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CSP honors Nouria's Joe Hamza as 2026 Retail Leader of the Year. COO of the Worcester, Massachusetts-based company recognized for his visionary leadership By Diane Adam on Oct. 27, 2026 CSP honors Nouria's Joe Hamza as 2026 Retail Leader of the Year. Jon mouer photography. In the summer of 2015, Tony El-Nemr, CEO and founder of Nouria, sat down with Joe Hamza for what was supposed to be a simple dinner. Hours later, the food was untouched and a company's future had quietly shifted course. Eleven years on, Hamza, Nouria's COO, took home CSP's 2026 Retail Leader of the Year award. CSP honored Hamza on Oct. 8 at a dinner held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas during the NACS Show. El-Nemr, speaking in a video tribute, was the first to congratulate Hamza. "The best leaders do not need a spotlight," El-Nemr said. "They create one for others. That is Joe." El-Nemr said companies do not succeed because of buildings. They succeed because of people. "That has always been the center of Joe's leadership," he said. "He combines discipline with humanity." Hamza has served as COO of the Worcester, Massachusetts-based company since 2015. Founded in 1989 by El-Nemr, Nouria is a family-owned and operated business that has grown significantly in recent years. * Nouria is No. 29 on CSP's 2026 Top 202 U.S. c-store chains by store count. In February of 2025, Nouria bought Enmarket, a convenience-store chain based in Savannah, Georgia, from Colonial Group Inc. The deal included 133 Enmarket stores and 25 car washes, nearly doubling Nouria's store count to a total of 319 stores and giving the chain a new presence in the Southeast. "When I left that dinner [in 2015], I knew something important," El-Nemr said. "Joe wasn't simply the executive we needed. He was the leader who could help shape our future. And over the last 11 years, that is exactly what he has done." Mitch Morrison, vice president, retailer relations and event content director at Informa Connect, shared at the dinner that Hamza is a person who treats people with the utmost respect. "He sees their godliness and their human potential in them," Morrison said. Hamza's journey from Lebanon. Hamza's wife, Allison Hamza, took the podium at the dinner to offer a side of her husband few in the room get to see. She described a man whose work ethic was forged well before he ever entered the convenience-store industry. "He came to the United States from Lebanon on his own as a teenager with a dream of building a life here," she said. In her remarks, Allison recognized the El-Nemr family and the close bond they all share. "They've been there for so many of life's most meaningful moments," she said, "always making us feel like we're something much bigger than a business." Allison recalled when their twin now 10-year-old daughters, Scarlett and Sophia (pictured below with their parents), filled out a kindergarten worksheet about their father. One question they had to answer was: "What does your daddy do for work?" "He works at the gas station," she said, remembering what they wrote on their paper when they were little. And as innocent as that was, Allison said, they weren't wrong. "Most weeks, you will find Joe in any one of the stores, emptying the trash cans by the pump, talking with customers, checking in with employees and making sure every person on the team knows they are seen, valued and appreciated," she said. "To them, he'll always be the dad who works at the local gas station," she said. "But someday, I hope they'll look back on this evening and understand that his real job wasn't just being the COO. It was leading with integrity, treating people with respect and showing them that success is measured not only by what you build, but by the example you leave behind." As he accepted his award, Hamza recalled his journey from Lebanon to the U.S. "Days before my 18th birthday, I left Lebanon to attend college in the United States at the height of the civil war in Lebanon," he said. "Leaving there, you're leaving your family and friends behind, and the future at the time looked uncertain." Hamza said he came here looking for an opportunity and an education, never imagining the life that would follow, including one day standing in this stadium, receiving this honor surrounded by so many people he deeply cares for. "I want to take a moment to say how much I love this country," he said. "America gave me the opportunity to build a career, a family and a life." He added that while he is proud of where he came from, he is deeply grateful to the country that has become his home. Hamza also acknowledged his family. "To my son, Daniel, and to my beautiful daughters, Scarlett and Sophia, being your dad is my greatest honor," he said. "You bring so much joy and happiness in my life." At the podium, Hamza thanked his wife Allison for everything that goes into supporting a profession such as his. "You know everything that goes into a career like this," he said. "The travel, the phone calls, the distractions and the times just when I need five more minutes, it turns out [to be] a long time. You've been beside me through it