KioStar.com

Our mission is to provide each of our clients with two things: a truly beneficial self-service kiosk and the highest possible degree of customer service.

To provide true value, the Shopper's Helper addresses the needs and concerns of the industry it serves. The Shopper's Helper gives CPG brands the ability to their best, most effective advertising and marketing information inside the supermarkets, where buying decisions are actually made. Shoppers get the fast, fun, solution based information they need to make improved buying decisions and to save time and money. Supermarkets increase sales as shoppers discover and purchase more of the products that they need in one place. This is a win-win-win situation!

We are also committed to providing “knock your socks off” customer service to each and every client. We value each client and we know that it is our privilege to work with you.

Such is our dedication to customer satisfaction that we list the president and CEO on the Contact Us page. We are all here to serve you in any way possible.

Tracy Kelly brings over two decades of experience and expertise in developing technological products that are marketable solutions to real world problems. Tracy honed her technology, software and analytic skills in a large defense contractor. As a co-founder of Crystonix Software, she was instrumental in creating uniquely user-friendly features. She successfully designed and created a marketing and PR campaign that resulted in national product reviews. She led the market research and technology product-to-consumer positioning expertise for two small Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) / Supermarket industry service providers.

As co-founder and CEO of KioStar, she brings to the company a deep understanding of the CPG/Supermarket industry and the vision to turn that understanding into a true solution for this industry unmet problems.

She is involved in most aspects of the company, including setting the company’s direction, and quickly identifying and resolving potential problems. She is also responsible for leading the marketing, PR and sales efforts.

She graduated from California State University - Hayward, earning a B.S. degree in Computer Science with a special interest in psychology. This dual interest enables her to analyze human needs as they equate to the usage of technology.

Alan Hinkle has a strong track record of success as both an entrepreneur and as a company leader. He has demonstrated excellence in strategic/corporate development, financial operations, day-to-day operations, and organizational design. Alan has over two decades of experience in leading the design and development of complex software programs that demand cutting edge expertise. He has a proven ability to lead teams to achieve, and over-achieve, their goals. Alan is extremely customer-focused and is consistently involved in creating and maintaining valuable strategic alliances.

Prior to founding KioStar, he was the Deputy Sr. Manager for a leading edge Department of Defense program with the nation’s premier defense company. Here he was responsible for all aspects of a large team’s budget (as cost center), staffing, scheduling, and development and delivery of products.

As a co-founder of Crystonix Software, Alan was directly involved in all aspects of product development and design. He was responsible for day-to-day operations and became skilled at managing the time, effort, and budget resources of a small, start-up company. He was responsible for all cost/budget decisions and overall financial operations.

Alan graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a B.S.in Computer Science and earned an M.S. in Business Management from Golden Gate University.

Bill Green

VP Business Development
Bill Green brings a highly successful 25 year track record of CPG sales management to KioStar. His experience at both Nabisco Foods and Kraft Foods includes a variety of key assignments including region manager, national customer team leader, national account director and business development director. He has experience in almost every major retail market within the U.S.
While at Nabisco and Kraft Bill developed in depth knowledge of many supermarket categories including grocery, dairy, frozen food and general merchandise. The list of brands Bill has sold is impressive. He is well versed in the areas of advertising, consumer promotion and trade marketing.

Bill Green is a graduate of American University in Washington, D. C. with a B. A. in Economics.

Director of Business Development

Jim brings a broad perspective of the food & beverage industry to KioStar having worked for a food manufacturer (Kellogg Company), food procurement cooperative (Topco Associates), private label broker (Daymon Worldwide) and a wholesale liquor distributor (Wirtz Beverage Group) in a variety of sales & marketing roles.

Prior to coming to KioStar, he was a National Account Manager with Market Track where he sold FeatureVision, an industry leading retail print media tracking and analysis solution to CPG manufacturers and retailers.

Jim Jakala is a graduate of Illinois State University with a B.S. in Marketing and earned his MBA in Marketing Management from Loyola University Chicago.

Judith Donohue
Director of Public Relations
Judith Donohue brings more than 25 years of communication experience to her position as Public Relations Director, working on both the agency and corporate side. She has planned and executed effective PR campaigns for a wide range of consumer brands, including Bayer, Stouffers, Nestle and Weight Watchers. Immediately prior to joining KioStar, Judith spent nine years as New England Public Affairs Manager for Hewlett-Packard. An award-winning writer, she has worked as a reporter for several daily newspapers and for McGraw-Hill trade publications.

Judith currently teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in Public Relations and Crisis Communication. She holds a bachelors degree in Sociology and a Masters degree in Organizational Communication, both from Regis College near Boston, MA..

Tony Hamel, with over twenty years experience with computers, servers, phones and networks, is responsible for KioStar's information technology. As the Information Technology Resource Manager, his responsibilities include the efficient installation, maintenance, security, training and documenting of all Kiostar communications equipment and technologies. Prior to joining Kiostar, Tony had almost twenty years experience in the engineering of electronic equipment. He brings an organized and thorough approach to all IT resource issues.

Leonard Scales
With nearly 18 years of experience in technology sales and marketing, Leonard Scales has been responsible for sales and new business development for companies targeting retailers and their manufactures. As Vice President of Sales and Marketing for JDA Inc., he was responsible for selling integrated marketing programs to major manufacturers like Gillette, Heineken USA, and several others. He offers deep insights into in-store marketing programs and consumer actions. As Vice President of Sales and Business Development for ResellerManager, he was responsible for selling of a retail sales analytics solution. Recently he has held sales management positions with Bay Area technology startups. Leonard received his B.S. from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan and IT Certification from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.