Time is running out!  The National Association of Blind Merchants will be once again conducting its special signature business leadership training on May 5-6 in conjunction with the National Automated Merchandising Association Show in Las Vegas.  “We are happy to be able to bring this training to our blind vendor community,” said NABM President Nicky Gacos.  “In addition to presentations on pertinent topics of interest to those of us in the convenience industry, there will be a lot of discussion about the state of the program nationally especially in light of developments in Washington.”  Even though NAMA’s focus is vending, NABM will include sessions on military dining which could take center stage with changes at DOD.  

Things get underway Monday afternoon, May 5th, with our opening session at 4:00 PM to be followed by a networking reception.  We follow that up with a full-day of training on May 6th.  Lunch will be provided.  All activities will be held at the convention center.  Then, you can attend the NAMA Show on May 7, 8, and 9 which will include pertinent training sessions and an exhibit hall with at least 300 booths.  If it can be sold in a vending machine or micromarket, it will be on display with plenty of free samples.  All of the vending machine and micromarket kiosk manufacturers and providers will have their equipment there.  All of the latest technology will be on display an look for a huge emphasis on AI.  

There is an added bonus this year.  If you attend the NABM training, you will be given a pass that will allow you on the exhibit floor Thursday morning an hour before the doors open.  This is being arranged by Cantaloupe who will have their full smart market on display.  These markets have tremendous potential for Randolph-Sheppard and you will want to see it.  

          There are 3 easy steps:

 

1.     Register for the NABM training by going to https://barbbadge.wufoo.com/forms/p8uhanh0kv3zlk/ .  The cost of registration is $100. 

2.     Register for the NAMA Show using BLAST25 as the promotional code.  This reduces the registration fee to $199.  Register by going to https://thenamashow.org/2025-registration-rates/ . 

3.     While on the NAMA site, reserve your hotel room.  NAMA has reserved blocks of rooms in multiple hotels.  You can choose one that best meets your budget and taste.  The Marriott and Westgate are the closest to the convention center and where our team will be staying. 

Don’t wait!  Register today! And we will see you in Las Vegas!

Our Corporate and BLAST Sponsors

Blackstone Consulting

Southern Food Service

InReach / Entegra

Coca-Cola

Greenway Supply Company

Pepsico

FSIG

Sightline Wealth Management

Tyler Technologies

U-Select-It                            

Cantaloupe

Brown, Goldstein & Levy

Vistar

Red Bull

Keurig Dr Pepper

Doyle and Seelback, PLLC

Rosenberg Martin Greenberg, LLP

AVS

Mars

Odyssey

Seage / AMS

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