April News Bytes

What follows are the big and small news items for the month of April.

Michael Rich Joins Nuance’s Document Imaging Division

Mike Rich

April 24, 2012 – Nuance Communications has announced Michael Rich as senior vice president and general manager of the company’s Document Imaging Division. He succeeds Robert Weideman, who has been named to lead Nuance’s Enterprise Division. Both Rich and Weideman report to Paul Ricci, Nuance chairman and chief executive officer.

Most recently, Rich was senior vice president of worldwide sales for Document Imaging and Dragon, where he made significant contributions by strengthening Nuance’s sales management and processes. He has been a senior executive for more than 25 years, including executive roles with AT&T and NetSpeak, and more than ten years in document imaging solutions, including as president and chief executive officer at Equitrac.

BTA Creates Office Technology Industry Peer Collaboration Group

April 24, 2012 – The Business Technology Association has launched a new office technology industry dealer peer collaboration group focused on bringing non-competing dealers together to share best practices and further strengthen the revenue performance of each member dealership. PRO Dealer Group currently has 15 founding member dealerships and is now opening the group to additional members.  

“In today’s competitive marketplace, it is very important for dealers to ensure they have strategically positioned their companies for ongoing success,” says PRO Dealer Group President Matt Jackson, president of Copynet Office Systems Inc., Plano Texas. “Through interaction on a regular basis with non-competing fellow dealers, our members will be able to better plan for ongoing future success by gaining insight and sharing business practice ideas from one another. In addition, our group’s relationship with Strategic Business Associates (SBA) will help each of us identify the best means to improve the profitability of our companies.”

SBA is a business and management consulting service led by John Hey and John Hanson that works with leading entrepreneurs in the U.S. office technology industry. Through an annual survey process, members of the PRO Dealer Group will submit their financial information to SBA. The information will be confidentially organized, analyzed and placed into a President’s Report so that each member can see how his or her dealership is doing as compared to the aggregate of the other members and learn from the process with SBA’s guidance.

The next meeting of the PRO Dealer Group will take place June 10 in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information on the group or to receive a membership application, contact BTA Executive Director Brent Hoskins at brent@bta.org.

Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital Signs Agreement to Invest in German Software Company DocuWare

April 17, 2012 – DocuWare has announced that it has received an investment commitment from Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital LP, a Morgan Stanley Investment Management private equity fund. The investment will support DocuWare’s existing growth and build upon the company’s scale. In 2011, DocuWare generated an estimated 60 million Euros in project revenue for its go-to-market channel partners.

DocuWare, headquartered in Germering, Germany (near Munich), was co-founded in 1988 by Jürgen Biffar. Biffar, along with Co-President Thomas Schneck, has presided over consistent growth and a decade of profitable operations. DocuWare’s leadership has selected Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital as their partner of choice to help the Company reach ambitious growth targets in the international market. Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital‘s experienced investment team, as well as their extensive network of experts in the technology and growth arenas will significantly advance the Company’s development.

A newly formed Board of Directors will include Co-Presidents Biffar and Schneck as well as Pete Chung, Managing Director and Head of Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital, and Robert Bassman, Vice President, Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital. Edward Hamburg, former Chief Financial Officer of SPSS Software and current board member in several US growth companies will also be joining the Board. Kurt Dobitsch, former Germany-Chief Executive Officer of Compaq Computer, current Chairman of the Board for United Internet, Bechtle and Nemetschek, and prior Supervisory Board member for DocuWare, will serve as the Chairman of the Board.

BTA Managed Services Workshop Set for May 1-2

April 17, 2012 – On May 1-2 in St. Louis, Mo., the Business Technology Association (BTA)  and Growth Achievement Partners will host the BTA Managed Services (MS) Workshop. Attendees will receive free registration to BTA Mid-America’s Gateway to Success district event, to be held May 2-4 in St. Louis.

