People in the News

CHANGER SERVICES INC. NAMES WAYNE CAMPBELL NORTHEASTERN REGION SALES MANAGER

Changer Services Inc. recently named Wayne Campbell as Northeast region sales manager, according to Mark Stolley, company president.

AMERICAN VENDING MACHINES, INC. TABS BUD OSTRANDER FROM TREAT AMERICA INC.

American Vending Machines, the St. Louis, Mo.-based vending equipment distributor, recently hired vending veteran Bud Ostrander to further expand its business in the Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, and surrounding areas. Ostrander was formerly general manager for the vending for Treat America, a refreshment services operation based in Overland Park, Kan. He previously owned and operated Grand Vending, a 9-route operation in the greater Kansas City area before selling it to Treat America. Ostrander can be reached via email at: bud@ american-vending.com.

TYSON FOODS INC. PROMOTES DONNIE SMITH TO GROUP VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Donnie Smith, a long-time senior executive of Tyson Foods, Inc., has been named the new group vice president of consumer products, the company announced. Smith assumes this position immediately, lending his industry experience and leadership abilities to Tyson's consumer products team.

COIN ACCEPTORS INC. PROMOTES THOMAS PACZKOWSKI TO VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING

Thomas S. Paczkowski has been named vice president of marketing of Coin Acceptors, Inc. (Coinco). In his new role, Paczkowski will focus on directing corporate marketing activities and supporting strategic initiatives to further expand Coinco's global presence in the development and manufacturing of automated payment systems.

For the past five years, Paczkowski served as director of marketing where he was responsible for overseeing product planning and branding, sales promotion and new business development. A 20-year Coinco veteran, he spent 15 years within the engineering department where he held several management positions, led product development and was awarded 10 U.S. patents.

BILL WATSON OF WEYMOUTH DISTRIBUTING CO. WILL CHAIR NAMA SPRING EXPO IN LAS VEGAS

Bill Watson, general manager of Weymouth Distributing Co., Los Angeles, Calif., will serve as the 2008 National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) Spring Expo Chair. The expo is Wednesday through Friday, March 26 to 28, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Convention Center in Las Vegas.

VINCENT GRUPPUSO, KOZY SHACK FOUNDER, PASSES AWAY

Vincent Gruppuso, founder of Kozy Shack, recently passed away following complications of diabetes. He was 67. Gruppuso launched Kozy Shack, a dessert manufacturer, in 1967. He is survived by three daughters: Joanne Caridi, Lisa Salvo, and Diana Boland, and five grandchildren.

INDUSTRY VETERANS JOHN BARSANTI AND JIM ENGLISH JOIN CANTALOUPE SYSTEMS' ADVISORY BOARD

Cantaloupe Systems announced that John Barsanti, formerly president of Crane Merchandising Systems, and James English, formerly general manager of vending, Masterfoods USA, are joining Cantaloupe Systems as members of its advisory committee. Its purpose is to offer ideas and guidance to management and providea different perspective during the decision making process.

STELLA PHARMACEUTICAL TABS BODECKER BREWED'S HARRISON FAIRSTEIN FOR FOODSERVICE

Harrison Fairstein recently left his position as director of marketing at Bodecker Brewed, a division of Mister Coffee & Services Inc., Toronto, Canada, to create a comprehensive food service program at Stella Pharmaceutical Inc. as director of food service sales, including vending.

PETERSON TO SUCCEED KUMAR AS INNOVATION OFFICER AT WRIGLEY

Surinder Kumar, chief innovation officer, will retire from the Wrigley Co. on July 1, 2008, and Rob Peterson, currently vice president of new products and packaging, will succeed him in this position.

TRANSACTION NETW0RK SERVICES NAMES DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Transaction Network Services, a telecommunications provider that has supported a cashless vending initiative in cooperation with PepsiCo Inc., appointed Duncan Mortlock as business development director of its international services division.