Thorntons

Leadership Team

Matthew A. Thornton (Matt), President and CEO

Matt has served as President and CEO of Thorntons Inc. since August of 2001. In this position, Matt is responsible for leading Kentucky’s largest privately-held corporation with interests in retail gasoline and convenience stores, petroleum terminals and bulk plants, transportation and commissary operations. The company is proud to be an ongoing member of Forbes Magazine’s list of largest privately-held companies in America.

Under Matt’s leadership, the company embarked on a customer oriented strategy internally referred to as Plan-to-Win. The PTW strategy focuses on three key areas; People, Priorities and Food and as well as real estate site selection that ensures that Thorntons will always operate the freshest assets on the best corners. The implementation of this strategy over the last 5 years has resulted in Thorntons consistently ranking in the top 5% of every relevant industry metric.

Matt has also focused the organization on maintaining financial flexibility through conservative balance sheet management. As a result, the company consistently builds 6-10 new stores annually.

Prior to this appointment in 2001, Matt served as Vice President of Operations. In that role he was responsible for the growth and development of the operations team, daily store operations, and the creation of operational efficiencies through systems, processes, and technology.

Matt graduated from the University of Alabama in 1993 with a B.S. in Management. He currently serves as Chairman of the Waterfront Development Corporation and on the Boards of PNC Bank of Kentucky and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

Brenda Stackhouse, Executive Vice President

Brenda Stackhouse, Executive Vice President, has worked for the Thornton Family since 1969 when she began her career with Payless Oil. She was recruited and accepted a position with James H. Thornton in the newly formed “Thornton Oil Corporation” in 1971. Brenda has held many positions of leadership in the company during her career with Thorntons and was promoted to Executive Vice President in 1998. Brenda’s leadership and management have been of value to countless team members through her many responsibilities which have included overseeing the purchase and delivery of gasoline and distillates from 1972 until 2000, research for a gasoline terminal beginning in 1987 and assisting with the acquisition of the terminal in 2000, maintaining a comprehensive environmental program, assuring company compliance with state and federal regulations, maintenance of facilities, construction department, selection and purchase  of store equipment and leading the human resource department. Currently the focus includes Thornton Transportation, human resource, and gasoline procurement.

Brenda was the first female president of the Southern Independent Oil Marketers Association, served as a director for the Kentucky Independent Gasoline Marketers, and served on the Board of Directors for SIGMA, a national petroleum organization. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Thorntons Inc. Brenda has both the honor and privilege of being the recipient of having the Thorntons training facility named in her honor - Stackhouse University.

Christopher Kamer, Chief Financial Officer  

Chris Kamer has served as Thorntons’ Chief Financial Officer for the past 8 years. His responsibilities include oversight of all financial activities of the company as well as risk management, information technology, and construction. Chris began his career with Thorntons in 1995 when he joined the company as Controller. He was promoted to Vice President of Finance in 1999. Prior to his employment with Thorntons he worked for Southwestern Life Corporation and Coopers & Lybrand. 

Chris graduated from the University of Louisville in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

Tony Harris Chief Operations Officer

Tony Harris serves as the Chief Operations Officer, for Thorntons Inc., and is responsible for the company Operations, Marketing, Brand Experience and Retail Gasoline pricing for over 160 retail locations staffed with ~1,600 team members.

Tony began his career with Thorntons Inc. in 1994 as a help desk technician and has served in many other roles including: Manager of IT Services, Director of IT Projects, Director of IT Services, and Vice President of IT and Facility Services and Vice President of Operations.

Tony graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1993 with a B.S. in Management Information Systems. Tony is currently  attending The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University where he will earn his MBA in 2012.

David Bridgers, Vice President & General Counsel

David Bridgers, Vice President & General Counsel, came to Thorntons Inc. in November 1988 from the City of Louisville Economic Development Cabinet where he served as Business Development Manager. David’s responsibilities at Thorntons include management of corporate litigation, real estate acquisition, lease management, labor and employment law, contracts, administrative law, insurance claims, government relations and all other legal matters.

David graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Arts in 1977. He received his Juris Doctor in 1988 from the University Of Louisville School Of Law.

Affiliations

Kentucky Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association
American Red Cross Louisville Chapter: Board Member

Jeff Gallic, Vice President, Petroleum Supply & Distribution

Jeff has worked for Thorntons, Inc., since June 2004, and is responsible for all motor fuel procurement, as well as the operation of the company’s bulk fuel terminal and ethanol blending facilities. He is currently serving as a Board member on the Kentucky Petroleum Marketers Association, and on the Legislative Committee for the Society of Independent Petroleum Marketers of America. Jeff has 30 years of experience in the petroleum industry. He started his career in 1980 with a multi-branded distributor in southern New England, having responsibilities in store operations, bulk commercial and contracted sales to independent retailers. Immediately prior to Thorntons, Jeff worked for CITGO Petroleum Corporation for eight years, with management assignments in Credit Card Marketing, Branded Sales, Supply and Terminal Operations.

Mike Woerner, Vice President HR & Stackhouse University

Mike Woerner recently joined Thorntons in August of 2009. Prior to joining the company Mike held senior leadership positions at Dollar General and Wawa, Inc. He is a seasoned HR professional with over 30 years experience in the retail industry. During the course of Mike’s career, he has been responsible for Store Operations and various HR functions which include, Training & Development, Compensation, Risk Management and Organization Development. Mike is the creator of Wawa and Dollar General Universities. He holds an MBA from St. Joseph’s University and has served on several Boards including the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Cancer Society.