When’s the last time you made a purchase at a vending machine? You probably used cash, right? You’re not alone “” Carla Balakgie, president and CEO of the National Automatic Merchandising Association, says consumers are spending billions in cash every year at automated machines. Balakgie goes in-depth with MPD CEO Karen Webster on how vending is already in the middle of a technological evolution.

When’s the last time you made a purchase at a vending machine? You probably used cash, right? You’re not alone — Carla Balakgie, president and CEO of the National Automatic Merchandising Association, says consumers are spending billions in cash every year at automated machines. Balakgie goes in-depth with MPD CEO Karen Webster on how vending is already in the middle of a technological evolution.

Forget jujubes — as Balakgie explains, vending machines are delivering products that go way beyond quick food and beverage options, electronics being a good example. That diverse range of product solutions, new connectedness features like sending gifts to friends, and even social media integration are among the innovations keeping the vending machine an extremely relevant form of commerce in the 21st century.

Learn more about the changes and innovations currently underway with the vending industry by listening to Karen Webster’s interview with Carla Balakgie.

Carla Balakgie 
President & CEO, NAMA

Carla Balakgie is President and CEO of the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA). Founded in 1936, NAMA is the national trade association representing the $42 billion vending, coffee service and foodservice management industries. With more than 1800 member companies – including many of the world’s most recognized brands — NAMA provides advocacy, education and research to its membership.

Prior to joining NAMA in 2011, Carla served as Chief Executive Officer of the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), a position she held for 9 years. ETA is an international trade association representing companies that enable acceptance of electronic payments by merchants at the point of sale.

Previously, Carla served as Senior Vice President and COO of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), where she held management and executive roles during her 15-year tenure. She began her career in association management in the publishing division of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) following several years in commercial publishing.

Carla, a certified association executive (CAE) and a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives, is the first woman to lead NAMA in its 76-year history.