Leading Executives in Vending Routes
Chris Baird
Chief Executive Officer, OptConnect
CEO who has scaled OptConnect into a go‑to managed cellular connectivity partner for micro markets and vending fleets, expanding globally through acquisitions and winning industry recognition for growth and reliability.
Carla Balakgie
President & CEO, NAMA (National Automatic Merchandising Association)
Trade association chief credited with elevating industry advocacy and visibility for U.S. convenience services, including vending and micro markets.
Luis P. Gonzalez
Co‑founder & CEO, Parlevel Systems
Co‑founder who built one of the industry’s leading vending management software platforms used by operators to optimize routes, markets and OCS.
Joe Hessling
Founder & CEO, 365 Retail Markets
Founder of the global leader in unattended retail technology powering micro markets, vending and dining POS across 30+ countries.
Matt Hubbard
Chief Executive Officer, Continental (Dining • Refreshment Services • Events)
Operator CEO who led Continental’s multi‑state growth and PE transaction, expanding markets and data‑driven distribution for vending, markets and cafés.
Richard Kennedy
President & CEO, Five Star Breaktime Solutions
Growth‑minded operator who advanced Five Star’s rapid expansion in micro markets and acquisitions across the Southeast.
Patrick (Pat) Liebler
President & CEO, Refreshments, Aramark Refreshments
Refreshments leader recognized for innovation and industry engagement; cited by Aramark as President & CEO of the refreshments division.
Michael Mahan
President, CPI, Crane Payment Innovations (Crane NXT)
Heads CPI, a core supplier of payment devices and telemetering used on vending routes worldwide.
Sean Mahoney
President & CEO, Vistar (Performance Food Group)
Leads the nation’s largest vending/micro market wholesale distributor as President & CEO, serving operators from 24 DCs.
Yair Nechmad
Co‑founder & CEO, Nayax
Co‑founder who grew Nayax into a global cashless payments and loyalty platform for unattended retail and vending.
Anthony J. Payiavlas
President & CEO, AVI Foodsystems
Second‑generation leader of the largest independently owned U.S. contract foodservice firm, with extensive vending and Market C micro markets.
Paresh Patel
Founder & CEO, PayRange
Founder who pioneered app‑based payments for machines, enabling cashless sales growth across 500k+ devices in unattended retail.
Greg Sidwell
CEO & President, G & J Marketing and Sales
Veteran broker CEO connecting CPG brands with vending and micro market operators nationwide, influencing product mix on routes.
Erik Snyder
Chief Executive Officer, Canteen (Compass Group)
Heads the largest U.S. unattended retail operator as CEO, driving innovation in vending, micro markets and office coffee.
Ken Sullivan
President, InReach (Sodexo), InReach (Sodexo Convenience)
President who has executed an active M&A roll‑up—K&R Vending, Legend Food Service, CRH Catering—toward a $500M growth target.
Ravi Venkatesan
Chief Executive Officer, Cantaloupe, Inc.
CEO who repositioned Cantaloupe as the end‑to‑end platform for vending payments, device telemetry and Seed VMS at scale.
Jeff Whitacre
Chief Executive Officer, USConnect
Network CEO coordinating national operators, loyalty and loss‑prevention tech for unattended retail, including the newly patented Theft Detective system.
Joshua Wells
Co‑owner / Principal, American Food & Vending
Third‑generation co‑owner advancing AFV’s technology‑forward route operations; 2024 NAMA Operator of the Year recognition highlighted AFV’s leadership.
Martin Wells
Chief Executive Officer, American Food & Vending
CEO leading one of the nation’s largest independent vending, micro market, and office coffee operators with a multi‑state footprint.
Lance Whorton
President, Imperial, Inc.
Long‑time operator president and past NAMA board chair who has scaled Imperial across six states with strong technology adoption.
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