Parker’s, an award-winning, nationally acclaimed convenience store company and food service leader, recently announced that the company’s Chief of Staff Kate Smith has been named one of the Top Women in Convenience by industry-leading publication Convenience Store News. She is one of 53 female industry professionals who will be honored at the National Association of Convenience Stores’ Show, the largest annual gathering of the convenience store industry, on Oct. 12 in Las Vegas.

Smith was named to the seventh annual class of Convenience Store News’ Top Women in Convenience, which is the first and only convenience store industry awards program that recognizes women making outstanding contributions to their companies and the industry. Smith was honored for her strategic leadership and executive management of the company’s regional growth, community outreach and philanthropic efforts.

The honorees are divided into four categories, ranging from Rising Stars and Mentors to Senior Level Leaders and Women of the Year. After reviewing a record number of nominations, Smith was one of 21 professionals honored in the Senior Level Leaders category, which recognizes director-level executives who have transformed their business in a positive manner.

“In my opinion, Kate has set a new standard for executive leaders in the c-store industry,” said Parker’s founder and CEO Greg Parker. “She is a stellar example of the talented women in the convenience store industry who are making a positive impact each and every day. Her perspective, experience and talents contribute to the success of Parker’s and to the industry as a whole.” 

In her role as Chief of Staff at Parker’s, Smith is responsible for leading strategic, high priority projects and working with the staff members, from top level executives to team leaders at each of Parker’s 66 retail stores throughout coastal Georgia and South Carolina. She also represents Parker’s in community affairs and outreach initiatives, including managing the company’s long-standing Fueling the Community charitable giving program, which donates more than $200,000 per year to area schools, and managing the relationship between Parker’s and the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University. Smith has also been instrumental in the company’s strategic growth and expansion into the metro Charleston, S.C. market. 

Before joining Parker’s, Smith worked as a litigation attorney at HunterMaclean in Savannah, Ga., where she represented and advised clients in legal matters. An active community leader, Smith previously served as a member of the Savannah Bar Association Executive Committee and as president of the Savannah Young Lawyers Division and the Live Oak Public Library Foundation.

Founded in 1976, Parker’s is one of America’s most respected convenience store brands and is known for having the cleanest stores in the industry. The company was recently named the 2020 Convenience Store Chain of the Year by CStore Decisions and has been honored as the Food Service Leader of the Year by Convenience Store News.

Parker’s gives back to every community where it does business through the Fueling the Community charitable giving program, which donates a portion of gas sold at all Parker’s locations on the first Wednesday of the month to area schools, healthcare facilities and other important causes. To date, the company has given more than $7 million in charitable donations. 

Parker’s has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of the Fastest Growing Companies in America for five years and currently has 66 retail stores throughout coastal Georgia and South Carolina. The company employs 1,200 individuals throughout the region and completes more than 125,000 transactions daily.