Rutter's President, Valero Receive CSNews Technology Award

NEW YORK -- Scott Hartman, president of CHR Corp./Rutter’s Farm Stores, was named the Top Technology Leader in Convenience Store News' 2009 Tech Awards, presented Monday night at a dinner in conjunction with the NACS/CSNews 2009 CIO Roundtable. Also receiving an award for technology implementation was Valero Retail Holdings Inc. with its integration of seven different technology systems into 62 Albertsons c-stores in a three-month period.

Hartman has been involved in technology in the c-store space from the very beginning, not only with innovation in his stores, but in the industry as a whole. He served as chairman of NACS’ Technology Standards Project, and was one of the founding members of PCATS -- where he was also chairman in 2004 and 2005.

Hartman, who is also a former NACS chairman, is considered a technology leader for the important role he has played in making integration standards a reality in the c-store industry, and remains an active member in NACS as well as PCATS. He has also encouraged his employees involvement, including Bob Sleeper, director of IT at Rutter's, who was recently named Implementation Committee Chair with PCATS.

Valero Retail Holdings received the Outstanding Technology Implementation Award, accepted by Cheryl Thomas, vice president of retail systems at the company. CSNews presented the award to the company for the integration of 62 Albertsons convenience stores into its network. At the time Valero acquired the stores, the Albertson’s c-storew were working on the network of its supermarket parent company. The transition involved seven different technology providers including:

-- Dresser Wayne dispensers and store level fuel network;
-- Verifone POS and PIN pads;
-- PDI’s handhelds for ordering/inventory and receiving;
-- Optec LED price signs; and
-- First Data credit card processing network.

A review of the stores’ current business models and strategy development took 90 days, starting in May 2008, and all stores were integrated by August 2008. Store level conversions were completed over 14 days, with approximately eight stores done each day.

The goal for Valero was to complete the upgrade for PCI and security compliance, while using as much of the existing equipment as possible. The stores are now fully integrated with Valero’s standards, as well as standardized training, accounting, merchandise ordering and reporting.

Full coverage of the awards, the winners and the 2009 NACS/CSNews CIO Roundtable will be featured in the May 11, 2009 Technology Issue.
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