Stinker Stores Vet Nate Brazier Named President of TXB

Spicewood, Texas-based TXB has announced that Nate Brazier — former Stinker Stores president and CEO — has joined TXB as its new president. Kevin Smartt will continue to serve as the chain’s CEO.

“TXB has an incredible culture, and you can feel it in every store,” Brazier told CStore Decisions. “That’s where the magic happens. Kevin and I are both very detail-oriented and I think that shared mindset creates a tremendous opportunity to bring even more energy, accountability and growth to an already great company.”

Brazier entered the c-store world in 2001 as an area franchise director for 7-Eleven. In 2014, he accepted a position as executive director of regional operations for Salt Lake City-based Maverik, before joining the Stinker Stores team in 2020 as VP of operations.

He went on to serve as president and chief operating officer of Stinker before taking the helm as CEO in May 2024.

As CEO, Brazier worked to emphasize and enhance the chain’s people-first culture. He strengthened Stinker Stores’ leadership team, revamped its new-hire training program, and appointed a dedicated training and development manager to ensure consistent onboarding.

His hopes for TXB remain people focused.

“TXB already has a great foundation, so my first priority isn’t to come in and change what’s working,” Brazier told CStore Decisions. “Instead, it’s to listen, learn and build on it. I’ll be focused on our people first, making sure we have the right people in the right roles and giving them what they need to be successful.”

In 2025, Brazier accepted CStore Decisions’ Chain of the Year award on behalf of Stinker Stores. The award recognizes operational excellence, company culture, innovation and strategic vision — qualities Brazier has played a significant role in cultivating throughout his career and across the organizations he has led.

And his new home is a fitting one, as TXB was also honored as CStore Decisions’ 2023 Chain of the Year for its commitment to those same priorities.

“Expanding the leadership capacity of TXB marks a big step in where the company is heading,” said TXB’s Smartt, who added that he will continue to focus on growth, strategy, capital allocation, acquisitions, industry relationships and the long-term direction of the company.

When asked about goals for his first year at TXB, Brazier told CStore Decisions that he wants the chain to be “an even stronger company than it is today with great people in the right roles, stronger systems and accountability, and real momentum behind our growth. If our team feels supported, our stores are executing at a high level and our customers can feel that energy when they walk through the door, I’ll consider that a great year.”

“I’ve always believed you have to build for the company you’re becoming, not just the company you are today. That’s why I’m excited to welcome Nate Brazier to TXB as our new president,” Smartt wrote in a LinkedIn post. “We have a lot of growth opportunity in front of us, and we’re committed to building a best-in-class convenience retail company centered around great people, world-class quality food, technology and an exceptional guest experience.

Nate brings the kind of experience that can help us get there … Bringing Nate to TXB is an investment in our future and the leadership we need for our next stage of growth.”