Automatic Merchandiser serves the business management, marketing, technology and product information needs of its readers including vending operators, coffee service operators, product brokers, and product and equipment distributors in print.
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NAMA I N S I G H T W Today's fast pace of hen a business is facing a challenging market, belong- ing to NAMA is more important than ever. From a strong advocacy program that protects us from potentially harmful legisla- tion and burdensome regulations to meaningful world-class education programs that keep us at the top of our game, NAMA is a powerful partner that can help with every aspect of your business so you are poised to fl ourish regardless of mar- ket conditions. In a diffi cult economy when legislators are looking for new revenue streams, a strong govern- ment affairs department is more important than ever. Legislators at local, state and federal levels see our industry — and more specifi - cally the profi ts you receive for all change makes NAMA more vital By Greg Sidwell, Contributing Editor Greg Sidwell is president of G & J Marketing in Palm Harbor, Fla. He has received the vending allied member of the year award and was named by Michigan State University as its alumni associa- tion industry member of the year. and regulations associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Government affairs is so impor- tant that NAMA has added more funding and a regional lobbyist to help states with diffi cult legislative, regulatory and tax problems. And what about education? A business leader must understand the market, must understand the com- petition, and must understand how to differentiate himself/herself from the competition. But for many busy executives caught up in the fl urry of meetings, texting and emails, fi nding the time to keep up can be a daunting challenge. Education made accessible NAMA has a host of education pro- grams that make it simple to keep up with everything, whether you want to THE good news is that the tough times always end and the boom times will eventually return. your hard work and dedication in particular — as an easy way for them to raise revenue. Consider all the areas where we need NAMA to protect our interests: unfair tax hikes on the local, state and federal level, new coin and currency regulations, new nutritional and labeling require- ments, new health care mandates, 8 learn about the newest technologies like how remote monitoring can help your business, or why understand- ing how to brew the very best coffee can translate into profi ts for your company. Just by going to NAMA's OneShow or CoffeeTea&Water; event, you have everything you need at your fi ngertips — powerful education programs addressing dozens of critical Automatic Merchandiser VendingMarketWatch.com May 2012 business issues, unmatched network- ing opportunities, and the chance to see the hottest products and services our industry has to offer. Be sure to look for a new 2-day sales train- ing program to be introduced at this year's OneShow. Industry specifi c resources From the popular Supervisor Devel- opment Training Program to the highly acclaimed Executive Devel- opment Program, NAMA delivers unmatched educational resources created specifi cally to address the problems we face in our industry and simply are not available any- where else. Thanks to the Certifi ed Executive (NCE) and Quality Coffee Certifi - cation Program (QCCP) Certifi ed Coffee Specialist (CCS) certifi ca- tion programs, NAMA members who meet program standards can distinguish themselves from their competitors and demonstrate to their accounts that they represent the best in the industry. Thanks to the Knowledge Source Alliance Network, members can access partners who offer free advice on everything from employment law to health and safety, sales and marketing and more. Plus, professional NAMA staff members are available to answer questions and help members fi nd the resources that quickly solve problems. The good news is that tough times always end, and the boom times will eventually return, and NAMA will be there with the tools and services you need to succeed.