februarymarch2024 - 18

Paul Ihn
Paul Ihn is vice president of product
strategy and day-to-day operations
with Naturals2go. Since April 2022,
he has been steering Naturals2go,
a company renowned for fostering
local vending businesses since
1987. Ihn is the linchpin for all
product strategy and operational matters, ensuring
the company's offerings are both innovative and
operationally sound. Ihn's previous experience includes
vice president of engineering and operations with the
Wittern Group, a comprehensive service provider for
the vending industry, where he played a pivotal role.
He spearheaded strategic deployment, advanced R&D
activities, and the verification and validation of a wide
array of vending products. He was also engineering
vice president with Crane Merchandising Systems
(CMS). His role at CMS, which followed the acquisition of
Automatic Products Inc. (APi) in 2006, saw him leading
all engineering functions. Ihn initially joined APi in 1996
as senior vice president of engineering.
Steve Jamison
Steve Jamison is a regional account executive with
Innovative DisplayWorks. He has enjoyed success in
the beverage and vending industry for over 30 years,
supporting beverage brands, vending operators and
distributors as an OEM. He has excelled in building
strong customer relationships within the vending
industry across the U.S. He's also been a leader in
managing and executing sales plans and driving new
business directly with his customer base.
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson is president of Martin Coffee Company.
His journey in the coffee industry began in 1998 when
he joined Martin Coffee Company, founded by his
grandfather, Fred Martin, in 1957. Since assuming
the role of president in 2009, he has demonstrated
unwavering commitment to the success and growth
of the company. Under his leadership, Martin Coffee
Company has become one of the oldest independent
coffee roasters and service providers in the
southeastern U.S. His astute understanding of market
trends and innovative approach to incorporating
the latest technology have been instrumental in
the constant growth of the business. He has been
recognized by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
in 2020 as the Small Business Leader of the Year.
Johnson's involvement in multiple boards and his
dedication to creating opportunities for working
students and adults with intellectual differences set
him apart. He has spearheaded the establishment of
several coffee shops dedicated to hiring individuals
with intellectual differences. These establishments
serve as a beacon of inclusivity, providing opportunities
for individuals who might not have otherwise had the
chance to enter the workforce.
18 Automatic Merchandiser * February/March 2024
Kurk Johnson
Kurk Johnson is vice president of
sales with Cantaloupe/Three Square
Market. His nearly 50-year journey
in the vending industry commenced
within his family's business, Minnesota
Valley Vending. Here, he embraced
the values of hard work, exceptional
customer experiences and comprehensive product
knowledge throughout his almost two decades as a
business owner. In his 16+ years at Lieberman Companies,
Johnson excelled in vending and micro market sales,
earning awards such as Salesman of the Year (Lieberman
Companies/Fast Corp 2007) and Top Salesperson (Crane
GPL 2003). Further recognition followed with Automatic
Merchandiser's Pros to Know award in 2016. Upon joining
the team at Three Square Market, now Cantaloupe,
Johnson received the Employee of the Year award in
2017. Reflecting on his career, Johnson is amazed by the
technological advancements in the vending industry and
the meaningful connections forged.
Gary Joyner
Gary Joyner started Advantage
Refreshments in Orlando,
Florida, in 1994. Today, the
company has customers in seven
Southeast states and offers a
turnkey business opportunity for
entrepreneurs looking to own and
operate a financially successful vending business in
their hometown. " Vending like numerous industries
needs new forward-thinking individuals who are
open to unique and out-of-the-box methods of
delivering vending products and services to highdollar
volume vending locations, " said Joyner. In
2016, Joyner was also a recipient of Automatic
Merchandiser's Pros to Know award.
Bill Lambert
In 1971, Bill Lambert purchased a small
company in Memphis, Tennessee, that
sold coffee brewing equipment and
instant coffee. With determination,
Lambert expanded his product line
to include office coffee machines
and established a complete roasting
and manufacturing facility. He imported coffee from
South America to Memphis for roasting and packaging,
utilizing a route system to distribute products to offices,
restaurants and industries. Lamberts Coffee was a
first to introduce coffee pods, filter pouch coffee and
bean-to-cup systems. What started as a one-person
operation in his garage became a successful company
with offices in seven locations. Lambert's son, David,
joined the business and became president, while Bill
remains active as the CEO of Lamberts Inc.
februarymarch2024

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