February/March 2023 - 19

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Les Perry
Les Perry, vice president of Riverside
Refreshments, is a third-generation bottler
and foodservice veteran. He followed in
his granddad's and father's footsteps and
now works with his dad, Ed, along with his
brother Heath, who runs their local KDP
bottling distribution company in Augusta, Georgia. Perry
says the greatest pleasure in running a family-owned
business is the close relationships he and his family have with
their long-term employees; many have served for 30-40
years. Perry has seen the foodservice side of the company
grow during his tenure, from a two-route operation to over
30 micro market, vending and OCS routes today. They have
enjoyed being a part of the Canteen family since 2008. He
credits Lightspeed and Gimme as the two best technological
choices they ever made.
Warren Philips
Warren Philips is a developer of industryleading
software systems for route
distribution. He founded Validata in
1978, which has pioneered software and
interfaces to vending equipment and
electronic advancement for over 37 years.
He is also a co-founder of VendScape. Today, Philips and his
team are involved in the development, sales, training and
support of its route distribution systems. Philips manages
the design, engineering, development, testing and processes,
end user implementation and definition of best practices.
He has spent his career helping people implement basic
business principles and to manage technology transitions.
He learned the fundamentals of inventory, cost control and
route distributing at an early age. He is a founding member
of the NAMA DEX committee, co-founder and chairman of
NAMA VIDTS committee, contributor to VDI Standards Task
Force, a guest professor for Michigan State University's
vending class, and a representative for Alabama Vending
Association at the Alabama State House.
Richard Scherer
Richard Scherer began his career
in 1972 in Oakland, California,
as an executive trainee for
Canteen at Oakland Cigarette
Service (OCS). In 1980, Oakland
Vending Service (OVS) grew under
Scherer's leadership to operate over 1,000 cigarette
machines, 1,000 video games, 500 jukeboxes and
150 pool tables. In 1993, Scherer started The Pelican
Group (TPG), and today, TPG manages 77 national
accounts and over 50,000 pieces of equipment. TPG
employs 15 knowledgeable employees who possess
the ability to contract with over 600 vending and
amusement companies across the U.S., Canada and
Puerto Rico. The company is set to celebrate its 30year
anniversary in April 2023. Scherer is extremely
grateful to his staff; some have been with him for 28
years. He also considers himself extremely blessed
and humbled to have his sons working in the business
he started 30 years ago and continuing his legacy.
Today, Scherer remains active in the company as its
founder and CEO, leading strategic acquisitions and
financial oversight.
Marc Rosset
Marc Rosset is the founder of Professional
Vending Consultants Inc. (PVC), which is
celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
With this milestone, PVC has represented
over 310 separate mergers and acquisition
transactions. Through tireless research and
diligence, Rosset has been instrumental in establishing popular
guidelines and standards for transactions based on fairness,
precedent and fair market value. As an industry-leading
intermediary, Rosset works with both the buyer and seller in
formulating fair deals that both parties can readily agree to.
This business model saves his clients time, money and stress.
His expert market appraisals used for court proceedings, new
partnerships and corporate financing helps clients in growing
their business and planning the right exit strategies. Rosset
has published many articles and was also one of Automatic
Merchandiser's Pros to Know award winners.
T
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Industry Champion.
Thought Leader.
Trailblazer.
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February/March 2023 * VendingMarketWatch.com 19
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February/March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February/March 2023