Taught by Mitch Morgan and Chris Ryne of Growth Achievement Partners, the day-and-a-half BTA MS Workshop will show you how to set up a managed services business in your company. Areas of focus will include: the phases of the MS process, financial targets, packaging of services, MS systems and processes, staffing, dealing with competition and the MS sales process. 

Morgan is a partner at Growth Achievement Partners. He founded the Connectivity Dealer Program from NIA in 1991. After his business was acquired by IKON Office Solutions in 1996, he led its Technology Services division. In 2001, he formed the Professional Services division for IKON. Morgan has been consulting with CEOs on strategy, operations, organizational development and sales since 2005.

Ryne, a partner at Growth Achievement Partners, brings significant experience in driving growth and profitability, possessing a comprehensive understanding of the industry that includes traditional and emerging markets from both a sales and operations perspective. His tenure includes 10 years with a national office equipment dealership where he built and led a successful professional services business unit from startup to a well-integrated team.

 For more information or to register, visit www.bta.org/MS or call (800) 843-5059.

All Covered Acquires Managed IT Services Practices in Cleveland and Minneapolis 

April 17, 2012 – All Covered, a division of Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A Inc. has announced that Cleveland-based Thinsolutions and Minneapolis-based PC Solutions have joined All Covered. With the addition of these leading regional IT Services companies, All Covered continues to execute on its aggressive growth strategy to become the largest IT Services provider for small- and medium-sized businesses in the United States.

“In the last two years we have expanded our footprint by adding 10 leading regional IT Services companies in key geographic areas,” said Todd Croteau, president of All Covered. “By adding companies such as Thinsolutions and PC Solutions to our family, we can ensure that small and medium businesses around the country have access to experienced local systems engineers supported by a national IT Services organization. Customers can count on All Covered to provide them access to the same technology resources and vertical solution expertise that Fortune 500 companies have, but on a small business budget.”

Thinsolutions has been providing comprehensive IT solutions to commercial, financial services and manufacturing businesses in Northeast Ohio, Southeast Florida and Raleigh, North Carolina for over 15 years. The company offers specialized IT services for the legal community with expertise in document management and practice management software.

Founded in 1972, PC Solutions is recognized as a leader in the Managed IT Services market providing strategic IT planning, management of on-premise and hosted servers, document management, and IT support and training to companies throughout Minnesota. PC Solutions employs IT best practices to help customers reduce their risk of data loss and systems interruption, while increasing employee productivity.

Print Audit Adds Support for e-automate 8 to Facilities Manager

April 16, 2012 – With the recent release of Facilities Manager 2.20, Print Audit has continued to listen to the needs of its customer base and added the ability to automatically export data into Digital Gateway’s e-automate 8.

When the two solutions are integrated, information collected by Facilities Manager can be sent to e-automate to update meter information for equipment. Working in collaboration with Facilities Manager, e-automate can restructure the entire meter gathering process for billing cost-per-page contracts, as well as empower the service technicians in the field with up-to-date meter status on devices. Facilities Manager allows dealers to setup scheduled reporting to ensure e-automate is kept current automatically.

Facilities Manager is a tool designed to remotely collect meter reads, automate supplies fulfillment and report service information for managing fleets of printers, copiers, fax machines and multi-function devices. e-automate is a total business management software solution for field service-oriented dealers.
For more information on Facilities Manager, please visit: www.printaudit.com/facilities-manager.asp

Strategy Development Launches sd|University

April 16, 2012 – Strategy Development has launched sd|University, an innovate approach to training a dealer’s entire staff. Sd|University’s executive education curriculum includes the full suite of programs Strategy Development has run for the last five years with the addition of programs to help dealers continue to transform ahead of the industry.

