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Our Story

In the words of founder/CEO, “I saw a need in the industry for better customer service. People had questions, [that] I had found the answers to (through my own trial and errors) as well as questions I had not yet encountered. I was eager to learn and share. I wanted them to know, “We’ve been there. We get it. We care.” I knew that if I helped other businesses get bigger and better, I would as well.”

Optimal Station saw the need for customization in the automatic retail world. Having come from both manufacturer and operator worlds, we heard the same issues and complaints repeatedly. Owners were trying (often unsuccessfully) to piece together the necessary components to create functional, efficient, and profitable automated retail systems. We saw companies go out of business unnecessarily when they couldn’t put all the pieces together effectively. So we decided to create a company where we would bring quality hardware and software together to give our clients the best of everything, always paying attention to every detail. We knew that it was imperative to constantly be innovative so we could consistently offer our clients the latest and greatest.

In the process of providing outstanding service to our automated retail clients, we became aware of similar needs in the world of event marketing. Taking our well-honed best practices; hardware and software know-how; and commitment to the highest product and service quality, we looked at how we could help clients optimize their brand reach and loyalty. We consulted with some of the best in the experiential marketing industry and learned that brands want their activations to be fun and exciting while delivering the ROI that propels the company forward. That information, in the hands of our existing passionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated team led us to the creation of our experiential marketing division. Our creative team designed and constructed all-in-one communication Stations, built around our already state-of-the-art vending machines and custom software. We developed a suite of ancillary products and services to complement the Stations. We trained Optimizers to use these Stations as tools to attract and engage attendees, while gathering vital data which we then deliver post-event, providing the client with all the metrics and analytics they could possibly need to make good business decisions, sales funnels, etc.

At the core of it all, Optimal Station strives to do more, be more, care more. All the while we want to grow, help others grow, give back, and have fun!

“We knew that it was imperative to constantly be innovative so we could consistently offer our clients the latest and greatest.”
Meet The Optimal Team Members

Co Founder & CEO

Michele Lee

Michele Lee is an experienced entrepreneur who has owned a variety of businesses including real estate, fitness centers, and vending routes. In her vending business, she figured out how to optimize the routes and then taught others to do the same, realizing how rewarding and invigorating it was to teach and help others. As a seasoned owner/operator, Michele was asked to consult for Jofemar Corporation, where she quickly recognized the need to take the vending world to another level. In 2017, she partnered with Co-Founder, Teddy Sanchez, to bring Optimal Vending Systems (subsequently rebranded to “Optimal Station”) to life. The successes (and occasional failures) of her previous businesses, along with the example set by her restaurateur parents, taught Michele the lessons she needed in order to make Optimal Station the success that it is today. As the CEO, Michele appreciates that she can make a difference she didn’t feel like she could make as an employee. She’s driven in her mission to provide the best in customer service to her clients while creating jobs people are actually excited to do. But Michele’s biggest motivation in building Optimal Station is to generate enough revenue to be able to give back to the community making a difference on a large scale.

Co-Founder & CTO

Teddy Sanchez

Teddy Sanchez earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from a top vocational school in the year 2000 and afterward started his career in the boating manufacturing industry. With over a decade of boating manufacturing experience, Teddy ventured over to project management where he led construction teams specializing in custom railings throughout the Caribbean islands. After two years in the railing manufacturing and project management industry, he recognized the need and several uses for vending machines. In 2010, he was hired by the Jofemar Corp (a vending machine manufacturer headquartered in Peralta, Spain) to work with the United States division, where he was eventually promoted to Director of Operations. What makes Teddy unique is that he has worked in all departments in the vending industry, from manufacturing to shipping to sales and support. He has helped operators, manufacturers, suppliers, and entrepreneurs start projects and see them through to completion. In 2017, Teddy ventured with Co-Founder Michele Lee to establish Optimal Vending Systems (later rebranded, Optimal Station). At Optimal he enjoys the unique challenges that he faces, executing special projects and custom machines with custom training and deployment solutions. He also relishes in using his creativity when designing Optimal Station’s innovative experiential marketing solutions.

