2026 Future Leader in Convenience + Car Wash winner: COLTEN BISHOP

Colton Bishop leads DSL’s general market team—the driving force behind the company’s work with independent and local convenience store owners and operators.

“We’re in the business of spreading joy, and the highlights are when I get a genuine emotional response from a customer or colleague,” he says. “When you help solve a persistent challenge or introduce them to an exciting new product they’ve never seen before, their entire demeanor changes: Their face lights up, they start laughing, their body language relaxes. We also have the privilege of helping our customers provide a livelihood for themselves and their staff. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of something that makes people’s days a little brighter.”

Bishop believes every person brings a unique worldview, skill set, culture, values and beliefs.

“It’s important that we respect and appreciate those differences because that’s the reality of both our world and our customers’ world. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I’ve seen firsthand how vital it is to create environments where everyone feels safe, respected and valued for who they are. Building inclusive, sustainable and community-minded workplaces isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s essential for creating stronger teams and more meaningful connections.”