Sd|University will offer the following programs:

• SD Business Planning and Operational Excellence Workshop, designed as a “mini MBA” in running an imaging company for senior management. This class takes the industry model deep into the 21st Century.
• SD Service Management University
• SD Strategic Sales Management Workshop
• SD Advanced Enterprise Selling Skills
• SD Managed Service Workshop
• SD Fundamentals of Managed Print Services Workshop
• SD Advanced Managed Print Services Workshop
• SD Financial Selling Skills

To ensure that a dealer has every opportunity to have his team educated by the industry’s largest and most successful training firm, sd|University is offering the most aggressive and creative pricing structure ever introduced: Pay the dealership’s annual tuition and send as many employees as necessary to any or all of the training classes. Dealers will be able to enjoy all of sd|University’s class options for one fixed fee; and the fee will be billed monthly to make attendance even easier.

The new approach means that dealers no longer need to hesitate to make the educational investment in an employee and all employees can take advantage of the educational experience. Strategy Development also notes that even a small dealer will save tens of thousands of dollars over competitive training options and get more educational offerings. To see a competitive pricing comparison visit www.strategydevelopment.com/competitivepricing.

In addition to the company tuition plan, opening all of the training programs for a dealer’s  employees, sd|University will offer a lower investment for individual participants and a 25% discount for clients of Strategy Development consulting. Finally, for larger dealers SD will offer training at the dealer’s location for a set fee saving these dealers travel expenses for multiple attendees.

To learn more about the company tuition plan or any of Strategy Development’s consulting engagements or sd|University’s educational continuum stop by booth 914 at ITEX and speak to the SD consultants or visit www.sd-university.com.

Kyocera Mita America Renamed to Kyocera Document Solutions America, Inc.

April 11, 2012 – Kyocera Mita America has announced that its Company name changed to “KYOCERA Document Solutions America, Inc.” effective April 1, 2012. In addition, a new company brand mark coincides with the announcement of a new Company name. The change reflects the Company’s growth as a global manufacturer of document imaging solutions and its commitment to develop products and business applications that deliver customer benefits of technological innovation and environmental sustainability, according to a Kyocera press announcement.

“With technology and business needs rapidly evolving, we are beginning an era where our customers require total document solutions including document imaging hardware, business applications and services,” says Nori Ina, president and CEO, KYOCERA Document Solutions America, Inc. “Our rebranding to KYOCERA Document Solutions is a declaration that our Company delivers total document solutions for streamlining communications, enhancing productivity, reducing operating costs and simplifying day-to-day activities for organizations of all sizes.”

Kyocera Document Solutions America Presents Business Applications for Mobile and Cloud Printing

April 11, 2012 – KYOCERA Document Solutions America, Inc. has introduced its latest business applications, KYOCERA Mobile Print and KYOCERA Cloud Connect. The KYOCERA Mobile Print app enables mobile users to print and send files, scans and images from their mobile devices to select Kyocera document imaging devices in their network while KYOCERA Cloud Connect enables users to print and scan files in Evernote, a cloud service provider, directly from Kyocera’s HyPAS-enabled MFP Control Panels.

KYOCERA Mobile Print enables users to print and scan using their smartphones and tablets with Kyocera’s printers and MFPs. With KYOCERA Mobile Print, users can make their everyday document workflow needs much faster and easier when using iOS and compatible Android smartphones and tablets, according to the company. KYOCERA Mobile Print offers the following functions:

• Device Discovery: Quickly and easily discover Kyocera Printers and MFPs via WiFi.
• Print: Print photos, documents or webpages stored on mobile devices from any file format including PDF, JPEG, PNG, TXT and HTML.
• Job Accounting: Track print jobs when job accounting is enabled at the MFP or printer.
• Scan: Scan documents from a Kyocera MFP and send them to a mobile device.
• E-mail: Documents in the app can be stored and shared as e-mail attachments.

Evernote is one of the fastest growing cloud services with over 25 million users today. The application is a tool for users to “Remember Everything,” including captured memos, photos and Web articles. The KYOCERA Cloud Connect application allows users to upload and store files to their account on Evernote directly from the touch screen control panel of a HyPAS-enabled Kyocera multifunctional product (MFP). And when a hardcopy of any document is needed, users can print directly from Evernote. KYOCERA Cloud Connect allows end users to: 

• Scan to Evernote: Upload scanned files directly to Evernote from any HyPAS-enabled product, removing the need to send scanned files to or from a computer.
• Evernote to Print: Retrieve and print files stored in Evernote directly from a Kyocera HyPAS-enabled product in file formats including JPEG, PDF and TIFF.

