Being the architect of a business revolution can be a lonely job, and perhaps A.J. Baggott felt that way as he stood in front of the RJ Young family during its 2021 kickoff. The revolution in this case was the company’s Modern Office approach, a significant transition from being an imaging dealer to comprehensive technology management organization. It was Baggott’s duty to outline what it meant for the company, its employees and customers.
The great unknown for Baggott was how such a monumental shift in direction would be received by RJ Young’s teams. It entailed a holistic approach that introduced audio/visual, digital communications, physical security and enhanced managed IT offerings. As revenues have nearly doubled since 2020 alone, the message appears to have been delivered, loud and clear.
“The buy-in from our organization since then has led to unprecedented growth and innovation as an organization,” said Baggott, a 2024 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “I think my ability to challenge the status quo and push innovative ideas through the phases of concept to reality has been impactful to the organization.”
Baggott graduated summa cum laude from Lipscomb University, with dual degrees in professional accountancy and finance/economics. That earned him an impressive debut with Deloitte, predominantly serving on audits for Fortune 500 companies and large international manufacturing conglomerates. Baggott then shifted into private industry as a VP of finance of a publicly-traded health care organization.
The path to RJ Young opened when a former colleague turned recruiter advised Baggott about an opening there for a chief financial officer. In a short eight years, he transitioned to chief operating officer, then president in early 2023.
“The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the development of individuals and their growth personally and professionally,” he noted. “Throughout my life, whether it is professionally or coaching sports personally, watching others learn, develop and grow is by far the most rewarding aspect of leading people.”
There’s been no shortage of mentors during Baggott’s journey. He’s gleaned much expertise and training from the likes of teammates Steve Huff and Hunter McCarty, along with owner Chip Crunk. Industry sensei Mike Riordan also provided a valuable blueprint on how to select and develop a team.
It would be challenging for RJ Young to replicate its 2023 success, when the company grew revenue in excess of $30 million. That pushed its overall revenue to $200 million—all done without the acquisitions that have accentuated growth in the past. An expanded product line has aided in the efforts.
At the company’s 2024 kickoff meeting, Baggott didn’t focus on pushing the revenue envelope as much. Instead, the goal he communicated centered on modernizing and simplifying the way the company does business via internal technologies and processes to bolster efficiency.
“We have several projects and initiatives to maximize automation and AI in the way we do business that will revolutionize our business for our team members and our customers,” he added.
Baggott feels there is ample room for process and system improvements that drive RJ Young forward. The industry on the whole, he feels, has been duty-bound to manual and inefficient processes in the way business is conducted.
“We are diligently working to build and develop new software systems that accommodate our business and the needs of our customers,” he said.
On the home front, Baggott and his wife, Miranda, have been married for 17 years and have two sons, Aiden, 16, and Brady, 10. He’s a man of deep faith; his family are members of Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville. Over the past eight years, he has served as a camp counselor with the church’s youth ministry. Baggott also serves on the boards of Recovery Refuge and Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee, and is a member of C12 of Middle Tennessee, a group for Christian chief executives. A self-professed “mediocre golfer,” he also enjoys traveling with his family.
“We enjoy making memories all over the world and getting to enjoy God’s creation together,” Baggott added.
