Parker’s – is delighted to announce that Regional Manager Tanja Gassenmaier has been named to the 2023 “Top Women in Convenience” list by industry-leading publication Convenience Store News. Gassenmaier is part of an elite group of 87 female industry professionals who will be honored at the 2023 National Association of Convenience Stores show on Oct. 4 in Atlanta.

Gassenmaier is a member of the landmark 10th annual class of Top Women in Convenience, the first and only convenience store industry awards program that recognizes women making outstanding contributions to their companies and to the industry. The honorees are divided into four categories: Rising Stars, Mentors, Senior Level Leaders and Women of the Year.

After reviewing all of the nominations submitted, Gassenmaier was chosen as one of seven professionals honored in the Mentors category, which recognizes women who have had an extraordinary impact on the careers of their colleagues. This honor marks the second time Gassenmaier has been recognized as one of the Top Women in Convenience. She was named to the program’s inaugural class of Rising Stars in 2014.

“Tanja is a total rock star who inspires store managers and other team members to reach their full potential as professionals,” said Parker’s founder and CEO Greg Parker. “She understands that the single most important asset we have at Parker’s is our people. Tanja is the perfect example of a people-first leader, which is why our team members continue to look to her for mentorship and guidance.”

As a Regional Manager, Gassenmaier is responsible for the operational performance and talent cultivation of five districts and 40 locations throughout Georgia and South Carolina. Gassenmaier originally joined Parker’s in 1999 and has risen in the ranks from a store manager and district leader to the company’s first-ever regional manager.

“I’m truly honored to be included in such an elite national group of women who are transforming the convenience store industry,” said Gassenmaier. “I was fortunate to have a female mentor when I entered the industry more than two decades ago, and hope to pay it forward by sharing my experiences and supporting the next generation of leaders. 

Headquartered in Savannah, Ga., Parker’s stands apart as one of America’s most respected convenience store brands and has enjoyed steady 20 to 24 percent annual growth every year for the past 25 years. In 2020, Parker’s was named the Convenience Store Chain of the Year by Convenience Store Decisions, which is the industry’s highest honor. The company has been honored by Food and Wine as one of America’s Best Convenience Stores and by Convenience Store News as the Convenience Foodservice Leader of the Year.

Parker’s gives back to support every community where stores are located through the company’s Fueling the Community program and the Parker’s Community Fund. Since January 2021, Parker’s has donated more than $22 million to the Parker’s Community Fund to support charitable initiatives throughout the company’s corporate footprint in coastal Georgia and South Carolina. The company has also donated more than $11 million to support education across the region. 

Since its founding in 1976, Parker’s has grown to become an award-winning company that was recently voted America’s #4 gas station brand by USA TODAYreaders. The Parker’s Rewards loyalty program, which includes more than 300,000 members, has saved customers more than $15 million to date. Parker’s employs more than 1,200 professionals throughout Georgia and South Carolina and completes more than 125,000 transactions daily.