SAVANNAH, Ga. (Feb. 17, 2022) – Parker’s – a nationally acclaimed convenience store company and food service leader that’s currently featured on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America – recently hired three new team members to support the company’s growth and continued expansion across coastal Georgia and South Carolina.
New hires at Parker’s include the following accomplished professionals:
DEBRA BOYETTE, Food and Beverage Manager – Debra Boyette serves as the new Food and Beverage Manager at Parker’s, overseeing Parker’s Kitchen food and beverage programs at retail stores in Georgia and South Carolina. An experienced ServSafe instructor and proctor, Boyette is the former Director of Training at Bojangles, where she oversaw training initiatives and development programs for more than 600 locations. She brings 15 years of experience at Bojangles to her position at Parker’s and previously served as Area Director, Field Operations Manager, Director of Franchise Operations and Research and Development Project Manager. She also worked as the Director of Dining Services for Morrison Community Living in Charlotte, N.C., where she managed culinary and dining services for an Independent Senior Living Community. Originally from Savannah, Ga., Boyette has a B.S. in Business Administration with honors from South University and a certificate in Accounting. She recently relocated to Rincon, Ga. from Charlotte, N.C. and works at the Parker’s corporate headquarters in Savannah, Ga.
LAUREN HERMANSEN, Operational Accounting Manager – As the new Operational Accounting Manager at Parker’s, Lauren Hermansen oversees the accounting team that monitors store transactional data, treasury analysis generated from store revenue, rebate billing and payment tracking as well as sales tax reporting. Before joining Parker’s, Hermansen worked for CL Thomas, Inc., the parent company for Speedy Stop Food Stores, for 22 years, where she served as an Accounting and Treasury Manager and Data Analyst and managed all aspects of retail accounting, timely cash reporting and financial reports. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Staff Accountant at Matthews & Branscomb, PC in Corpus Christi, Texas. She recently relocated to Savannah, Ga. from El Campo, Texas and is based at the Parker’s corporate headquarters in Savannah, Ga.
PAUL HERMANSEN, Director of Technology – Paul Hermansen is a senior information technology professional who currently serves as the Director of Technology at Parker’s, where he is responsible for technology planning, strategy and implementation. Hermansen brings more than 20 years of experience to his new position at Parker’s, including serving as the Director of Technology at C.L. Thomas, Inc., the parent company for Speedy Stop Food Stores, in Victoria, Texas. Earlier in his career, he served as the Chief Information Officer at Trisurant in Houston, Texas and a Project Manager for McKesson/HBO & Company in Houston, Texas. An accomplished IT expert, Hermansen excels at developing and implementing information technology programs and is also skilled in financial management, business strategy, budgeting and forecasting. Hermansen recently relocated to Savannah, Ga. from El Campo, Texas and works at the Parker’s corporate headquarters in Savannah, Ga.
“We’re delighted to welcome such accomplished, experienced professionals to our growing team at Parker’s,” said Greg Parker, founder and CEO of Parker’s. “We trust that Debra Boyette, Lauren Hermansen and Paul Hermansen will make important contributions within their areas at Parker’s for many years to come.”
Parker’s stands apart as one of America’s most respected convenience store brands and is known for having the cleanest stores in the industry. Headquartered in Savannah, Ga., Parker’s has enjoyed steady 20 to 24 percent annual growth every year for the past 23 years and offers an acclaimed Parker’s Rewards program, which saves customers time and money at the pump as well as in the store.
In 2020, Parker’s was named the Convenience Store Chain of the Year by Convenience Store Decisions, which is the industry’s highest honor. The company has been honored by Food and Wine as one of America’s Best Convenience Stores and by Convenience Store News as the Convenience Foodservice Leader of the Year. In addition, Parker’s gives back to every community where stores are located through the company’s Fueling the Community program and the Parker’s Community Fund.
Since its founding in 1976, Parker’s has grown to become an award-winning company that was recently voted one of America’s top 10 gas station brands by USA TODAY readers. The Parker’s Rewards loyalty program, which includes more than 300,000 members, has saved customers more than $15 million to date. Parker’s employs more than 1,200 individuals throughout South Carolina and Georgia and completes more than 125,000 transactions daily.
ABOUT PARKER’S:
Honored as the 2020 Convenience Store Decisions Chain of the Year, Parker’s is strategically redefining the nation’s convenience store industry, offering customers high-quality products, freshly prepared food and superior customer service at retail stores throughout southeast Georgia and South Carolina. Headquartered in Savannah, Ga., Parker’s has a commitment to exceeding customer expectations and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the nation’s leading convenience store and foodservice companies. Parker’s Kitchen, the popular food-centric brand under the Parker’s umbrella, serves world-famous hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders as well as made-from-scratch mac ‘n’ cheese, a breakfast bar and daily specials. The company’s popular Parker’s Rewards loyalty program, which includes more than 300,000 members, has saved Parker’s customers more than $15 million to date. Learn more: www.parkerskitchen.com.
RECENT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES:
- Inc. 5000 List – Fastest Growing Companies in America –Inc. Magazine
- Hall of Fame Inductee –Convenience Store News
- Best Gas Station Brand Top 10 –USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards
- Convenience Store Chain of the Year –Convenience Store Decisions
- Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award
- Legacy Leader –Georgia Trend
- America’s Best Convenience Stores –Food and Wine
- Southeast Retailer of the Year –The Shelby Report
- Convenience Foodservice Leader of the Year –Convenience Store News
- Top 10 U.S. Gas Station Brands – Gas Buddy
- 50 Most Influential People in Convenience Store History –Convenience Store News
- Best Convenience Store –Savannah Morning News Readers’ Choice Awards
- Best Convenience Store –Savannah Magazine Best of Savannah Awards
- Best Convenience Market/Gas Station –Connect Savannah Best of Savannah Awards
- Best Convenience Store –Statesboro Herald “Best in the ‘Boro” Awards
- Best Convenience Store –Bryan County Now “Best of Bryan” Awards
- Regional Economic Impact Award – Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
- Best Convenience Store –Island Packet
- Most Fab Convenience Store –Effingham Herald
- Most Fabulous Gas Station –Effingham Living
- Wayne County’s Favorite Convenience Store –Jesup Press-Sentinel
