General Sessions

Monday, October 7
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM PDT
Paradise Event Center
at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino

Juan Bendaña

Bendaña is a confidence coach to top CEOs, Olympians and athletes, actors and peak performers. He an internationally recognized keynote speaker who helps leaders navigate uncertainty and exponential change by developing the unwavering confidence to thrive in any environment. Bendaña uses the art of storytelling, interactive activities and humor to create an unforgettable experience. Drawing from his science-based framework, the Confidence Cycle, he has inspired over 250,000 leaders at companies including Disney, Sotheby’s International and Sony Pictures.

Tuesday, October 8
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM PDT
Paradise Event Center
at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino

Doug Lipp

Former Head of Training at Disney University

Doug is on a mission to help organizations strengthen their corporate culture, boost performance, amplify employee morale, and unapologetically, have fun while doing it. He has established a career and shaped an industry around the idea that culture is the preeminent factor driving business success. Doug is a best-selling author, including the book “Disney U: How Disney University Develops the Most Engaged, Loyal and Customer-Centric Employees.”

Ideas 2 Go

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the NACS Ideas 2 Go program features seven videos of innovative retailers who are elevating the customer experience and their brands.

Wednesday, October 9
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM PDT 
Paradise Event Center
at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino

Victor Paterno

President and CEO, Philippine Seven Corp.
2023-24 NACS Chairman

Victor is president and CEO of Mandaluyong, Philippines-based Philippine Seven Corporation (dba 7-Eleven Convenience Store). At the invitation of his father, Victor joined the company as the construction and maintenance manager in 1993. He was appointed president and CEO in 2005. Victor also serves on the Board of Trustees and is the director for foreign franchises at the Philippine Franchise Association.

Philippine Seven Corporation holds the license to operate 7-Eleven stores in the Philippines. There are more than 3,000 stores operating on the main island of Luzon, of which 54% are franchised.

Brian Gray

Managing Director, Accenture

Brian leads Accenture’s Global and North America Fuels & Convenience Retail practice and helps clients solve challenges and discover opportunities through digital transformation. Over the past two decades, he has worked with 20-plus convenience retailers around the world on customer experience, mobility, artificial intelligence, loyalty, payments and large-scale complex deployments.

Panel: Leveraging AI to Enhance Your Business

Moderator: Henry Armour, President and CEO, NACS

Henry is the third person to lead NACS in its 63-year history. He joined NACS in 2005, after spending his entire career in the convenience industry.

Thursday, October 10
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM PDT
Paradise Event Center
at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino

Andrew Zimmern and David Chang

Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning chef, TV personality, writer and social justice advocate. A star of culinary shows on Travel Channel and The Food Network and the host of two Emmy-nominated shows on the Magnolia Network, Zimmern has devoted his life to exploring and promoting cultural acceptance, tolerance and understanding through food. His newest shows are “Field to Fire” on the Outdoor Channel and “Wild Game Kitchen” on Tastemade.  

David Chang is founder of the Momofuku restaurant group and Majordomo Media. Since opening his first restaurant in 2004, Momofuku Noodle Bar, he has been recognized as GQ’s Man of the Year and a Time 100 honoree. Momofuku Ko was awarded two Michelin stars, which the restaurant has retained each year since. David also is the host of The Dave Chang Show podcast and three documentary series: “Ugly Delicious,” “Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner,” and “The Next Thing You Eat.” His cookbooks and memoir are New York Times bestsellers. In 2019, he opened a convenience store in New York City called Peach Mart.

Moderator: Andrew Kintigh, Corporate Chef, Casey’s

Andrew is the corporate chef for Casey’s, which operates 2,600-plus stores across 17 states and is the country’s fifth-largest pizza chain.