MPSA News and Announcements

The Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) is now holding open nominations for positions on the board of directors and executive committee by members of the MPSA. The nomination period is open until June 30 for candidates to serve on the MPSA Board of Directors and Executive Committee two year terms beginning July 2017. Learn more here, or email elections@yourmpsa.org.

The Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) is pleased to announce that 9 members of the MPSA have been named “Difference Makers” in the document imaging industry by ENX Magazine. Each year, ENX contacts dozens of respected folks across all segments of the document imaging industry for recommendations and profiles the difference makers that result from those efforts and responses.

This year’s list of Difference Makers includes the following MPSA members.

• Lindsey Bohon, Vice President and Managing Director of Sales, Office Equipment Group, GreatAmerica Financial Services Corp.
• Ed Crowley, CEO, Photizo Group
• Jordan Darragh, CEO and Founder, PrintReleaf
• Aaron Dyck, Vice President, CIG Solutions, Clover Imaging Group
• Luke Goldberg, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing, Clover Imaging Group
• Josie Heskje, Director of Strategic Marketing, Office Equipment Group, GreatAmerica Financial Services Corp.
• Doug Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer, LMI Solutions
• West McDonald, Vice President, Business Development, Print Audit and Owner, FocusMPS
• Greg VanDeWalker, Senior Vice President, IT Channel and Services, GreatAmerica Financial and Collabrance, LLC

The MPSA is proud to recognize these members who volunteer their time and energy to the association while making an impact on their organizations and the imaging industry.

About the Managed Print Services Association

The Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that serves the MPS industry. Its focus is on the development of standards, education, and industry guidelines that unite the different segments of the industry and bring value to all those participating. For more information about benefits and memberships, visit http://yourmpsa.org/Membership.

Are you an existing MPSA member interested in getting more involved with the MPSA? You can find out more about all the committees and the MPSA here or contact us at info@yourmpsa.org.

Chicago, Ill. – May 18, 2017 – Clover Imaging Group (CIG) is excited to release refreshed Axess Managed Print Services (MPS) SalesPro training. Axess MPS SalesPro Training is the most comprehensive e-learning MPS sales training curriculum available. Consisting of thirteen web-based video modules, the MPS training includes multimedia content, real world examples, field implementation tools, and knowledge checks to keep sales teams engaged and to ensure mastery of material. The course overview and module one are available online for free today. 
  
“There are lots of moving parts that go with implementing, running, and maintaining a managed print services program,” said Aldo Spensieri, Vice President of MPS Solutions. “Our MPS experts poured all of their hard-earned MPS experience and knowledge into creating these exhaustive MPS training modules. Everyone can benefit from this comprehensive training.” 
  
The Axess SalesPro MPS Training modules cover topics from creating an initial go-to-market strategy, assessing the print environment, making the close, and proactively managing the account. The self-paced setup is great for busy imaging staff who are eager to master MPS and who can’t take much precious time away from the field. The training is available 24/7 online. Current Axess clients should reach out to their CIG sales representative to get access to all the training modules. New and prospective clients should watch the course overview and reach out to support@axessmps.com to get started with Axess MPS today. 
  
Axess MPS is CIG’s comprehensive, fully integrated suite of software and services designed to help dealers deliver more profitable MPS solutions. Axess MPS is designed with the flexibility and scalability dealers need to provide MPS solutions to their customers. For more information, please visit www.cloverimaging.com. 
  
About Clover Imaging Group 
Clover Imaging Group offers a complete imaging and solutions platform for independent dealers, OEMs, and retailers. From remanufactured printer cartridges and computer/server parts to managed print services tools and marketing support, a comprehensive suite of products and services is available, all utilizing intelligent technology, proprietary engineering, and sustainable innovation. From its early beginnings as an ink and toner remanufacturer, CIG has grown into a global powerhouse that manufactures more than three million cartridges a month and offers world-class products, branding, distribution, and support that provides the perfect portfolio to fit each customer’s needs — let’s go even further, together. 

Chicago, Ill. – April 11, 2017 – Clover Imaging Group (CIG) is excited to announce the release of 201A remanufactured color cartridges for the M252 line of HP JetIntelligence printers. The release of the 201A toner cartridges creates a new benchmark for the industry for innovation and engineering prowess. CIG transformed its patented and proprietary technology to successfully remanufacture color cartridges for the challenging, new HP color cartridge families.

