Vending Operator of the Year: Daniel and Mark Stein, Vend Mark Co., Northbrook Ill.

OCS has been one of the strongest growth areas in the past five years, the brothers noted. Their Office Java division features a variety of coffee brands, including Flavia, Starbucks, Peets, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Keurig.

The company was confronted with an added challenge in 2009 when Mark was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of cancer. Thanks to the brothers’ strong relationship and the systems they had built, Daniel was able to handle the management until Mark could return to active duty.

The brothers believe technology has made their operation more efficient and client focused. Even so, profit remains a challenge in today’s economy. The Steins believe that the efficiencies they have in place, their strong team and a strong client base will help deliver a better bottom line in the future.

“We’ve made a lot of good choices that are going to help us continue to flourish,” Daniel predicted.