Last week, a NAMA team including CEO Carla Balakgie, COO Dan Mathews, senior vice president Eric Dell and vice president Roni Moore met with U.S. Senator John Boozman, R-Ark. and U.S. Representative Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., to discuss current issues impacting vending and refreshment services.
“These discussions are an important part of our national advocacy effort and reinforce the work we are performing at the state and local level,” said Eric Dell in a prepared statement. “It’s critical for our lawmakers to know us and more important, know our members’ issues, as they make decisions that could potentially have a significant impact.”
“While it’s true that currently most of the challenges we face nationally involve pending regulations – for example, product labeling – we need to ensure that our voice is heard as part of the process,” he continued. “It’s a big benefit for our industry that Carla Balakgie has experience in D.C. and is a highly respected presence on the Hill.”
The group successfully determined elements of the NAMA Public Policy Conference, scheduled for October, and met with a nutrition organization as well as NAMA board member Sylvia Rowe. The action-packed agenda also included a discussion with a D.C.-based institution related to a longer-term initiative.
“It was a productive series of meetings that will directly benefit the association on a number of levels,” Dell said.
