With more than 15 years of experience in workplace refreshment and beverage sales, Kevin Alves has held key roles throughout his career. Most recently, he served as director, field sales with Keurig Dr Pepper, where he led numerous strategic growth initiatives across the United States. Earlier in his career, he was named Global Sales Achiever while serving as a national account manager at Mars Drinks, and he began his career as an energized Red Bull student brand manager. Kevin’s leadership style is rooted in collaboration and transparency, and he is active in major industry organizations like NAMA, World Coffee Research, the Specialty Coffee Association and the National Coffee Association. He believes long-term success is built through partnership and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional experiences.

Richard Amundson

Taylor Bartholomew-Bibikan has more than 13 years of experience in convenience services, foodservice and automated retail, driving growth, innovation and strategic partnerships. Throughout her career, she has played a key role in expanding customer relationships, scaling operations and supporting emerging technologies. Taylor is recognized for her ability to combine operational expertise with a strong focus on customer experience and business development. She currently serves as chairperson of NAMA Women in the Industry (WIN), where she is passionate about supporting mentorship, leadership development and greater opportunities for women across the industry. Taylor was also honored as one of the 2026 Most Influential Women in Convenience Services, recognizing her impact and leadership. Through her work with Automated Retail Technologies – Just Baked, she continues to advocate for innovation, collaboration and the advancement of the convenience services community.

Marcus Bess

Marcus Bess is a value stream manager with eight years of manufacturing experience, focused on operational improvement, innovation and team development. At Crane Convenience, Marcus is known for his collaborative approach and problem-solving skills. Marcus has led Kaizen events, JDIs and cross‑functional improvement initiatives to improve efficiency across operations, finance and pricing processes. He also helped bring new products to market, including Paypod solutions and a panelized cabinet, helping accelerate speed‑to‑market by working closely with engineering, manufacturing and hourly operations teams. Marcus also supported Paypod RD prototype deployment, working hands‑on with engineering and operations to meet customer commitments despite limited resources. A defining element of Marcus’s leadership is his focus on developing critical thinkers. Rather than simply providing answers, he mentors through questioning that encourages collaboration, creativity and ownership. He reinforces this approach through daily huddles, town halls and regular cross‑shift engagement. Marcus holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, an MBA in project management and Six Sigma Green and Black Belt certifications. Marcus leads with humility and curiosity, believing that strong teams are built by empowering people as subject-matter experts.

Naomi Book

Her peers nominated Naomi Book for her role as ROC regional manager at Next Level Refresh, VendTech’s operating division that provides vending, micro markets, smart coolers, office coffee and pantry service.

Kevin Brinton is the vice president of operations for Evergreen Refreshments, based out of the company’s corporate office in Renton, Wash. In his role, Kevin oversees four distinct distribution centers — Seattle, Olympia, Portland and Spokane — and leads the supporting functions across the broader BBV organization, including procurement, product management, and data analytics infrastructure. Beyond Evergreen Refreshments, Kevin actively contributes to the operation of the broader family of companies and investments as the organization transitions to its next generation of leadership. Kevin is a graduate of Anderson University in South Carolina, where he earned a degree in finance and data analytics while competing as a pitcher on the university’s baseball team. He currently resides in Kirkland, Wash. Outside of work, Kevin is an outdoor enthusiast. He recently completed his first half-Ironman (70.3) in Orlando and plans to compete in another 70.3 in Victoria, Canada, in June, followed by a full Ironman in October. He also enjoys travel, skiing (both snow and water), and spending as much time as possible outside.

