NATSO, the national trade association representing major truckstops and travel plazas, has named Tom Heinz, president of Heinz and Coffee Cup Fuel Stops & Convenience Stores, as its 2013 chairman of the board.

Heinz, who succeeds Darrin Flitton as chairman, has served on the NATSO board of directors and as the NATSO Foundation chairman of the board. Coffee Cup Fuel Stops & Convenience Stores has been an active member in the organization for more than 20 years.

Heinz takes the helm of the NATSO Board at a time when the truckstop and travel plaza industry is tackling such critically important issues as the future of highway funding and rising interchange fees.

“I look forward to tackling the challenges facing our industry in an effort to help all of my fellow business owners and operators to succeed,” Heinz said. “This is an exciting time in the truckstop and travel plaza industry, and I’m thrilled to serve as NATSO’s dhairman.”

Heinz’s 37-year business career has been in different segments of the petroleum industry. Tom’s primary business and day job began 31 years ago as co-founder/owner of Coffee Cup Fuel Stops,

Heinz received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Master of Science in Human Resources, and Master of Business Administration from Beacom School of Business at the University of South Dakota.

Presently, Heinz serves on the University of South Dakota Foundation Board of Directors; Dakota Hospital Board of Directors; and is a member of David Nelson Petroleum Marketers 300 Study Group. He is the Immediate past chairman of the NATSO Foundation board of directors.

NATSO also elected the following Board members to its 2013 Board of Directors: Chad Ingram, president, Garvin Oil, Wagener, S.C.; Don Quinn, president, Sapp Bros. Travel Centers, Omaha, Neb.; Don Paddock, president, KSG Distributing, Kaysville, Utah; and Robert Lake, a senior vice-president, Randall-Reilly Publishing. Tuscaloosa, Ala.