Tom Bauer
Tom has held key leadership positions overseeing the sales and operations divisions at Emerald Brand, DS Services, Standard Coffee, Community Coffee, Anheuser-Busch and PepsiCo. He has played an integral part in leading national sales and operations, while increasing revenue, improving operational metrics, streamlining operating costs and achieving targeted EDBITDA.
Melinda Grandell
Melinda Grandell has been in the convenience services industry for 10 years. She joined Accent Food Services in 2016 as the Director of Office Coffee and moved into the VP of Sales role 4 years ago, managing both existing accounts and new business. She is excited to continue in the role of VP of Sales of new business since the acquisition of Accent by InReach by Sodexo earlier this year. When she is not working, she loves spending time with her kids and grandkids, and heading out to their ranch in West Texas.
Heather Bailey
Heather credits her experience working full-time in office administration and human resources during law school for her seamless transition into management-side labor and employment law. The skills she developed as a legal secretary and office manager help strengthen her appreciation and understanding of clients’ concerns today and gave her the tools to be efficient, respectful and meticulous in her role as an attorney. For almost 17 years, Heather has concentrated her practice in employment and labor counseling and litigation, including discrimination and trade secret / non compete lawsuits, FLSA class actions, labor negotiations and arbitrations, affirmative action, and OFCCP/DOL audits. She counsels on day-to-day operations, human resources, and management decisions regarding employees, practices and policies. Heather also works comfortably with FMLA/ADA, sexual harassment, affirmative action, union avoidance and other types of employee and management training. Her clients operate across the U.S. in industries like vending, healthcare, transportation, parking, construction, staffing, hospitality (restaurants/taverns), banking, and manufacturing to name a few.
Heather has been a proud NAMA Knowledge Source Partner for almost 14 years. A thought leader in the labor and employment industry, Heather regularly contributes to the firm’s Labor & Employment Law Update, the National Automatic Merchandising Association, Vending Times and Vending Market Watch quarterly publications, and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s human resources advisory blog. She frequently presents at the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Clear Law Institute, Chicago Bar Association, Lorman Education Services and NAMA-related conventions and annual meetings across the U.S.
