It’s not known whether Josh Craig has ever watched the movie “Barbarians at the Gate” or other business/finance thrillers, but the general manager of Docugraphics found out a little something about the world of mergers and acquisitions: he absolutely loves it!
It only took one deal for Craig to develop an affinity, and from there, he was hooked. “The M&A process got me so excited, I seriously considered a career change,” said Craig, a 2023 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “I love every step of the process, from initial negotiations to funding, due diligence, planning, closing and integrating. The whole process gets my blood flowing.”
Docugraphics owner Thomas Fimian did well in leveraging Craig’s thirst for the deal. It was Craig who handled oversight and operational integration for two of the firm’s largest acquisitions. Sustainable growth has long been the goal for Docugraphics, and Craig has deftly automated work processes to ensure that growth can be a reality, be it organic or through the art of the deal.
Analytical and data-driven by nature, Craig finds the greatest reward is the company’s success. It’s not surprising that M&A played a key role.
“If the company is successful, that means we’re making an impact in our people’s lives and that of our partners,” he said. “In the last two years, we’ve acquired two companies, and our success put us in a position to make those moves. Through those acquisitions, we’re able to impact those people and their families with things like better benefits and future growth opportunities. That’s rewarding.”
The Liberty University graduate boasts a 20-year career that’s included stints with ECI Software, Sharp, Technocom Business Systems and Visual Edge IT. He served as an operations manager, a CFO and controller before joining Docugraphics as its GM in late 2021. Craig was actually an OMD application specialist before it was acquired by ECi; he committed to learning the system completely while also understanding how companies operated.
“I like to say I learned the business from the inside out because I worked on the systems before getting involved in the actual business,” he said. “As my knowledge grew, I quickly found myself traveling around the country with OMD, working with companies to refine their systems and processes. The knowledge I gained ultimately served as a launch pad into the dealer world.”
Full Scope
Craig would go back to school and obtain a degree in accounting and finance. A problem-solver by nature, having done a complete tour with hands-on experience in all aspects of business allows him to take a holistic perspective—regardless of the hat Craig’s wearing—all to the betterment of his team.
“I have a great understanding of how one process can impact another side of the business, he noted. “This helps me unify different departments and processes when working through challenges.”
Fimian is one of a long list of inspirational figures that have molded Craig professionally. He respects that Fimian has remained true to the organization’s roots in tandem with his unwavering commitment to growth. He also credits the BTA peer group SDG with providing knowledge and best practices that have enabled Craig to gain invaluable insight.
Craig and Docugraphics have certainly set the tone for what form success can take. The company saw a 35% increase in total revenue for 2022, which led to its recognition by SC Biz News as one of the 20 fastest-growing companies. In tandem with the company’s Traction-based Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) rollout within its leadership team, it has better positioned Docugraphics to realize its future growth plans.
Transformational Strategies
Three key strategies help to make 2023 a transformational year for Docugraphics, according to Craig. The company exited the Xerox Agent program and became a channel partner. The Kyocera product line was added. And in acquiring Custom Cloud Solutions, Docugraphics picked up an established managed IT business backed by an amazing team.
“There’s one more exciting change on the horizon,” Craig added, “but will have to remain a teaser for now.”
Building and growing means not resting on one’s laurels, and Craig notes there is a reason why innovation is one of Docugraphics’ core values. “Thomas [Fimian] always says ‘We want to be around in 100 years.’ If you want to know what a BHAG [big, hairy, audacious goal] is, we’ve got one,” he said. “And we won’t get there without innovation and challenging ourselves to be better every day.”
Away from the office, Craig and his wife of 13 years, Shannon, have two children: Liam (12) and Lily (10). The children are avid basketball players, and Craig coaches his daughter’s travel team. Vacation time means a trip to the Carolina coast, with Oak Island, North Carolina, and Seabrook Island, South Carolina being among their favorites.