 “As was the case with the 26A, the seal technology was a critical barrier since the seal winds internally with no user intervention,” said Luke Goldberg, EVP Global Sales and Marketing of CIG. “The same technology exists in the color M252 printers, and our patent pending secure seal technology, that we first introduced with the 26A, proved to be scalable to these models as well, which creates a seamless user experience for the customer.”

CIG features the innovative technology behind the build of remanufactured color cartridges for M252 printers in a newly released video. Instead of looking to compatible cartridges as a solution, as competitors in the imaging industry have done, CIG engineers got to work, developing a new line of remanufactured color cartridges that provide an OEM like user experience and print performance. CIG’s patented reman processes and technology advancements in research and development helped their engineers address the challenges of the new JetIntelligence designs and allowed CIG to build the only true OEM alternative.

“We view this release as another testament to CIG’s ability to offer OEM alternative quality and to overcome barriers erected by OEMs,” said Eric Tuvesson, VP of Color R&D of CIG. “We also view this as substantiation that the best way to provide a high quality aftermarket replacement cartridge is to start with the highest quality product available, namely the spent OEM core and remanufacture it to exacting standards. We believe this path provides the safest possible option for our customer from both an IP and quality perspective.”

(Springville, UT) — DecisionWise is proud to recognize GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation as a top-performing organization through its 2017 Employee Engagement Best Practice Awards. GreatAmerica is one of five organizations to receive the award based on a review of over 8.3 million survey responses in the DecisionWise international employee engagement survey benchmark database. 

Results from 80 companies were analyzed by measuring the number of fully engaged, key contributor, opportunity group, and disengaged employees in each organization using a set of employee engagement anchor questions. Those organizations with the most fully engaged and key contributor employees were eligible to receive the award. Final winners were confirmed by evaluating the overall culture of the organization as well as best practices and GreatAmerica initiatives that contributed to the scores. 

“We’re privileged that GreatAmerica has made DecisionWise a strategic partner for employee engagement surveys, and we’re proud that it has taken clear, measurable actions to leverage employee feedback and create a positive, engaging, and energizing workplace for its employees,” said DecisionWise Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Tracy Maylett. 

About DecisionWise, Inc.

DecisionWise, Inc. is a management consulting firm specializing in leadership and organization development using assessments, feedback, coaching and training. DecisionWise services include employee engagement surveys, 360-degree feedback, leadership coaching and organization development. DecisionWise was founded in 1996 and is privately held. With offices in the United States and affiliate offices throughout the world, DecisionWise operates in over 70 countries and conducts surveys in over 30 languages. 

About GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation

GreatAmerica is a national commercial equipment finance company in the U.S. and is dedicated to helping manufacturers, vendors, and dealers be more successful and keep their customers for a lifetime. GreatAmerica was established in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1992 and today is organized into seven business units. It has a staff of over 500 employees with offices in Georgia, Minnesota, and Missouri. We also offer innovative non-financial services, including PathShare® HR Services and Collabrance, LLC, to help our customers be more successful. For additional information, please visit the GreatAmerica corporate website: www.greatamerica.com 

[Toronto, ON, Canada] - [March 23, 2017] - SmartPrint Inc., Canada’s award winning, independent Managed Print Services firm, announced today that it has acquired DynaCharge Laser Inc. in Montreal, Quebec.

“We are thrilled to welcome DynaCharge’s clients into the SmartPrint family. We’re excited to help take their organizations to the next level of efficiency through improved document workflows and more cost effective and highly secure office printing environments.” said Tim Lomax, President, SmartPrint Inc. “Since 1989, DynaCharge has been providing custom-tailored, high touch Managed Print Services to their clients across Canada. We’ve had a close working relationship with owners Doug and Wayne McGurk for over 20 years, and share their passion for delivering an outstanding client experience. DynaCharge will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of SmartPrint, led by Wayne and his existing staff. We wish Doug a long, well-deserved retirement.”

“This is a game changer for our Quebec based clients, who will now be able to leverage SmartPrint’s deep expertise in Managed Print Services, their Tier 1 equipment portfolio partners, and suite of best in breed software solutions.” said Wayne McGurk, President, DynaCharge Laser.

The strategic acquisition of DynaCharge, whose head office is based in St. Laurent, Quebec reinforces SmartPrint’s existing footprint in Quebec and affirms SmartPrint as the leading independent Managed Print Services experts in Canada.

