Our Team
Jim Dillingham
Founder and President
Jim has been working in the vending industry since he was 17, when he operated a vending machine at his own High School in Rehoboth MA, helping him to pay for college. Jim has been self-employed since he was 27, decades ago. He has owned several companies supplying and operating in the vending industry. He has worked with school Food Service Departments promoting vending self operation since 1990. He founded Vend-ucation in 2007 after consulting with 2 other companies to provide a school lunch interface between school POS software and their customized self-op vending machines. Since the Pandemic Vend-ucation has enjoyed very significant growth, often more than doubling sales each year. School vending is the exclusive focus for Vend-ucation LLC.
Amanda Venezia
Vice President of Operations
Amanda’s experience ranges from corporate restaurants to over a decade in school food service. After creating a record breaking vending program in Londonderry, Amanda now shares her passion for school nutrition as EVP of Operation for Vend-ucation. She counsels districts across the country on integrating labor saving cashier-less point of sales vending machines into their program to feed students 24/7. She loves speaking at national conferences and training professionals in front of the house and business operations.
Amanda serves on several boards and committees dedicated to education and child nutrition. Amanda has won such awards as New Hampshire’s Top Forty Under 40 and Food Service Director Magazine Rising Star. She loves food, books, spreadsheets, white boards, podcasts, and more specifically tacos.
Marty Pace
National Sales Manager
Marty is our Service Manager, bringing a wealth of experience in problem-solving and customer service. With 32 years in law enforcement, including serving as Chief of Police and piloting a helicopter for the sheriff’s department, he honed his skills in high-pressure situations. After transitioning to the vending industry, Marty established routes in Michigan and Indiana before advancing through several vending technician schools.
He thrives on helping customers solve problems, relishing the challenge of turning frustration into satisfaction. Marty takes nothing for granted and believes in asking the right questions to reach effective solutions . He greatly values the connections he builds with customers, both over the phone and in person. He enjoys being hands-on and loves the supportive, success-driven team at Vend-ucation. Marty also takes great joy in encouraging others, inspiring hope, and fostering a belief in their potential for success.
Brad Dillingham
National Installation Manager
Brad brings a wealth of experience in business development and management. His entrepreneurial journey began with a swimming pool construction business that he bought as a one-man operation. Under his leadership, the company grew to become the largest pool company on the West Coast of Florida, employing over 40 people.
Throughout his business career, Brad has learned that the most valuable asset in business is relationships.
Guided by lessons from his father, he emphasizes the importance of honesty, accountability, and follow-through in achieving success.
As the installation manager at Vend-ucation, Brad is dedicated to helping both the company’s suppliers and customers thrive. He finds the greatest satisfaction in seeing others succeed, believing that positive, meaningful relationships are key to building lasting success.
Lance Heggem
Regional Sales Director
Lance is the newest Regional Sales Director at Vend-ucation, bringing over 30 years of experience in food and nutrition. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Strayer University and has spent 12 years as a Food Service Director. His background also includes working as a chef, developing recipes for companies and child nutrition programs. Prior to joining Vend-ucation, Lance worked with TITAN/LINQ and Waypoint.
In his current role, Lance oversees sales in over a dozen western states. His passion lies in ensuring children receive healthy meals and helping school districts equip themselves with the right tools to nourish the next generation.
Ashley Lund
Bookkeeper
Ashley is the bookkeeper for Vend-ucation LLC. She does all things accounting for the company. She has worked for Vend-ucation for 4 years, at first part-time and now full-time for almost 2 years. She has her accounting degree and over 16 years experience; Ashley learned quite a bit from her first boss at her first full-time job at a moving company after college, many years ago. That boss was Jim’s wife, Dorrie!
Ashley lives in NH with her family. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and training or competing with her dogs.
Tiffany McInturff
Marketing Director
Tiffany’s first experience serving students in the cafeteria was at the age of 17 years old when she led her economics class project, launching “Pucker Up 7” -a frozen lemonade stand during school lunch hour. With her dad, Jim Dillingham, providing support and equipment from his vending company, Tiffany got hands-on experience with the vending industry early on.
Growing up surrounded by the business, she frequently helped with her dad’s newsletter distribution programs. Now, Tiffany is excited to be part of the Vend-ucation team, using her skills to design newsletters that highlight the incredible benefits Vend-ucation offers to school nutrition programs.
