News

Key executives organize kiosk industry association

March 26, 2002

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kiosks.org, which has functioned as a virtual, online organization since 1993, has taken another step toward establishing itself as a formal association promoting the business and professional interests of the electronic, self-service industry.

The organization, which has grown from about 100 members to nearly 170 in the last year, held a meeting April 25-26 in Orlando, Fla. The meeting was organized by NetWorld Alliance, parent company of kiosks.org.

Craig Keefner, founder and publisher of kiosks.org and a senior vice president of NetWorld Alliance, said that the association members plan to proactively address many of the issues facing the kiosk and self-service industries.

"The industry has grown so much that members are ready and willing to start actively directing and leading the association," said Keefner.  "Over the years, the members have been very involved in the decision-making for kiosks.org. This is a natural next step."

Keefner said kiosks.org members have always played a major role in the association's formation and decision-making. In the future, he said, the association will decide on what projects to fund, such as independent market research and marketing initiatives.

At the Orlando meeting, held at the Bay Hill golf resort, the 14 executives in attendance made decisions regarding the establishment of bylaws, formation of committees and the election of officers. The association is open to anyone engaged in and interested in the electronic kiosk industry.

Along with Keefner and NetWorld executives Dick Good, Bob Fincher and Tom Harper, those in attendance included Gary Curran (Companion Systems), Steve Bellinghausen (Compaq Computer Corp.), Shawn Proffitt (CyberTotems Technologies LLC), Richard A. Rommel (Eastman Kodak Co.), Scott Smith (Elo TouchSystems Inc.), Greg Swistak (Factura Corp.), Mike Mayer (Frank Mayer & Associates), Billy Giammo (IBM), Rick Malone (Kiosk Information Systems), Otto Lohse (MEI), Thomas D. Smith (MontegoNet), Mike Zweber (NCR Corp.), Alex Richardson and Bob Ventresca (Netkey) and Derek Stewart (Netshift Software).

Other companies involved included Apple Computer, Symbol Technologies and NetNearU.