and customer partnerships. He also led EMEA trade marketing efforts at Philip Morris International and was a strategic consultant to 7-Eleven.
Vito has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business where he earned academic and athletic honors including the Big Ten Medal of Honor.
Maurici and his family reside in Austin, Texas where they enjoy traveling, hiking, sports, fitness, and volunteering in the community.
Michelle Patterson is a sharp brand architect and communications executive with over 20 years of experience in strategic marketing and communications. She is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at McLane Company Inc., one of the largest
distributors in America, where she shapes the company’s brand presence, voice and vision, leads go-to-market strategies for new innovations and manages internal and external communications. Her finely tuned instincts, bold ideas and entrepreneurial approach are steadily ushering the distribution and logistics giant into the
future.
Prior to joining McLane, Michelle co-founded ShakeWell Creative, a strategic marketing agency based in Austin, Texas. For seventeen years she led the agency as CEO with a focus on positioning Fortune 500, medium-sized, and non-profit companies for long-term growth. Michelle remains on the board of the agency and provides strategic guidance to the leadership team. She’s the Board Chair for the Pangea Network, an international nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through proven education and empowerment programs. Her passion for advancing women in leadership positions continues in her work as a founding board member of CSW, which formed in 2023 to drive positive change in the convenience industry.
When not in the board room or at the office, Michelle enjoys challenging hikes, long runs, birdwatching, devouring podcasts and books, and spending quality time with her husband, John and Boston Terrier rescue, Max. She resides in Austin is a proud graduate of the University of Texas.
Yasaswi Pulavarti serves as Vice President of Customer Care & E-Commerce at McLane Company, where he leads customer service, customer experience, and digital commerce initiatives. With more than 25 years of experience spanning retail, restaurants, supply chain, and e-commerce, Yasaswi is focused on leveraging technology, data, and innovation to create exceptional customer experiences and drive business growth.
Prior to joining McLane, Yasaswi held executive leadership roles at Papa Johns, H-E-B, The Home Depot, and Coach where he led large-scale digital transformation, omnichannel commerce, product management, and customer experience strategies. Throughout his career, he has successfully delivered customer-facing and operational solutions that improve revenue, efficiency, and engagement across global organizations.
A recognized leader in digital innovation, Yasaswi’s expertise spans e-commerce, customer experience, artificial intelligence, machine learning, product management, analytics, loyalty programs, CRM, and enterprise technology strategy. He is passionate about helping organizations adapt to evolving customer expectations through scalable technology and data-driven decision-making.
Yasaswi holds an MBA from the University of Kentucky and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science & Engineering from Osmania University.
Jacob Roinas serves as Senior Vice President, Merchandising & Procurement for McLane Company, one of the largest supply chain services and distribution organizations in the United States, serving convenience stores, travel centers, military commissaries, mass merchants, and chain restaurant customers across the country. An accomplished executive with more than 20 years of experience leading strategy, operations, supply chain, sourcing, and merchandising organizations within Fortune 200 companies, Jacob is recognized for driving business transformation, building high-performing teams, and delivering sustainable growth through strong customer and supplier partnerships.
Jacob began his career with Starbucks Coffee Company in 2007, where he spent more than 14 years in roles of increasing responsibility. He initially led teams across the retail operations organization before transitioning into global supply chain leadership in 2015. During his final five years with Starbucks, Jacob led new product introduction efforts across key channels, including beverage, food, and global tea. A career highlight was helping bring innovative products to market that delighted millions of customers each week across Starbucks’ global portfolio.
In 2021, Jacob joined Albertsons Companies as Director of Strategic Sourcing, where he helped build and scale the organization’s global sourcing function. He was promoted to Vice President of Strategic Sourcing in 2022, leading sourcing activities across billions of dollars in spend, and in 2023 advanced to Group Vice President of Strategic Sourcing, assuming responsibility for the global supply chain center of excellence and energy procurement. During his tenure, Jacob also served as an integration lead for the proposed Albertsons-Kroger merger and played a key role in the company’s productivity office, helping deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings. A defining achievement was building a high-performing global sourcing organization that generated significant bottom-line value while strengthening strategic supplier partnerships.
