May 1, 2025
DD Bennett shared her experience with c-store leadership keys: Kitchen to Command. Her path to c-store manager was not smooth and was not without setbacks. She shares her story of living the full life of starting work, marriage, parenting, and ongoing career growth. Her success is an example of building a great career as a C-store manager. Her journey began in her hometown. About 40 minutes south of Fort Wayne, in the small town of Markle, Indiana, you’ll find Crossroads Pantry Markle— One of three convenience stores under the crossroads banner.
DD Bennett is the manager at Markle and DD would tell you her leadership approach was developed the hard way. “I’ve been with Crossroads for 18 years, It was my first job. I started in
high school and just stuck with it”. Growing up in Markle, DD got to know the owners of Crossroads early on. “They must have liked what they saw. They made me feel like I mattered. They made an effort to keep me”. That early encouragement sparked a journey that would take her from teenage team member to kitchen lead to store manager.
A Rough Start, A Strong Return
Her path wasn’t smooth. In 2012, Crossroads acquired a new location, one that included a Subway and DD was selected to manage it. “That was supposed to be my store, But “I’ll say it—I failed at that role”. At the time, she was pregnant, balancing major life changes, and overwhelmed. “I just wasn’t myself. I wasn’t doing a good job. But they didn’t give up on me. After maternity leave, they saw I was struggling, and they gave me a shot back at the Markle kitchen”. That shift back into the kitchen turned out to be the reset she needed. “They gave me space to regroup. And slowly, I got back on my feet”.
C-Store Management Growth, One Role at a Time
Before taking on store manager duties again, DD worked through leadership in the kitchen. “It let me build up experience. I wasn’t as assertive back then—I let things slide. And that hurts morale. You have to be able to hold the line if you want to build a strong team”. Now, with years of hands-on learning behind her, she leads with clarity, and purpose. She has a kitchen manager now who reminds a lot of herself—started in high school, worked her way up. “She’s solid on food safety, knows her stuff, and follows procedure.
“We’ve built something that works”. Their store isn’t just a convenience stop. It’s a one-stop local market, especially for workers from nearby factories. “We’re kind of the grocery store around here,” DD explains. “We’ve got Broaster Chicken, Hunt Brothers pizza, deli salads, there’s a lot going on.”
C-Store Leadership Keys: Assertiveness Over Toxicity
C-Store Leadership Keys: Assertiveness Over ToxicityDD doesn’t let bad energy linger. “If you keep letting one toxic employee poison the rest of the team, it spreads like wildfire. You’ve got to shut it down early”. That’s where communication comes in. Her relationship with her bosses—based on trust and consistency—is something she now models with her own team. “They’ve always backed me. If I have a problem with an employee, I talk it over with them. They’ve given me the confidence to make decisions, and I pass that same support down to my assistant managers.”
If her team spots a problem, she expects them to speak up. “I always tell them, if you see something wrong, don’t be afraid to address it. If someone give attitude and if it doesn’t change, bring it to me. I’ve got your back because that’s how my bosses have mine”.
C-Store Leadership Key: Support, and Self-Reflection
She points to tools like their employee handbook as essentials. “It’s not just a formality. We highlight the basics when someone’s hired, and we actually use it. It’s there to bring people back to the expectations and it’s in writing.”
But tools alone aren’t enough. What makes a difference is ownership. “My bosses don’t expect me to run to them with every little thing. If I’m doing that, I’m not doing my job. But when there’s a real issue or an emergency they know I’ll let them know. It’s about judgement.”
C-Store Leadership Keys: Advice for New C-Store Managers
“It’s communication. If you can’t communicate with your team, the whole operation breaks down.” She believes growth comes from self-awareness and striving to improve—for yourself and your team. “Knowing when to communicate up comes with confidence. That only comes from experience. For those moments that feel too big or too uncertain? I’ve been uncomfortable my whole life, I’m not afraid of jumping in and getting my feet wet and hit the ground running.”
C-Store Leadership Keys: A Culture of Confidence
Reflecting on her journey, DD credits her workplace culture for helping her grow into the leader she is today. “Not every manager is lucky. If you don’t feel supported by your higher-ups, talk to them. It all comes back to communication. I’ve been lucky. I’ve been blessed with bosses who truly support me. I do my best to pass that on.”