New York City’s Jumbotron in Times Square has announced the appointment of the National Automatic Merchandising Association’s (NAMA) new president and CEO, Carla Balakgie, FASE, CAE. Balakgie is the first woman in the organization’s 75-year history to ever hold the position, and also the first ever to be featured on the Jumbotron.
Balakgie comes to NAMA from the Electronic Transactions Association, (ETA) where she served as CEO for eight years, and she will officially assume her new responsibilities at NAMA on December 1. Until then, Dan Mathews, NCE5, CCS is serving as Interim President and CEO.
Editor’s Insight: A lot of exciting things are happening in refreshment services today. This announcement on Times Square’s Jumbotron comes on the heels of the recent NAMA Gratitude Tour, which introduced vending technology to seven U.S. cities. It also comes on the heels of the NAMA CoffeeTea&Water Show in Las Vegas this week, which set a new attendance record.
NAMA’s board and staff deserve a lot of credit for the hard work they have done in the last year.
Every refreshment service operator has a lot to gain from belonging to NAMA. 10-21-11 By Elliot Maras