About SmartPrint:

HP’s Print Partner of the Year, SmartPrint is Canada’s most recognized independent MPS provider, helping organizations make sense of complex print environments. SmartPrint’s team of Managed Print Services (MPS) consultants leverage the markets best tools and systems offering best in breed office printing equipment and software to help simplify printing, scanning and document workflow. Our clients experience dramatic improvements in user efficiency, reduced costs of 30% to 50%, reduced helpdesk calls by 25% and significant administrative efficiencies through vendor consolidation. SmartPrint's solutions are not about printers and copiers, they're about people.

To find out more about SmartPrint, please explore our website: www.smartprint.com.

Fort Lauderdale, FL [March 22, 2017] - Adam R. Fish, partner lead at Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), will deliver a keynote address at this year’s Imaging and Technology Education Exposition (ITEX 2017). An expected one thousand attendees will listen as Fish delivers his speech, Growing Your Business with Digital in a Mobile-First World, which will expound on the future of Internet searches and marketing as well as the importance of Business Solutions Providers (BSPs) developing strong digital footprints in their local markets.

As the partner lead, Fish is responsible for large client sales at Google. He advises large corporations on strategy, digital media, and mobile for performance-driven markets. His primary focus is embracing change and putting customers first through digital experiences. Fish served as a consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers prior to his work with Google.

Fish’s keynote address will take place on April 20, 2017 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. During this thirty-minute session spanning from 8:20 a.m. to 8:50 a.m., Fish will discuss the core components of a high-performing digital acquisition channel in a mobile-first world. Business owners will be empowered to evaluate their own websites and marketing strategies against Google’s latest best practices.

“My career at Google is devoted to connecting people with information and helping businesses grow on the web.  I look forward to delivering a productive session with actionable insights for ITEX leaders and a glimpse into the future of digital,” said Fish.

The keynote will reinforce the innovative undertone of the ITEX trade show, which keeps in the mind the goal has always been to put BSPs at the forefront of the technology industry.

Founder and owner of the ITEX trade show, Marc Spring, emphasized the importance of Google’s presence at ITEX2017 for BSPs in the technology channel stating, “With over 60 percent of consumers using Google to find reputable local businesses and increasing local competition, digital marketing has become the key to generating leads. Our BSPs need to establish strong digital presences in order to sustain their businesses, and Google sharing best practices will help them do just that.”

About Google

Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people connect with information. Google’s innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top Internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world. 

About ITEX

ITEX Imaging & Technology Education Exposition is the largest and most extensive national trade show connecting vendors and resellers in the office technology space. Founded by Marc Spring in 2001, ITEX was developed to provide dealers with access to a vendor-agnostic trade show featuring practical education that addresses modern industry solutions to help grow their businesses. As the show grew over the years, it proved to be a huge success—with revenue growing 780 percent between the show’s inception in 2001 and when Spring sold the show in 2009. Spring reacquired the show in 2016. For detailed information visit www.itexshow.com  

(Cedar Rapids, IA) – GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation today launched the first-ever app to use a salesperson’s mobile device camera to submit credit applications in the commercial financial services industry. SnappShot 2.0, made available this week to GreatAmerica customers nationwide, uses the mobile device camera to snap a picture of the customer’s business card to submit a credit application. It also creates and sends financing quotes via email or text.

“The majority of our customers transact business on the go, and we responded to their needs with a solution that saves them time and provides quick service to their customers,” said David Pohlman, GreatAmerica Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “The convenience of the mobile camera takes the hassle out of entering information.”

The app became available on Google™ Play and the Apple Store after pilot testing was completed. Users access SnappShot after contacting GreatAmerica to retrieve activation codes. Rate information used for quoting is tied to each customer’s customized program and encrypted during transmission.

“SnappShot and our InteGreat Web Services combine to make our customer’s data available to them using any number of tools they have in-house,” said Tawnya Stone, Vice President of the GreatAmerica Strategic Technology Group. “We were able to integrate data with their systems, web portals, and in this case, a customized mobile app.”

About GreatAmerica

GreatAmerica is the largest independent small ticket national commercial equipment finance company in the U.S. and is dedicated to helping manufacturers, vendors, and dealers be more successful and keep their customers for a lifetime. GreatAmerica was established in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1992 and today is organized into seven business units. It has a staff of over 500 employees with offices in Georgia, Minnesota, and Missouri. Our commitment to understanding the office equipment industry has positioned us as the unparalleled leader in single invoice solutions (MPS, Managed IT, and other specialized billing options). We also offer innovative non-financial services to help our customers evolve their businesses.

