--- title: "Warrenton Oil COO: ‘Operational Problems Are Often People Problems in Disguise’" url: https://burnaze.com/article/82a36bb6-469b-47fa-b21f-52b3477a6d31 source: "CStore Decisions" original_url: https://cstoredecisions.com/warrenton-oil-coo-operational-problems-are-often-people-problems-in-disguise/ author: "Erin Del Conte" category: "C-store & fuel" industry: "Retail" segment: "C-store & fuel" topics: ["People"] published: 2026-06-22T13:59:40.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T13:17:54.322Z image: https://cstoredecisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/dana-maloney-headshot.jpg --- # Warrenton Oil COO: ‘Operational Problems Are Often People Problems in Disguise’ **TL;DR:** Dana Moloney, COO of Warrenton Oil Co., discusses the importance of people-centric leadership and technological innovation within the company's 58-unit FastLane convenience store portfolio. Moloney shares advice for next-generation c-store leaders and young executives from her own experiences navigating the path from emerging talent to executive leadership. *By Erin Del Conte, originally published in CStore Decisions on 2026-06-22. [Read the original](https://cstoredecisions.com/warrenton-oil-coo-operational-problems-are-often-people-problems-in-disguise/).* ## Key facts - Dana Moloney is COO of Warrenton Oil Co. - People leadership is critical for success - CStore Momentum offers industry education and networking ## Story Dana Moloney shares advice for next-generation c-store leaders and young executives from her own experiences navigating the path from emerging talent to executive leadership. ## Leadership background Dana Moloney, chief operating officer (COO), Warrenton Oil Co., is a third-generation owner of her family’s convenience store company, which owns and operates 58 FastLane convenience stores, three hotels and a transportation business. But she still learned the business from the ground up, doing everything from answering phones to cleaning bathrooms before rising through the ranks. Moloney absorbed everything she could from the leaders around her on her climb to the top. She believes “people leadership” will be one of the most important qualities for young executives as they progress in their careers. Moloney is set to discuss the latest technology innovations shaping the convenience store industry, as a panelist for the session, “Charging Ahead with Tech,” at **CStore Momentum** — CStore Decisions’ young retail executives conference hosted by Chestnut Market, set for Aug. 19-21 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, N.Y. She’ll share the stage with Jackie Halas, VP of business IT, Global Partners; and Abigail Cerra, director of marketing, loyalty & communications, Chestnut Market, as they share how they are leveraging tools such as loyalty programs, retail media networks, delivery and order ahead to drive growth and stay competitive to today’s market. CStore Momentum is an event specifically for convenience retail professionals in their 20s, 30s and early 40s. The event combines leadership development, peer-to-peer networking and industry education, giving attendees practical strategies they can apply within their organizations while building relationships with fellow emerging leaders from across the country. ## Career insights CStore Decisions spoke with Moloney to learn about her career path, her insights on leadership and her advice for young executives. **CStore Decisions (CSD):** **You worked across foodservice, transportation, finance and operations. Looking back, which experiences were most important in preparing you for the COO role, and what can young leaders learn from that journey?** **Dana Moloney (DM):** Looking back, the most valuable experience wasn’t any one department — it was the opportunity to learn from the experienced leaders around me. We have incredibly talented, long-tenured managers who have seen just about everything, and I tried to absorb as much as I could from them. One lesson I would share with young leaders is that you don’t have to have all the answers right away. Spend time listening, learning and understanding the business before trying to change it. Volunteer for projects outside your role, step outside your comfort zone and be willing to learn skills that may not seem directly connected to your career path. Over time, those experiences compound, and that’s what gives you the perspective needed to lead a complex organization. **CSD: What leadership lesson did you learn early in your career that still influences your decisions today?** **DM:** Trust but verify. I’ve learned that two honest people can experience the same situation and walk away with very different versions of what happened. As a leader, it’s important to trust your people and their intentions, but also to verify facts, gather multiple perspectives and use objective information whenever possible. That approach has helped me make better decisions and avoid reacting too quickly to incomplete information. ## Future success skills **CSD: As the next generation of leaders steps into larger roles, what skills, in your opinion, will be most critical for success in convenience retail over the next five years?** **DM:** I believe the most critical skill for leaders in convenience retail will be people leadership. Our industry is becoming more sophisticated with technology, analytics and automation, but at the end of the day, our success still depends on people. The leaders who will thrive are the ones who can attract great talent, coach employees to reach their potential, have difficult conversations when needed and build teams that want to stay and grow. Hiring the right people is important, but so is developing them, holding them accountable, resolving conflict effectively and creating a culture where people feel valued and engaged. In my experience, operational problems are often people problems in disguise. **CSD:** **As someone who rose into senior leadership within a family-owned company, how did you earn trust and credibility along the way, and what advice would you give young professionals trying to do the same?** **DM:** I believe I earned trust and credibility by being willing to do the work alongside our teams and learning the business from the ground up. I started by emptying trash and answering phones, then worked as a cashier and manager in training, cleaning bathrooms and working weekends. As my role expanded, I continued to immerse myself in different parts of the business, riding along with drivers and learning how to fry chicken in our food service operations. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for what our employees do every day and helped build mutual respect over time. My advice to young professionals is to never think you’re above any job. Be curious, learn every part of the business you can and spend time with front-line employees. The credibility you earn through those experiences is invaluable as you grow into leadership roles. People don’t really care about your title, education or bloodline. They care whether you understand their work, respect their contribution, and are willing to roll up your sleeves when needed. **CSD: You’ve attended CStore Momentum before and now you’re returning as a speaker and COO. From your perspective, why should convenience retailers invest in sending their emerging leaders to this event, and what do attendees gain here that they can’t get from other industry conferences?** **DM:** CStore Momentum is unique because of its size and focus. Unlike larger industry conferences, it creates a more intimate environment where meaningful connections are easier to build. The attendees are primarily emerging leaders who are facing many of the same opportunities and challenges, which leads to very open and honest conversations. What sets the event apart is the willingness of people to share their experiences and learn from one another. Every year, I’ve come away with new ideas, fresh perspectives and relationships that continue long after the conference ends. The real value is building a trusted network of peers you can lean on for advice, problem-solving and perspective throughout your career. Learn more from Fry at the CStore Momentum conference. Retailers can register at CStoreMomentum.com. Supplier companies must sponsor to attend. ## Entities - Retail (sector) - CStore Decisions (publication) - Erin Del Conte (person) - technological innovation (topic) - Chestnut Market (company) - Global Partners (company) - Warrenton Oil (company) - FastLane (company) - c-store industry (topic) - Abigail Cerra (person) - Dana Moloney (person) - CStore Momentum (location) --- Originally reported by Erin Del Conte, CStore Decisions (https://cstoredecisions.com/warrenton-oil-coo-operational-problems-are-often-people-problems-in-disguise/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/82a36bb6-469b-47fa-b21f-52b3477a6d31).