Cantaloupe Systems announced that Sarah Rankin, the company’s president and chief operating officer, has been named to the National Automatic Merchandising Association’s (NAMA) board of directors. NAMA is the leading trade organization for the $20 billion U.S. vending industry with more than 2,000 members.
“NAMA is in the initial stages of an ambitious plan to expand the vending retail channel and create greater revenue opportunities for members through improved operational efficiencies, better merchandising and heightened consumer awareness of vending as an invaluable retail channel,” said Richard M. Geerdes, NCE 5, CCS, NAMA president and CEO in a prepared statement. “Sarah brings a unique combination of operational and technology industry expertise, which NAMA needs now to execute on these aggressive growth plans.”
Rankin’s San Francisco, Calif.-based firm, Cantaloupe Systems, is a provider of wireless-enabled monitoring, business intelligence and analytics technology and services to the $55 billion global vending industry. The company’s Cantaloupe Retail Optimization Platform (CROP)™ is widely recognized as the most complete and effective vending optimization platform in this fast-changing marketplace.
Prior to joining Cantaloupe in 2009, Rankin worked for a portfolio of venture capital-backed technology companies providing guidance and oversight on the integration of finance and business operations. Earlier in her career, Rankin was senior director, worldwide operations and engineering, for Maxtor Corp., a leading manufacturer of computer hard disk drives that was acquired by Seagate Technology in 2006. At Maxtor, Rankin managed all budgeting and financial activities and was responsible for logistical operations including supply chain management, inventory control and repair and recovery production operations.
Rankin has a B.A. degree from Mt. Holyoke College and an M.B.A. from Dartmouth College, Amos Tuck School of Business.
“The vending industry is going through a time of tremendous innovation and change – much of it technology-driven – as operators look for ways to boost profits and service and expand vending’s footprint in the retail marketplace in a challenging economic environment,” said Rankin. “I’m looking forward to helping NAMA grow its member base and raise awareness of vending as a convenient, innovative and dynamic retail channel.”
Rankin will serve a three-year term with NAMA effective July 1, 2011.
