Jersey Mini BLAST

September 25-27, 2019

Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City

AGENDA

Wednesday, September 25

Registration – 11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Pre-Conference Workshop - Upward Mobility Training Session #1

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:                Deb Smith Blind Entrepreneur

                                    Arizona Business Enterprises

                                    NABM Board Member

1:00 – 2:45                 “Randolph-Sheppard 101”

                                                Terry Smith, Director

                                                Randolph-Sheppard Training & Technical Assistance

                                                National Association of Blind Merchants

2:45 – 3:00                 “Introducing a New Business Planning Series at Hadley”

                                                Colleen Wunderlich, Chief Strategic Partnerships Office

                                                Hadley Institute for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Pre-Conference Roundtable Discussion

Wildwood 4-7

3:15 – 4:15                 “Elected Committee Roundtable:  A Q&A with RSA”

                                    (Open to all blind entrepreneurs)

                                    Moderators:   Ed Birmingham, Committee Member

                                                            Illinois Business Enterprises Program

                                                            NABM 2^nd Vice President

                                                                                    AND

                                                            Mike Colbrunn, Committee Member

                                                            Minnesota Business Enterprises

NABM Board Member

                                                Panelists: 

Christine Grassman, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist

                                                            Rehabilitation Services Administration

                                                            Jim McCarthy, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist

                                                            Rehabilitation Services Administration

Pre-Conference Roundtable Discussion

Wildwood 9

3:15 – 4:15                 “SLA Roundtable: A Q&A with RSA”

                                    Moderator:    Bill Findley, Director

                                                            Florida Business Enterprises

                                    Panelist:

Jesse Hartle, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist

                                                            Rehabilitation Services Administration

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #2

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:                Gary Grassman, Blind Entrepreneur

                                    New York Business Enterprises

                                    NABM Board Member

4:30– 4:45                  Welcome and Introductions

                                                Nicky Gacos, President

                                                National Association of Blind Merchants  

Deacon Truesdale, Director

                                                Business Enterprises of New Jersey

4:45 – 5:45                 Keynote Address:

 “Innovate or Disintegrate”  

                                                David DeNotaris. Chief Inspiration Officer

                                                Sky’s the Limit Communications

5:45 – 6:00                “Why Now?”

Chris Stave, Director of Business Development

Parlevel Systems

Opening Night After Hours

Pre-Event Area

6:00 – 8:00                 Educational Networking Session / Reception  

Thursday, September 26

Registration  7:00 – 8:30

7:00– 7:45                  Breakfast

Pre-Event Area

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #3

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:                Nicky Gacos, President

                                    National Association of Blind Merchants

8:00 – 8:15                 “Welcome to the Garden State”

Dr.  Bernice Davis, Executive Director

New Jersey Commission for the Blind

8:15 – 8:25                 “Welcome to Our Show and More From Vistar”

Jeff Rawlins and Mike Mullin

Vistar

8:25 – 9:30                 State Reports: A representative from each state present will give a 2 minute elevator speech that provides an update on activities in their states. 

9:30 – 9:45                 Break

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #4

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:                Sharon Treadway , Blind Entrepreneur

                                    Tennessee Business Enterprises

                                    NABM Secretary

9:45 – 10:40              “Using Your Inner Strength to Break Barriers”

Malcolm Little  

10:40 – 11:00                        “What’s the Latest from the Convenience Services Industry “

Wes Fisher, Government Affairs Manager

National Automatic Merchandising Association

11:00 – 11:15                        “Loyalty Programs”

                                                Hector Benavides, Vice President

                                                Connectivity Services

11:15 – 11:30                        “A New Concept in Micromarkets”

                                                Michael Johnson, President

                                                Yoke Payments

11:30 – 12:00                        “Randolph-Sheppard Litigations: What’s the Latest?”

