Automatic Merchandiser is proud to recognize leaders in the vending, micro market and office coffee service industry in our second annual Legends of the Year awards program. Criteria for the awards included: at least 25 years in the industry, job commitment, leadership, industry involvement, achievements and contributions.
These outstanding individuals have shown a dedication to their companies, their customers and the industry, and Automatic Merchandiser is pleased to honor them with this prestigious recognition. Congratulations to the 2024 Legends of the Year award winners.
Connie Baarlaer
Connie Baarlaer has been with Vendors Supply since October 2004 and has 39 years of CPG industry experience. As general manager, she is responsible for the Ohio distribution center of Vendors Supply. Her objective is to remain focused on customer satisfaction, while increasing profitability for all parties. Baarlaer strives to provide excellent customer service by providing what customers want and anticipating what they need. She believes fostering a strong partnership with customers is what makes everyone successful and sets them apart from competitors. Baarlaer is involved with the OAMA, IRPA and KAMC councils because she knows the value they bring to the industry. Her favorite quote is: “Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of others.”
Tom DiNardo
Tom DiNardo has been contributing to the unattended retail business for more than 40 years and is extremely active in several associations, including NAMA and USG. DiNardo served as the chairman of the board at USG for six years and helped grow the organization to over 4,000 members. He acquired Culinary Ventures Vending in 1993, and it is one of the largest independent vending operators in the U.S. with locations in New Jersey, Florida and Maryland. DiNardo truly values the relationships he has built with manufacturers such as Pepsi, Frito and PIM, to name a few. They, along with several other manufacturers, played an integral role in helping DiNardo become a success in the industry. While continuously growing his business and partnership with many of the key snack and beverage companies within this industry, he has also developed his own line of snacks. His passion for the industry is extremely apparent during any conversations together. His family and children, who are part of the organization, exude this same passion, which he has passed on to each of them.
Buddy Duke
Buddy Duke began his career in the vending and foodservice industry in January 1976. Just out of high school, he started as a delivery driver for Servomation (Service America) in Nashville, Tennessee. Then, he became a route driver, utility driver and route manager. In 1983, Duke was promoted to branch manager and moved to Jackson, Tennessee. A few years later, he was promoted to general manager and was responsible for all operations in west Tennessee and Mississippi. In 1993, he left Service America to become the general manager with ABI Food Service (Coca-Cola) in Chattanooga. ABI sold to Five Star Food Service in 1998. At that time, Duke became general manager until 2008. He was then promoted to a regional vice president position covering east Tennessee, north Georgia and north Alabama. Today, he is the senior vice president of operations for Five Star in the West region. His area now covers middle Tennessee, northwest Alabama and north Mississippi. Duke says he has been blessed to have spent so many years in the industry. He contributes his success to surrounding himself with hard-working, dedicated employees, good mentors and a supportive family.
Tommy Elliott II
Tommy Elliott is a second-generation vending operator who grew up in the business. His parents (Tom Sr. and Sandra) founded Tomdra in 1966. After graduating from high school in 1975, he joined the U.S. Army and then worked in the industry selling vending machines and equipment. In 1993, he joined the family business working with his brother and sister. He started the company’s OCS division and later served as operations manager. He is the company’s purchasing manager and oversees the warehouse pre-pick operation. In 2005, he graduated from the NAMA Executive Development Program and has been an advocate for the vending industry, serving four years as president of the Arizona Automatic Merchandising Council. For over 30 years, he has been the first to embrace new technology and better practices to advance the industry.
Mike Ferguson
Mike Ferguson started VMAC Solutions to represent vending and OCS operators sell and exit their business. He started his career in the convenience services industry in 1989 as a sales representative in Houston, Texas. In 1991, Ferguson started his own convenience services company and ran it for 25 years. After later selling the business in two segments, vending first, office coffee later, he started an e-commerce business and later sold it. He joined the corporate world in this industry but saw the need to represent the seller side operators as an intermediary using his industry knowledge both as an owner and operator. Ferguson has earned the Pros to Know award twice and has published many articles for Automatic Merchandiser. Being a former operator for over 25 years has helped Ferguson relate to his clients to get the best deal for selling their business.
Mike Frye
Mike Frye entered the vending industry in 1995 as the vending equipment salesperson for Southeastern Vending Services in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1999, he became the national sales manager for U-Select-It in Des Moines, Iowa. His responsibilities included distribution and national accounts. In 2007, he returned to Southeastern Vending Services as sales manager, overseeing all aspects of SVS equipment distribution and its service center, which provides electronic and OCS refurbishment, among other products and services. As the business has changed over the years, Frye has evolved today to focus on advanced vending equipment technology, smart markets and the micro market segment. He has received numerous awards including 2010 Outstanding Supplier-Shasta Vending, 2011 North Carolina Vending Association Supplier of the Year, 2017 Virginia Automatic Merchandising Association Supplier of the Year and 2018 Virginia Automatic Merchandising Association Supplier of the Year. He currently serves on the Virginia Automatic Merchandising Association board, and he is a past member of the Atlantic Coast Exposition planning committee and NAMA trade show committee.
