Jim Carbone Named 2025 Coffee Legend of the Year by NAMA

Award honors Carbone’s enduring contributions and leadership in coffee service

The National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) has named Jim Carbone, vice president of operations/coffee experience at WithMe, Inc., the 2025 Coffee Legend of the Year, recognizing his transformative influence in the coffee services industry.

Image Source: Created by Vending Connection

“This award celebrates the people who define our industry’s standards of excellence, leaders whose innovation and integrity inspire others to aim higher,” said Carla Balakgie, president and CEO of NAMA, in a recent press release. “Jim embodies that spirit. His contributions have left a lasting imprint on coffee service and on the many professionals who have followed his example.”

With a career spanning decades, Jim Carbone has shaped nearly every facet of convenience services, from his start in the family vending business to founding companies that redefined how coffee is distributed, served, and experienced. He played a key role in expanding the craft coffee movement within corporate and hospitality sectors. Through his founding of Tradecraft Outfitters, he connected small-batch roasters with major clients such as Google and Yelp, raising the bar for workplace and hospitality coffee programs across the nation.

At WithMe, Inc., the company behind PrintWithMe and SipWithMe, he now advances the seamless delivery of barista-quality coffee with technology-driven systems in modern living spaces. Beyond these business achievements, he has served on the NAMA Board of Directors, the NAMA Foundation Board, and the Illinois Automatic Merchandising Council Board, shaping policies and education in support of industry growth.

Jim Carbone will be honored at CTW 2025, taking place Nov. 4-5 in Miami, Florida. To register, visit namactw.org.

About NAMA

NAMA represents the U.S. Convenience Services Industry, which contributes $40.04 billion to the U.S. economy. By providing advocacy, education, and research, NAMA works to promote and protect the industry’s over 165,000 jobs hardworking employees. Through traditional vending and micro markets, office coffee and pantry services, product manufacturing, and small-drop distribution, convenience services meets the needs of over 40 million American consumers daily at work, home, school, and play. Visit namanow.org to learn more.