Darnell Chisholm

McKee Christiansen is a senior financial planning and analysis analyst at Crane Convenience, where he has spent seven years supporting data‑driven decision across sales, product and operations. As the convenience services industry evolves through cashless technology and digital transformation, McKee plays a critical role in ensuring leaders have timely, accurate financial insights. One of McKee’s most significant accomplishments was helping to create a centralized data warehouse that integrated data from three enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. This initiative streamlined data collection, improved reporting accuracy and sped up analysis for corporate, sales and product teams. Beyond the project scope, McKee led an overhaul of customer groupings and sales representative assignments, simplifying reporting and eliminating manual workarounds. McKee demonstrates leadership through consistency, clarity and collaboration. He facilitates monthly business performance reporting and coordinates quarterly forecasting and annual planning across teams. Known for his responsiveness and transparent communication, McKee builds strong internal partnerships by setting clear expectations and following through. By empowering teams with accessible financial data and forward‑looking models, he enables smarter, faster decisions.

Rashad D. Cleveland

Rashad D. Cleveland is a Washington, D.C., native and Lake Conroe, Texas, resident with more than 12 years of experience in project management, technical operations and business development. A certified project management professional, Rashad is known for his disciplined approach to solving operational challenges and improving business performance. His career highlights include leading multi-country vendor deployments and directing cross-border teams from planning through implementation. He has developed operational frameworks that standardize workflows, reduce escalations and improve consistency across large account portfolios. He is also committed to helping owner-operators grow their businesses through technical support, hands-on training, seminars and field service. Currently serving in the vending and unattended retail industry, Rashad has become a trusted resource for operators navigating complex equipment deployments, vendor integrations, and operational challenges across national and international markets. Outside of work, Rashad is passionate about helping others and enjoys spending time with family and friends on or near the lake.

Emma Coats

With more than a decade of experience in healthcare and food service leadership, Emma Coats currently serves as director of nutrition services at Whitman Hospital & Medical Clinics. Her career began as a dietary aide and progressed into leadership roles through a commitment to innovation, operational excellence and exceptional customer service. She holds bachelor’s degrees in food and nutrition, exercise science and health from the University of Idaho. Throughout her career in long-term care and rural healthcare, she has led initiatives to improve dining services, reduce waste, mentor staff and expand food accessibility, including launching a successful 24/7 grab-and-go market for hospital employees and visitors. Known for her strong leadership, hands-on work ethic and ability to build high-performing teams, she is passionate about creating nutrition services programs that positively impact patients, staff and the broader community.

Adam Cook

Adam Cook is the director of OEM and channel sales at Cantaloupe, where he leads strategic partnerships and channel growth initiatives in the unattended retail industry. A combat veteran and former noncommissioned officer who served with the 10th Mountain Division as an infantryman, Adam brings leadership, accountability and mission-focused execution into his professional career. Adam’s primary focus is on integrating OEM technologies into the company’s payments and SaaS ecosystem, enabling operators to manage vending, micro markets, smart stores and emerging AI-powered retail solutions through a connected platform. He works closely with manufacturers, software developers and technology partners to accelerate integrations that improve operational visibility, payment acceptance and scalability. Adam has worked closely with technology providers worldwide to accelerate the adoption of connected commerce solutions. He is recognized for his expertise in unattended retail payments, enterprise partnerships and operational technology strategy.

Tom Day

With more than 14 years of operational leadership experience, Tom Day has built a career centered on improving performance, efficiency and team development. He started his leadership career as a retail manager focused on improving customer experience while driving sales growth. He joined Casco Bay Food and Beverage as a warehouse supervisor and quickly advanced to operations manager, demonstrating a strong ability to streamline processes and deliver results in a fast-paced environment. Known for his hands-on leadership style, he has developed teams, optimized operations and aligned day-to-day execution with broader business goals. Throughout his career, Tom has been recognized for leading through change, solving complex challenges and delivering measurable outcomes.

Yuxin Deng

Yuxin Deng currently serves as internal operations administrator at Next Level Refresh (formerly Naturals2Go Plus), overseeing internal operations across six regional centers. Over the past four years, Yuxin has built experience in operations management, supplier coordination and vending technology, with a strong focus on improving efficiency through automation and system optimization. One of her main areas of expertise is vending operating systems. She is actively involved in improving her company’s vending management system by providing operational insights and recommendations from the operator's perspective. She also works closely with suppliers and cross-functional teams to support daily operations and long-term process improvements. She is passionate about using technology to simplify operations, solve practical challenges and help teams operate more efficiently in a fast-growing environment.

Adriana Dominguez

Naturals2Go/Next Level Refresh started as a startup in El Paso, Texas, in 2025. As one of the company’s first hires, Adriana Dominquez played a key role in helping grow the business to $1.4 million in revenue within its first year. In the startup phase, she wore many hats and took on responsibilities across multiple departments, including warehouse operations, account management, purchasing, cash accountability, kitchen operations, and equipment installation and repair. Working in a fast-paced environment allowed her to develop a broad skillset and contribute wherever needed. As the company expanded and operations scaled, she earned the opportunity to step into the warehouse manager role. She credits the dedication, collaboration and support of the incredible team she works alongside for contributing to her growth and success.

Megan Finneran

Megan Finneran is an accomplished sales professional with more than 10 years of experience in the vending industry. Having grown up in a family-owned vending and foodservice business, she developed an early understanding of the industry and built a career spanning multiple channels, including broker, distributor and manufacturing. In 2023, she joined Kitchen Fresh Foods as regional sales manager, where she leveraged her relationships with operators and distributor expertise to drive growth across the Midwest. Kitchen Fresh Foods is a USDA-approved manufacturer and distributor of fresh, prepackaged foods, serving the vending, micro market and convenience channels with fresh and frozen items. She helps connect customers with solutions that combine quality, flexibility and reliable service. Megan has remained actively engaged in the industry by attending numerous NAMA shows, CTW events and professional seminars. She also served as a board member of the Mid-America Automatic Merchandising Association (MAMA) from 2017 to 2018.

Caroline Holden

Caroline Holden is currently the director of office coffee services at All Star Services, based out of Port Huron, Mich. After graduating from Western Michigan University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, she moved home to work alongside her brothers, Duncan and Devin Smith, and her husband, Jon Holden. Together, the four are integral parts of operating the family’s third-generation business. In addition to providing exceptional pantry, coffee, Bevi and water services to All Star’s valued clients, Caroline manages the product portfolio and supplier partnerships while continually seeking to enhance operational efficiency and elevate customer experiences. Caroline has won awards for Most Influential Women in Convenience Services (2023), Pros to Know (2024), and Best Lunch Packer from her son’s third-grade class.

Evan Jarecki

In 2014, Evan Jarecki co-founded Gimme out of Georgia Tech’s Create-X, convinced that unattended retail deserved better technology. He spent the early years in the trenches: working out of a spare equipment warehouse, grinding through support tickets and learning from operators. Over a decade later, Gimme VMS, Field, Mobile Pick and Key Pro power millions of DEX transactions and machine images across the country, helping operators tighten inventory accuracy, route efficiency and cash accountability. Out team built it on empathy, grit and treating customers like actual partners, and that part Evan says he is most proud of. Evan has been named to Automatic Merchandiser’s Pros to Know four times. He is an active mentor with Georgia Tech’s Create-X. He is a fundraiser and advocate for Breakthrough T1D, a cause he lives personally. Gimme’s been Evan’s life’s work, and he believes the journey is far from over.

Ashlee Jewell

Her peers nominated Ashlee Jewell for her role as vice president of growth at Next Level Refresh, VendTech’s operating division that provides vending, micro markets, OCS and pantry services.

Gage Johnston is a product marketing and market insights manager with a foundation built from hands-on operator experience across specialty coffee and hospitality. Now serving in product marketing and insights roles with Franke Coffee Systems Americas, he leads market insights, product launches and thought leadership initiatives that help operators adopt and scale advanced solutions. Gage’s perspective is rooted in real-world execution. Having been a prior director of coffee and beverages, he oversaw end-to-end beverage strategy, sourcing, training and multi-channel program development, working closely with executive leadership to drive growth and align operations with brand vision. Earlier in his career, he built roasting and product-innovation programs and contributed to specialty coffee processing and farm-level quality control. By combining data-driven strategy with practical field experience, Gage delivers actionable insights that help operators improve efficiency, elevate quality and grow sustainably across vending, micro market and café environments.