all. Thank you for your love, your patience and your encouragement, and most of all, for believing in me." He added that while he was being honored as Retail Leader of the Year, the deepest honor of his life has been being Allison's husband. Hamza also reserved time in his speech to thank those in convenience retail. A 'close-knit industry' "This is a very close-knit industry," he said. "People here care about one another whether they compete across the street or operate on opposite sides of the country." On the friendships forged beyond the business, Hamza said many of his closest friends work for other retailers in the c-store space. "We can compete for business and still pick up the phone to help one another," he said. "We can disagree across the negotiating table and still go out and have a good meal together. That's something that's very special about this industry, and that's why I love it." Regarding the future of the industry and the people that will drive it forward, Hamza said on stage that, "As leaders, we have the responsibility to help the next generation experience that same sense of opportunity and belonging. We should give them the education, encouragement, and opportunity to discover what they can do." Members help make its journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of its content. Sign up here. Diane Adam is an editor for CSP The Latest Listen to your daily news: CSP Daily News Podcasts New episodes weekdays More on this Topic

Nouria appoints new senior category manager, tobacco and OTP. Oct 23 2026 Operations & Marketing Jayna Dinsmore most recently served as director of merchandise planning and analytics and Global Partners. Nouria has announced the appointment of Jayna Dinsmore as its new senior category manager, tobacco and OTP. Dinsmore brings extensive experience in convenience retail merchandising, category strategy, analytics and promotional execution, with deep expertise in the tobacco and OTP categories. Most recently, Dinsmore served as director of merchandise planning and analytics at Global Partners, where she partnered closely with merchandising teams, major tobacco manufacturers and cross-functional business leaders to drive category growth, improve promotional effectiveness and enhance retail performance. Throughout her career, Dinsmore has successfully translated complex data and market insights into actionable business strategies. Her experience includes category performance analysis, supplier and manufacturer partnerships, promotional planning, scan data and supplier funding optimization, loyalty program development, planogram strategy and space optimization. Dinsmore has also led several high-impact initiatives that improved merchandising capabilities, increased supplier funding, strengthened promotional execution and drove measurable sales growth. "Jayna's deep understanding of the convenience retail landscape, combined with her expertise in tobacco category management, analytics, and supplier relationships, makes her an outstanding addition to our category management team," said Kristine Modugno, director of category management, Nouria Energy. "Her proven track record of delivering measurable business results and implementing innovative category strategies will help strengthen our tobacco business and enhance the value we provide to our customers." Internal growth. Dinsmore joins a growing Nouria team, which last week added another former Global Partners executive, Joy Almekies, as its director of fresh food and culinary. Almekies brings more than 25 years of foodservice experience spanning convenience retail, menu development and operations. She previously served as senior director of food services at Global Partners where her responsibilities included foodservice strategy, profitability, food safety, training and acquisition integration. In her new role, Almekies will lead Nouria's fresh food and culinary initiatives, focusing on menu innovation, product quality and consistent execution. She will work closely with the fresh food and operations teams to strengthen training and help stores deliver food that meets guest expectations. "Fresh food is central to Nouria's future. We want guests to think of us as a destination for a great meal," said Joe Hamza, chief operating officer of Nouria. "Joy brings the experience to develop compelling food programs and the leadership to help our teams deliver them consistently. That combination is essential to our mission of delivering the ultimate guest experience and creating delight with every visit." Earlier in her career, Almekies held foodservice roles with J. Polep Distribution Services and New England Pantry/White Hen Pantry. She holds a bachelor's degree in hospitality management from Johnson & Wales and has completed leadership development programs at Wharton and MIT Sloan. "What attracted me to Nouria was its commitment to people and its thoughtful approach to building a lasting food program," said Almekies. "Great food starts with a great team, supported by strong training and consistent execution. I look forward to working alongside the Nouria team to develop food our guests love and give them more reasons to return."