                                                Brooke Lierman, Attorney

                                                Brown, Goldstein, and Levy

12:00 – 12:45                        Lunch

Pre-Event Area

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #5

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:    Melba Taylor, Blind Entrepreneur

                        Maryland Business Enterprises

                        NABM Board Member

1:00 – 1:30     Keynote Address:

                                                “Believe in Yourself”

                                                            Heidi Chico, Past Chair of NAMA and President

                                                            Wittern Group

1:30 – 1:45     “Private Sector Accounts:  Opportunities for Blind Entrepreneurs”

                                                            John Murn, President and CEO

                                                            RSA Management Group

1:45 – 1:50     “Vending Times: Why It Matters to You”

                                                            Emily Jed, Associate Publisher and Senior Editor

                                                            Vending Times

1:50 – 2:00                 Break

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #6

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:                Melissa Smith, Blind Entrepreneur

                                    Tennessee Business Enterprises

                                    NABM Board Member

2:00 – 2:40                 “Randolph-Sheppard: A View From Our Federal Partners”

                                                Jesse Hartle, Randolph-Sheppard Program Manager

                                                Rehabilitation Services Administration     

                                                Christine Grassman, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist

                                                Rehabilitation Services Administration

                                                Jim McCarthy, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist

                                                Rehabilitation Services Administration

2:40 – 3:00                 “The Refreshment Industry: Security Trends, Strategies for Shrinkage Prevention, and Much More”

                                                Dave Mandella

3:00 – 3:30                 “Micromarket Trends, Innovations, and Accessibility Solutions”

                                                Mallory Wonoski, Product Manager

                                                365 Markets

3:30 – 3:45                 “PepsiCo’s Hydration Platform and Sustainability”

Scott Stella, National Account Sales Manager

PepsiCo Foodservices

3:45 – 4:00                 “Nayax: Commodities or Solutions – Everything You Did Not Know and Should”

                                                Harry Kozlovsky, Executive Customer Success Manager

                                                NAYAX

4:00 – 6:00                 VISTAR Tradeshow

Friday, September 27

VISTAR Tradeshow

A Special Thank You to Our Loyal Sponsors

Vistar

Coca Cola

PepsiCo Foodservices

Blackstone Consulting

RSA Management Group

FSIG

Southern Foodservice Management

U-Select-It

365 Markets

Brown, Goldstein, and Levy

Vend Engine

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

Jersey Mini BLAST

September 25-27, 2019
Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City

AGENDA

Wednesday, September 25

Registration – 11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Pre-Conference Workshop - Upward Mobility Training Session #1

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:                Deb Smith Blind Entrepreneur

                                    Arizona Business Enterprises

                                    NABM Board Member

1:00 – 2:45                 “Randolph-Sheppard 101”

                                                Terry Smith, Director

                                                Randolph-Sheppard Training & Technical Assistance

                                                National Association of Blind Merchants

2:45 – 3:00                 “Introducing a New Business Planning Series at Hadley”

                                                Colleen Wunderlich, Chief Strategic Partnerships Office

                                                Hadley Institute for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Pre-Conference Roundtable Discussion

Wildwood 4-7

3:15 – 4:15                 “Elected Committee Roundtable:  A Q&A with RSA”

                                    (Open to all blind entrepreneurs)

                                    Moderators:   Ed Birmingham, Committee Member

                                                            Illinois Business Enterprises Program

                                                            NABM 2^nd Vice President

                                                                                    AND

                                                            Mike Colbrunn, Committee Member

                                                            Minnesota Business Enterprises

NABM Board Member

                                                Panelists: 

Christine Grassman, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist

                                                            Rehabilitation Services Administration

                                                            Jim McCarthy, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist

                                                            Rehabilitation Services Administration

Pre-Conference Roundtable Discussion

Wildwood 9

3:15 – 4:15                 “SLA Roundtable: A Q&A with RSA”

                                    Moderator:    Bill Findley, Director

                                                            Florida Business Enterprises

                                    Panelist:

Jesse Hartle, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist

                                                            Rehabilitation Services Administration

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #2

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:                Gary Grassman, Blind Entrepreneur

                                    New York Business Enterprises

                                    NABM Board Member

4:30– 4:45                  Welcome and Introductions

                                                Nicky Gacos, President

                                                National Association of Blind Merchants  

Deacon Truesdale, Director

                                                Business Enterprises of New Jersey

4:45 – 5:45                 Keynote Address:

 “Innovate or Disintegrate”  

                                                David DeNotaris. Chief Inspiration Officer

                                                Sky’s the Limit Communications

5:45 – 6:00                “Why Now?”