Chad Jones

Chad Jones is a mechanical engineer at Pyramid Technologies Inc., Mesa, Ariz. An Ohio native, Chad attended ASU, where he received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and mechanical engineering, with an emphasis in robotics. Now living with his wife in Chandler, Ariz., he enjoys working out, being outside, playing board and video games, and competing in robotic combat tournaments. At Pyramid Technologies Inc., he supports new product development and sustaining engineering for bill acceptors, printers, kiosks and embedded payment systems. With more than six years of mechanical engineering experience, he specializes in product design, design for manufacturing (DFM), SolidWorks, SolidWorks PDM, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), prototyping, production tooling and electromechanical assemblies. As part of Automatic Merchandiser’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026, he is proud to contribute to an industry focused on reliable unattended retail and payment technology using an engineering approach that emphasizes practical design, manufacturability and continuous improvement.

Juan Jorquera

Juan Jorquera entered the industry in 2011 as a co-founder of Vagabond, the VMS and vīv touchless payments platform provider, which he helped grow and manage as chief revenue officer and chief marketing officer for 12 years until its sale to PayRange in 2023. Juan joined the Tech 2 Success team shortly thereafter, where he works as a business development manager, providing the industry with the best technology tools to increase revenue and efficiency. Juan has taken part in numerous industry leadership roles, including serving on NAMA’s Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) steering committee for several years, serving as vice-chair of the NAMA Education committee, and participating in many NAMA DC Fly-In events. In addition to his work in the industry, Juan enjoys playing numerous sports, riding his bike around New York City, performing as a DJ at all kinds of events, and producing music to push underground Latin sounds.

Ana Martins

Ana Martins is a customer service team leader at Crane Convenience, where she has spent the past five years strengthening vending and micro market operations through leadership, process improvement and a customer‑focused mindset. She leads frontline customer service teams and serves as a bridge connecting customers, field teams and operations to ensure clear communication and fast, effective issue resolution. Ana has helped build high-performing teams while improving workflows, ticket handling and reporting. Her efforts contributed to a 94% improvement in SLA response times, stronger first-contact resolution rates and ongoing gains in customer satisfaction. Her global background shapes how she leads. Born in Brazil and educated in France, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in international business from the Sorbonne, Ana has also lived and worked in China and Canada. Those experiences help her communicate across cultures, adapt quickly and anticipate customer needs. Ana leads with empathy, accountability and collaboration. She empowers team members while remaining calm and solution-oriented in high pressure situations.

Murphy McCullough

Murphy McCullough leads Cantaloupe’s push into the residential space, helping operators tap into a channel that’s long been underdeveloped. He’s put structure in place for how operators connect with property owners and management groups, giving them a clearer path to win business in apartments and multi-family housing. That work is already helping operators break into a segment that’s historically been difficult to access and build more stable, diversified revenue streams. Murphy is just as comfortable in conversations with corporate decision-makers as he is working through the realities operators face day-to-day. That range allows him to seize ownership-level opportunities and translate them into deals that operators can actually win and support. He leads with a strong performance mindset. His teams are focused, accountable, and always improving, and he brings the same discipline to his approach to partnerships and expansion. Murphy is pushing operators to think beyond their traditional footprint and to give them a practical, repeatable way to expand into new environments.

Patrick McGinty

Patrick McGinty is the founder of VendVue, a nationwide sales engine transforming how vending, micro market, office coffee and unattended retail operators grow their businesses. A recognized innovator in the convenience services industry, Patrick previously built and scaled a 2,000-machine vending operation before successfully exiting to a national company. Today, through VendVue, he helps operators secure enterprise-level opportunities across manufacturing, healthcare, education, hospitality and multifamily sectors through a nationwide sales engine. Known for his bold industry vision and relationship-driven approach, Patrick has become a respected voice in unattended retail and business growth strategy. Beyond business, Patrick is passionate about philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, cooking and creating meaningful experiences for his family. He and his wife, Kristine, are raising four boys, and much of his time outside of work is centered around family dinners, hosting gatherings and building strong traditions at home.

