By Maggie Gioia | Marketing Coordinator
It takes a lot of manpower to make the fourth largest convenience store distributor in the United States operate successfully — but it takes an even greater amount of womenpower to create the magic. To celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re sharing about the women behind National Convenience Distributors.
Based on a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, women earned only 84% of what men earned in 2020. In addition to NCD’s goal to establish a culture of acceptance and kindness, the gender wage gap is just another reason why NCD strives for equity and appreciation in the workplace — which is why we sat down with some of NCD’s leading women to hear more about their career journey at NCD.
Andrea Tassinari, Director of Marketing
Tassinari has been with NCD for 14 years. During that time, Tassinari has grown to manage the company’s internal and external event planning, including NCD’s three annual trade shows, as well as industry events like Tobacco Plus Expo, Sweets & Snacks Expo and the National Association of Convenience Stores Show, among many others. Her role also extends beyond event planning, as Tassinari is responsible for NCD’s marketing services segment, which provides NCD’s retailers with everything from graphic and web design to custom signage and social media content.
Here’s What Tassinari Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“I pride myself in my professional development throughout my years here. Every event my team and I create is better and better. It is truly a prideful experience to see your designs and events come to life.”
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“I think working well with my co-workers and being flexible is one of my keys to success. It is important to understand different personalities, work environments and a unique company. I try to always be understanding of timelines, the importance of good communication and having an open mind.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“When I think about my future at NCD, I am most looking forward to growing the Marketing Services portion within my department. I know my team can really influence retailers to tell a story, convey a message and expand their operations, all through marketing.”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“When I started at NCD, I was 22 years old without much professional direction. I had just finished my bachelor’s degree at Westfield State University in Communications. I accepted an administration job here as my first ‘office’ job. As I started, I also continued my education onto graduate school. I worked full time during the day, and attended classes at night for my M.B.A. I completed my master’s in three years and that is something I am extremely proud of.”
Arielle Faulk, Purchasing Administrator
Since February of 2021, Faulk has assisted NCD’s purchasing department in the coordination of the company’s deal sheets for their Insider book, while also addressing internal and external event concerns, overseeing backlog sheets for out-of-stock items and supporting the department where needed.
Here’s What Faulk Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“My most proud achievement at NCD is to be a part of this — to be recognized, not only as an employee, but a powerful woman within the company.”
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“The secret to my success is a tad corny, but it’s true. Always be kind no matter who you’re speaking with. You never know what a kind word or helpful gesture can do to lift someone’s spirits and improve workflow.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“There is much excitement that comes to growing with NCD. Mainly being NCD is more than just a job, it’s a family. Everyone here treats each other with respect and consideration. When you come into work every day, feeling comfortable and feel your work ethic is valued and appreciated, it becomes much easier to stay with the company and want to do your best to see the company succeed.”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“A strong woman doesn’t measure her life by the hardships, but by the ability that she had to overcome them. When I think of myself and being a strong woman, I am always reminded of how far I’ve come instead of getting stuck on what was set to push me back. But if that doesn’t work, I go to the gym and hip thrust 400 pounds. That usually does the trick.”
Dynamic Duo Sisters — Debbie Robins, President of NCD’s Rockville Distribution Center & Lori Rodman, Vice President of Sales at NCD’s Rockville Distribution Center
Robins (right) is an industry veteran, beginning her retail career in 1983. She returned to her roots at NCD’s Rockville Distribution Center — Century Distributors — in 1987. For over three decades, Robins has been a leader, specializing in purchasing and marketing, and maintaining key relationships by serving on the boards and committees of the American Wholesale Marketing Associations and the National Confectioners Association, just to name a few. After earning several awards for her distinguished leadership skills — particularly for mentoring women in the industry — by the Convenience Distribution Association and the Top Women in Convenience, Robins secured a spot in the Candy Hall of Fame.
Like her sister, Rodman (left) is a seasoned wholesale professional, widely recognized as a trailblazer for women in business for 40 years. Rodman entered the industry in 1982 and later joined her family in operating Century Distributors in 1994, focusing on sales, customer relations and finance.
Here’s What This Powerful Team Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“Becoming responsible at a young age for running our family business after the death of our parents in the early 2000s and having a strong presence and respect in the industry and marketplace.”
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“Listening. Creating an environment of a family business that has trickled down not only to our employees, but to our customers and vendors.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“Technology! And more enhanced programs with vendors and foodservice.”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“Raising independent, strong, business-savvy daughters.”