Jacob joined McLane Company in 2026 as Senior Vice President, Merchandising & Procurement. In this role, he leads all merchandising and procurement functions for McLane’s Retail business unit, driving category strategy, supplier partnerships, and value creation for customers. He is passionate about fostering strong supplier relationships, delivering exceptional customer experiences, and creating long-term growth for the business.
In addition to his corporate leadership responsibilities, Jacob serves on the Board of Directors of a global nonprofit organization focused on children’s homes, educational initiatives, and anti-human trafficking efforts across South Asia.
Jacob earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business with a concentration in Global Logistics Management from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Chris Skelly serves as Senior Director of Procurement for McLane Company, Inc., bringing nearly three decades of leadership experience across procurement, merchandising, sales, and strategic operations.
Chris began his career with McLane in 1996 at the company’s corporate headquarters in Temple, Texas, as a Purchasing Specialist. Through a series of progressive leadership roles, including Purchasing Manager and Merchandising Manager, he built a strong foundation in merchandising and supply chain management.
In 2001, Chris was promoted to Vice President of Merchandising for McLane’s Western and Minnesota divisions, relocating to Longmont, Colorado. Five years later, he transitioned into sales as Vice President of Sales for those same divisions, where he successfully led regional sales strategy and customer growth initiatives.
In 2010, Chris was promoted to Director of Sales, overseeing McLane’s Mass, Grocery, and Dollar Store channels. He relocated to Bentonville, Arkansas, in 2014 to lead the McLane Walmart business team as Director of Walmart/Sam’s Club Operations, where he managed one of the company’s most significant customer relationships.
Since returning to McLane’s corporate headquarters in Temple, Texas, in 2017, Chris has served as Senior Director of Procurement, responsible for the assets and procurement for McLane retail. In this role, he leads strategic procurement initiatives, leveraging his broad experience across merchandising, sales, and operations to strengthen supplier partnerships and drive business performance.
Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Adams State University.
Taylor Skinner serves as a Market Director for McLane Company, one of the largest distributors in America, serving mass market clubs, drug, dollar, and discount retailers. Taylor joined McLane in 2020 and leads teammates that manage over 12 convenience store chains within the Central Region. Taylor started with McLane as an intern in 2020. After obtaining her degree from Texas A&M University for Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Taylor has gained a multitude of knowledge in both small and large format convenience store chains. Taylor was also named a Rising Star in 2025 for Top Women in Convenience due to her ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution.
With over 5 years of experience, Taylor has oversight of budget management, sales programs, and customer relations. Her work directly impacts McLane’s overall business growth and ability to meet the evolving needs of the customers. Taylor has recently led the charge of streamlining customer onboarding, working diligently across multiple departments to ensure a frictionless experience for new customers.
Taylor currently resides in Fort Worth, Texas. When not in the office, Taylor enjoys digging into new books, cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles, attending concerts and spending quality time with her husband, Omar and their rescue dog, Astro.
Chris Smith is president of McLane Company’s Retail division, one of the largest distributors in America, serving convenience stores, mass market clubs, drug, dollar, and discount retailers. Chris joined McLane in 2021 and leads all aspects of McLane Retail, including 24 distribution centers, operations, sales, and merchandising.
Before joining McLane, Chris served as senior vice president and chief supply officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance, overseeing supply chain functions for 9,200 U.S.-based Walgreens stores through 16 distribution centers and 9,000 warehouse employees. Prior to Walgreens, Chris was the executive vice president and chief supply chain officer at C&S Wholesale. Chris also held senior leadership positions in distribution and logistics with McKesson Corporation, a Texas-based leader in healthcare.
Chris started his career in finance at Home Depot and transitioned to the logistics area of the business which set the course for his career. As a leader, he’s known for his sharp business acumen, approachable style and people skills, which he attributes to working for and learning from the best leaders and brands in the business.
Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and serves on Phillips Pet Food & Supplies board.
Jeffrey Solomon is Director of Wholesale for Reynolds American, bringing 16 years of experience across a broad range of leadership roles in trade marketing and sales. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for driving commercial growth, strengthening customer partnerships, and building strong teams.
In his current role, Jeffrey leads strategic wholesale relationships, partnering with key customers to advance business objectives through collaborative planning, execution, and supply chain alignment. His diverse experience across trade marketing and sales leadership provides a unique perspective that enables him to drive sustainable growth and create long-term value for both Reynolds American and its customers.
Over the course of three decades, Galactic has become a cornerstone of New Orleans’ dynamic music landscape – the same world that brought them together in the ‘90s as a late-night funk outfit steeped in the unique sounds of their city.
The musically adventurous group has evolved continuously since then, thanks in part to their penchant for collaborating with a wildly diverse array of guest artists. While those experiences have provided a steady stream of new musical perspectives and ideas to the group’s core sound, other elements of their work – like their new role as stewards of the historic New Orleans music venue Tipitina’s – have deepened their relationship with their city and its music community through the years, giving the band an even richer foundation for their ongoing explorations of new creative terrain.
Chris Smith is president of McLane Company’s Retail division, one of the largest distributors in America, serving convenience stores, mass market clubs, drug, dollar, and discount retailers. Chris joined McLane in 2021 and leads all aspects of McLane Retail, including 24 distribution centers, operations, sales, and merchandising.
Before joining McLane, Chris served as senior vice president and chief supply officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance, overseeing supply chain functions for 9,200 U.S.-based Walgreens stores through 16 distribution centers and 9,000 warehouse employees. Before joining Walgreens, Chris served as the executive vice president and chief supply chain officer at C&S Wholesale. Chris also held senior leadership positions in distribution and logistics with McKesson Corporation, a Texas-based leader in healthcare.
Chris began his career in finance at Home Depot, where he transitioned to the logistics area of the business, which ultimately set the course for his career. As a leader, he’s known for his sharp business acumen, approachable style, and people skills, which he attributes to working for and learning from the best leaders and brands in the business.
Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and serves on the board of Phillips Pet Food & Supplies.
With over a decade of experience in foodservice marketing, Shayna’s passion for the food business is evident. As the Director of Product Marketing at McLane Company, she leads innovative brand activations and marketing strategies for foodservice, private label, and customer-facing technology solutions. Shayna excels in marketing management and brand strategy, focusing on driving growth and creating impactful campaigns. She enjoys leading programs that enhance the credibility of sales, marketing, and non-technical personnel through hands-on training. Shayna is committed to empowering teams and fostering collaboration to align with McLane’s mission. She leverages her expertise to boost brand equity and market positioning, embracing creativity and teamwork to achieve organizational goals.
Todd Williams is President of KINEXO, where he leads the strategic direction and management of the company. Since he joined the company in 2002, Todd has held many notable positions, which have included Vice President, Chief Financial and Strategic Officer, and Controller.
During his tenure, Todd has led many transformational projects such as a comprehensive strategic realignment and focus on the core value components of the company’s unique supply chain optimization and execution offerings including redistribution and freight management. This included overseeing the merger of two predecessor companies to form KINEXO in 2016. These events have enabled KINEXO to become the sought-after provider of comprehensive and innovative supply chain solutions for its prestigious roster of foodservice, retail, and hospitality clientele.
Todd has over 35 years of experience in the manufacturing, accounting, supply chain, logistics and technology industries. Prior to KINEXO, he spent time at Construction Imaging Systems as its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, First American Carriers as its Controller, Mayo Knitting Mill as the Chief Financial Officer, McGladrey & Pullen, as a Staff Accountant, and Hayes Food Products as a Production Manager.
Outside of KINEXO, he enjoys the outdoors especially camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing with his friends and family. Todd graduated with a B.S. in accounting from Bob Jones University and has held multiple certifications and memberships in the accounting and finance field.
