2026 was the year VIVA moved from ideas to infrastructure. We defined what we stand for, built the tools to run our events and communication, and opened the door for new leaders to step in and carry the mission forward.
This document captures where we started, what we built, and where VIVA is headed as we move into 2027. It will continue to grow as the year closes out. More wins, numbers, and stories will be added here.
This year, VIVA defined a clear strategic identity built around three pillars, the framework that now guides every initiative, event, and decision the ERG makes.
This year VIVA played a hands-on quality role in real translation work across Sheetz, reviewing, spell-checking, and suggesting verbiage that translates naturally and accurately across customer-facing loyalty materials, employee-facing safety documentation, and the point-of-sale experience.
VIVA reviewed and refined the Spanish translation of the customer-facing “How to Become a Sheetz Freak” loyalty brochure, spell-checking and suggesting verbiage that reads naturally in Spanish, covering how to download the app, register for My Sheetz Rewardz, and earn rewards.
VIVA reviewed and refined the Spanish translation of Sheetz's work site safety signage, spell-checking and suggesting accurate, natural-sounding verbiage for dress code and PPE requirements, construction site safety protocols, and emergency contact procedures, helping keep Spanish-speaking contractors and workers safe and informed.
VIVA reviewed and refined the Spanish translation used across Sheetz's point-of-sale and self-checkout experience, spell-checking and suggesting verbiage that translates accurately and reads naturally, making everyday in-store transactions easier for Spanish-speaking customers at checkout.
To coordinate our Hispanic Heritage Month events across three regions, VIVA built a live internal team hub, a single place to track tasks, post updates, and see event countdowns for all three regional Block Parties.
To sustain VIVA's momentum, we opened up two volunteer leadership roles this year (Secretary/Treasurer and Events Coordinator) and launched a formal, easy-to-use application process to bring new voices onto the leadership team.
Living out the Community pillar, VIVA contributed to United Way's disaster relief efforts in Colombia and Venezuela this year. Contributions were made on VIVA's behalf as part of general partner funding, sourced from the diversity and inclusion donation budget given the scale of need: $2,500 directed toward each country's relief effort, for a combined $5,000 contribution. The funds were not earmarked for a specific program within each effort, but rather pooled into the broader partner funding described below.
Partner funding supports long-term recovery in Cali (Valle del Cauca) and Antioquia, the hardest-hit regions, with a focus on restoring and reconstructing affected schools and preschools so students can safely return to learning. Funding also enables social-emotional learning initiatives for parents and children, and mentorship programs that help teens build skills, confidence, and hope for the future.
During the emergency response phase, United Way Venezuela mobilized 812 volunteers and 64 participating organizations, coordinating 129 aid deliveries and providing generators benefiting more than 14,000 people alongside critical medical equipment supporting roughly 300 individuals. Recovery funding now supports food, clean water, medical supplies, hygiene products, and reliable electricity access, as well as surgical, orthopedic, and mental health care for injured children and survivors. Investments also cover infrastructure assessments for 11 damaged schools and upgrades across seven hospitals.
VIVA's membership spans both store-level and corporate/support roles, reflecting how deeply the ERG is embedded across the business, not just concentrated in one department or region.
To make sure VIVA's direction reflects what members actually want, we sent out a survey asking why members joined, what they want to see next, and how we can better connect with them. Here is what came back.
Led by James Colino, VIVA is in the process of securing a speaker for our Speaker Series, aiming high with someone who influences Latino global marketing culture. We've completed a first round of candidate interviews and are currently in the second round. The goal is to bring in a speaker who can educate Sheetz's brand strategy team on the impact and buying power of Latino consumers, and how Sheetz can better connect with and grow this audience across our locations.
As of October 31st, we're excited to welcome Jesus Hernandez Cordero as VIVA's new Vice President.
Before we look ahead, we want to pause and say thank you. Roxana Apple has given VIVA three incredible years of leadership, and it's because of her that VIVA got to where it is today. She helped guide us through our infancy as an ERG, laying the groundwork that so much of what we've built this year stands on. Her steady leadership and heart for this community shaped VIVA into what it is now, and we're deeply grateful for everything she poured into it.
As Roxana steps into this next chapter, we're excited for what's ahead under Jesus's leadership. Please join us in thanking Roxana for her incredible service, and in welcoming Jesus into his new role.