Movement to Ban or Tax Bottled Water Gains Momentum; IBWA Responds

Coca-Cola Co. names Tripodi Chief Marketing/Commercial Officer
The Coca-Cola Co. appointed Joseph Tripodi to the position of chief marketing and commercial officer, reporting to President and Chief Operating Officer Muhtar Kent. Most recently, Tripodi was the senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Allstate Insurance Co., where he was responsible for the structure, strategy and execution of all marketing efforts.

Nama promotes Roger Stewart to Director of Coffee Service
Roger Stewart, NCE, formerly associate director, coffee service for the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA), has been promoted to director, coffee service.

Stewart will assume direct responsibility for all coffee service functions, and follows Dean Gilland, NCE, who has been promoted to vice president, sales and service.

Campbell Soup names Elliott Vice President, Corporate Strategy
Campbell Soup Co. appointed Kirk Elliott as vice president of corporate strategy. He will be responsible for Campbell’s strategic planning process.

Crane Merchandising Systems promotes Steve Harkins, tabs mei’s Craig Lewis
Crane Merchandising Systems announced the addition of two key management positions being filled by industry veterans.

Steve Harkins has been promoted to the position of vice president, sales and business development for vending payment solutions. Since joining Crane in 2000 as director of sales and marketing for the Canadian business unit, Harkins became director of national accounts where he has managed large supply contracts, developed strategic partnerships, and launched new products critical to the success of the business.

Craig Lewis has joined the Crane Payment Solutions team as the new payment solutions product marketing director. He has more than 30 years of relevant experience, 25 of which has been at Mars Electronics/MEI, where he was responsible for the design, development, and delivery of several successful products into the global vending, casino gaming, amusement, telephone and telemetry markets.

Mei Tabs Chuck Reed from Crane Merchandising Systems as Marketing Director
MEI announced the addition of Chuck Reed as marketing director of the Americas Vending channel. In this role, Reed will lead all marketing efforts for full line, amusement, bottling, Conlux, and MEI EASITRAX® hardware and software in North and South America.

Reed joins MEI from Crane Merchandising Systems and brings with him more than eight years of successful vending experience, as well as significant insight into the vending industry.

Dave Gellman will chair NAMA Coffee Event, Feb. 12 and 13, in Philadelphia, PA.
David Gellman has been named program chairman for the National Automatic Merchandising Association’s new coffee event in Philadelphia, Pa. Feb. 12 to 13, 2008. The program features supplier showcases, networking, training and operator-focused education designed to meet the needs of all levels of management.

Assisting Gellman on the steering committee are:

Butch Winkler – NAMA board member and president, Holiday House Distributing, Land O’ Lakes, Fla.;

Ed Holloran – NAMA board member and vice president of business development, Filterfresh Coffee Service Inc., Westwood, Mass.;

Susan Hartley – NAMA board member and president, Coffee Perks, Jacksonville, Fla.;

Ken Shea – Vice president of field operations, Standard Coffee Service Co., New Orleans, La., and former NAMA board member;

Tom Steuber – president, Associated Services, San Leandro, Calf.;

Steve Hyde – vice president of special projects, Newco Enterprises, Inc., St. Charles, Mo.

Industry loses long-time veteran William H. Desormeau
William H. Desormeau, a long-time vending industry veteran, recently passed away. He was 90. He operated Desormeau Vending in Albany, N.Y. The business was sold to Pepsi-Allied Bottlers in 1990, when Desormeau retired. His two sons, William Jr. and Robert, continued to run the business until 1999, when the operation was acquired by Canteen. Robert Desormeau is a regional manager for Canteen in its northeast division.