 Digital Gateway and Acsellerate Announce New Executive Dashboards for the Office Equipment Market

April 9, 2012 – Digital Gateway has announced a strategic partnership with Acsellerate, a sales intelligence service provider. Acsellerate, working closely with key office equipment dealers and consultants, is currently developing a new graphical dashboard specifically for office equipment executives designed to provide them strategic and powerful insights into their business. 

“We are very excited about the value that this innovative solution will offer our customers,” says Jim Phillips, CEO and president of Digital Gateway. “Acsellerate’s new office equipment dashboard will allow companies to leverage their customer data, highlighting important patterns and trends that can improve the bottom line.  By proactively identifying key opportunities, Acsellerate will promote growth while saving time and increasing efficiency.”      

Acsellerate’s industry specific enhancements include metrics related to contract share, meter reading, number/type of machines placed and accounts receivable. The detailed analysis of these and other key statistics will highlight the best opportunities within current customers, revealing additional avenues to increase sales and margin.

For more information regarding this or other partner integrations to Digital Gateway, visit www.digitalgateway.com or call 866-342-8392. 

Strategy Development Schedules Service Management University In May at EverBank Commercial Finance in New Jersey  

April 10, 2012 – Strategy Development is conducting their SD Service Management University (SMU) on May 22-23, 2012 at the EverBank Commercial Finance office in Parsippany, NJ. 

“EverBank has an outstanding reputation for going above and beyond in providing value and services to their customers,” states Ken Staubitz, service consultant for Strategy Development. “I appreciate the opportunity to work with EverBank in helping its customers improve the profitability of their service organization.” 

Strategy Development partners, BEI Services and KATUN, will be offering special credits to their respective customers for attending the May SMU. BEI Services clients will receive a $400 account credit while KATUN customers will receive $300 off future supply orders. 

The SD Service Management University provides service leaders with concrete steps they can take to achieve sustainable margins over 52% and achieve 60%+ margins in managed print services. The intensive, two-day program, designed by Strategy Development consultants, will be taught by Staubitz. Participants will learn how to assess their department’s strengths and weaknesses, develop specific actionable plans to address areas of opportunity, execute action items to drive sustained profitability and quality customer service, instill ownership and accountability for desired results, properly manage parts, and successfully deliver profitable service in the MPS world. 

The SD SMU is recommended for your entire service leadership team, including the vice president, director, service manager or service supervisor. 

For more information or to register, please contact Ken Staubitz at staubitz@strategydevelopment.com or at (513) 200-2169. 

Konica Minolta Presents the bizhub215 MFP  

April 9, 2012 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. has announced the launch of the bizhub 215 Monochrome Multifunctional Product. The new bizhub 215 features a modular design with a broad range of options to increase paper handling, add network capabilities and more, for a completely customizable document management solution.Offering output speeds of up to 21 ppm, high resolution output at 600 x 600 dpi featuring Konica Minolta’s Simitri HD Toner Technology, and color scanning capabilities, the bizhub 215 MFP is ideal for small businesses and workgroups, according to the company.

Nuance PDF Converter for Mac Delivers ‘Better PDF’ to Apple Users

April 9, 2012 – Nuance Communications has introduced version 3 of its Nuance PDF Converter for Mac software, making it easier than ever to create, edit and securely share PDF files using Apple MacBook, iMac and Mac OS X-based computers. Nuance PDF Converter for Mac delivers a Better PDF for Mac experience for only $99 – a fraction of the price of Adobe Acrobat, according to the company.

