februarymarch2024 - 15

Connie Baarlaer
Connie Baarlaer has been with Vendors Supply since October 2004 and has 39 years of CPG
industry experience. As general manager, she is responsible for the Ohio distribution center of
Vendors Supply. Her objective is to remain focused on customer satisfaction, while increasing
profitability for all parties. Baarlaer strives to provide excellent customer service by providing what
customers want and anticipating what they need. She believes fostering a strong partnership with
customers is what makes everyone successful and sets them apart from competitors. Baarlaer is
involved with the OAMA, IRPA and KAMC councils because she knows the value they bring to the
industry. Her favorite quote is: " Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of others. "
Tom DiNardo
Tom DiNardo has been contributing
to the unattended retail business for
more than 40 years and is extremely
active in several associations,
including NAMA and USG. DiNardo
served as the chairman of the board
at USG for six years and helped grow
the organization to over 4,000 members. He acquired
Culinary Ventures Vending in 1993, and it is one of
the largest independent vending operators in the U.S.
with locations in New Jersey, Florida and Maryland.
DiNardo truly values the relationships he has built with
manufacturers such as Pepsi, Frito and PIM, to name
a few. They, along with several other manufacturers,
played an integral role in helping DiNardo become a
success in the industry. While continuously growing his
business and partnership with many of the key snack
and beverage companies within this industry, he has
also developed his own line of snacks. His passion for the
industry is extremely apparent during any conversations
together. His family and children, who are part of the
organization, exude this same passion, which he has
passed on to each of them.
Buddy Duke
Buddy Duke began his career in the
vending and foodservice industry
in January 1976. Just out of high
school, he started as a delivery driver
for Servomation (Service America)
in Nashville, Tennessee. Then, he
became a route driver, utility driver and route manager.
In 1983, Duke was promoted to branch manager and
moved to Jackson, Tennessee. A few years later, he was
promoted to general manager and was responsible
for all operations in west Tennessee and Mississippi.
In 1993, he left Service America to become the
general manager with ABI Food Service (Coca-Cola)
in Chattanooga. ABI sold to Five Star Food Service in
1998. At that time, Duke became general manager
until 2008. He was then promoted to a regional vice
president position covering east Tennessee, north
Georgia and north Alabama. Today, he is the senior vice
president of operations for Five Star in the West region.
His area now covers middle Tennessee, northwest
Alabama and north Mississippi. Duke says he has been
blessed to have spent so many years in the industry.
He contributes his success to surrounding himself with
hard-working, dedicated employees, good mentors and
a supportive family.
Tommy Elliott II
Tommy Elliott is a second-generation
vending operator who grew up in the
business. His parents (Tom Sr. and
Sandra) founded Tomdra in 1966.
After graduating from high school
in 1975, he joined the U.S. Army and
then worked in the industry selling
vending machines and equipment. In 1993, he joined
the family business working with his brother and sister.
He started the company's OCS division and later
served as operations manager. He is the company's
purchasing manager and oversees the warehouse
pre-pick operation. In 2005, he graduated from the
NAMA Executive Development Program and has been
an advocate for the vending industry, serving four years
as president of the Arizona Automatic Merchandising
Council. For over 30 years, he has been the first to
embrace new technology and better practices to
advance the industry.
Mike Ferguson
Mike Ferguson started VMAC
Solutions to represent vending and
OCS operators sell and exit their
business. He started his career in
the convenience services industry
in 1989 as a sales representative in
Houston, Texas. In 1991, Ferguson
started his own convenience services company and ran
it for 25 years. After later selling the business in two
segments, vending first, office coffee later, he started
an e-commerce business and later sold it. He joined the
corporate world in this industry but saw the need to
represent the seller side operators as an intermediary
using his industry knowledge both as an owner and
operator. Ferguson has earned the Pros to Know award
twice and has published many articles for Automatic
Merchandiser. Being a former operator for over 25
years has helped Ferguson relate to his clients to get the
best deal for selling their business.
Buddy Duke contributes his success to
surrounding himself with hard-working,
dedicated employees, good mentors and
a supportive family.
February/March 2024 * VendingMarketWatch.com 15

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