Richard brings over a decade of leadership excellence to the convenience retail sector, with notable positions at RaceTrac, Mapco, and Circle K. His expertise spans Merchandise, Category Management, Operations, and Food Innovation, showcasing a dynamic ability to drive sales growth and profitability. Before his impact in convenience retail, Richard served as the Director of Food Service Strategy at HEB, led food innovation and global digital market initiatives at Unilever, and honed his culinary skills as a Chef de Cuisine for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
A versatile retail executive, Richard's extensive P&L management experience across the convenience retail, grocery, consumer-packaged goods, and hospitality sectors underscores his proven operational and collaborative leadership skills. His strategic vision is informed by a rich blend of regional, national, and global leadership roles.
As a US Navy Veteran with degrees in Business Management and Culinary Arts, Richard's broad background empowers him with a holistic approach to retail leadership, balancing financial acumen with operational and creative innovation. In 2009, he founded the Food Trends Think Tank, a non-profit global network dedicated to mentoring emerging culinarians and supporting food start-ups. This initiative highlights his commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in the food industry.