About KINEXO
KINEXO, a wholly owned subsidiary of McLane Company, is focused on providing highly customized supply chain solutions that are proven to reduce costs, increase transactional visibility and maximize operating efficiency. KINEXO’s vast experience has led them to become one of the most trusted partners in supply chain management. For more information, visit KINEXO | Innovative Supply Chain Planning & Execution
Matthew Toporski is a strategic marketer with over 10 years of experience driving revenue growth and operational excellence in the food, beverage, and CPG industries. Currently, Matthew serves as the Manager, Brand Activations & Partnerships – C-Stores at The Kraft Heinz Company, where he has led marketing strategy and activation across strategic C-store national and regional customers, supporting priority categories in retail and foodservice. During his time at Kraft Heinz, he has helped lead key initiatives such as the K12 Lunchables launch, and Capri Sun Single Serve bottle launch in c-stores.
Prior to this role, Matthew held various positions within Kraft Heinz, including Customer Marketing Manager for Regional Distributors, Brokers, New Business, K-12, and also Territory Sales Manager.
Matthew is a graduate of The Illinois Institutes of Art holding two bachelor’s degrees in culinary restaurant management and hospitality management and currently resides in Chicago.
Austin D’Anna has 10 years of experience in the Sales and CPG industry. During her time at The Hershey Company she has held both Retail-leadership and Category-focused roles. Most recently, she led Shopper Insights for the Convenience Store Channel and built aisle merchandising strategies rooted in the Shopper’s behavior, as well as researching the Foodservice Shopper and their preferences. Currently, she leads a team of Category Analysts and Consultants who partner with channel retailers & distributors to grow distribution and maximize productivity at the shelf and in the aisle.
Austin is a graduate of Michigan State University (Go Green!) and currently resides in the Washington DC area with her husband & son.
Bio coming soon
Bio coming soon
Craig Fishburn is the Chief Sales Officer for SHOTT Beverages, an innovative New Zealand syrup manufacturing business distributed in 25 markets, which for over 50 years has been commitment to only using real ingredients free of artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners.
His passion for ‘real ingredients matter” combined with over 20 years of senior leadership experience in the beverage industry for brands like Coca Cola and Gloria Jeans Coffee, enables SHOTT and the global team Craig leads to be at the forefront of innovation and operational excellence. The result, a brand that delivers a best in class experience every time.
Chef Farley Kaiser is Senior Director of Food and Beverage for McLane Company, one of the largest distributors in America serving convenience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. Farley leads a team focused on developing innovative programs for quality food service in convenience stores. Her strategic vision and culinary skills have been instrumental in reshaping the c-store food landscape, most recently through launches of McLane Fresh and McLane’s Innovation Kitchen—McLane’s innovative retail foodservice program featuring high-quality, fresh food and beverage brands with on-trend products for all dayparts that can be customized for retailers of any size.
Farley has more than 25 years of experience in the culinary industry. As a chef educator for more than 10 years, including a role as Culinary Department Chair at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, she mentored aspiring chefs and played a role in helping them start their own journey into the culinary industry. Farley jumped into the world of research and development as the corporate executive chef for Buffalo Wild Wings where she focused on core menu item optimization as well as innovative LTO development for the national brand. She then joined the team at Wawa where she was introduced to convenience store processes launching many menu items over the years. After managing food and beverage for GetGo she then headed to McLane’s headquarters in central Texas, where she resides with her family.
Farley’s commitment to culinary excellence and innovation has made her a respected figure in the industry, driving the evolution of the culinary industry in the U.S.
Melissa is a seasoned marketing executive with extensive experience in the food and beverage industry, backed by an MBA in Food Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University. As the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Insight at Westrock Coffee Company, she applies her deep expertise in market analytics and strategic brand development. Previously, Melissa served as Vice President of North America Marketing at Fresh Del Monte leading Marketing, Category Management and R&D, and held key roles at Farmer Brothers Coffee and Boyd Coffee Company as Director of Product Strategy. Known for her analytical prowess and dynamic marketing approach, Melissa consistently drives growth and innovation across her roles.