Robert Gayer
Robert Gayer has been in the coffee world for over 40 years, working for OCS companies and for a coffee roaster as a sales manager and later executive vice president, helping the company become a large private label packer in Florida through a distributor BC Coffee. Gayer was named Supplier of the Year for the Southern Coffee Break Service and was named Automatic Merchandiser’s Supplier of the Year in 1993. He was also involved with the development and success of flavored bags of coffee. Today, Gayer works as a broker dealing with other companies, including National Coffee and Cold Fire Roasters. “Over the years, I’ve witnessed so many changes – K-cups and other single-serve products, then bean-to-cup and other new ideas for OCS to help make them more competitive. I have made so many friends and I truly love what I do. We have lost many who helped make this industry what it is today. And we miss them all.”
Jeff Gehman
Jeff Gehman began his career in the industry in 1990 as sales/marketing manager at Ephrata Diamond Spring Water and Diamond Station Coffee. In the next seven years, Diamond Station Coffee served office customers in four states, and a retail DSD network was developed in 1992 to grow to 270 store locations. Gehman credits the Kaloyanides family for helping him learn all aspects of coffee roasting and especially the generosity of the late Michael Kaloyanides and Steve Kaloyanides Sr. In 1997, Gehman joined Consolidated Services Group and partner John Salterio. Salterio and Gehman worked to form a leading foodservice coffee trading company. Consolidated Services Group is focused on representing coffees and related products across the U.S., and the company trains and develop its distributor partners. Gehman has a master’s degree in business/food marketing from Saint Joseph’s University and is a certified coffee specialist.
Frank Gumma Sr.
Frank Gumma Sr. founded AVS Companies in 1971 as a used vending machine sales house and has since grown the company into a multi-branch, full-service network, serving operators of every sort of coin machine, including gaming. Gumma’s legacy in the convenience services industry is a testament to his vision, hard work and adaptability. Even with Gumma’s retirement from AVS Companies in 2012, his journey from modest beginnings to establishing a thriving and multifaceted company continues to inspire the entire AVS Companies team. With over 50 years in business, there’s no doubt that his dedication to quality and innovation ensures that his legacy continues to thrive in the years ahead.
Lance Hall
Lance Hall is senior vice president of sales for Brokers Unlimited, which has market coverage in eight Southeastern states as well as national support with Premier Sales & Marketing. Hall is from Mobile, Alabama, and attended Alabama Southern College on a basketball scholarship. He has worked in the food industry all his career and joined the vending family in 2002 when Kenny Freeman hired him as an account executive. He was promoted to sales manager in 2012 and to senior vice president of sales in 2022. He has also proudly served on the SEVA Board since 2012. In 2014, Hall completed the NAMA Executive Development Program. He is also a long-standing member of the Alabama Vending Association. What he loves most about the industry is building long-term relationships with his customers.
Paul Ihn
Paul Ihn is vice president of product strategy and day-to-day operations with Naturals2go. Since April 2022, he has been steering Naturals2go, a company renowned for fostering local vending businesses since 1987. Ihn is the linchpin for all product strategy and operational matters, ensuring the company’s offerings are both innovative and operationally sound. Ihn’s previous experience includes vice president of engineering and operations with the Wittern Group, a comprehensive service provider for the vending industry, where he played a pivotal role. He spearheaded strategic deployment, advanced R&D activities, and the verification and validation of a wide array of vending products. He was also engineering vice president with Crane Merchandising Systems (CMS). His role at CMS, which followed the acquisition of Automatic Products Inc. (APi) in 2006, saw him leading all engineering functions. Ihn initially joined APi in 1996 as senior vice president of engineering.
Steve Jamison
Steve Jamison started in the world of vending in 1978 working for Dixie Narco in Ranson, West Virginia. He worked his way up through the department in fabrication to area leader. In 1991, he went to work for Royal Vendors Inc. During his time there, Jamison headed up various departments in manufacturing. In 1993, he moved into the service department at Royal, supplying training to its bottler base. He also supplied technical help on the phone to their customers. In 1995, he moved into sales as a sales coordinator, which soon evolved into regional sales for a five-state region. As the region grew, Jamison oversaw sales for the entire U.S., reporting directly to the president of the country until 2020. In 2020, Jamison began working for Suzahapp/Paycomplete as director of U.S. vending sales, selling the Coinco line. In 2023, he was given the opportunity to work for IDW Innovative DisplayWorks as regional account executive where he is currently employed. As regional account executive, he manages, maintains and develops new business throughout the eastern region for the bottler and distributor network. “This has been a wonderful career that I have enjoyed being part of and look forward to many years to come,” Jamison said.
