ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The NACS State of the Industry (SOI) Summit has just released the preliminary list of speakers set to help break down the newest consumer, financial and operational numbers—live from the stage—at this year’s benchmarking conference in Chicago. Held over two, fast-paced days, the SOI Summit gives retailers the data-powered answers they need to set the course forward for their businesses.
Listed below are a few ot the business experts, economists and convenience retailers who have been tapped to deliver the first look at the latest industry trends, opportunities and “watch-outs” in essential topic areas such as finance, store operations, merchandising and fuels:
- David Nelson, Ph.D., Professor of Economics at Western Washington University and Founder and President of Finance & Resource Management Consultants Inc.
Nelson will provide a lively overview of the U.S. economy. Macro-economic activity including governmental policy changes are critical to convenience retailing performance. See how various economic indicators affected your company’s performance during 2016 and discover what opportunities are being created by the fast-changing economic environment.
- Billy Milam III: The Numbers: A Financial and Industry Overview
Financial and operational metrics mirror the health of a convenience retailing business. This fast-paced session looks at specific metrics from top-line revenue growth to bottom-line pretax profitability measures that enable retailers to assess their own company’s performance, relative to the industry’s top performers. Milam is the president of Atlanta, Georgia-based RaceTrac Petroleum Inc. and a member of the NACS Research Committee.
- Tom Kloza: Energy Markets—Focusing on Supply and Demand
Hear how lower-priced fuel markets drove retailer profitability during 2016, and learn more about the new drivers of oil supply and pricing in terms that everyone can understand. Kloza is the global head of energy analysis at OPIS and serves on the Fuels Institute Board of Advisors.
The SOI Summit will take place April 4–6 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare just outside of Chicago. Explore the agenda, see who has already registered to attend, and save yourself a seat next to our industry’s top performers here.