Murat Genc joined McLane in 2024 and leads the company’s technology, digital strategy, and technology transformation. His focus areas include advancing technology across agile supply chain, customer experience, and AI/ML to develop new models, improve productivity, and accelerate growth. Murat is an experienced leader in business, digital, and IT with an extensive background at global enterprise organizations, driving growth, building tech products, and leading digital teams. Before joining McLane, he led Whirlpool’s Global Technology and Data team, creating a supply chain platform and expanding ecommerce capabilities. He also held executive roles at Procter & Gamble globally, overseeing digital strategy, ecommerce, media, and supply chain innovation. Murat has board experience in both non-profits and businesses, and was an entrepreneur in the fields of AI and computer vision. He’s involved with Queen City and Invest in Data angel groups and has taught innovation and business transformation as an adjunct professor. He holds degrees in computer science and mathematics from Sabanci University and Georgia Tech.
Danielle joined Altria Group Distribution Company in 1999 after receiving her Marketing degree from Syracuse University. As she looks back on her 25 years with Altria, she has had experiences in traditional sales roles like Territory Sales Manager, Senior Account Manager, and Section Sales Director. Danielle also has held a lot of Headquarter roles such as: Brand Manager, Sales Merchandising Director, and Sales Infrastructure Director. In 2018, Danielle was appointed to Sr. Director Industry Engagement. In this role, Danielle is responsible to lead the development and execution of engagement systems that enhance trade and state alignment to drive business performance.
Service in the Industry is important to Danielle. She serves on the Supplier Board of Directors at NACS, as well as a TruAge board member; she also participates on the Political Engagement and ConvenienceCares committees. She is a Board member at Convenience Distribution Associates (CDA), also serving on Government Affairs committee and the Manufacturers Advisory Council. She is also an engaged member of: National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Society of Gas Marketers Association, and Energy Marketers Association.
If you know Danielle, you already know that she has a passion for spreading ID&E in our industry. She was a Co-Founder and Chair of the Women in Sales Network for AGDC, and today she is a member of 5 of Altria’s ERGs. Danielle participates in several industry advisory councils: CSN’s Top Women in Convenience and The Convenience Inclusion Initiative and Winsight’s/CSP C-Store Women (CSW) board.
Danielle and her husband Christopher live in Richmond, VA. They enjoy travelling, tailgating, and cooking together.
Seth Mattison, a farm-kid-turned-futurist, has spent two decades helping Fortune 500 giants harness the synergy of human ingenuity and technological advancement to navigate organizational transformation.
Named one of the “Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World” by Real Leaders Magazine, Mattison’s “Made with Love” strategy proves that by imbuing work with meaning, purpose, and the essence of oneself, is the ultimate competitive advantage. As founder of FutureSight Labs and co-founder of lmpact Eleven, he guides organizations in blending human creativity with Al-driven efficiency.
With Midwestern pragmatism and global vision, Mattison isn’t just forecasting the future of work-he’s cultivating a landscape where human potential and cutting-edge technology flourish together.
Terry Levee is the Senior Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance for McLane Company. In addition to leading the Food Safety function, Terry executes the food safety and quality assurance capabilities needed to support the new McLane Fresh retail foodservice offerings.
Terry’s addition to the team signifies a strategic enhancement in the company’s approach to food safety and quality assurance. His extensive background and proactive leadership drive significant improvements and innovations in McLane’s operations, ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality for its customers.
Terry joined McLane in 2024 with over 35 years of experience in food safety, regulatory affairs, and quality assurance. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance for Giant Eagle, GetGo, and Fresh Foods Manufacturing. He is also an Executive Board member of the Conference for Food Protection and Chair of the organization’s Finance Committee.
Since growing up in Reynolds American’s hometown of Winston Salem NC, Reynolds has been woven into Anna’s path. Joining the organization in 2020 as a part of the Global Graduate Leadership Program, she was provided opportunities to work on Brand Marketing & the Strategic Accounts teams.