Erin Mercolino-Nigro, Senior Director of Chain Sales and Innovation
Mercolino-Nigro became part of NCD 15 years ago. With a passion for specialty food and beverage, Mercolino-Nigro studies trends within the new consumer demographic to improve market strategy, educates the sales force on how to implement such trends in stores and collaborates with globally recognized chains to devise methods of executing their plans in the field. As a longtime innovator, Mercolino-Nigro works to streamline processes across all NCD’s distribution centers by constructing best practice approaches.
Here’s What Mercolino-Negro Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“Creating and developing a portfolio that has viable cross over potential and can influence purchasing decisions by our legacy consumer in offering a snack with functionality and health benefits as well as resonate with Millennial and Gen Z alike.
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“There is no way to fake enthusiasm and passion. I have a true passion for building relationships whether it be with our valuable customer base, our vendor partners or internally, that makes me thrive. Continuing to stay educated on our industry trends, challenges and successes has also been a major passion of mine. I truly love to see how our industry continues to evolve and grow as consumer behaviors shift.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“The growth opportunities in our industry alone are exciting within itself. We at NCD have the purchasing power and geographical reach to influence consumer behaviors and change the entire trajectory of our industry one consumer at a time for the better. I am so excited to see what is on the horizon.”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“I feel that any strong leader shows vulnerability and willingness to learn and grow. Although I consider myself a constant work in progress, I do my best to practice what I preach and lead by example. I am raising my children — ages three and six — with the knowledge and power of what we put into our bodies is a direct result of how we feel and function. Taking ownership and responsibility for how we influence those around us is a strength that I admire in leaders that I wish to emulate.”
Ganesa Taylor, Accounts Payable
For nearly eight years, Taylor has been preserving NCD’s most valuable relationships. To do this, Taylor investigates and upholds vendor payment agreements to ensure that outstanding balances are within payment terms.
Here’s What Taylor Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“Learning and adapting to a new system during a turnover in staff within our department without any major setbacks.”
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“The mindset to brace for it and then dive in and get it done, or like NIKE says, “just do it”. Sometimes you must roll with it.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“NCD is heading in the direction of great success. The company’s growth that I’ve witnessed since I started here speaks for itself. Our departments have grown, the company itself has expanded into new territories and the people, well, we just fit.”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“My fun fact is having children that are 18 years apart in my late thirties. I’m now in my early forties and they haven’t killed me! Sports, baby bottles, work, laundry and dinner ruled my life for quite a while and boy were there days I wanted to throw in the towel!”
Maggie Santos, Buyer
Santos joined the NCD family 14 years ago in a customer service role, but quickly demonstrated her high aptitude to succeed and move upwards through the purchasing department. Now as a buyer, Santos builds relationships with suppliers, negotiates for best pricing and updates inventory to certify that stocks remain at appropriate levels. Most recently, as NCD transitions into utilizing Oracle software and cloud applications, Santos has become an instrumental resource in teaching her colleagues the system.
Here’s What Santos Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“To be recognized for all my hard work and being promoted from working in customer service to joining the purchasing team and becoming a buyer.”
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“The things you hope for don’t just magically appear, you have to be willing to take the steps and put in the work.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“I am most excited to grow with NCD because I have always felt valued and respected here. We have a family environment and I feel like people genuinely care about me as a person as well as my professional growth. I have built so many friendships over the years and have had so many great memories. It has been such an amazing experience working here the last 14 years and watching the company grow and I am looking forward to what the future holds.”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“Exercise has become my stress reliever. It makes me feel like a strong woman because I accumulated small but consistent habits that ultimately lead me to the results that I thought were unimaginable when I started. My favorite quote is it doesn’t get easier, you just get stronger.”
Michelle Castaldo, Executive Assistant to Sales
For seven years, Castaldo has been an essential part of NCD, acting as a direct liaison between NCD’s many departments and a go-to for internal company knowledge. Whether an employee is booking a hotel or flight, figuring out who to get in touch with, looking for a way to ship out company materials, or just searching for a listening ear, Castaldo makes herself available to everyone for support.
Here’s What Castaldo Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“I’m most proud of the relationships I have built here. While working for NCD, I’ve experienced some of the most difficult times in my life. Amidst all the uncertainty, NCD provided the stability and security I had been seeking. The people that I work with make me feel valued and capable.”
