Capitol Hill Veteran Bolsters NACS Lobbying Effort Pace McMullan, who recently served as deputy assistant to the President and deputy director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the Senate, has joined the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) as vice president of government relations. McMullan brings more than a decade of legislative experience on Capitol Hill and in the White House, where he worked directly with members of Congress to advance the administration's legislative agenda. His prior roles include executive director of the U.S. Senate Steering Committee, legislative director for Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), and legislative director for Martha McSally during her time in both the House and Senate.

Industry Significance NACS represents the convenience and fuel retail sector, which operates nearly 152,000 stores in the United States and conducts 160 million transactions daily. The appointment underscores the association's efforts to strengthen its Washington presence as the industry faces ongoing policy challenges, particularly around credit card processing fees and regulation. "Bringing Pace on board significantly elevates what is already one of the strongest lobbying teams in Washington. I am excited by the possibilities he brings to enhance our industry's voice. This is tremendous news for our members and the communities that they serve," said NACS President & CEO Frank Gleeson. McMullan holds a B.A. in political science and history from Tulane University. He has received endorsements from Vice President JD Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, and Sen. Marshall, among others. "I'm excited to join NACS and work to advance the convenience industry's policy agenda. These small businesses are the backbones of local communities throughout the country, and the NACS government relations team has built a great reputation advocating for them. I look forward to working with everyone at NACS and all of their members," said McMullan.

Why It Matters

For convenience store operators, this hire signals NACS' commitment to aggressive advocacy on credit card swipe fees and other regulatory issues affecting margins. McMullan's direct relationships with the current administration and Senate leadership position the association to better influence industry-specific legislation.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors