Josh Rosenberg returns to the NAMA Show with a venture powered by data, tech and the next generation
He is a seasoned veteran of convenience services, but these days, Josh Rosenberg sounds more like a proud dad. With Forward Thinkers, his new consulting firm, he brings new insights to the convenience services industry — driven by data analysis, digital technology and his sons, in a new generation of consultants.
For Josh Rosenberg, it will be a different kind of NAMA Show. The former NAMA chairperson and Industry Person of the Year will be working side by side with several clients, including Launch Hydrate, where you can visit him in booth #1476, and Fixturelite, whose fixtures will be prominently displayed throughout the show.
Josh will also be a part of NAMA’s education program on Thursday, May 8, with two sessions:
- Preparing to Secure Great Locations at 8:30 a.m.
- Roundtable: How Established Operators Can Continue Growing at 9:30 a.m.
Another big difference for Rosenberg, he now runs a family business — a lifelong dream — as his consulting firm, Forward Thinkers, features two of his sons. Ethan Rosenberg, digital content creator, research specialist and data scientist, helps operators and suppliers to identify business opportunities, maximize the performance of their website and use digital technology to take lead generation to another level. Additionally, Isaac Rosenberg is the social media manager at Forward Thinkers, part of the team that puts data to work with careful strategic planning and scheduled deployment of digital tools.
Other key talent in his agency roster includes Tyler Bradbury, brand strategist, assisting in content creation, social media and go-to-market; Simeon Yanev, creative director that helps bring brand vision to life through compelling design across all channels, and Christophe Jobin, customer experience and technical engineer, focused on product management and delivery.
Experience and technology
“It was humbling moment for me recently, when a new operator client told me that while my experience was a big reason why he decided to work with us, the real reason was my team, including my sons, who make us a differentiator with their ability to put data to work, in addition to their obvious understanding of today’s young decision makers and how to reach them,” said Josh. “It made me proud as a dad, and it truly defined for me what sets us apart. Experience and technology working together.”
Josh Rosenberg has no shortage of experience:
- At Coca-Cola for more than 18 years, he held progressive leadership positions in sales, operations, strategy, brand and marketing, including appointment to the redesign of North American bottling operations and creating Coca-Cola Refreshment Services.
- At Forward Thinkers, as a growth consultant, Josh has worked with more than 50 companies across 25+ industries to optimize customer journey strategies, implement digital transformations and develop robust human capital strategies.
- At Capitol Coffee, he is a partner at the coffee roaster and equipment service company, based in Raleigh, N.C.
- At Keystone Partners, he serves as an executive coach and is co-author of the leadership organizational assessment product, a tool for private equity and business acquisitions, designed to assess organizational health and drive leadership effectiveness.
- At Accent Food Services, he served as chairman, CEO and partner, where he grew the company from $38M to $165M and led it through a successful change of control at a 14x multiple, ultimately exiting to Sodexo as part of InReach.
In the NAMA session, “Preparing to Secure Great Locations,” Rosenberg said he will focus on the strong business pillars that Forward Thinkers focuses on with current clients. “Much of it is about establishing and building your brand, plus changing the way big potential clients perceive where your company is positioned in the market,” he added.
Forward Thinkers supports clients in several areas, including:
- Business strategy
- Sales and marketing growth
- Digital transformation
- Human capital optimization
- Merger and acquisition
- Executive coaching
“We will be touching on all of these areas on May 8, so attend the sessions. It will definitely be worth your time,” said Josh. “Or please reach out, and let’s schedule a meeting.”
Forward Thinkers is a boutique consulting firm based in Austin, Texas, founded by Josh Rosenberg, a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience in corporate leadership, private equity and business transformation. The firm specializes in helping businesses unlock growth through a combination of strategic consulting, digital transformation and executive coaching.
Contact Forward Thinkers at 512-470-8390 or [email protected].
Bob Tullio
Bob Tullio is a content specialist, speaker, sales trainer, consultant and contributing editor of Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com. He advises entrepreneurs on how to build a successful business from the ground up. He specializes in helping suppliers connect with operators in the convenience services industry — coffee service, vending, micro markets and pantry service specifically. He can be reached at 818-261-1758 and [email protected]. Tullio welcomes your feedback.
Subscribe to Automatic Merchandiser’s new podcast, Vending & OCS Nation, which Tullio hosts. Each episode is designed to make your business more profitable.
