[vendtalk] Vending Times Senior Editor to Facilitate “Healthy Vending” Forum at BLAST

[Kevan Worley]

[CMYK_merchants]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Renee Nevius
Manager of Special Projects
National Association of Blind Merchants
(866) 543-6808, extension 10
renee.nevius at worleyenterprises.com<mailto:renee.nevius at worleyenterprises.com>

Vending Times Senior Editor to Facilitate “Healthy Vending” Forum at BLAST 2013

Colorado Springs, Colorado (April 26, 2013) — The National Association of Blind Merchants (NABM) is excited to announce that Emily Jed, Senior Editor of Vending Times, will moderate the “Healthy Vending” Forum taking place Monday, May 20, and Tuesday, May 21, at the Indy Super BLAST 2013 Conference in Indianapolis.

Vending Times is the largest and most influential publication in the vending industry and has more than 16,000 subscribers. It is the go-to source of information for operators engaged in supplying refreshment vending and feeding; manual and mobile food and beverage; bulk confection and novelty vending; and amusement and music services to clients on route delivery or onsite bases.

Nicky Gacos, President, National Association of Blind Merchants, said, “The National Association of Blind Merchants, a division of the National Federation of the Blind, is the voice of the nation’s blind vendors, so it is appropriate that the senior editor of the most important trade publication in vending and concessions will facilitate this panel. We must confront what may be the most devastating challenge facing our industry. The issue of legislation and regulation to mandate high percentages of what health advocates refer to as nutritional products is of greatest consequence to Randolph-Sheppard, because these mandates are focused on operators in public buildings. Blind vendors care about the health of our customers, but we cannot be bullied into accepting arbitrary and capricious mandates. Whether the most vociferous advocates for these unreasonable mandates want to admit it or not, they will kill opportunities for many blind vendors. Programs like FitPick developed by National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) make good sense, and they strike a balance between a business’ survival and increasing healthy options.”

Panelists on this forum represent members from government agencies to vending operators, including Dr. Joel Kimmons, a nutrition specialist from the Centers for Disease Control; Denise Funkhouser, Director of the Occupancy Administration Division of GSA; Sandy Larson, Senior Director & Counsel of Government Affairs for NAMA; Susan Klein, Consultant for Iowa Department of Public Health; blind vendors Billy Brumlow and Anthony Paolini from Tennessee and Delaware; and many more. The forum will provide information and perspective from the most important stakeholders in the “healthy vending” arena. In addition, there will be training from subject matter experts Wednesday afternoon, May 22.

Those attending BLAST will also hear from Katherine Bishop from Center for Science in the Public Interest, one of the most aggressive advocates for strict legislative mandates. According to Kevan Worley, Executive Director, NABM, “The threats to the livelihoods of blind vendors have become acute. California legislators have just passed out of committee restrictions to the customer’s ability to choose what they buy. It is almost as though they are targeting blind vendors. The discussion we are having at BLAST will be important. The advocacy we must now do to protect our livelihoods is critical.”

The Business Leadership and Superior Training Conference has become the principal conference for blind vendors and state licensing agency management and staff over the past decade. Each year we have expanded curriculum, sought out the most dynamic speakers, added networking opportunities, team building exercises and top notch tours and entertainment.

Register now for Indy Super BLAST 2013, May 20-23, at www.blindmerchants.org<http://www.blindmerchants.org>. Conference registration fee is $200.00. Reserve your room at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown by calling 877-303-0104. Rooms are available at the low rate of $124.00 per night plus applicable taxes. Room rates are effective from Friday, May 17th through Thursday, May 23rd. For assistance with registration and for further information, call 866-543-6808.

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About National Association of Blind Merchants
The National Association of Blind Merchants (NABM), a division the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), is a membership organization of blind persons employed in either self-employment work or the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Program. We provide information regarding rehabilitation, social security, tax, and other issues which directly affect blind merchants. NABM serves as an advocacy and support group.

About VENDING TIMES
VENDING TIMES is a trade magazine founded in 1962 to serve the coin-op industry. It has more than 16,000 subscribers, verified by Business Publications Audit of Circulation. VT was established when a veteran vending operator and trade association executive got together with an innovator in business publishing with extensive experience in consumer packaged goods advertising to launch a monthly newspaper.


At your service,

[cid:image001.jpg at 01CDBCF2.C07B8380]

Kevan Worley
Executive Director
National Association of Blind Merchants
kevanworley at blindmerchants.org<mailto:kevanworley at blindmerchants.org>
866-543-6808

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