Nuance PDF Converter for Mac now includes direct connections to cloud services, making it possible to access and save PDF documents anytime, anywhere with Nuance PaperPort Anywhere and Evernote. The new release has built-in optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities to create searchable PDFs and seamlessly connects to the Nuance OmniPage Document Conversion service in the cloud to offer one-click conversion of PDF files into formatted word processing and spreadsheet documents. Nuance has also added its innovative FormTyper^™ feature which accurately and automatically converts PDF and scanned paper forms into professional looking electronic forms that can be filled, saved and shared online.

For additional information on features or pricing or to download a free evaluation of the software, please visit http://www.nuance.com/products/pdf-converter-mac/index.htm.

Konica Minolta Presents PageScope Mobile Android App

April 6, 2012 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A has announced the availability of PageScope Mobile Android App version 1.0. Connecting the bizhub multifunctional products (MFPs) with Android mobile devices, the PageScope Mobile App is available for free download from the Google Play Store and supports Android devices with Android OS 2.2, 2.3, 3.1 and 3.2.

PageScope Mobile is an application that connects a bizhub MFP with an end-user’s mobile device to browse, read, and instruct printing of select documents and images. With the launch of the PageScope Mobile Android App, Konica Minolta continues to support today’s mobile professionals by now connecting their Android devices with bizhub MFPs to wirelessly print documents, emails and web pages held on their mobile devices. Scan jobs can also be initiated from mobile devices using the new app, and secured printing environments can be initiated with user authentication accessibility.

 The Konica Minolta PageScope Mobile Android App can be connected with external cloud services such as Evernote or Google Docs enabling download of stored data from cloud services directly to mobile devices and then to print by bizhub MFP.

Click here for more information on the PageScope Mobile Android App version 1.0 or to download the free app, click here.

Canon Rolls Out Two New Laser Printers

April 2, 2012– Canon U.S.A.  has announced the expansion of its printer lineup with the launch of two new laser printers. The Color imageRUNNER LBP5280 and the imageRUNNER LBP3480 each provide compact color and monochrome printing, respectively, while also delivering low energy use, excellent usability, ease of management, and exceptional integration with Canon’s imageRUNNER ADVANCE MFPs.

Each model is reportedly designed to seamlessly integrate with and complement Canon’s imageRUNNER ADVANCE MFPs workflow. Through a common tool set including imageWARE Enterprise Management Console, uniFLOW, and unified print drivers, small businesses, enterprise workgroups and Managed Document Services customers and providers can create a cohesive, consistent, and easily managed printing solution, according to Canon.

The Canon imageRUNNER LBP5280 is a net-new addition to the Canon imageRUNNER LBP Series, handling legal-size paper and is perfect for users needing desktop color printing. With a paper capacity of up to 550 sheets, the model outputs high-quality color documents at up to 21 ppm. Standard features include 2400 (equivalent) x 600 dpi, Adobe PostScript 3, PCL5c/6, Canon’s UFR II print solution, 768MB of internal memory, duplex printing and USB Direct print. Options include a 250-sheet cassette, an 8GB SD Card, and a Barcode Print Kit for easy printing of barcode fonts in support of enterprise resource planning tools and other barcode-centric processes.

The Canon imageRUNNER LBP3480 model, which succeeds imageRUNNER LBP3470, also supports up to legal-size media and is an ideal choice for customers needing a compact black and white printer. With a paper capacity of up to 800 sheets, the model outputs monochrome documents at up to 35 ppm at up to 2400 (equivalent) x 600 dpi. Standard features mirror the Color imageRUNNER LBP5280 with Adobe PostScript 3, PCL5c/6, Canon’s UFR II print solution, 768MB of internal memory, duplex printing, and USB Direct print. Options include a 500 sheet cassette, an 8GB SD Card, and a Barcode Print Kit for easy printing of barcode fonts in support of enterprise resource planning tools and other barcode-centric processes.

The imageRUNNER LBP3480 will be available at a suggested retail price of $599, and the Color imageRUNNERLBP5280 for a suggested retail price of $899.

