Betson Named Distributor of the Year for 2024, Rick Kirby Inducted into AAMA Amusement Industry Hall of Fame
Betson Enterprises was recently recognized as AAMA’s 2024 Distributor of the Year, as voted on by the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) supplier membership. Accepting the award at the Amusement Expo trade show in Las Vegas were Bob Geschine, Catherine Algra, Bob Dipipi, Britannie Betti, and Kyle Berger. This is the eighth time the company has received the award. AAMA also inducted 14 new members into the Class of 2024 Amusement Industry Hall of Fame, which included Betson’s own Rick Kirby, Executive Vice President of Betson Gaming.
Bob Geschine, President of Betson Enterprises, graciously acknowledged the honor of being named Distributor of the Year by AAMA, emphasizing, “This recognition is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our partner suppliers, loyal customers, and the dedicated team at Betson. We extend our sincere gratitude for their invaluable contributions, which have made 2023 a remarkable year for us.”
The AAMA Amusement Industry Hall of Fame inducted 14 new members to the Class of 2024 in three categories; Legacy, Living and Entity. These 14 join the 37 members in the inaugural class of 2023.
Rick Kirby started his amusement career with Bally Northeast. Upon their closing, Rick joined H. Betti Industries, and Betson New England Distributing Co. Inc was formed under Rick’s stewardship. As it became to be known as NECO, Rick managed the Northeast territory, key national accounts, and also had a tenure as a divisional President of Betson Enterprises. Rick served as president of the AAMA and was a leading presence on industry associations and charitable ventures. He was recognized with the AAMA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014, the NY AMOA Man of the Year in 2004 and the CMIA Massachusetts Man of the Year in 1987. His reputation for always being of service to anybody who called is well deserved.