KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Pilot Co. is investing significantly in growing and enhancing its travel center network in 2022 with plans to add more than 34 locations, including 14 new travel centers and more than 20 dealer sites, the company said. It also has added four vice presidents to its leadership team to strengthen its core business, build on its geographic expansion and drive innovation to enhance the customer and employee experience.
- Pilot is No. 13 on CSP’s 2021 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by size.
In partnership with Southern Tire Mart, Pilot also expects to add 40 new Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J service centers to Pilot Flying J locations across the country, part of Southern Tire’s expansion plans to provide fleets with more than 200 on-premises shops within the next few years.
The company will also leverage its energy division and capabilities as a major biodiesel and alternative fuels supplier to evaluate new opportunities and innovations that will support the industry’s energy transformation, Pilot said.
In addition to network growth, Pilot is stepping up its initiatives to provide travelers and professional truck drivers with upgraded amenities, more offerings and new services. Key initiatives will include testing new food concepts, facility upgrades, technology enhancements and introducing new partnerships, such as the recent addition of GNC wellness products to Pilot Flying J stores nationwide.
“We are always looking ahead and listening to our guests and team members to drive future innovation and strategic investments in our business,” said Shameek Konar, Pilot’s CEO. “As we move into 2022, we have made several key organizational changes and additions that diversify our leadership team and position our company for sustained growth by delivering on our promise to ensure the experience at Pilot is exceptional.”
Pilot is focusing on enriching the team member experience and exploring additional corporate sustainability programs, and it will assess and deploy systems, tools and strategies to advance talent development, recognition and rewards, diversity and inclusion and wellbeing for all team members, it said.
Leadership Enhancements
To support these goals, Pilot has promoted or hired four individuals to round out the company’s leadership team.
- Allison Cornish has been promoted to vice president of store modernization. Cornish will lead the design and execution of store improvement initiatives alongside Pilot’s construction and development team. Since joining the company in 1999, Cornish has held leadership positions throughout the company, including her most recent role as zone vice president of operations.
- Jamie Landis has been promoted to vice president of team member experience. She will be responsible for the design, implementation and elevation of the experience for all team members. This will include a focus on attracting, hiring and retaining top talent and delivering on Pilot’s overall human resources strategy. Landis joined the company in June 2021 as senior director of human resources strategy and operations. Prior to Pilot, she held multiple human resources leadership roles with Delaware North, Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
- Tim Langenkamp has been promoted to vice president of business development and sustainability. He will focus on energy-transition strategies including developing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for passenger vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty trucks, developing a strategy for supporting low-emission and zero-emission vehicles and continuing to provide low-carbon fueling alternatives. He has been serving as general counsel for the energy unit of Pilot since 2019, working with the company’s senior team on diversifying and growing revenues. Langenkamp has two decades of experience in private practice, advising clients on public and private securities offerings, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures.
- Jonathan Braatvedt has joined Pilot as vice president of food and beverage to focus on expanding Pilot Flying J’s offerings into new business channels, improving operational efficiencies and enhancing customers’ food and beverage experiences. He oversees more than 790 owned and operated restaurants across 14 brands and 670 proprietary fresh delis. His near-term focus will be to use technology to expand Pilot Flying J’s reach beyond the travel center, create food innovations and provide a frictionless and easy dining experience. Prior to Pilot, he spent 10 years at Taco Bell in numerous operation and development roles, he was an operational consultant for municipal agencies.
Founded in 1958 and based in Knoxville, Tenn., Pilot supplies more than 12 billion gallons of fuel per year. It serves 1.5 million customers per day and provides more than 70,000 direct fleet customers with bundled solutions for fuel, credit, factoring, services and rewards. Its Pilot Flying J travel center network includes more than 750 locations in 44 states and six Canadian provinces with more than 680 restaurants, 75,000 truck parking spaces, 5,300 showers, 6,200 diesel lanes and offers truck maintenance and tire service through Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J. The One9 Fuel Network is a nationwide fueling network aimed at smaller fleets, with more than 170 locations, including Mr. Fuel, Pride and Stamart travel centers, as well as designated Speedway commercial fueling lanes across the country.
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