Each year at The NAMA Show and CTW, NAMA recognizes outstanding leaders and companies in convenience services with four top honors:
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Coffee Legend of the Year honors a pioneer and innovator with at least a decade of impact on the coffee industry.
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Industry Person of the Year honors an individual who has set the standard for excellence and leadership across convenience services.
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Operator of the Year honors a company that drives industry growth through innovation and advancement.
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Allied Member of the Year honors a supplier partner that demonstrates integrity, leadership, and dedication to operator success.
2026 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
April Cathcart, Chief Operating Officer, G&J Marketing & Sales
Operator of the Year
Seventh Wave Refreshments
Allied Member of the Year
365 Retail Markets
2025 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Mark Stein, President, Mark Vend Co. (retired)
Operator of the Year
The Pepi Companies
Allied Member of the Year
VendCentral, Inc.
Coffee Legend of the Year
Jim Carbone, WithMe, Inc.
2024 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Jim Brinton, Evergreen Refreshments
Operator of the Year
American Food & Vending
Allied Member of the Year
Vistar
Coffee Legend of the Year
Scott Berman, Canteen
2023 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
David Marler, LightSpeed Sales Executive, 365 Retail Markets
Operator of the Year
Patrick D. Moran, President, Moran Refreshments
Allied Member of the Year
G & J Marketing and Sales
Coffee Legend of the Year
Karalynn McDermott, Eversys
2022 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Mike Brown, President, PGI Services
Operator of the Year
Trolley Hospitality Companies
Allied Member of the Year
Translucent LLC
Coffee Legend of the Year
Dick Atnip, Atnip Co., Inc.
2021 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Greg Sidwell, President, G & J Marketing and Sales
Operator of the Year
Jerry Scott, Vice President and General Manager, Canteen of Coastal California
Allied Member of the Year
John Hickey, Co-Founder, Tech 2 Success
Coffee Legend of the Year
Tom Steuber, President&Owner, Associated Coffee Services
2020 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
NickyGacos, Colorado Café Associates
Operator of the Year
Craig Kushner, President, Monumental Markets
Allied Member of the Year
Greg Garson, Vice President of Sales, Vendors Exchange International
Coffee Legend of the Year
Barbara Russell, Vice President of Sales and Marketing,Holiday House Distributing
2019 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Heidi Chico, CEO, U-Select-It
Operator of the Year
Peter Fetherston, CEO, Canteen
Allied Member of the Year
Larry Atnip, VP Atnip Co., Inc. and President, Premier Broker Partners
Coffee Legend of the Year
Howard Chapman, Former President, Royal Cup Coffee
2018 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Joe Hessling, Founder & CEO, 365 Markets
Operator of the Year
Jeff Smith,Chairman& CEO, All Star Vending
Allied Member of the Year
Mike Lawlor, Chief Services Officer, USA Technologies Systems
Coffee Legend of the Year
Mike Tompkins, Founder, Coffee Products Associates
2017 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Randy Smith, President & CEO, LightSpeed Automation
Operator of the Year
Lance Whorton, President & CEO, Imperial
Allied Member of the Year
Mandeep Arora, Co-Founder & CEO, Cantaloupe Systems
Coffee Legend of the Year
Ken Shea, G&J Marketing and Sales
2016 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Joshua J. Rosenberg, President & CEO, Accent Food Services
Operator of the Year
Scott Meskin, President, Black Tie Services
Allied Member of the Year
Art Wittern, Chairman, U-Select-It
Coffee Legend of the Year
Dean Gilland, Former Vice President of Sales & Service, NAMA
2015 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Mark Dieffenbach, NCE5,Director of Specialty Channels,The Hershey Company
Operator of the Year
Alan Recher, President and CEO,Five Star Food Service
Allied Member of the Year
Paul Schindelar, NCE, CCS, Former Vice President of Sales, Mondelēz International, Inc.
Coffee Legend of the Year
Lowell Shindler, Co-Founder, U.S. Coffee
2014 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Marc Whitener, CEO, Refreshment Solutions
Vending
Operator of the Year
Dan Marchetti,CEO,Rendezvous Music & Vending
Vending
Allied Member of the Year
Randy Smith,President & CEO, LightSpeed Automation
Coffee Service
Allied Member of the Year
Bryan Real,President, United Food Group
Coffee Service
Operator of the Year
David Henchel, President & CEO, Corporate Coffee Systems
Coffee Legend of the Year
John Conti, Founder, John Conti Coffee Company
2013 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Pete Tullio,CEO,World WideVending and Gourmet Coffee Service
Vending
Operator of the Year
Todd Elliott, Vice President & General Manager,Tomdra, Inc.
Vending
Allied Member of the Year
Mark Kelley, Western Regional Sales Manager, General Mills
Coffee Service
Allied Member of the Year
Jeff Rawlins,Vice President, Vend Catering Supply
Coffee Service
Operator of the Year
Jeff Deitchler,General Manager,PrairieFireCoffee Roasters
Coffee Legendof the Year
Joe Webster, Founder, Newco Enterprises
2012 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Craig Hesch, NCE5, Owner, A.H. Management Group, Inc.
Coffee Service
Operator of the Year
Ken Shea, NCE5, Vice President & Director of Field Operations, The Standard Companies, Inc.
Vending
Operator of the Year
Dan Hart, Owner, Southern Refreshment Services-Canteen
Vending
Allied Member of the Year
Brent Garson, President, Vendors Exchange International
Coffee Service
Allied Member of the Year
Tim Wayne, Director of Sales, The Folgers Coffee Co.
Coffee Legend of the Year
Fred Steiner,President, Imperial Coffeeand Services, Inc.
2011 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Dr. Michael Kasavana, Endowed Professor, School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University
Vending
Operator of the Year
Craig Kushner, President, Monumental Vending
Vending
Allied Member of the Year
Steven Richardson, President,DeMitriChesapeake Sales
Coffee Service AlliedMember of the Year
Tim Cleland, Sales Manager, F. Gavina & Sons, Inc.
Coffee Legend of the Year
Hal Steuber, Former President, Associated Services Coffee Co.
Industry Person of the Year
Ben Ginsberg, Founder, Editor & Publisher, Vending & OCS Magazine
Coffee Service
Operator of the Year
Leo Fante,Vice President of Business Development, Consumers Choice Coffee
Vending
Operator of the Year
Greg Carron,President, Rainbow Vending
Vending
Allied Member of the Year
Doug Gillie,President, Vistar (Ontario, CA)
Coffee Service
Allied Member of the Year
Sid Lindholm,AFH National Account Executive, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
NAMA Coffee Services Hall of Fame