FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
July 10, 2007 Jackie Clark
301-987-7113
MSU PROFESSOR MICHAEL KASAVANA
TO LEAD NAMA’S TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES
Chicago, IL — July 10 – Dr. Michael Kasavana, Endowed Professor for the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) at The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University (MSU) will assume the leadership of all of NAMA’s Technology initiatives, NAMA Executive Vice President Dan Mathews, NCE announced today.
In making the announcement Mathews said, “Dr. Kasavana is one of the nation’s most respected and influential academicians in the area of V-Commerce generally, and we are thrilled to have him undertake such a significant role working with members of our industry. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will deliver priceless benefits for our members.”
Kasavana, who will undertake his new role with NAMA effective August 1, 2007, and will be working with NAMA’s Sr. Director of Technical Services Larry Eils who will be retiring next year. Kasavana has been on the faculty of MSU for more than 30 years. He holds a BS degree in hotel, restaurant, and travel administration; an MBA in finance, and a PhD in Management Information Systems. His initial focus will be on leadership of the Technology Standards Committee, Vend Tec, serving as International Technology liaison, and furthering technology initiatives now underway. He will also retain his duties as the NAMA Endowed Professor, continuing to teach at MSU.
“Dr. Kasavana has worked with us for many years to help push our industry forward, and we are delighted to have him working with us in this new and expanded role that will help our industry understand and better respond to the constantly changing world of technology,” Mathews concluded.
NAMA is the national trade association of the food and refreshment vending, coffee service and foodservice management industries including on-site, commissary, catering, & mobile. Its membership is comprised of service companies, equipment manufacturers and suppliers of products and services to operating service companies. The basic mission of the association, to collectively advance and promote the automatic merchandising and coffee service industries, still guides NAMA today as it did in 1936, the year of the organization’s founding.