NAMA Announces CEO Retirement, Plans for Leadership Transition

Today, the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) announced a transition plan for succession of its President & CEO, Carla Balakgie, FASAE, CAE, to a new leader during 2025.

Balakgie, who joined NAMA in 2012 after serving for nine years as CEO of the Electronic Transactions Association, will retire from full-time association management by the end of 2025 and current employment agreement.

“Carla Balakgie has fundamentally changed NAMA for the better over the past 14 years,” said NAMA Chair, Tom Steuber, in a recent press release. “By transforming NAMA into a leading national trade association, the influence, visibility and impact of industry advocacy increased enormously, the financial position of the association dramatically improved, and the engagement and participation in association offerings grew and diversified significantly, expanding the size and makeup of industry members. Carla has set the table for the next CEO to build on a strong, dynamic organization with a proven track record of success.”

A search committee, led by NAMA Chair-Elect, Patrick Moran, has formed to identify candidates and assist the NAMA Board of Directors with its selection of the next President & CEO of this $10M organization. Balakgie will remain onboard through the search and onboarding process to ensure a smooth transition.

Balakgie, a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives and the first woman to lead NAMA in its 90-year history, directed the association through a unique period of growth and evolution. During her tenure, NAMA helped drive the rise of micro markets — now the fastest growing aspect of the convenience services industry — along with expansion and integration of coffee, tea, water and pantry services in fueling the industry’s $26.6B annual revenues. She’s credited with transforming the association’s government and external relations program, including relocation of the NAMA headquarters from Chicago to Washington, DC in 2020, doubling organizational revenues, and reshaping the brand definition and context of convenience services among all stakeholders.

“Serving the great companies and individuals of the convenience services industry during this important period has been the most fulfilling experience of my career,” said Balakgie. “NAMA’s future, and the outstanding industry it represents, is full of opportunity and promise. I’m honored to have played a part in its long history of success and am excited for its future.”

NAMA represents the 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. To learn more about NAMA, visit namanow.org.