| Robert A. Buhler
President & CEO
 Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin, Inc. was founded in 1966 by Robert’s father, Robert W. Buhler. Throughout the years, Open Pantry has been built on the same premise, “You Need Time, We Can Help”. Since taking over Open Pantry, Robert has made the promise of “You Need Time, We Can Help”, a reality. Open Pantry sites now offer not only gasoline, but grab-and-go food courts featuring Johnsonville Brats, gourmet sandwiches and salads, premium deserts, and a high-end Willow Creek Coffee program.
As well as providing convenience to customers by implementing new programs and ideas, Robert is instrumental in researching and acquiring new Open Pantry sites. With Robert’s guidance, Open Pantry is continuing to acquire and build sites in the Milwaukee and Madison markets, as well as the growing cities in the corridor. Robert has positioned Open Pantry exceptionally well for growth.
Prior to his position with Open Pantry, Robert managed the Capital Markets Group and also served as an investment banking professional with Canadian Imperial Bank and ABN-AMRO Bank. He is a Board Member with the National Association of Convenience Stores, as well as an active member of the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketer Association of Wisconsin.
Jim Fiene
Chief Operating Officer  Jim Fiene, Chief Operating Officer, joined Open Pantry in 2003 with one goal, grow profitability of this privately held convenience store chain. Drawing on his 25+ years of industry experience, Fiene has escalated Open Pantry to one of the most recognizable and regarded brands in Southern Wisconsin and our industry.
In Fiene’s time at Open Pantry he has transformed the 26 store chain from a convenience store to a upscale convenience market by recognizing the growing consumer desire for quality food and offerings conveniently. Open Pantry’s focus on the female consumer is apparent immediately upon entrance to the stores – living room styled seating areas with over-stuffed leather chairs, fireplaces, well-lit locations, pleasing high quality restaurant styled restrooms, and free Wifi access terminals– innovative concepts developed by Fiene. Along with the upgrade in store standards comes a similar expectation in company culture. Fiene has been instrumental in creating a high performance, results oriented atmosphere; a tactical approach in which he strives to empower each Open Pantry employee through the exercises of team building, shared responsibility, and self-managed teams. Fiene arrived to his role at Open Pantry through a seasoned career in the c-store industry. Beginning at Super America in 1981 as a store associate, he learned first hand what it took to provide exceptional customer service while running a store economically savvy. After four years at Super America, Fiene joined Thornton Oil Company in Louisville, Kentucky as a Regional Manager. There he provided leadership for 17+ years, working his way through the company, finally serving as Vice President of Retail Sales. During his tenure at Thorntons he was part of the team that doubled the size of the organization from 80 to over 160 stores and 1 billion in sales through a strategy of organic and acquisition growth. Fiene’s vision for the future of Open Pantry is uncomplicated: continue to grow, continue to reinvent, and most importantly serve our store customers by serving our teams at our stores everyday. James Schutz Vice President of People Assets  Jim Schutz, Vice President of People Assets, and Open Pantry connected in 2002, under the common belief that a company is only as good as its sum of employees. Within 6 years of employment with the company, Schutz has been instrumental in realizing the company vision to a reality through his commitment to developing the Open Pantry staff, forming the highest level of personnel within the industry.
Beginning his career at Open Pantry as Regional Sales Leader, Schutz worked along side company managers to develop store strategies that emphasized a quality culture and service while maintaining profitability. The strategy proved successful as Open Pantry’s image shifted from an every-day convenience store to a high-end convenience market, a transition that elevated Schutz into the newly created position of Food Development Manager. As Food Development Manager, Schutz quickly worked to create a high quality grab-and-go food court, which offers Open Pantry gourmet salads and sandwiches. To further set Open Pantry apart from the competition, Schutz developed and led the charge for the industry’s first made-to-order burrito bar and Sante Fe Café. Schutz’s career path to Open Pantry began with his 18 years of service at Sears serving in Retail Store Management. Immediately following his time at Sears, Schutz gained his first taste of the c-store industry as he was hired on to BP, starting off as a store leader and eventually working his way up to District Trainer. |
