CHICAGO – JULY 31, 2019 – James A. Rost, NAMA President and CEO from 1988 – 1998, passed away July 22. Before joining NAMA he briefly served as Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of Canteen Corp. as a result of the late – 1985 purchase of Interstate United Corporation by Canteen’s parent company Transworld Corporation.
Jim joined Interstate United as President and Chief Executive Officer in April, 1979 from ARA Services, Inc., Philadelphia, where he was Senior Vice President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors. While with ARA, he also served on the Board of Directors of VS Services, Ltd., a publicly traded Canadian affiliate. Previously, he was associated with Arthur Andersen & Co., Certified Public Accountants, after serving three years as an officer in the United States Air Force. Jim was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant.
A native of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, Jim graduated from Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with a degree in Economics. He did post-graduate work at Syracuse University, St. Mary’s University (San Antonio, Texas) and St. Joseph’s College (Pennsylvania).
Jim had been active in numerous business and civic organizations. In 1986, he became Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Automatic Merchandising Association, having served on the Board since 1980. He also served on the Advisory Council of the Marquette University School of Business.
Jim is survived by Rita Rost, Alice and Tom Kecseg, Philip and Patricia Rost, Jeanette Rost Staiger, John Rost and Karen Rupley, Patrick and Kristina O’Neill, Amy O’Neill, Marina Staiger, Jack Staiger, William Staiger, Kevin O’Neill and Judy Gilpin.
Founded in 1936, NAMA is the association representing the $26 billion U.S. convenience services industry. With nearly 1,000-member companies – including many of the world’s most recognized brands – NAMA provides advocacy, education and research for its membership. Visit NAMA on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
