NAMA Announces 2026 Industry Award Winners

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) has named the recipients of the 2026 Industry Awards, recognizing the companies and individuals whose innovation, operational excellence, and sustained commitment is advancing the convenience services industry.

2026 Award Recipients:

• Industry Person of the Year: April Cathcart, Chief Operating Officer, G&J Marketing and Sales
• Operator of the Year: Seventh Wave Refreshments
• Allied Member of the Year: 365 Retail Markets

Awards will be presented at The NAMA Show on April 22 in Los Angeles.

Industry Person of the Year Award: April Cathcart

The Industry Person of the Year recognizes an individual who exemplifies the highest standards of professional excellence and has left a measurable mark on the convenience services industry.

April Cathcart has spent nearly two decades expanding how consumer brands engage with convenience services. Prior to joining G&J Marketing and Sales, she led unattended retail strategy for Mars in the United States, guiding initiatives across traditional, and emerging retail technologies.

Her leadership oversaw the expansion of Remix programs, including Skittles Remix and M&M's Remix, with her team leading execution and ongoing development to bring interactive brand experiences and personalization to unattended retail environments. Cathcart also launched Mars' first autonomous retail stores, translating emerging retail concepts into scalable programs for the convenience services channel. She currently serves on the NAMA Board of Directors, where she contributes to efforts focused on innovation, consumer insights, and industry growth.

Operator of the Year Award: Seventh Wave Refreshments

The Operator of the Year award recognizes a company that advanced the convenience services industry through innovation and a willingness to expand conventional business practices.

Founded in 2020, Seventh Wave Refreshment has quickly established itself as a forward-thinking provider of coffee, pantry, and micro market services. Under the direction of Chief Executive Officer Linda Saldaña and President Dave Carroll, the company has built a reputation for rethinking traditional service models through modern merchandising strategies, smart equipment deployment, and data-informed operations. Combined with a people-focused culture and strong customer partnerships, Seventh Wave continues to raise the standard for workplace refreshment programs and operational excellence across all its offerings.

Allied Member of the Year Award: 365 Retail Markets

The Allied Member of the Year award recognizes a non-operator company that demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and support for the convenience services industry.

365 Retail Markets has spent years putting its people and resources behind the industry's growth. The company built an integrated platform covering self-checkout, payments, inventory, and analytics that operators of every size rely on to run modern, efficient programs. That technology is backed by consistent engagement by company leaders in industry events, working committees, and operator education that goes well beyond a standard vendor relationship. Chief Executive Officer Joe Hessling, a former NAMA board chair, has led that effort from the front, making 365 a trusted partner for operators at every stage of their business.

The 2026 NAMA Industry Awards will be presented during The NAMA Show on April 24-26 in Los Angeles. For more information or to register, visit the website.