Who are the 2021 Star Women in Convenience?

The 30 women who comprise this year’s Star Women in Convenience are a winning team unlike any we have celebrated before. This group had to grapple successfully with the day-to-day challenges of everything from running a dynamic business to overseeing entrepreneurial teams to managing operations, organizations and opportunities. But this group of remarkable and experienced women had to do all that—and more—during what may well be the worst pandemic in human history. And they did it with aplomb.

This year’s interviews with the winning women are sprinkled with new and often-repeated verbs like “pivot” and “adapt.” There is also a new group of nouns: “essential service” and “safety” top the list. What the language of the 2021 Star Women in Convenience underscores is a flexibility and determination to succeed—and to deliver exceptional service. Day in and day out.

For these driven and accomplished women, anything less is unacceptable.

CLICK ON WINNERS' NAMES FOR INDIVIDUAL PROFILES

Chrystal Adkins: Key account manager and water category lead, Nestlé Canada

Marie-Andrée Bourgeois: Sales director, Kind Snacks

Courtney Brodersen: Ontario regional sales manager, JTI-Macdonald Corp.

Nikoletta Charamis: National key account manager, Sobeys Wholesale

Karen Demetriou: Senior business development leader, Conagra Brands

Rose Donatelli: National account manager, Lactalis Canada

Véronique Dubois: Management consultant, convenience and gas, Sobeys Capital Inc.

Rebecca Fitzpatrick: Key accounts representative, Vomar Industries Inc./Tank Traders

Manon Francoeur: Procurement manager, Proximity Banners, Metro Inc.

Laura Gray: Marketing director, PepsiCo Beverages Canada

Leena Halim: Program & marketing manager, SRP Companies Canada

Chantal Jalette: Operations manager, Les Entreprises Sylvain Turgeon (Petro-Canada)

Melissa Kwok: Manager, Canadian marketing channel execution, Parkland Corporation

Anna Mazza: Specialist, wholesale distribution, Suncor Energy Inc. (Petro-Canada)

Tiina McCombie: National petroleum director, National Energy Equipment, Inc. (NEE)

Verna Martens: Owner-operator, Super Splash (Shell)

Diana Masri: Business area manager, Imperial Tobacco Canada

Raj Minhas: Owner-operator, Petro-Canada

Cynthia Moscato: Senior marketing manager, Quebec West Division, Couche-Tard

Cherrie Palo: GDP & health and safety compliance manager, Wallace & Carey

Mélanie Racine: Director, human resources, Groupe F. Dufresne

Monica Row: Key account manager, Mondelēz Canada Inc.

Jody Rubino: Regional retail & marketing manager, W. O. Stinson & Son Ltd.

Judi Saliba: Senior sales executive, TFI Food Equipment Solutions

Jennifer Stewart: President and CEO, Canadian Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (CIPMA) 

Cindy Tal: Regional operations manager, Parkland Corporation

Laurie Ure: Owner-operator, Ure’s Country Kitchen

Rebecca Winter: Director of sales and customer service, Payment Source

Alissa Woo: National campaign manager, marketing—Canada, Alimentation Couche-Tard

Valery Zamuner: General counsel, SVP legal affairs and corporate secretary, Alimentation Couche-Tard