Ashley Mutter

Ashley Mutter is a proud Grand Valley State University alumna, where she earned her degree in advertising. As digital marketing manager at G & J Marketing and Sales, Ashley has played a key role in growing the company’s marketing department and expanding the marketing solutions offered to our supplier and industry partners. One of her most notable achievements was leading the launch of Showpad, G & J’s sales enablement platform, which streamlined internal workflows and strengthened how the sales team goes to market. Before joining G & J, Ashley built her marketing expertise through social media and creative roles in the branded merchandise, fine art, and wedding industries. This diverse background fostered a strong appreciation for the brands she now supports and uniquely prepared her to navigate the evolving convenience services landscape. Ashley lives with her husband, Cody, and their energetic dog, Ruby.

Joel Myers

With a background spanning finance, analytics and operations, Joel Myers serves as vice president of Treasure Valley Coffee, helping lead the company’s growth across Idaho, Oregon and Washington. A graduate of the University of Idaho with dual degrees in accounting and operations management, he began his career in financial technology and healthcare, building expertise in financial analysis, operational strategy and data-driven decision making. At Treasure Valley Coffee, he has led key organizational initiatives focused on technology adoption, custom reporting and process improvement, helping drive profitability and operational scalability. He has also overseen coffee sourcing strategy and pricing management through one of the most volatile coffee markets in industry history, including the development of proprietary forecasting tools to support purchasing and risk-management decisions. In addition, he has played a major role in acquisitions, divestitures, leadership development and the expansion into new product categories, helping position the company for long-term growth.

Logan Neel

Logan Neel is a software engineer at Pyramid Technologies Inc., where he helps develop technology for convenience services and unattended retail. As a lead developer, Logan works on new cashless payment devices and technologies that have not yet reached the market. In addition, he manages the core development and maintenance of bill validator software to ensure transaction security. Beyond hardware integration, he also works with telemetry data, helping operators better understand sales trends and machine activity. By analyzing what sells and where, his work helps operators maximize their revenue and efficiency. Logan’s technical leadership and forward-thinking approach to telemetry mark him as a standout innovator shaping the future of convenience services.

Frank Pinto

Frank Pinto is an account executive for the Southeast at 365 Retail Markets, a global leader in unattended retail technology solutions. In this role, he works with operators to help drive growth, improve operational efficiency and support business expansion through innovative retail technology. Pinto began his career with Parlevel Systems, where he specialized in vending management systems (VMS). Throughout his career, he has helped numerous operators streamline operations, improve visibility into their businesses and adopt technology to enhance efficiency and customer experience. Over the past four years, Pinto has built strong client relationships with a focus on new business and helping operators scale for the long term.

Tanya Rawal

Tanya Rawal is the global marketing manager for Crane Convenience, part of Crane Payment Innovations, where she leads marketing for self‑service retail solutions across vending, coffee, payments and software. With more than seven years of marketing experience, Tanya joined CPI in 2022 and worked across multiple business units before becoming marketing lead for Crane Convenience. One of Tanya’s key accomplishments was leading the rebrand of CPI’s vending business as Crane Convenience. She led brand strategy, naming, trademarking and website development efforts,  working closely with product, legal and executive teams. She also led the market launch of the new brand and its messaging. Through strong cross‑functional leadership, Tanya brings clarity and focus to marketing execution across the organization. She led the rollout of a new commercialization process for Crane Convenience, coordinating efforts across sales, strategy and customer excellence teams. She was also the first at CPI to use webinars as a lead‑generation tool, generating more than 300 leads in six months for another business unit. Originally from India, Tanya holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and brings a global perspective to her work in the convenience services industry.

