CHICAGO – NACS announced the election of its 2008-09 Executive Committee during its October 7 Board of Directors meeting at the NACS Show in Chicago.

Sonja Yates Hubbard, CEO of Texarkana, Texas-based E-Z Mart Stores Inc., was named the association’s 2008-09 chairman of the board. Hubbard also chairs the NACS Executive Committee, which provides strategic direction and financial oversight to the association.

Also named to the NACS Executive Committee were the following NACS retail members:

• Treasurer: Jay Ricker, president of Anderson, Indiana-based Ricker Oil Company
• Vice Chairman of Research: Greg Parker, president of Savannah, Georgia-based The Parker Companies, elected to his third term in that capacity
• NACS Vice Chairman of Government Relations: Tom Robinson, President of San Jose, California-based Robinson Oil Corp., elected to his second term in that capacity
• Vice Chairman of NACSPAC: Jeff Miller, president of Norfolk, Virginia-based Miller Oil Co. Inc.
• Vice Chairman of Member Services: Nichole Torsey, president of Redding, California-based Mountain Counties Supply Co.
• NACS Vice Chairman of Convention and Events: Dave Carpenter, president and CEO of Urbandale, Iowa-based J.D. Carpenter Companies Inc.

Here are biographies of the newly elected NACS Executive Committee members:

Sonja Hubbard: NACS 2008-09 Chairman of the Board
Sonja Hubbard is CEO of Texarkana, Texas-based E-Z Mart Stores Inc.

Hubbard most recently served as the NACS treasurer and was responsible for overseeing the association’s financial plan. She also is a member of the NACS Supplier Board and the NACS Convention & Events Committee. Previously, Hubbard served two terms as vice chairman of the NACS Government Relations Committee, and had also served on the NACS Audit Committee for four years and on the NACSPAC Committee for six years.

E-Z Mart Stores operates more than 300 stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. The company was founded in 1970 and operated by Hubbard’s father, Jim Yates, who led the company until 1998.

Hubbard earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas and is a certified public accountant. She has been with E-Z Mart for more than 20 years, serving as assistant controller, controller and CFO before assuming her current position. Prior to her service at E-Z Mart, she worked in public accounting for three years.

In addition to her service with NACS, Hubbard is active in civic and professional organizations and holds numerous board and officer positions. She currently serves as past chairman and director of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank-Little Rock Branch, chairman of Community Hospital Corporation, finance chairman for Wadley Hospital System and as a member of the Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council.  Hubbard’s father, Jim Yates, served as 1992-93 NACS chairman.

Jay Ricker: NACS Treasurer
Jay Ricker is president of Anderson, Indiana-based Ricker Oil Company.

As the NACS treasurer, Ricker is responsible for overseeing the association’s financial plan.  

Ricker Oil Company operates 30 convenience retail locations in Indiana, as well as a petroleum distributorship and other enterprises. The company perhaps is best known by its customers for its “Ricker Pop” beverages.

A member of the NACS Board of Directors since 2000, Ricker previously served two terms as NACS vice chairman of convention and events and two terms as NACS vice chairman of industry relations. He also is a member of the NACS Government Relations Board Committee and the NACS Supplier Board, and a member of the NACS/Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council. In addition to his service with NACS, Ricker is past chair of the BP Amoco Marketers Association and a past president of the Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association. He is or has been active in a number of community groups including the Community Hospital of Anderson, the Community Hospitals of Indianapolis Network Board, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, the Madison County Community Foundation and the Corporation for Economic Development of Madison County.

Ricker earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University.

Greg Parker: NACS Vice Chairman of Research
Greg Parker is president of The Parker Companies, which operates Parker’s convenience stores and Parker’s Market Urban Gourmet.          

As the NACS vice chairman of research and technology, Parker oversees the association’s Research Board Committee, which directs the association’s research and development initiatives and programs to promote the ongoing competitive viability of the channel.

The Parker Companies owns and operates 25 retail stores in southeast Georgia and an oil jobbership distributing BP, Chevron and the Parker proprietary brand gasoline, Supron. The company also operates Spin City self-service laundries, Urban Attic Self Storage and a real estate development operation. The family’s roots in the industry go back to 1912 when Parker’s great grandfather, James H. Rewis, became a commissioned agent with Standard Oil Co.

Parker’s Convenience Stores are characterized by lush landscaping, stylish architecture, generous lighting and cutting-edge technology to provide an enhanced shopping experience that largely focuses on female consumers. The company’s award-winning Parker’s Market Urban Gourmet, built in a renovated 1880s automobile service station, sells gourmet prepared meals, fresh baked goods, proprietary-brand flavored and gourmet coffee, and over 16,000 products. The Parker Companies also renovates historic properties for residential and commercial use, and has diversified into the high-tech, self-storage and customer-operated laundry industries.

