Making a Positive Impact is Par for the Course at NACS

November 27, 2018

This article is the first in a series that TSNN runs throughout the holiday season shining a bright, well-deserved spotlight on event companies that are #GivingBack to make a positive impact in their host and home communities.

Is your company #GivingBack? Tweet us using the #GivingBack hashtag to @TSNN_com_us and we’ll feature what your company is doing to help make the world a better place!

Often, trade show-related organizations and companies that incorporate corporate social responsibility do so for different reasons – to elevate their PR profile, to increase employee engagement, for purely altruistic reasons or a combination of all three. But for those organizations that attempt CSR, one thing often becomes incredibly clear: helping those in need and all the “feel good” emotions that come with it can be incredibly addictive, so much so that giving back often ends up becoming an integral part of a company’s culture.

Such has been the case for the National Association of Convenience Stores, the organization that serves the U.S. convenience and fuel retailing industry, which embarked upon its CSR path five years ago in an effort to help raise the profile of the convenience store industry with consumers and the national media, according to Carolyn Schnare, director of Strategic Initiatives for NACS.

“However, along the way we learned that we really can help our retailers do a lot of good within their communities by identifying national charities, developing partnerships and connecting them with convenience store companies.” Schnare explained.

She continued, “We were the first retail membership association to formally partner with the American Red Cross and Keep America Beautiful and informally with Feeding America, Share Our Strength, Children’s Miracle Network, DHS Blue Campaign and National Safe Place, just to name a few.”

NACS CSR

This momentum toward charitable partnerships soon extended to the association’s annual NACS Show trade show and conference, which draws in more than 24,000 attendees* and rotates between Las Vegas, Chicago and Atlanta.

In an effort to give back to those local host communities, NACS began making a point of donating food products before and after the Show to local chapters of Feeding America food banks, an effort it has been carrying out for several years.

“This past October, NACS worked with Three Square Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, as well as with NACS member Tyson Foods Inc. to donate a truckload of protein totaling 35,000 pounds to help fight hunger in Southern Nevada,” Schnare said. 

She continued, “Three Square distributed the donated food, which was equivalent to 140,000 servings, through its service network of more than 1,600 community partners to reach struggling individuals and families at risk of hunger.”

At the conclusion of the NACS Show, which was held Oct. 7-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Three Square also collected a record 142,829 pounds of food from the Show’s 1,200 exhibitors – the equivalent of 119,024 meals that helped support those facing food insecurity in the Las Vegas community, she added.

“We truly believe that c-store doesn’t just stand for convenience store – it also stands for community store, and we (were) proud to join Tyson Foods in supporting the Las Vegas community that we call home during the NACS Show in Las Vegas,” said Jeff Lenard, vice president of strategic industry initiatives at NACS.

Before and after its 2017 and 2016 shows in Chicago and Atlanta, NACS worked with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the Atlanta Community Food Bank, respectively.

In order to help its member retailers take the spirit of charitable giving back to their own communities, NACS works with its national charity partners to create programs, resources and connections such as its online Community Toolkitcustomized customer donation program (CDP) kits and expedited connect points to help retailers create branded donation programs. 

NACS CSR

“We have a turnkey program available with the American Red Cross to collect in-store customer donations (and) we offer direct connection with Feeding America, Share Our Strength and Children’s Miracle Network to help retailers create their own customizable programs with those groups,” Schnare explained. 

She added, “We also offer free materials for two anti-human trafficking groups: Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign and IN OUR BACKYARD’s C-Stores Against Trafficking (CSAT).”

Launched in October, the NACS’s new partnership with CSAT is designed to help raise awareness about human trafficking and share resources with the c-store community to help address the problem.

By equipping c-stores with employee training on recognizing and safely reporting the signs of human trafficking and providing life-saving materials to post in stores, the CSAT program engages the convenience and petroleum industries to play a vital role in combatting human trafficking. 

So far, the program has partnered with nine state associations and trained nearly 13,000 employees representing thousands of c-store locations. 

“U.S. convenience stores serve 165 million customers a day in every community and most of these businesses are open 24/7,” Lenard said. 

He continued, “Our industry is well-equipped to share important messages in stores so that employees and customers can collectively create the equivalent of a neighborhood watch program in their communities. We are proud to work with CSAT on this important issue.” 

Lenard also serves as a board member for the National Safe Place Network, which works with companies, including convenience stores, to provide access to immediate help and supportive resources for at-risk youth.

In 2017, NACS formed an alliance with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign to engage government support and resources to raise public awareness about human trafficking and encourage convenience store involvement.

With consumers increasingly saying that they will support companies that support their communities, especially around important issues, these CSR programs are a timely addition to the NACS culture and the industry it serves.

According to a September 2018 NACS Consumer Survey, 49 percent of consumers and 61 percent of millennials say they are more likely to support companies that participate in community projects or donate to charitable causes. 

In addition, the survey revealed that 40 percent of all consumers say that human trafficking is an issue that they would support their local store in combatting.

It appears industry-led programs and awareness campaigns may be inspiring a lot of c-store professionals to get involved in making a difference. According to the same NACS survey, the convenience store industry donates more than $1 billion annually to charity through monetary and in-kind donations. 

NACS CSR

But all these ambitious efforts wouldn’t make as much sense if NACS wasn’t also walking the walk at its own headquarters in Alexandria, Va.

Throughout the year, NACS offers its employees several opportunities to give back, including an annual donation drive in December to one or more charities including food banks, local shelters, Salvation Army and Veteran groups, an annual volunteerism day and other special events.

“We thoughtfully plan NACS staff charitable activities to coincide with NACS industry initiatives and partnerships while also incorporating local charitable organizations, much the way we expect retail members would do,” Schnare explained.

She continued, “Employee participation is encouraged and supported by the organization and all donations collected are from employees and not from NACS funds. NACS staff are active and participatory in these events and appreciate that the organization integrates time and energy to support charitable activities.”

This past year, the association further integrated CSR into its culture by launching its 1stannual NACS Gives Back day on June 15 when 60 staff members had the opportunity to help local non-profits by participating in a number of volunteerism activities, including:

  • Donating and sorting food at the Capital Area Food Bank
  • Participating in a park litter cleanup benefitting the City of Alexandria Parks and Recreation department
  • Donating and packing school supplies for local children in-need for Operation Backpack through Volunteers for America
  • Participating in a clothing and book drive benefitting The American Red Cross through Greendrop Charitable Donations 

As economic disparity in our society continues to grow alongside the consumer and employee desire to do business with and work for companies that care about people and the planet, not just profits, it makes sense that more and more companies – including those that work in and around the trade show industry – will follow these early adopters of CSR and begin integrating volunteerism and donation programs into their show programming and corporate cultures. 

Not only does CSR improve employee morale and satisfaction as well as promote customer engagement, but it also helps build brand loyalty for organizations willing to invest in CSR by offering show participants the chance to engage in volunteerism activities and charitable giving at their trade shows and industry events.

“When incorporating CSR activities into member events, work with local CVBs or the event location coordinators to identify and connect with local charities,” Schnare advised. “With big events on a regular location rotation, working with a national organization to help identify their local affiliates is very helpful.”

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.