After completing numerous internal positions, she moved to Nashville, TN to work with top retail customers across the country. In 2023, Anna was promoted to Senior Key Account Manager for the McLane Account Team. She has built strong relationships with McLane to best support the teams in achieving the common goal of moving the commercial business forward.
Anna now lives in Temple, TX with her husband, Connor, and their German Shepherd, Nash. With her husband serving the US Army at Fort Cavazos, the Bogner’s have made TX their new home. They are enjoying all the things that make Texas the Lone Star state like BBQ, Football, and Country Music.
Chef Farley Kaiser is Senior Director of Food and Beverage for McLane Company, one of the largest distributors in American serving convenience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. Farley leads a team focused on developing innovative programs for quality food service in convenience stores. Her strategic vision and culinary skills have been instrumental in reshaping the c-store food landscape, most recently through launches of McLane Fresh and McLane’s Innovation Kitchen—McLane’s innovative retail foodservice program featuring high-quality, fresh food and beverage brands with on-trend products for all dayparts that can be customized for retailers any size.
Farley has more than 25 years of experience in the culinary industry. As a chef educator for more than 10 years, including a role as Culinary Department Chair at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, she mentored aspiring chefs and played a role in helping them start their own journey into the culinary industry. Farley jumped into the world of research and development as the corporate executive chef for Buffalo Wild Wings where she focused on core menu item optimization as well as innovative LTO development for the national brand. She then joined the team at Wawa where she was introduced to convenience store processes launching many menu items over the years. After managing food and beverage for GetGo she then headed to McLane’s headquarters in central Texas, where she resides with her family.
Farley’s commitment to culinary excellence and innovation has made her a respected figure in the industry, driving the evolution of the culinary industry in the U.S.
Eric Hildenbrand is Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of McLane Company, one of the largest distributors in the United States, serving restaurants, convenience stores, drug stores, and mass merchants. As Chief Strategy Officer, Eric advances McLane’s corporate vision and enterprise strategy, oversees the company’s business development activity, and leads its transformation.
Prior to taking on the role of Chief Strategy Officer, Eric served as McLane’s Chief Transformation Officer and General Counsel. As Chief Transformation Officer, Eric designed the company’s transformation goals and initiatives, built its transformation team, and led its change management efforts. As McLane’s General Counsel, he provided strategic legal advice on transactional, litigation, regulatory, and operational matters, with a focus on reducing overall legal and compliance risk while growing revenue and income.
Eric was previously a Senior Counsel and Compliance Officer for General Electric Capital’s Equipment Finance business. Before joining GE, Eric was a lawyer with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, specializing in defending companies and individuals in Securities and Exchange Commission, Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, and Congressional investigations, as well as conducting internal investigations for public companies. Eric also has experience in SEC reporting matters.
Eric has published articles on accounting and tax compliance. He has also guest-lectured on compliance and ethics at the Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas.
Eric focuses his chartable work on providing students with access to higher education. He is an active Rotarian, leading his club’s scholarships and educational activities and mentoring students in Central Texas.
Eric received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. He received his undergraduate degree in political science from Muhlenberg College, where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees.
Eric, his wife, and three children live in Temple, Texas.
Jon Cox is Vice President of Retail Foodservice for McLane Company, one of the largest distributors in America serving convenience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. Jonathan leads McLane’s foodservice strategy for its retail customers, driving innovation and helping customers implement programs tailored to their specific goals.
Jon leads the McLane Fresh team, which oversees the McLane Fresh suite of foodservice programs including Cupza!, McLane’s award-winning beverage program, Central Eats, fresh grab-and-go products for all dayparts, and the groundbreaking freezer to oven program, Prendisimo. Jon also led development and launch of McLane’s Innovation Kitchen; a full-scale c-store showcase for customers to explore the latest in foodservice menu and equipment innovation.
