NAMA Names Carla Balakgie, FASAE, CAE CEO

CHICAGO, Ill., Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) has announced that Carla Balakgie, FASAE, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) is joining NAMA as President and CEO effective December 1.

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In making the announcement NAMA Chairman of the Board of Directors Brad Ellis, NCE said, "Carla brings a tremendous background and track record, and we are thrilled that she will be sharing that expertise with our industry."  

Balakgie will follow Richard M. Geerdes, NCE5, CCS who has served as the organization's President and CEO for more than a decade.  He will continue to work with NAMA through the end of the year to help ensure a smooth transition process.  In addition, NAMA Executive VP and COO Dan Mathews, NCE5, CCS will serve as Interim CEO, beginning immediately and until Carla finalizes her relocation and the "On-Boarding" process.   The NAMA Board of Directors will be acknowledging Geerdes at the 2012 OneShow for the numerous noteworthy accomplishments the organization has achieved under his tenure.

The ETA is an international trade association representing the multiple facets of the financial services value chain that enable acceptance of electronic payments at the merchant point of sale, and Balakgie has served as CEO for more than eight years.  During her tenure she developed and launched multiple new programs including a Washington, DC-based government, industry and public relations function; a professional credentialing program and corollary curriculum products; a series of vertical track education and training programs in live and distance formats; proprietary research; and two electronic information services on industry news and compliance issues.

In addition to her work with ETA, Balakgie has also worked with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).  Her five leadership positions of increasing importance and responsibility ultimately culminated in her role as Senior Vice President and COO.  

A career association executive, in 2000 Carla was named as an ASAE Fellow, one of ASAEs highest honors conferred upon industry executives who have made significant contributions to the profession during their careers, and she served as chair of this distinguished group for the 2002-2003 term.  Carla also holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation and was selected for the 1997 ASAE class of Future Leaders.

Mathews joined NAMA in 1999, most recently serving as Executive VP and COO.  Under his leadership the NAMA staff created some of the organization's most popular and highly acclaimed programs.  Observed Ellis, "We are pleased that Dan has agreed to serve as Interim CEO.  Thanks to his hard work and dedication guiding NAMA over the past year of transition, the association has continued to offer unmatched resources that continue to help our members thrive."

Concluded Ellis, "There's no question that with Carla's background and Dan's depth of experience and knowledge of NAMA, there has never been a better time for our industry.  We know they will be a powerful team and we look forward to welcoming in a new era at NAMA."  

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.

SOURCE National Automatic Merchandising Association