Michael Amiri
Michael Amiri, Director of Dealer Services for Continuum, states that the best advice he ever got was to “Listen more than you speak.” That ability to listen has certainly been critical in earning the respect of his peers and helping him communicate the value proposition of Managed IT Services to the office equipment dealer channel.
Although a 20-year veteran of the IT industry, Amiri is relatively new to the channel. He has been lauded for being a quick study and for his ability to coherently and honestly communicate managed IT services to the market.
Most days, Amiri and his team are busy assisting dealers in their efforts to successfully add IT services to their product mix. He is also a frequent participant at industry events and shares his insights and knowledge with industry publications. His passion for his task and his company is obvious.
“IT services allows dealers to generate very profitable revenue, in addition to remaining relevant to their customers for the long-term,” he states. “Our efforts have produced a documented dealer launch plan that ensures they can brand their own success with the Continuum integrated toolset.”
Amiri explained that managed IT services is a logical step in an industry that is becoming increasingly consultative and solutions based.
“There is no question that the industry is dealing with the serious challenges of downward pressure on pricing and the decline of print production within their core services,” he said. “Yet, the office equipment channel is perfectly suited to radically change their professional perception and realize immediate success with IT services deliverables that will serve as the foundation of their customer engagements for decades to come.”
For Amiri, it was an honor to be recognized by his peers, but he also sees it as an affirmation of the importance of managed IT services, and how far it has come in the eyes of the dealer channel.
“This recognition validates that we are making a positive difference in the success of the office equipment channel, and that the marketplace is welcoming the new messaging of this industry,” he said.
Nobody can fault Amiri for lack of ambition. He is confident in his message and his high goals for the upcoming years reflect that.
“We would like to foster a 50 percent adoption rate of Managed IT Services within the US office equipment channel by the end of 2016 and a 100 percent adoption rate by 2018,” he stated.
Many people admire and respect Amiri, but he has his difference makers too. He cited Chris Whatley, his mentor during an internship in college, as both a personal and professional influence.
“He not only taught me valuable business principles that formed the foundation of my professional career, but also personal traits on how to treat both colleagues and friends,” he recalled.
Asked what he likes most about his job, Amiri replied: “To witness, first hand, the re-birth of a great industry.”
We congratulate Michael Amiri for being a Difference Maker!