Jon joined McLane in 2023 and has more than 25 years of extensive leadership experience across retail, grocery, and convenience store organizations including Giant Food, HEB, Target, and Sears Holding Corporation. Prior to McLane he served as Chief Merchandising Officer for Giant Eagle’s subsidiary Getgo Café + Market and WetGo.
Gray Taylor grew up in the convenience store industry with the opening of the family’s first convenience store in 1963. Involved in the family 87 store retail business, Gray gained experience in all phases of convenience store and fuels retail operations, and pioneered consumer financial services in the convenience industry.
After his Market Maker experience on the CBOE, Gray returned to the family business to start a fuels retail business. He also founded a consumer banking service; the first retailer-owned electronic banking network.
Gray has more than 15 years of vendor experience, including global product strategy and executive leadership, for three of the world’s largest retail petroleum equipment and systems vendors and Vice President of Research & Technology for the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).
Gray is Executive Director for Conexxus (www.conexxus.org), the industry’s technology and standards non-profit, where its highly experienced team leads the digitization of convenience and energy retail.
He also consults and participates with NACS’ executive team (www.convenience.org) on innovations, payment, and technology issues. Gray is the founder of TruAge, the AI (8112) project, and several other NACS initiatives aimed at improving the industry’s preparedness and innovation for the digital future.
Gray graduated from Denison University with a B.A. in Economics in 1981 and has received certification from all NACS executive programs. He lives in Georgetown, TX with his wife Rachel and their five kids – all in Texas Universities. He can be reached at +1 512.508.3469, or [email protected].
Art Sebastian stands at the helm of NexChapter, Inc. as its visionary leader and CEO, spearheading a growth advisory firm dedicated to propelling the convenience retail industry forward. With an extensive background spanning over twenty-five years in retail and consumer packaged goods, Art brings a wealth of expertise to empower clients across retail, brands, and technology.
In his previous role at Casey’s, Art spent five transformative years steering the ship of Digital Transformation and establishing the Omni-channel Marketing Organization. During this tenure, he orchestrated the implementation of a world-class technology ecosystem, setting the stage for the successful launch of Casey’s leading loyalty program, e-commerce business, digital marketing initiatives, and retail media network.
Before Casey’s, Art served as the VP of Digital Shopping and E-Commerce, leading the Digital Transformation at Meijer. His leadership journey also includes a stint as the Vice President of Category Leadership at Kraft Foods.
Beyond his role at NexChapter, Inc., Art extends his influence as an advisor to technology startups and as a valued member of the Shoptalk Advisory Board. Most recently, Art was appointed as Chairman of the C-StoreTEC Advisory Board, a new platform introduced by CSP.
Internationally recognized retail designer, Joseph Bona is President and Founder of Bona Design Lab. His extensive experience spans more than 35 years on six continents, providing him a unique perspective on global trends, as well as practical knowledge of how to adapt and respond to local markets.
Over his career, Joseph has directed design initiatives for many leading companies including: Shell, ADNOC, Copec, Puma, PetroChina, Sol, Arco/ampm, Wawa, Rite Aid and Sak’s Fifth Avenue. Joseph has been a frequent speaker at industry forums across the globe such as NACS, Global Shop, Euro Shop and IGDS, and was a featured expert on the History Channel’s “Modern Marvels” series bringing his knowledge of
convenience retailing to television.
His work has led to numerous international design awards with many of his projects being published in: CS News, NACS, Retail Vision, Global C-store Focus, VM+SD, Chain Drug Review and Chain Store Age Executive to name a few.
Join Padma Lakshmi, acclaimed culinary expert and “Top Chef” personality, during the keynote session as she shares insights on:
Culinary Excellence and Trends: Discover the importance of staying ahead in culinary trends and leveraging partnerships for innovation.
Collaboration in the Kitchen: Explore the value of teamwork in creating exceptional dining experiences.
Innovation and Creativity: Gain valuable perspectives on fostering creativity in the culinary landscape.
Celebrating Diversity in Food: Embrace multicultural flavors to cater to diverse customer bases.