Jessica Stevens
Jessica Stevens is a seasoned strategic operations leader with extensive experience in multi-unit store openings and turnarounds across the fast food and convenience retail industries. Beginning her career at age 16 in fast food, she earned her first management position by 18 and quickly developed a passion for building operational infrastructure that enables brands to scale. Over the years, Jessica has successfully opened and stabilized more than 10 locations for major brands including Whataburger and Murphy USA, demonstrating expertise in bridging complex corporate strategies with front-line execution.
Currently, Jessica serves as Store Manager of Murphy USA’s flagship location in Madison, Alabama, the largest of its kind in North Alabama. In this role, she oversaw the end-to-end launch of the facility and previously stabilized a struggling nearby location, bringing operational clarity and team cohesion. Her responsibilities span hiring, training, onboarding, financial management, sales strategy, and in-depth operational reporting. Known for her systems-thinking approach, Jessica creates high-efficiency processes that empower her teams to perform at peak levels while maintaining strong standards for customer service and safety compliance.
Jessica’s leadership philosophy emphasizes the balance between hard skills and soft skills, ensuring standards are not only met but embraced by her team. She thrives on developing employees’ potential, finding satisfaction in moments when team members realize their own capabilities in high-pressure environments. With a career defined by operational excellence, multi-unit culture-building, and hands-on leadership, Jessica continues to drive performance and growth in every location she manages, leaving a lasting impact on both her teams and the communities they serve.
• ServSafe Manager
• National Leadership Conference (NLC) with Murphy USA
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a blend of personality, clear communication, and the ability to balance hard and soft skills in management. In fast-paced environments, I focus on guiding my team, resolving conflicts, and keeping operations running smoothly. What drives me most is seeing my team grow and succeed—like handling a busy night on their own for the first time—and knowing I played a part in that achievement.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to take initiative and not ask permission. If you know the needs of the business, do that. I'm not a rogue manager by any means, but you've got to be able to have that backbone to be able to run your store effectively.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to take initiative. Don’t wait for someone to ask or notice you—if you have the skills, ideas, or qualifications for a role, speak up and make it known. In male-dominated environments, it’s essential to assert your value and confidently show that you belong.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now, at least for this specific location, is staffing - finding people to work at the store. It's not a problem for the rest of the field necessarily, but it is a huge problem here because everybody works at the factory jobs where they get high hours and high wages, so it's not sustainable for them to be able to have a second job. Honestly, if I could just get people in the door, my life would be much more simple. I wouldn't be working 70, 75-hour long weeks trying to cover all the shifts myself.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are confidence - being able to say no and stand firm in my decisions - and work-life balance. I've come to learn that work-life balance is a very important value that you need to have professionally and at home as well. Otherwise, you're not going to get it, and you'll burn out. Having the confidence to set boundaries and maintain that balance is essential to sustaining a long career.
Locations
Murphy USA
Madison, AL 35758