“We congratulate Max on his 40th anniversary and subsequent retirement,” says RaceTrac’s CEO.
After more than 40 years of service to RaceTrac, Max Lenker has decided to retire effective Dec. 31, 2014.
“Max has been one of the most instrumental individuals in RaceTrac’s growth since he joined the company in 1974,” noted Allison Moran CEO, RaceTrac Petroleum Inc.
After a much-lauded military career as both a helicopter and airplane pilot in the Army and Air Force during the Vietnam War and graduating Summa Cum Laude from Troy State University, Lenker began his storied tenure at RaceTrac as the company pilot. He demonstrated early his interest in RaceTrac; and through his boundless curiosity, he showed his keen eye and intuitive talent for business. When he started what became RaceTrac’s real estate department, RaceTrac’s team member operated store count was about 20 stores with annual sales of $35.6 million.
“Max has served in many roles over four decades. When the company was much smaller, he simultaneously handled real estate acquisition and merchandise and gasoline purchasing. Later, he served as Vice President of Purchasing and Executive Vice President. He became President of RaceTrac in 1986. Due in large measure to Max’s dedication and business savvy, RaceTrac’s store count currently stands at 372 with sales of 8.8 billion in 2013,” noted Moran.
“He has been an ideal partner for me over the last 40 years,” said RaceTrac’s Chairman, Carl Bolch, Jr. of Lenker. “Max is my close friend and trusted confidante. Without the leadership and considerable contribution of Max’s talent, RaceTrac would not be the fine company that it has become today.”
“We congratulate Max on his 40th anniversary and subsequent retirement and are delighted that RaceTrac will continue to benefit from his knowledge as he remains on the Board of Directors,” said Moran. “We know that his next chapter of life will be as exciting and rewarding as the chapter that has preceded it.”
RaceTrac has been announced as CSD’s 2014 Convenience Store Chain of the Year and will be honored at an exclusive awards ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 8 during the NACS Show at The Hard Rock Café in Las Vegas. The Chain of the Year award is now in its 25th year making RaceTrac the Silver Anniversary winner of the oldest and most prestigious award for convenience retailing in the industry.