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson is president of Martin Coffee Company. His journey in the coffee industry began in 1998 when he joined Martin Coffee Company, founded by his grandfather, Fred Martin, in 1957. Since assuming the role of president in 2009, he has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the success and growth of the company. Under his leadership, Martin Coffee Company has become one of the oldest independent coffee roasters and service providers in the southeastern U.S. His astute understanding of market trends and innovative approach to incorporating the latest technology have been instrumental in the constant growth of the business. He has been recognized by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce in 2020 as the Small Business Leader of the Year. Johnson’s involvement in multiple boards and his dedication to creating opportunities for working students and adults with intellectual differences set him apart. He has spearheaded the establishment of several coffee shops dedicated to hiring individuals with intellectual differences. These establishments serve as a beacon of inclusivity, providing opportunities for individuals who might not have otherwise had the chance to enter the workforce.
Kurk Johnson
Kurk Johnson is vice president of sales with Cantaloupe/Three Square Market. His nearly 50-year journey in the vending industry commenced within his family’s business, Minnesota Valley Vending. Here, he embraced the values of hard work, exceptional customer experiences and comprehensive product knowledge throughout his almost two decades as a business owner. In his 16+ years at Lieberman Companies, Johnson excelled in vending and micro market sales, earning awards such as Salesman of the Year (Lieberman Companies/Fast Corp 2007) and Top Salesperson (Crane GPL 2003). Further recognition followed with Automatic Merchandiser’s Pros to Know award in 2016. Upon joining the team at Three Square Market, now Cantaloupe, Johnson received the Employee of the Year award in 2017. Reflecting on his career, Johnson is amazed by the technological advancements in the vending industry and the meaningful connections forged.
Gary Joyner
Gary Joyner started Advantage Refreshments in Orlando, Florida, in 1994. Today, the company has customers in seven Southeast states and offers a turnkey business opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to own and operate a financially successful vending business in their hometown. “Vending like numerous industries needs new forward-thinking individuals who are open to unique and out-of-the-box methods of delivering vending products and services to high-dollar volume vending locations,” said Joyner. In 2016, Joyner was also a recipient of Automatic Merchandiser’s Pros to Know award.
Bill Lambert
In 1971, Bill Lambert purchased a small company in Memphis, Tennessee, that sold coffee brewing equipment and instant coffee. With determination, Lambert expanded his product line to include office coffee machines and established a complete roasting and manufacturing facility. He imported coffee from South America to Memphis for roasting and packaging, utilizing a route system to distribute products to offices, restaurants and industries. Lamberts Coffee was a first to introduce coffee pods, filter pouch coffee and bean-to-cup systems. What started as a one-person operation in his garage became a successful company with offices in seven locations. Lambert’s son, David, joined the business and became president, while Bill remains active as the CEO of Lamberts Inc.
Micah Larsen
Micah Larsen was introduced to the unattended retail and self-service industry in January 2019 as the national sales manager at OptConnect. He began working with reputable companies such as 365 Retail Markets, Bevi, Kiosk Information Systems, Ice House America, OnQ Solutions, Tiny Mobile Robots and others. In March 2023, Larsen became director of sales for Switch Always On, a disruptor in smart power management at the edge. With over five years of business development and sales experience in the unattended retail and self-service industry, and over 24 years in B2B relationship sales, Larsen brings an immense passion for helping operators, business owners and entrepreneurs increase profits through technology. He has built a reputation for always delivering results, and as director of sales, he’s excited to continue working hard for his clients.
Gary Massey
Gary Massey’s four-decade career began as a summer job with Dr Pepper in Dallas, then became service manager, overseeing all merchandising equipment in the DFW region. Massey was the first employee Sanden hired to spearhead development of U.S. distribution for coolers and vending machines. After Sanden acquired the Vendo Company in 1988, Massey became the product manager integrating MDB interface and developing new vending machines. Transitioning to a sales role, in 2001, he joined Mars Inc. selling Easitrax software to leading operators. His responsibilities expanded to payment systems culminating in his appointment as U.S. sales director. In this role, his team implemented cashless payment solutions that left an indelible mark on the industry. Last year, Massey returned to the industry he loves by joining IDW, selling coolers and using his wealth of experience to help shape the future of the business.