Dylan Reiner

Dylan Reiner is the director of sales, foodservice and alternative channels at Odyssey Functional Energy, where he oversees the brand’s business across unattended retail, corporate pantry programs and other alternative channels. At just 26 years old, Dylan has helped build Odyssey’s business in these channels, establishing national distribution and expanding the brand into thousands of locations. Over the past year, Dylan has played a key role in introducing Odyssey to a channel long dominated by established energy brands with longstanding distribution and shelf-space advantages. Through partnerships with operators and distributors, he has expanded Odyssey’s presence across unattended retail. Dylan is focused on expanding convenience services operators’ access to Odyssey’s functional energy products as consumer demand for better-for-you alternatives continues to grow.

Elijah Schmunk

Elijah Schmunk is general manager of Moran Refreshments and a member of the National Automatic Merchandiser Association’s Emerging Leaders Network. He was recognized in 2024 as one of Automatic Merchandiser’s Top 40 Under 40 in the vending, micro market and office coffee industry. Elijah holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Portland State University. He is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Immersion Program and the BPAA Service Industry Leadership Program. He is HubSpot-certified in Inbound Marketing and an active member of Tyler Morning Toastmasters. Elijah and his wife, Trinity, have been married since 2024 and have a nine-month-old son named Sawyer.

Mariah Silva

Mariah Silva is a partner at Vendo-Snacks, a Tampa-based vending and micro market company focused on delivering modern breakroom solutions. With a background in operations, customer service and project coordination, she brings a structured, high-end feel to a traditionally transactional industry. Mariah has played a key role in the company’s rapid growth, expanding operations by 240% within the last year. Her work emphasizes elevating industry standards and meeting clients where they are with preferences and tap-to-pay options. Her dedication shines through a strong focus on client relations and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in daily operations.

Ariadni Skliri

Ariadni Skliri is a global product manager at Crane Convenience, part of Crane Payment Innovations, with more than eight years of experience in product management, growth and innovation within the convenience services industry. She leads global product initiatives for connected coffee and vending solutions, managing product portfolios and cross-functional teams. She is currently leading the European launch of a connected coffee platform in June 2026. The platform provides operators with connected machine management, digital interfaces and access to operational data to inform decision-making. In addition to her role at Crane Convenience, Ariadni serves as chairperson of the European Vending Machine Manufacturers Association (EVMMA) and as a member of the executive committee of the European Vending Association (EVA). Her global product leadership and industry governance experience position her as a rising leader driving both business performance and the future evolution of the convenience services industry.

Dylan Sogor

Dylan Sogor is vice president of operational excellence at Five Star Breaktime Solutions, the largest Canteen franchisee in the country. In this role, he is responsible for converting the company’s value drivers into sustained margin growth, EBITDA improvement, and scalability across all lines of business. Before stepping into the VP role, Dylan served as a regional vice president, overseeing P&L performance, pricing strategy, shrink mitigation, operational execution, and leadership development across multiple businesses. He started his career in frontline operations, advanced through a range of leadership roles across the business and has also owned and operated multiple companies outside of his corporate career. Dylan is currently completing his executive MBA at Duke University Fuqua School of Business, with a focus on finance, strategy, and private equity. His long-term interests center around operational transformation, value creation, and scaling businesses through disciplined execution.

Stanley Talley

James Truett has more than five years of experience in the foodservice industry, specializing in product management and marketing. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In his current role at Franke, James manages the Fresh Brew line and leads the planning and execution of trade shows and industry events. He manages event budgets and marketing execution efforts to support business goals. James has supported product launches and worked with teams across the organization to improve marketing and operational processes. He is passionate about delivering innovative solutions that align with evolving customer needs and industry trends.

