R. Kevin Miller

Class of 2016

R. Kevin Miller, who was born on August 1, 1955, in Atlanta, to John Robert (Bob) and Evelyn, is the younger brother to Denise. Kevin says he has lived by the family motto: “Work is the way that Millers play.”

Reinforcing that ethic, when he was 16, Kevin worked as a stock boy for Eckerd Drugs and was promoted to assistant manager at only 18. During his senior year in college, Eckerd promoted him to director of security for a four-county area.

Kevin studied business at Auburn University and attended the University of Alabama where he pursued an interest in political science and criminal justice. He also served on the staff of then Governor George Wallace. Although Kevin’s early aspirations were to become a district attorney and serve in political office, he decided to join the Sewell Sales Co. in 1977 to work with some of the same people he grew up with in the candy industry, including his dad who was inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame in 1988.

He ended up falling in love with the candy industry where his father was his business partner, friend and mentor. In 1977 Kevin married Becky Williamson, and together they raised Justin, Ryan, Jared and then later, Lyessa, who they adopted when she was 15 from an orphanage in Ukraine.

Kevin’s 39 years in the industry includes time with Sewell Sales Co., his own brokerage business, Miller Stabler & Smith, Inc., and then the past nine years as Director, Convenience Division for Acosta Sales & Marketing.

He attributes his success as both a small business owner and working within a larger corporation to his ability to stay focused on what is important. Kevin cites as one of his biggest accomplishments consulting with a software provider to develop a comprehensive platform for the brokerage community, along with founding the Sunbelt Convenience Store Expo to help keep the Alabama Convenience Store Association from bankruptcy.

Giving back to the business, Kevin’s commitment to trade associations spans local, regional and national participation. He says he believes in serving others and the rewards far exceed anything you do for your personal career. He has served as president of the Alabama Confection Salesman’s Club; and a board member of the Southern Tobacco & Candy Association; Alabama Grocer’s Association (AGA); Alabama Wholesale Distributor’s Association; and also sits on the NCA Broker Advisory Board. Kevin was named Broker of Year in 2001 by the AGA, and earned a Leadership Award in 1984 from the Alabama Association of Convenience Stores and a Service Award in 1988 from the Alabama Tobacco & Candy Association.

His community commitment includes serving as a city ministry director for more than 20 years, an ordained elder with his church and as a committee chairman with the Boy Scouts of America, and, impressively, all three of his sons became Eagle Scouts

Kevin believes leadership, coaching and serving others are interwoven into the fabric of his being. He would like to be remembered as an honest and ethical man of God.