Toshiba Announces New Thermal Label Printers

April 3, 2012 – Toshiba America Business Solutions has introduced the B-EX4T2, a 4-inch thermal label printer series that expands its portfolio of MFPs and thermal barcode label printers. Built for industrial applications such as manufacturing, transportation, logistics and retail, Toshiba’s new thermal barcode printer series includes models offering 200 DPI, 300 DPI, 600 DPI and direct thermal printing.

The new thermal barcode label printers print at 12 inches per second (IPS) and are equipped with a 32-bit processor, 32MB of DRAM at 32MB, and 16MB of flash memory. A dual-ribbon motor system ensures better ribbon handling and eliminates ribbon wrinkling (or unusable, unscannable labels), according to Toshiba. The long-lasting print head supports up to 3 million linear inches for reduced user intervention and print head replacement cost.

The Toshiba B-EX4T2 Series is available at an MSRP range of $1,695 to $3,300.

Xerox Unveils New ColorQubes

April 3 – Xerox ColorQube  8700/8900 Color Multifunction Printers use solid ink technology – a cartridge-free, crayon-like ink stick – to produce prints such as sales brochures, flyers and presentations. The new ColorQubes can output on a range of media, including recycled paper.

Cost-savings can be gained with Hybrid Color Pricing Plans, allowing businesses to pay only for the amount of color on a given page. According to Xerox, this is an important differentiation when using just a little bit of color, such as a company logo on letterhead. Features include:

• Energy-saving methods like Intelligent Ready, which switches to low-power mode during downtimes. Compared to laser MFPs in the same class, the ColorQube 8700/8900 MFPs reportedly produce up to 90 percent less printing waste and use 17 percent less life cycle energy.
• A 7-inch touch screen makes it easy to program jobs, including printing, scanning, distributing and organizing documents, according to Xerox.
• Embedded security features, such as image overwrite and encryption, protect the documents, hard drive and network from vulnerabilities.

The MFPs are offered as part of Xerox’s Managed Print Services (MPS), which helps companies control print spend.

Immediately available worldwide, the ColorQube 8700 has a list price starting at $2,499 and the ColorQube 8900 starts at $4,999.

Ricoh Unveils New Global Brand Identity

April 2, 2012 – Ricoh Americas Corporation has announced its launch of a new global brand identity expressed by the tagline “imagine. change.”. The launch aligns Ricoh Company, Ltd. operations worldwide under a common vision, describing the way Ricoh brings value to its customers’ business.

The new brand identity also unites Ricoh and IKON Office Solutions under one brand in the U.S. – Ricoh – culminating a careful, steady progression since Ricoh’s acquisition of IKON in 2008. The result is a single-minded organization offering the best of two worlds: Ricoh’s time-tested technology innovation and IKON’s demonstrated commitment to service excellence, according to a Ricoh news release.

The new tagline, “imagine. change.,” captures the essence of Ricoh’s approach – always moving forward with new ideas for improving its customers’ business, and understanding that change is driven by the power of the collective imagination that exists inside an organization, notes the Ricoh press release.

Ricoh’s new brand identity coincides with its 50th anniversary of innovation in America. For the rest of 2012, Ricoh will spotlight its technology breakthroughs from the past half century, wherever in the world they originated, as well as the company’s progress on these developments since. The focus will be on helping companies optimize their business processes.

Seventy-six years ago Ricoh was established in Japan, and its founder, Kiyoshi Ichimura, envisioned a world where information could be copied precisely and distributed at the touch of a button – a world where critical business knowledge was available anywhere at any time. After establishing a Ricoh subsidiary in the U.S. in 1962, Ricoh spearheaded the era of office automation, giving the world the first high-speed digital facsimile machine for office use. Ricoh also became the first company in the office automation industry to win the coveted Deming Prize for excellence in quality control, introduced the first solar-powered SLR camera, and created Times Square’s first solar-powered billboard, among other firsts.

For more information on the new Ricoh global brand identity, visit http://www.ricoh-usa.com/brand-message, and for more information on the IKON brand transition in the U.S., visit http://brand.ricoh-usa.com.

