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, 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, 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, 365 Retail Markets
Operator of the Year
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, 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, G & J Marketing and Sales
Operator of the Year
Canteen
Allied Member of the Year
Tech 2 Success
Coffee Legend of the Year
Tom Steuber, Associated Coffee Services
2020 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Nicky Gacos, Colorado Café Associates
Operator of the Year
Monumental Markets
Allied Member of the Year
Vendors Exchange International
Coffee Legend of the Year
Barbara Russell, Holiday House Distributing
2019 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Heidi Chico, U-Select-It
Operator of the Year
Canteen
Allied Member of the Year
Premier Broker Partners
Coffee Legend of the Year
Howard Chapman, Royal Cup Coffee
2018 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Joe Hessling, 365 Markets
Operator of the Year
All Star Vending
Allied Member of the Year
USA Technologies Systems
Coffee Legend of the Year
Mike Tompkins, Coffee Products Associates
2017 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Randy Smith, LightSpeed Automation
Operator of the Year
Imperial
Allied Member of the Year
Cantaloupe Systems
Coffee Legend of the Year
Ken Shea, G & J Marketing and Sales
2016 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Joshua J. Rosenberg, Accent Food Services
Operator of the Year
Black Tie Services
Allied Member of the Year
U-Select-It
Coffee Legend of the Year
Dean Gilland, NAMA
2015 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Mark Dieffenbach, The Hershey Company
Operator of the Year
Five Star Food Service
Allied Member of the Year
Mondelēz International, Inc.
Coffee Legend of the Year
Lowell Shindler, U.S. Coffee
2014 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Marc Whitener, Refreshment Solutions
Vending
Operator of the Year
Rendezvous Music & Vending
Vending
Allied Member of the Year
LightSpeed Automation
Coffee Service
Allied Member of the Year
United Food Group
Coffee Service
Operator of the Year
Corporate Coffee Systems
Coffee Legend of the Year
John Conti, John Conti Coffee Company
2013 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Pete Tullio, World Wide Vending and Gourmet Coffee Service
Vending
Operator of the Year
Tomdra, Inc.
Vending
Allied Member of the Year
General Mills
Coffee Service
Allied Member of the Year
Vend Catering Supply
Coffee Service
Operator of the Year
Prairie Fire Coffee Roasters
Coffee Legend of the Year
Joe Webster, Newco Enterprises
2012 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Craig Hesch, A.H. Management Group, Inc.
Vending
Operator of the Year
Southern Refreshment Services-Canteen
Vending
Allied Member of the Year
Vendors Exchange International
Coffee Service
Operator of the Year
The Standard Companies, Inc.
Coffee Service
Allied Member of the Year
The Folgers Coffee Co.
Coffee Legend of the Year
Fred Steiner, Imperial Coffee and Services, Inc.
2011 Honorees
Industry Person of the Year
Dr. Michael Kasavana, School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University
Vending
Operator of the Year
Monumental Vending
Vending
Allied Member of the Year
DeMitri Chesapeake Sales
Coffee Service
Allied Member of the Year
F. Gavina & Sons, Inc.
Coffee Legend of the Year
Hal Steuber, Associated Services Coffee Co.
Industry Person of the Year
Ben Ginsberg, Vending & OCS Magazine
Coffee Service
Operator of the Year
Consumers Choice Coffee
Vending
Operator of the Year
Rainbow Vending
Vending
Allied Member of the Year
Vistar
Coffee Service
Allied Member of the Year
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
NAMA Coffee Services Hall of Fame