Store managers from the 75 Break Time stores gathered in Branson at Chateau on the Lake in October with area managers, district managers and select Home Office staff for the annual Break Time Managers Meeting. The meeting’s theme “Game Changers” encouraged attendees to consider the various ways they can make a significant impact in their stores.
The meeting began with a review of the company’s new corporate strategy led by Jon Ihler, president and CEO. Ihler discussed how the management team and MFA Oil Board of Directors have focused on four key areas: customer service, investing in talent and culture, refining internal performance, and improving the company’s financials. Curtis Chaney, senior vice president of retail, then talked about how the overall corporate strategy fits with Break Time operations.
Meeting attendees were given a sneak peek of the new Break Time mobile application, which is scheduled to officially launch on December 2. The app will allow customers to manage their MyTime Rewards accounts and redeem rewards coupons. The app is available through the Apple App Store and Google Play and customers will receive a free drink for downloading it to their phones or tablets.
An afternoon trade show with 45 vendor booths offered managers an opportunity to sample a variety of products. The first day of meetings ended with an awards dinner to recognize top performers and a casino night activity where attendees could win tickets to use in drawings for a wide range of prizes donated by Break Time vendors.
The second day featured breakout sessions covering each of the company’s four strategic areas. Amanda Goon, Break Time support service manager, and Cathy Geotz, district manager, led the discussion about putting customers first and investing in talent and culture while Jennifer Bach, director of Break Time marketing and merchandising, and Todd Shelmadine, district manager, focused on the Break Time strategy for improving performance and financial results. Representatives from the Human Resources Department were also on hand to provide an overview of benefits and profit sharing.
The meeting’s final activity had the assembled managers trying to solve a 550-piece puzzle. The teams were told to think strategically and work together to complete the puzzle in less than an hour. The top three puzzle-solving teams were led by Jenn Whitacre (1st place), Tricia O’Rourke (2nd place) and Robecca Proctor (3rd place).
The following awards were presented at the meeting:
Excellence Awards
Area Manager: 1st Robecca Proctor and 2nd Dana Martin
Store Manager: 1st Karen Morris, Store 3126, Piedmont; 2nd Nickie Turpin, Store 3006 Brookfield; 3rd Jennifer Templeton, Store 3084, Sedalia
Highest Day of Inspection Score: Tie – Misty Bolds, Store 3079, Sedalia & Jennifer Templeton, Store 3084, Sedalia
Most Improved: Tracey Frevert, Store 3001, Columbia
Top Stores by Category
Turnover – Alysha Ellison, Store 3054, Lexington
Turnover Improvement – Christina Dixon, Store 3008, California
Net Income Improvement – Misty Bolds, Store 3084, Sedalia
MyTime Penetration – Gail Jobe, Store 3036, Higginsville
Lowest Loss Percentage – Amanda Cox, Store 3165, Warrensburg
Loss Improvement – Barb Barker, Store 3003, Columbia
Foodservice Sales – Rebecca Thorne, Store 3163, Moberly
Foodservice Sales Increase – Stephen Gilpin, Store 3050, Jefferson City
Hot/Cold Dispensed Sales – Linda Young, Store 3125, Poplar Bluff
Store Sales – Brenda Oser, Store 3016, Columbia
Store Sales Increase – Deanna Embry, Store 3022, Concordia
Average Transaction – Michelle Shores, Store 3004, Lake Ozark
Total Gallons – Rebecca Thorne, Store 3163, Moberly
Gallons Increase – Deanna Embry, Store 3022, Concordia
Customer Count – Linda Young, Store 3125, Poplar Bluff