Chris Stave, Director of Business Development

Parlevel Systems

Opening Night After Hours

Pre-Event Area

6:00 – 8:00                 Educational Networking Session / Reception  

Thursday, September 26

Registration  7:00 – 8:30

7:00– 7:45                  Breakfast

Pre-Event Area

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #3

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:                Nicky Gacos, President

                                    National Association of Blind Merchants

8:00 – 8:15                 “Welcome to the Garden State”

Dr.  Bernice Davis, Executive Director

New Jersey Commission for the Blind

8:15 – 8:25                 “Welcome to Our Show”

Jeff Rawlins, Director of Sales

Vistar

8:25 – 9:30                 State Reports: A representative from each state present will give a 2 minute elevator speech that provides an update on activities in their states. 

9:30 – 9:45                 Break

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #4

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:                Sharon Treadway , Blind Entrepreneur

                                    Tennessee Business Enterprises

                                    NABM Secretary

9:45 – 10:40              “Using Your Inner Strength to Break Barriers”

Malcolm Little  

10:40 – 11:00                        “What’s the Latest from the Convenience Services Industry “

Wes Fisher, Government Affairs Manager

National Automatic Merchandising Association

11:00 – 11:15                        “Loyalty Programs”

                                                Hector Benavides, Vice President

                                                Connectivity Services

11:15 – 11:30                        “A New Concept in Micromarkets”

                                                Michael Johnson, President

                                                Yoke Payments

11:30 – 12:00                        “Randolph-Sheppard Litigations: What’s the Latest?”

                                                Brooke Lierman, Attorney

                                                Brown, Goldstein, and Levy

12:00 – 12:45                        Lunch

Pre-Event Area

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #5

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:    Melba Taylor, Blind Entrepreneur

                        Maryland Business Enterprises

                        NABM Board Member

1:00 – 1:30     Keynote Address:

                                                “Believe in Yourself”

                                                            Heidi Chico, Past Chair of NAMA and President

                                                            Wittern Group

1:30 – 1:45     “Private Sector Accounts:  Opportunities for Blind Entrepreneurs”

                                                            John Murn, President and CEO

                                                            RSA Management Group

1:45 – 1:50     “Vending Times: Why It Matters to You”

                                                            Emily Jed, Associate Publisher and Senior Editor

                                                            Vending Times

1:50 – 2:00                 Break

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #6

Wildwood 4-7

Moderator:                Melissa Smith, Blind Entrepreneur

                                    Tennessee Business Enterprises

                                    NABM Board Member

2:00 – 2:40                 “Randolph-Sheppard: A View From Our Federal Partners”

                                                Jesse Hartle, Randolph-Sheppard Program Manager

                                                Rehabilitation Services Administration     

                                                Christine Grassman, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist

                                                Rehabilitation Services Administration

                                                Jim McCarthy, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist

                                                Rehabilitation Services Administration

2:40 – 3:00                 “The Refreshment Industry: Security Trends, Strategies for Shrinkage Prevention, and Much More”

                                                Dave Mandella

3:00 – 3:30                 “Micromarket Trends, Innovations, and Accessibility Solutions”

                                                Mallory Wonoski, Product Manager

                                                365 Markets

3:30 – 3:45                 “PepsiCo’s Hydration Platform and Sustainability”

Scott Stella, National Account Sales Manager

PepsiCo Foodservices

3:45 – 4:00                 “Nayax: Commodities or Solutions – Everything You Did Not Know and Should”

                                                Harry Kozlovsky, Executive Customer Success Manager

                                                NAYAX

4:00 – 6:00                 VISTAR Tradeshow

Friday, September 27

VISTAR Tradeshow

A Special Thank You to Our Loyal Sponsors

Vistar

Coca Cola

PepsiCo Foodservices

Blackstone Consulting

RSA Management Group

FSIG

Southern Foodservice Management

U-Select-It

365 Markets

Brown, Goldstein, and Levy

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.