For additional information, please visit the GreatAmerica corporate website: www.greatamerica.com

Chicago, Ill. – March 21, 2017 – Clover Imaging Group (CIG) is excited to announce its platinum sponsorship of the 2017 ITEX Show, the largest and most extensive national trade show connecting vendors and resellers in the office technology space. The 2017 ITEX Show takes place April 18-20 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Attendees of the show can stop by booth #601 to catch a glimpse of the GreenSweep Harley-Davidson® and to take a virtual reality tour of CIG’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and engineering tech center.

“We are extremely excited to bring the custom GreenSweep Harley-Davidson to ITEX 2017 and to eventually present it to one GreenSweep dealer,” said Luke Goldberg, EVP Global Sales and Marketing for CIG. “CIG also has many new offerings in our solutions category that we can’t wait to talk with dealers about. See you in Vegas!”

CIG representatives will be available to discuss new initiatives of CIG Solutions at ITEX. Solutions include the aggressive OEM GreenSweep program that gives up to 10 percent rebates on approved sales, the powerful third-party reports that prove the reliability of CIG manufactured cartridges compared to the OEM, and the innovative TCO worksheets that illustrate for customers the cost savings of OEM conversion.

In addition to the platinum sponsorship and booth participation, CIG will also participate in educational events as part of the 2017 ITEX Show. From 11-11:50 a.m. on April 19, Sarah Henderson, Director of MPS Operations for CIG, will present the “SMI: Supplies Management Investigation” educational event. From 9-9:50 a.m. on April 20, Luke Goldberg, EVP Global Sales and Marketing for CIG, will lead the “Have a Seat!” educational event discussing seat-based billing and its popularity. From 11-11:50 a.m. on April 20, Aldo Spensieri, Vice President of MPS Solutions for CIG, will join MPSA for “How to Earn an A+ on Assessments for MPS.”

For more information or to register for ITEX 2017, please visit: http://itexshow.com

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Pros Elite Group committed to partnering with the 2017 Imaging and Technology Education Exposition, ITEX, to host its 8th annual Presidents’ Best Practices Meeting in Las Vegas this April. The group is well known and respected in the Document and Imaging Industry as an experienced powerhouse of consultants. Jerry Newberry, President and Managing Partner of Pros Elite Group, finalized the deal with ITEX.

The meetings—scheduled for Tuesday, April 18^th, and Wednesday April 19^th—are designed to examine best practices in all aspects of the imaging and document industry, analyzing how and why they are effective for dealers. The highlight of these sessions will be the Managed Network Services President Panel and the Managed Print Services Panel. “Presidents will walk away with real actionable items to implement within their businesses when they get back,” Newberry explained. “These topics are current and relevant and are what decision makers need to pay attention to for the sustainability of their businesses.” The sessions will be invitation only, exclusive to their top 100 dealers. Pros Elite joins five other groups hosting their events concurrently with ITEX. “These sessions really capture what we are doing here at ITEX, hearing from successful peers and learning with hands-on case studies and examples,” added Marc Spring, founder and owner of the ITEX show.

The ITEX tradeshow, which boasts the convergence of Business Print and Managed IT as its theme, welcomes new opportunities with Managed Network Providers. It will be held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel from April 18^th, 2017 – April 20^th, 2017. There will be an expected two thousand attendees and hundreds of exhibitors ranging from Managed IT vendors to office equipment manufacturers. For more information about the show, please visit www.itexshow.com

About Pros Elite Group
The Pros Elite Group is an innovative service, sales and operations consulting and training organization. We provide the most detailed and proven profitability/operational improvements in the Hybrid Document Imaging Industry. The executive team of the Pros Elite Group has over 90 years of combined experience in the imaging industry and are the co-creators of the industry benchmarking model that is recognized as the standard of excellence that dealers use to gauge their performance results.

About ITEX
ITEX Imaging & Technology Education Exposition is the largest and most extensive national trade show connecting vendors and resellers in the office technology space. Founded by Marc Spring in 2001, ITEX was developed to provide dealers with access to a vendor-agnostic trade show featuring practical education that addresses modern industry solutions to help grow their businesses. As the show grew over the years, it proved to be a huge success—with revenue growing 780 percent between the show’s inception in 2001 and when Spring sold the show in 2009. Spring reacquired the show in 2016. For detailed information visit www.itexshow.com