Joe Turso

Joe Turso began in the convenience services industry as a 5-gal bottled water delivery driver at age 22. He worked in that role for a few years while exploring other roles, such as those in the warehouse and as a technician. Seeing an opportunity, he took a job as an OCS office coffee services route driver, where he developed an interest in both the management and vending sides of the business. Looking to broaden his experience, he became a road service technician. Traveling to accounts when service was needed, Joe gained a new perspective on the business as he worked to fix customer issues and concerns. Next, he took on a dual role of technician and account manager/salesman. It was in that role that he began to thrive. As customers reached out to him with “every issue imaginable,” he gained a deep understanding of the industry’s challenges. Company leadership noticed that customers were seeking out Joe directly for his thorough and careful service. Leadership began looking for a role that could utilize Joe’s entire skill set, but in the meantime, the company was acquired. Joe began exploring new opportunities within the industry and spoke with several companies interested in bringing him on. When he met with Fox Vending, all things seemed to fall into place. He joined Fox Vending soon afterward. Since joining Fox Vending, he has helped support the company's continued growth and operational improvements.

Eliran Vaknin

Eliran Vaknin is the chief product officer and U.S. site manager at Shekel NA, where he oversees product development and North American operations for the company’s smart weighing and retail technology business. With more than nine years at Shekel, Eliran has helped guide the company’s evolution into a product-first, SaaS-oriented organization. Early in his tenure at Shekel, Eliran helped build the company’s smart cooler platform, including its product architecture, cloud management system, and hardware stack that quickly recognizes products by weight and location. His hands-on experience spans smart coolers, micro markets and convenience stores. Prior to Shekel, Eliran co-founded Supersmart.me, a retail technology company focused on AI-powered autonomous checkout for brick-and-mortar stores. The platform enabled a frictionless, grab-and-go shopping experience. The experience helped shape his passion for unattended and autonomous retail. Eliran continues to focus on technologies that simplify and improve the unattended retail experience.

Antares Vargas

Antares Villasenor Vargas is the founder of Keep That Vending, a luxury vending and micro market company redefining modern convenience through design, technology, and curated retail experiences. A USC alumna, Antares began her career in entertainment as an executive producer and editor in unscripted television, contributing to projects for HBO, Amazon, Discovery Channel, the NFL, and productions involving Oprah Winfrey, while also producing on the Primetime Emmy Awards. Today, she brings that same cinematic eye for storytelling, aesthetics, and audience experience into the convenience services industry. Under her leadership, KTV has become known for its design-forward installations, curated product assortments, and hospitality-driven approach to modern retail. Antares approaches each machine and micro market as more than a point of sale, but as an intentional extension of the environment it serves. Serving luxury residential communities, workplaces, and hospitality spaces across Southern California, KTV has built a reputation for blending operational excellence with elevated customer experience. In 2026, Antares was nominated as a Most Influential Women in Convenience Services honoree, recognizing emerging female leaders shaping the future of the convenience services industry.

Luke Weir

Luke Weir is a highly goal-oriented and results-driven professional who consistently demonstrates dedication to both his organization and the broader independent operator community. He initially joined Unified Strategies Group Inc. as marketing director, where he brought strategic vision and energy to strengthening member engagement and growth. More recently, he has taken on the role of purchasing director, further expanding his impact within the organization. In his current role, Luke has proven himself to be a skilled and tenacious negotiator. His ability to secure strong vendor partnerships and favorable terms directly benefits independent operators, helping them remain competitive in an evolving marketplace. He is committed to ensuring that members receive maximum value and support through the co-op. Beyond his professional capabilities, Luke is known for his approachable and friendly demeanor. He builds strong relationships across the industry and is deeply dedicated to advancing opportunities for independent operators. His contributions reflect both innovation and a genuine passion for the success of others. Luke Weir’s leadership, industry involvement, and unwavering commitment make him an exceptional candidate for this recognition.

Michael Wood

Michael is an experienced product management and analytics professional with a passion for product at a tactical and strategic level. Driven by a customer-centric approach to every solution, Michael applies an innovative and analytical mindset to tackle challenges and opportunities in the market. Currently based in the London office as senior manager of product management, Michael is recognized by colleagues for consistently going above and beyond to support team members internationally. His dedication, responsiveness and commitment to helping others make him a highly valued member of the 365 Retail Markets team.