(CHICAGO) April 27, 2016 -- NAMA’s Government Affairs Division is excited to announce the industry leaders who will serve as “Captains” for the second annual industry-wide Washington, DC advocacy event – NAMA Takes the Hill 2016, taking place July 12-13, 2016.
Led by event co-chairs and vending operators, Jeff Smith of All Star Services and Todd Elliott of Tomdra, the NAMA Fly-In invites all industry members to attend and make your voice heard on Capitol Hill with your Senators and Members of Congress.
NAMA Takes the Hill 2016 is already shaping up to surpass all metrics set at last year’s inaugural event. The 2015 Fly-In included 14 industry leaders as captains to assist in driving participation. For 2016, the number has increased to 65 and the role of the captain has been expanded to not only include driving participation, but serving as mentors for new attendees.
“I am excited to see the increased involvement in the planning stages of this event and the number of industry leaders who have stepped up to participate in an even more active role this year,” said Jeff Smith, Event Co-Chair and Chair of NAMA’s Government Affairs Committee.
“Currently, the Fly-In registration stands at nearly 165 registered attendees representing 31 states and the District of Columbia,” said Eric Dell, NAMA SVP of Government Affairs. “With two and a half months until the event, we anticipate that participation will dramatically increase, far surpassing last year’s levels.”
Below is a list of the 2016 Fly-In Captains:
Josh Rosenberg, Accent Food Services
Craig Hesch, A.H. Management, Inc.
Jeff Smith, All Star Services
Larry Atnip, Atnip Brokerage
Stu Case, Avanti Markets
Elyssa Allayahar, Avanti Markets
John Seeberger, BBI
Mike Kelley, BBI
Kathy O’Brien, Biscomerica
Scott Meskin, Black Tie Services
Anant Agrawal, Cantaloupe Systems
Robert Donohue, Canteen
Betsy O’Brien, Canteen
Shivani Gupta, Canteen
Scott Corley, Coca-Cola
Bud Burke, CoffeeMatt
Nicky Gacos, Colorado Café
John Barnes, Company Kitchen
Chip English, Continental Vending
Chuck Reed, CPI
Kevin Kaid, Crane Merchandising Systems
Carla Variglotti, The Cuyahoga Group
Steve Richardson, Demitri Chesapeake Brokerage
Elliott Teitelbaum, Elliot's Vending Company, Inc.
Paul Plante, Florida Fresh Vending
Lori Endres, G&J Marketing and Sales
Greg Sidwell, G&J Marketing and Sales
Mark Kelley, General Mills
Cyndi Brodt, General Mills
Pete Tullio, Gourmet Coffee Services
Paul Tullio, Gourmet Coffee Services
Mark Dieffenbach, The Hershey Company
Barbara Russell, Holiday House Distributing
Lance Whorton, Imperial Vending
Mike Knowlton, Kellogg's
CJ Carter, Kimble’s Food by Design
Gary Nelson, Liberty Enterprises
Mark Stein, Mark Vend
Steve Van Deusen, Mars Chocolate
Patrick Moran, Moran Munchies
Ted Goodwin, Nestle-Nestle
Michael Patterson, The Patterson Company
Brian Gill, PayRange
Mike Brown, PGI Services
Paul Schindelar, PHS Advisors
Lou Pace, Quality Brokerage, Inc.
Ryan Fawns, Quality Brokerage, Inc.
Jennifer Toomey, Refreshment Solutions
Dominic Macerola, Rome Refreshment Services
John Murn, RSA Management Group
Rod Nester, Smith Vending
Scott Plaisted, Southern Refreshment Services
Chris Hart, Southern Refreshment Services
Sofia Gallichio, Thayer Distribution
Maxwell Elliott, Tomdra, Inc.
Mike Lawlor, USA Technologies, Inc.
Amy Bartholomee, Vend Central, Inc.
Bill Carpenter, Vend Natural
Brent Garson, Vendors Exchange International
Connie Baarlaer, Vendors Supply
Kelly Saad, Vistar
Dan Walsh, Vistar
Susan McManus, Vistar
Brent Farrell, Vitality Vending
Jeff West, Jr., West Dairy & Vending
“The Fly-In is making a difference for the industry,” said Paul Plante of Florida Fresh “It is important for everyone in the industry to attend this free event and make our voice heard in DC. Educating elected officials and their staff members is something that has to be done in a consistent manner year-after-year to be effective.”
“I am honored to serve as an event captain and encourage Emerging Leaders from across the country to attend this important event, said Mike Kelley, Chair of NAMA’s Emerging Leaders Network. “It is vital that we work together and get involved in events like the Fly-In to protect and promote the industry for the future.”
For more information and to register to attend, please visit http://www.namaflyin.org/.
