Bounteous Presents: Bolster Your Bottom Line with Better Digital Engagement

Abbey Karel is VP of Business Development for Convenience at Bounteous. Prior to this role, Karel led the largest and most strategic client relationships at Bottle Rocket (an Ogilvy Company) and was an Ogilvy Top-25 Global Client Leader. She also helped pioneer native applications for Kohl’s and JCPenney, as well as both brands’ in-store digital innovation. With a background in Mobile Product Management in retail, Karel’s focus at Bounteous is on deeply understanding client’s needs to optimize global teams throughout the product lifecycle and driving strategic, long-term partnerships centered around co-innovation.

At Wawa, Todd is responsible for the articulation and experience of the much-loved brand across all consumer touch points. An expert in his field, Todd was previously Chief Experience Officer of The Archer Group and has led and created traditional and digital experiences for various companies, agencies, start-ups and non-profits.

Over 20 years of results developing successful brands and businesses into billion-dollar plus enterprises. Derek joined Yesway in June 2018 to help develop the fast-growing retail brand with over 425 locations into a retail force. He serves as Chief Marketing Officer and oversees all merchandising, marketing, advertising, private label, procurement, and brand engagement. He leads the efforts to establish relationships with Yesway’s supplier partners to drive aggressive growth and improve the organizations go to market strategic plan. He also further cultivates the growth and stewardship of the Yesway brand with a keen focus on the customer, ensuring the organizations digital, social, mobile, and loyalty initiatives resonate.
Prior to joining Yesway, Derek was Chief Customer Officer for Rutter’s. He led all consumer engagement and implemented best in class programs and marketing initiatives to keep Rutter’s at the forefront of the global convenience retail industry. Before Rutter’s, he was the SVP of Marketing & Merchandising for Mid-Atlantic Convenience Stores, MACS, the largest Exxon Mobil branded wholesaler in the country with 300+ retail and wholesale stores. He helped lead a team to successfully rebrand, re-merchandise, and re-launch 100+ retail locations as part of an exclusive brand developer agreement with Circle K.
Previously, he was Vice President of Marketing for the National Association of Convenience Stores, NACS, and drove integrated marketing and communications efforts to provide knowledge, connections, and advocacy to NACS retail and supplier members.
Prior to joining NACS, Derek worked for 8 years as the Director of Marketing for Giant Eagle Inc., the Pittsburgh, PA.-based company that operates more than 220 Giant Eagle grocery stores and 200 GetGo convenience stores. He was instrumental in the brand development of GetGo, fuelperks!, Market District, and Giant Eagle Express stores; and also provided marketing leadership for beer, wine, spirits, video, retail banking, and center store grocery categories.

Hayley Thrift serves at the Director of Marketing for Spinx, a Greenville-based convenience store with more than 80 locations across the Carolinas. She is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Public Relations and has more than 10 years of experience in marketing, public relations, social media and government relations. Prior to joining the convenience store industry, Thrift worked in state government where she served in various roles including Director of Communications for the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

An Upstate native, Thrift is passionately involved in various organizations throughout her community. She serves on the board of euphoria Greenville, a food, wine and music festival and is a member of the Upstate Leadership Council for the American Cancer Society. Through her work with ACS, she is on the planning committee for the annual Shuck Cancer Oyster Roast and this year is serving as an honorary shucker. Thrift has been named one of the Forty Under 40 by GSA Business Report and one of Greenville’s Best and Brightest 35 and Under by Greenville Business Magazine. She is also a current member of Leadership Greenville Class 49.

Thrift is an avid traveler and loves exploring the beauty of new places, cultures and cuisines. She is a proud aunt to one nephew and one niece, and an animal mom to her dog, Beau, and cat, Lola.