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Press Release

Up Close: A Look at 2018 Operator of the Year Jeff Smith

CHICAGO – March 7, 2018 – Jeff Smith, Chairman and CEO of All Star Services, was recently announced as NAMA’s Operator of the Year as part of the association’s 2018 Industry Awards. Smith will be presented with his award on March 21 at The NAMA Show in Las Vegas.

The NAMA Operator of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has exhibited the highest level of integrity, dedication, and leadership in the convenience services industry. The recipient of this award has a penchant for innovation and embraces industry technology in their business and shows leadership within the industry and their community.

For 31 years, Jeff has led All Star Services, a family-owned vending, coffee service and micro market operation serving Southeastern Michigan. Under his leadership, All Star has made seven acquisitions and grown to operate 2,500 vending machines and 60 micro markets across Michigan. Jeff has made embracing innovation a priority, guiding the company as an early adopter of telemetry, cashless and loyalty rewards technology. Prior to All Star Services, Jeff spent 10 years with the Coca-Cola Company, serving as a territory, district and ultimately regional manager for the region west of Colorado.

Committed to serving the industry on a broader scale, Jeff is Chair Elect of NAMA’s Board of Directors and serves on the Government Affairs Committee and Foundation Board. An industry advocate, he is a regular Fly-In and Public Policy Conference participant, and has hosted legislators for site visits. Under his leadership as Chairman of the Michigan Distributors and Vendors Association in 2000, the group successfully lobbied for a fairness tax eliminating sales tax on beverages and snacks sold in vending machines. Jeff also sits on the advisory board for USConnect.

Throughout his career, Jeff has supported his community, serving on the board of the Lake Huron Medical Center and as a commissioner for the City of Port Huron Planning Council. Jeff and the All Star team actively support a variety of local organizations, including bottled water donations to support residents of Flint, MI. Jeff was honored with NAMA’s Chairman Award in 1998 and 2001. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s School of Business, and lives in Port Huron, MI with his family.

About the Awards
The NAMA Industry Awards are presented to individuals that best exemplify support of the convenience services industry through a history of service and leadership throughout the industry and in their own communities.

About The NAMA Show
The NAMA Show is the place to get all of the resources you need to achieve your business goals and network with the entire convenience services industry. Discover new technology, products and services from 300+ exhibitors, understand how to leverage emerging trends, and build a powerful network of industry allies to grow your business at the premier event for vending, coffee services, micro market and foodservice professionals.

Learn more and register at thenamashow.org.

NAMA represents the $34.9 billion U.S. Convenience Services Industry. By providing advocacy, education, and research, NAMA works to promote and protect the industry’s over 160,000 hardworking employees. Through traditional vending and micro markets, office coffee and pantry services, product manufacturing, and small-drop distribution, convenience services meets the needs of over 40 million American consumers daily at work, home, school, and play.

NICOLE TARDIF
Senior Director, Communications & Marketing
[email protected]