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“Organization is just as important as determination! I have always loved being in the behind-the-scenes, helping out in multiple areas to accomplish diverse projects. Coordinating various tasks at once takes a great deal of communication and organization. If I’m not sure how to do something, I won’t stop trying until I figure it out. In order to be successful, organization and determination are key for me.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“The company’s future is so bright since it is expanding and improving at such a fast rate. I’m excited to grow alongside NCD because I am energized by the learning that all of these new initiatives will bring.”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“Sometimes it may get me into trouble, but I am never afraid to open my mouth. I find it so important to tell it how it is and stand up for myself and others when needed. Being a fearless communicator makes me feel strong.”
Sarah Binney, Director of Foodservice
Binney’s dedication to NCD is timeless, as she has served the company for over 32 years. In her current role, Binney manages a full team of foodservice specialists, locates new, on-trend items and programs and develops high margin categories for maximum benefit.
Here’s What Binney Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“I would say that my greatest achievement has been developing relationships with our customers based on mutual trust.”
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“I believe that my secret to success has been my commitment and follow through with our accounts and staff.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“As NCD continues to add on new partners, I look forward to working with new team members and learning from them and their experience in the industry.”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“What makes me strong woman is that I don’t give up. I began as one of the first female sales reps and district managers in the industry. It took a long time for people to understand that I was just as capable of accomplishing things as anyone. It’s made me who I am today.”
Shelley Carner-Hickman, Director of Customer Service & Executive Assistant
Carner-Hickman partnered with NCD in 1998. Starting as a switchboard operator, she worked her way up, eventually serving in chains and purchasing — and for the last 16 years — as the director of customer service and an executive assistant. Her versatile role requires her to aid in special event planning and to work closely with NCD’s different departments, their customers and their vendors to accomplish company goals.
Here’s What Carner-Hickman Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“I believe in myself, always pushing forward with positivity no matter what the obstacle. I know exactly who I am and very proud of it.”
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“I follow my intuition wherever it may lead and I try not to overthink things.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“The excitement of NCD is the opportunity to grow in every category, innovation, technology, foodservice. Working together we can accomplish so much more on such a higher scale of presence and unity. The sky’s the limit!”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“I encourage everyone to believe in themselves and that showing emotion or gratitude is not a weakness but great strength.”
Stacey Mazzella, Director of Marketing
As an entrepreneur, Mazzella ran her own marketing consulting company for several years. In 2015, NCD became one of Mazzella’s clients. As their relationship strengthened, Mazzella closed her business and joined NCD fulltime in 2018. In her role, Mazzella explores methods of enhancing vendor, retailer and employee experiences through traditional marketing strategies and innovative platforms, while also managing internal and external communications.
Here’s What Mazzella Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“Bringing efficiencies to our vendor partner program by developing and implementing a partner portal and modernizing our monthly Insider deal catalog and expanding it to all four of our divisions.”
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“Dedication, commitment, multi-tasking and a sense of humor.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“To be part of a bigger team with the ability to potentially make an even bigger impact in our industry.”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“The comedic dichotomy between having a successful career while managing a blended family consisting of five kids ages 13 through 26, a dog, a cat, a husband, an ex-husband, siblings and aging parents, all while determined to live a life guided by empathy.”
Susan Farina, Director of Human Resources
Farina has been a crucial member of the NCD family for the past eight years. Over that time, she has supervised the human resources department, concentrating on the labor relations sector.
Here’s What Farina Had To Say:
What is one achievement that you are most proud of from your time at NCD?
“My greatest achievement is putting together a professional team, both HR and payroll, to work with NCD and move the company forward. HR needs to be accessible as well as knowledgeable and able to solve issues for the organization.”
What do you believe is the secret to your success?
“Success if treating people fairly and professionally. Everyone deserves to be recognized for their work.”
Why are you excited to continue to grow with NCD?
“My excitement going forward is working with new companies and understanding the ultimate goals of NCD to become one of the largest distributions companies in the country.”
What is a fun fact about you that you feel makes you a strong woman?
“What keeps me strong is my upbringing and family. I am fortunate to have a good, sound base of support in my life both personally and professionally.”
The brilliance of the women behind NCD speaks for itself. Their inspiring perspectives reinforces the vitality of diversity in the workplace and reaffirms that the contributions of women are equally as important as that of their male counterparts.