Our Team

Sales and operations leader with over 40 years’ experience in retailing with in-depth knowledge of the convenience retailing / petroleum marketing industry.  Entrepreneurial experience ranges from long range strategic positioning to profitable daily operation of existing, start-up and acquisition/turn-around units.  Demonstrated abilities to plan, initiate, and implement diverse strategies.

b2b SOLUTIONS, LLC, Lake Forest, Illinois
Full service consultancy for retailers and their suppliers.

President, 1994 – Present
Responsible for brand awareness creation, strategies development, marketing, and operations for b2b Solutions. Completed profit improvement projects including those centered on strategy, marketing, operations, foodservice and loss prevention for U.S. and international clients including several Fortune 500 companies. Worked with retailers, suppliers and financial institutions to evaluate investment alternatives, entry and exit strategies.

• • • Developed market penetration strategy, market research, and validation tests for numerous suppliers in or entering the convenience retail / petroleum marketing industry including large consumer package goods companies.
    • Developed marketing plans and materials for companies and worked with them to secure clients within the industry.

AMOCO OIL COMPANY, Chicago, Illinois (1989 – 1994)
A division of Amoco Corporation that operated 9,600 retail units in 30 states.

Manager, Convenience Retail Strategies and Programs (1993 – 1994)
Responsible for strategies, planning, marketing and systems for Amoco’s 6,000 convenience retail operations, including its 400+ corporate locations.  Increased gross profits in corporate units by 25%.

• • • Developed a five-year strategy to leverage Amoco’s investment in the new start-up across its existing store network.
    • Negotiated umbrella contracts with major vendors resulting in significantly increased gross margins.
    • Participated in the development and refinement of Amoco’s corporate retail strategy

General Manager of Convenience Stores (1989 – 1993)
After consulting for four months, appointed to accomplish major on-site development efforts for retail units combining traditional gasoline, convenience store items and food service.

• • • Recruited a team of professionals from external and internal candidates to develop a new store design, information systems, method of operations and supporting infrastructure.
    • Directed the start-up of state-of-the-art convenience retail operation and the development and integration of the Point of Sale, Backroom, and Headquarters information systems.
    • Created, designed, and opened 12 state-of-the-art combination gasoline and convenience retail facilities in a three-year period that met or exceeded unit revenue projections of $3 million.
    • Developed the plan and integration of four (4) other business units into a single organization.

THE LAWSON COMPANY, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (1986 – 1989)
A division of Dairy Mart Convenience Stores, Inc. with 700 units in four states, a dairy plant, an ice cream manufacturing facility, and a grocery warehouse and distribution center.  Dairy Mart purchased The Lawson Company from Sara Lee in 1985.

President and Member of the Board of Directors of Dairy Mart Convenience Stores, Inc. (1986 – 1989)
Responsible for integrating newly acquired company into Dairy Mart and its ongoing operation.

• • • Directed turnaround of company from losing approximately $1 million per month to solid profitability by instituting a total cultural change involving several key strategies.
    • Successfully changed the orientation of the business from a distributor of goods to convenience retailer.
    • Restructured company though the development of a key management team with internal and external candidates.
    • Implemented an information system that increased the speed of information to decision makers, provided timely report consolidation, and reduced the office head count by 25 full-time employees.
    • Resolved a union strike by the milk processing plant employees and drivers. This resulted in a reduced work force due to broadened job classifications with significant labor savings.
    • Initiated a franchise program that reduced capital outlays by the company and turned marginally profitable units to solid profitability.

DAIRY MART CONVENIENCE STORES, INC. Enfield, CT (1972 – 1986)
Convenience retail company with 200 retail units in three states plus a dairy and distribution center.

President and Member of the Board of Directors (1983 – 1986)
Responsible for providing leadership for the company and working with the Board and other management to establish goals, strategies, plans and policies. Plan, develop, organize, implement, direct and evaluate the organization’s fiscal function and performance.

• • • Purchased a franchisee in 1972.
    • Joined the company as an area supervisor in 1973.
    • Held variety of operations/marketing positions before promotion to Vice President of Operations and Marketing in 1978.
    • Elected to Board of Directors in 1983, appointed President in 1984.
    • Part of the team that grew the company from 35 to 1,200 stores in thirteen states.

Masters of Business Administration, Marketing, 1975
Western New England University, Springfield, Massachusetts

Bachelor of Science, Agricultural and Food Economics, 1969
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts

Associate Degree, Food Distribution, 1967
Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts

National Association of Convenience Stores (1974 to Present)

Supplier Board Manpower Committee (Member, Committee Chair 1999 – 2011)
Member, Board of Directors – Retailer (1992 to 1995)
Member, Board of Directors – Supplier (1999 to 2005)
Program Director and Program Moderator

Convenience Retailing University Advisory Council (Past)

RetailWire BrainTrust Panel (Present)

GLG Research Council Member (Present)