PHOENIX — The Convenience Distribution Association (CDA) has named Jebb Maginnis, Creative Data Research (CDR), as its 2025 Dean of the Industry during the Convenience Distribution Business Exchange (CDBX) in Phoenix.
The honor recognizes manufacturers and industry partners who have consistently supported convenience distributors and exemplified excellence in relationships, initiative and understanding of the distribution industry.
Maginnis, based in Covington, La., began his career in the c-store sector working alongside his father in the family’s wholesale fuel distribution and convenience store business. After graduating from Louisiana State University in 1975, he worked at every level of the operation before modernizing and computerizing the company’s systems. Following the sale of the business in 1990, he joined CDR, then a fledgling software startup. Today, CDR provides all-in-one software solutions to more than 70 convenience distributors nationwide.
Throughout his 35-year tenure with CDR, Maginnis has been a fixture at CDA events, starting with his first meeting in 1990. He is widely regarded as a trusted partner and advocate for distributors.
Industry colleagues praised his dedication:
- “I admire someone who sticks to a job for a long time,” said Frank D’Amico III, BTC Wholesale Distributors, Inc., Alabaster, AL. “Jebb worked diligently and made the transition to a new system easy. CDR has always been quick to respond to calls for help. Jebb has a fine reputation throughout the industry.”
- “Jebb is a great leader with integrity, who brought the company where it is today,” said Ricky Jones, Andalusia Distributing Company, Inc., Andalusia, AL. “Over the years, he and his team built the best convenience distributor software in the industry.”
- “Jebb is a man of quiet strength and steady integrity,” said Kimberly Bolin, CDA president and CEO. “Although he is not one to seek the spotlight, his presence is felt through the meaningful connections he creates and the dependable support he gives to those around him. He leads by example, consistently following through on commitments and approaching every task with care and diligence.”
Maginnis’s commitment to partnership extends beyond business. He and his wife, Liz, share a passion for landscaping and home restoration, while his children and granddaughter remain close parts of his life. He and his son Thorne also share a love of music, often taking road trips to concerts across the country.
