2026 Star Women in Convenience winner: Cathy Senderovich
Cathy Senderovich
Director of field operations and customer service
Strategic Retail Partners Canada
How did you get into this business?
I started in retail, where I developed a strong foundation in customer service, sales and relationship building. After having my first child, I needed a role with more flexibility, which led me working with a wholesale giftware and home décor company.
What are you most proud of during the last 12-18 months?
I took the lead on a cross-functional initiative with our IT team to enhance our sales portal by introducing a photo capture feature for field representatives.
What do you like most about your job?
I’m a ‘fixer,’ and take pride in helping my co-workers overcome challenges.
Biggest career challenge?
Navigating the unexpected acquisition of the wholesale company I worked for, which led to my role being eliminated. It was a difficult, uncertain time that taught me resilience and adaptability. I learned to pivot, reassess my goals and confidently re-enter the workforce in a new role, which strengthened my ability to approach challenges with a solution-focused mindset.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
The key to success is balance. I’m committed to working hard and delivering results, but I also recognize the importance of stepping back and disconnecting to maintain perspective and avoid burnout.
Career highlight?
Receiving this recognition!
What excites you most about the future?
The pace of innovation. There are new technologies shaping how we connect with customers and operate the business. It’s exciting to be part of an industry where there’s always something new to learn.
Nomination highlights
Cathy Senderovich is a deserving winner serving as the operational backbone of the organization and a true enabler of success for the field team. Through her leadership in supply chain coordination, inventory planning and cross-department collaboration, she ensures products and programs reach the field accurately and on time. She consistently supports and mentors colleagues while helping sales, marketing and operations work seamlessly together. Her reliability, organization and problem-solving abilities elevate both people and processes, making a meaningful impact on the business and helping maintain high operational standards. She has a long history of leadership and achievement, including receiving the best large booth design award at the 2009 CanGift show. Her strong operational leadership led to her promotion to director, field operations and customer service, where she strengthened coordination between sales, marketing and logistics teams. In 2025, she also led a national routing optimization project that improved field coverage, scheduling efficiency and customer service consistency across Canada. She also maintains operational systems and supports seamless rollout of marketing and sales initiatives.
Click here for a full list of the 2026 Star Women in Convenience winners
Be there when the industry comes together in-person to celebrate at the Star Women in Convenience Awards Event.