Parker served the 2004-2006 chairman of the BP Amoco Marketers Association. He is chairman of the Savannah Master Plan Task Force, on the executive board of the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority and a member of the Mayor’s Crime Task Force. Parker is a 2005 recipient of the Savannah Urban Entrepreneur Award.

Parker is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

Tom Robinson – NACS Vice Chairman of Government Relations
Tom Robinson is President of San Jose, California-based Robinson Oil Corp.

As the NACS vice chairman of government relations, Robinson oversees the association’s Legislative Committee.

Robinson is CEO of Robinson Oil Corporation, which operates 34 Rotten Robbie stations and Mrs. Robbie’s Markets throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Robinson has been with the company since 1974. The fourth-generation company was founded in the 1930s and has been operating under the Rotten Robbie brand since 1973. 

Robinson earned a B.S. in economics from Santa Clara University. He is past president of the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA) and is active in the California Independent Oil Marketers Association. He also is a member of 25 Year Club of the Petroleum Industry. 

Jeff Miller: NACS Vice Chairman of NACSPAC
Jeff Miller is president of Norfolk, Virginia-based Miller Oil Co. Inc.

As the NACS vice chairman of NACSPAC, Miller oversees the efforts of NACSPAC, the convenience store industry’s political action committee.

Miller most recently served three terms as NACS vice chairman of member services, where he oversaw the activities of the association’s Member Services Board Committee, which sets the strategic direction for NACS with regard to retail-membership value.

Miller Oil Co. operates more than 40 Miller Marts and Miller’s Neighborhood Markets, and an additional 100 dealer sites in Virginia and Florida, all of which sell motor fuels. The company also operates Miller Heating Oil, Heating and Air-conditioning, and Commercial Fuels.

Miller Oil Co. was founded in 1977 by Miller’s father, A.C. (Gus) Miller, when he purchased Exxon Company USA’s home heating oil business in Norfolk. Since then, the company has diversified and expanded in many directions. The company’s greatest growth took place during the 1980s, when the company made the Inc. magazine list of the 500 fastest-growing companies three times. It was during that time the company began its expansion into the convenience store and petroleum retailing business.

Prior to joining Miller Oil in 1981, Miller worked for American Café in Washington, D.C., from 1976 to 1981.

Miller is very active in the community, currently serving as chairman of the Norfolk D’Art Center, director and member of the Executive Committee of the Norfolk branch of Towne Bank and director and member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Norfolk Corporation. He is past chairman of the Hope House Foundation and served on the first NACS Coca-Cola Leadership Council.

Miller earned a B.A. in international relations and economics from American University.

Nichole Torsey: NACS Vice Chairman of Member Services
Nichole Torsey is president of Redding, California-based Mountain Counties Supply Co.

As the NACS vice chairman of member services, Torsey oversees the association’s Member Services Board Committee, which sets the strategic direction for NACS with regard to retail-membership value.

Torsey has been a member of the NACS Board of Directors since 2006. She previously served on its Industry Relations Board Committee and on its Convention and Events Board Committee.

Mountain Counties Supply Co. was founded in 1996 as the retail arm of Cross Petroleum, which was cofounded by Torsey’s father and uncle in 1972. Today, Mountain Countries Supply operates 13 convenience stores.

Torsey began her career at Cross Petroleum within its human resources and risk management operations. She has served as president of Mountain Counties Supply since its inception in 1996. Torsey also serves as vice president of human resources and risk management with Cross Petroleum.

Besides her involvement with NACS, Torsey is a member of the California Independent Oil Marketers Association. She earned a B.S. from Southern Oregon State College.

Dave Carpenter:NACS Vice Chairman of Convention and Events
Dave Carpenter is president and CEO of Urbandale, Iowa-based J.D. Carpenter Companies Inc. 

As NACS Vice Chairamn of Convention and Events, Carpenter leads the activities of the NACS Convention Committee, which oversees the development and implementation of NACS events, including the NACS Show, one of the 50 largest annual tradeshows in the United States.

J.D. Carpenter Companies was founded by Carpenter’s grandfather in 1935. The company has been involved in many facets of the industry ranging from retail stores in Michigan and Iowa to multiple bulk fuel and propane plants to a petroleum terminal on the Mississippi River. The company divested those operations and started a new chain of retail stores called ShortStop. Today it directly operates eight ShortStop convenience stores and lease 12 locations to another retailer operator. Carpenter also operates five Soaks tunnel car wash locations, a common carrier business and three Prolube Oil Change Centers.

Carpenter has been a member of the NACS Board of Directors since 2002, and previously served as a member of its Member Services Board Committee and Research & Development Committee.

Carpenter is active in a number of state and community organizations, serving as former chairman of the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa, current member of the Liberty Banshares Executive Board and the Liberty Florida Bank board of directors.  He also serves as the national chairman of the ConocoPhillips National Advisory Council.  Carpenter earned a degree in business from the University of Iowa.

NOTE: Photos of these Board members are available upon request.