(Jackson, MS) – The Southeastern Vending Association (SEVA) board recently met to plan out the SEVA 2016 conference. The 2016 event marks the 11th anniversary of SEVA. The conference is scheduled for August 9-11, 2016, at a new location, the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach, FL. The event attracts more than 250 attendees with more than 50 operator companies being represented. As a whole, the SEVA operators represent over $400 million in sales volume, 1,500 routes and 60,000 machines.
SEVA 2016 will offer multiple professional development opportunities over two mornings; afternoons filled with group activities including golf and volleyball; and enhanced evening events. The convention will kick-off with the Opening Night Party. New this year, the first evening will feature Special Sponsor Cabanas. This fun night allows attendees to mingle, catch-up with industry friends, operators and suppliers, and also build new relationships. The second night dinner will feature special entertainment. The final night includes the new Sponsor Showcase, which affords attendees valued time with sponsors, learning about their company and products. This night also includes a fun activity between the sponsors and operators.
“We are looking forward to our new location, beachside, at the Hilton Sandestin,” said John Eastlack, SEVA Chairman. “It is a wonderful family and convention friendly full-service beachfront resort. The new location allows us new unique networking opportunities with our sponsors while keeping our members abreast of industry changes including governmental affairs, technology and business trends. I encourage everyone to attend and take advantage of all that SEVA has to offer.”
SEVA is comprised of six state vending association members including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. SEVA’s purpose is to facilitate an annual convention allowing the state association members to network with their suppliers and individual members.
Originally formed in 1981 as the Vending Machine Association of the Gulf South (VMAGS), the organization’s purpose was to merge the annual tri-state convention held by Alabama Vending Association (AVA), Mississippi Automatic Merchandising Association (MAMA) and Vending Machine Operators of Louisiana (VMOL). VMAGS was officially incorporated in 1981 in Alabama. In 2003, Georgia Automatic Merchandising Council (GAMC) joined the organization followed by Tennessee Automatic Merchandising Association (TAMA) and the Automatic Merchandising Association of Florida (AMAF). Due to the growing participation in VMAGS, the name changed to Southeastern Vending Association (SEVA) to include all its members.
For more information about SEVA 2016, to register or sponsor the convention, visit southeasternvending.org.