Phil Masters
Phil Masters has shaped the convenience services industry for over five decades. Since earning a marketing degree in 1970, Masters has played a pivotal role at the Wittern Group as a leader in evolving vending solutions. He has spearheaded new stylings for the Wittern Group’s vending equipment line and pioneered corporate partnerships and branding campaigns. Masters is fortunate to be a part of driving the success of several Wittern Group companies and looks forward to celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2031. He is thankful for the opportunities to introduce new programs and provide innovative, tailored solutions to help individuals and companies reach their vending goals and thrive in an evolving market.
Dan O’Brien
Dan O’Brien entered the convenience services industry in 2006 when Steven Burch, president of Burch Food Services, hired him to manage the company’s sales efforts. O’Brien oversees sales, purchasing and warehouse operations, and he directs the unattended retail business segment. O’Brien has held various roles in the Burch organization during his tenure. He managed the office coffee service division, provided leadership to the company’s in-house culinary operations, and led the Burch team in the transition of vending to markets. He implemented LightSpeed into Burch’s warehouse operations, assisted in the development of a data dashboard using PowerBi, and led the conversion of Burch Food Services vend management system to Gimme VMS. In addition to his work with Burch, O’Brien actively works with Gimme’s management and engineering teams in the strategic alignment between products and its partners. O’Brien is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.
Billy O’Neal
Billy O’Neal started Lee Dee Vending in 1971 in Alexandria, Louisiana. The company services a 60-mile radius and covers 11 parishes in the central Louisiana area. Lee Dee Vending has been in business for 52 years and became a Canteen franchise in 2003. When O’Neal signed to become a franchise, he brought four other vendors in Louisiana to become franchises as well. O’Neal was instrumental in starting VMOL (Vending Machine Operators of Louisiana), served as secretary/treasurer for 26 years and remains an active member. He was also instrumental in making VMAGS (Vending Machine Association of the Gulf South) a successful endeavor and was a dedicated board member from the 1980s until 2004, during which he served as chairman. He is also an active participant with SEVA (Southeastern Vending Association). O’Neal has been a key figure in building and maintaining VMOL membership and organizing and developing the SEVA convention. He was National Expo program chairman for the NAMA Expo in 2000 held in New Orleans. Today, his family is also involved in running the business.
Aleksandar Radosav
Aleksandar Radosav is president and CTO of Coffea Group Inc. Radosav, a trailblazer in the coffee industry, began his journey in 1996 with VKI/Vend-King and was involved in the creation of the first Avalon coffee machine. His innovative spirit led him to create the first “iCup” just a few years later. He poured his love and knowledge of chemistry and electronics into a “Golden Cup.” In 2007, Radosav established Coffea, leaving an indelible mark on the industry. His passion for perfection culminated in the development of the first groundbreaking vacuum brewing system (Coffea brewer), drawing inspiration from the Vacuum Pot/Syphon principle. Radosav’s credentials include notable affiliations with industry giants. He owns several U.S. patents and has been awarded with many praises and recognitions such as NAMA-CCS, NRA – Kitchen Innovations, SCA, and SBA. His visionary leadership and dedication to excellence have earned him acclaim and respect, solidifying his legacy as a driving force behind advancements in coffee and tea technology. Radosav’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of coffee innovation has left an enduring impact on the industry, showcasing “The Art, Science & Technology of Brewing Spectacular Coffee.”
Jim Roberson
Jim Roberson started his career in the vending industry in 1972 as a route salesman at Pet Bakeries. Soon after, he was transferred to Food Vendors Supply and was promoted to sales manager within five months. Since then, he has served the industry in multiple ways. Roberson has been a salesman with AVA Supply in Charlotte, a food broker for Weathers Marketing, a salesman for VSA and finally as a food broker with Brokers Unlimited since they opened in 1994. Since his start in the industry over 50 years ago, he has served on the ACE Planning Committee and on the NCVA Board. In 2001 and again in 2009, he was awarded the North Carolina Vending Association Supplier of the Year. In 2018, he was awarded the ACE Lifetime Achievement Award. At the young age of 81, Roberson is still calling on his loyal customers in North Carolina.
Mike Weisser
In 1996, Mike Weisser began his career in the convenience services industry with the Vendo Company of Fresno, California. Weisser started as a customer service representative and became a technical service manager after just one year. In 2000, he accepted a promotion as Vendo’s regional sales manager of the Midwest, and in 2008, now SandenVendo America, asked that he relocate his family to the newly opened headquarters in Dallas as its director of business development. He had several roles of increasing responsibility until becoming its president and CEO in 2017. In 2023, Weisser left SandenVendo to join Innovative DisplayWorks (IDW) as its new vice president of business development where he creates and deploys the company’s unattended retail strategy. Weisser says the success he’s enjoyed over the years is because of his wife, his customers and the coworkers he surrounded himself with.
Honorable Mentions
Louis A. Kershbaumer, Vending Machine Sales
Ken Seymour, BE'S Refreshments