Director of QA & Accounts

Pam Patterson

Pam Patterson spent many years with a company that has been on the Fortune 500 list for over 25 years. Her experience with that company ranged from customer service to account manager to senior analyst. She joined Optimal Station in its early years, initially providing occasional advice and input but ultimately committing to a full-time role in assisting in Optimal’s explosive growth. She brings a history of attention to detail, controlled-growth management, and a customer-first perspective. Quality is her number one priority for Optimal Station and for its customers. Her education in accounting and business management has been instrumental in ensuring that Optimal Station continues to make smart business decisions that are effective in both the short and long term. But first and foremost, Pam has the kind of integrity that’s congruent with OptimalStation’s mission and purpose.

Project Manager

Alex Garnier

After having graduated with a degree in computer engineering, Alex worked as an IT Manager for more than 15 years at his family’s freight forwarding and customs brokerage company. Subsequently, he moved to Miami to open a new branch for his company, which is where he met Optimal Station’s founders, Michele and Teddy. After realizing they had similar integrity, aspirations, and goals, Optimal Station presented Alex with the opportunity to join the team as a Project Manager, which he gladly accepted, entrusting control of his own company to his wife, Chrit. Alex dove into Optimal operations headfirst, quickly becoming an integral part of the organization.

Project & Sales Optimizer

Christian Neste

Christian came to Optimal Station with 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. His culinary career included everything from caterer to executive chef, running the kitchens for some of the best restaurants, hotels, and corporate dining facilities in North America and the Caribbean. Christian’s extensive operations and management background in that field made him the perfect choice to guide the continued development of Optimal’s creative and visionary food and consumable applications.

Christian attended Johnson & Wales University in Miami, Florida and earned a Food Service Management certification from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Christian is fluent in English and Spanish.

Senior Technician and Operator

Nicole Hatch

Nicole has been with Optimal Station since its origin as a route operator almost ten years ago. She continues to run that subdivision of the company with passion and integrity. She also contributes her expertise to other field projects, as needed. Nicole has earned numerous industry certifications. Those, combined with her work ethic, honesty, and self-motivation are qualities that are of paramount importance to the Optimal Station corporate culture.

Account Manager

Reed Grudin

Reed comes to Optimal Station after 20+ successful years in Real Estate Sales, Medical Sales, and Hospitality with some of the largest companies in the United States. Reed recently moved from New York City to Las Vegas, the tradeshow capital of the world. In addition, his background in theatre (both as a performer and producer in New York City) gives him a keen eye for detail and an insight on making sure the “big picture” of your event is a reality that makes sense for your business growth. The key to Reed’s success has always been a strong work ethic, integrity, and customer service.

Reach • Engage • Experience • Connect
Vision

Vision

"Together We're Better" - Optimal Station

By encouraging innovation and creativity, we help businesses grow and reach their Optimal potential. We find the resulting growth of our employees and clients to be so rewarding that, in turn, we’re motivated to become even more innovative and creative, producing even more growth. We see it as a self-perpetuating cycle.
Mission

Mission

"Together We're Better" - Optimal Station

To help entrepreneurs, businesses, and brands be successful by providing innovative custom solutions backed by optimal customer service and support. Yes, Optimal Station’s products are the best in the industry, because we source and supply only the best. But our service is what truly sets us apart from the rest and is the cornerstone of our business plan.
Values

Values

"Together We're Better" - Optimal Station

First and foremost, Optimal Station values integrity. Other qualities of paramount importance to our corporate culture are fairness, balance, empowerment of individuals, exceeding expectations, innovation, constant improvement, creativity, fun, and philanthropy.
Position Statement

Position Statement

"Together We're Better" - Optimal Station

Our company has the primary goal of providing customized quality vending machines to the automatic retail and inventing creative marketing experiences centered around our Stations. We have distinctive solutions for businesses to improve profit margins, increase brand awareness, attract new customers and build loyalty with existing customers. What makes Optimal Station unique is its ability to seamlessly collect data in a way that’s fun and exciting for consumers.

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