BTA Mid-America to Host Gateway to Success May 2-4 in St. Louis

April 3 – On May 2-4, 2012, the Business Technology Association’s Mid-America district will host its annual Gateway to Success district event at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis, Mo. This event will feature a keynote presentation by Jim D’Emidio, president of Muratec America Inc. There will also be four additional education sessions providing insight and strategies that can help any office technology dealership reach new heights, including a dealer panel focused on managed services and a special, inspirational session by John O’Leary of Rising Above.

Dealers will be able to participate in networking events that will allow them to connect with their peers. In addition, there will be time to visit with 30 exhibiting sponsors, many of which will hold drawings for great prizes during the event. Dealer attendees can also enter on-site for a chance to win a $500 American Express gift card from BTA Mid-America.

Attendees can also choose one of two group activities — seeing the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the St. Louis Cardinals from the vantage point of a private suite in Busch Stadium or touring the Gateway Arch and enjoying a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River.

The event begins at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, with an opportunity to visit with exhibiting sponsors, opening comments, and D’Emidio’s keynote presentation, “Surviving in a Services World.” A welcoming reception will follow from 5:30 until 7 p.m., giving attendees time to network with peers and exhibiting sponsors.

A continental breakfast will be served from 7 until 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 3, followed by opening comments and two education sessions. An extended break between sessions will give attendees time to visit exhibitor tables.  After the morning education sessions, attendees will enjoy the Cardinals game at Busch Stadium or the Gateway Arch tour and riverboat cruise. Lunch will be provided during both activities.

Breakfast will be served from 7 until 8 a.m. on Friday, May 4, followed by the final two education sessions and the event wrap-up at noon. There will be an extended break with exhibitors between sessions.

Education sessions during the event will include: “Office Imaging: Taking Advantage of a Market in Transition,” with Robert Palmer and Ann Priede of Lyra Research; “Critical Success Factors for Managed Services in Your Dealership,” with Mitch Morgan and Chris Ryne of Growth Achievement Partners; and an inspirational session, “Ignite Your Life! Discovering the Keys to Unlock Passion, Potential & Impact,” with John O’Leary of Rising Above. This special session is sponsored by Polek & Polek. There will also be a dealer panel, “Managed Services: The Dealer Perspective,” with panelists Alan Bean, Southeastern Business Machines Co., Huntsville, Ala.; Chris Black, R.K. Black Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Brian Ridenhour, Data Comm Inc., Jefferson City, Mo. The panel discussion will be facilitated by Morgan and Ryne;

In addition, BTA General Counsel Bob Goldberg will be available during the event to provide free legal consultations to BTA members.

Preceding the Gateway to Success event on May 1-2, BTA and Growth Achievement Partners will offer the BTA Managed Services Workshop as the front-runner education workshop. Attendees will receive free registration to Gateway to Success. For more information, visit www.bta.org/MS.

BTA member registration (with game ticket or tour/cruise) for Gateway to Success is $199, which includes the keynote session, education sessions, cocktail reception and breakfasts on Thursday and Friday. BTA member registration without a game ticket or tour/cruise is $169. Non-member registration with a game ticket or tour/cruise is $249. Non-member registration without a game ticket or tour/cruise is $219. 

For more information, including full session descriptions and the registration form for the event, visit www.bta.org/BTAMidAmericaEvent.

Gavin Jordan-Smith Joins Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.

April 2, 2012 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. has announced Gavin Jordan-Smith has joined the company as vice President Solutions and Production Planning, Business Intelligence Services. Jordan-Smith, who will have oversight of software planning, vertical market strategy, the Solutions Engineering Center, and production print business planning and software development, joins Konica Minolta from Xerox Corporation where he was Vice President, Production Workflow and Solutions, Enterprise Business Group (EBG). He was responsible for end-to-end software commercialization, solutions deployment and business strategies to serve the needs of QuickPrint/CRD and Graphic Communications/InPlant customers. Jordan-Smith led a diverse software management team and worked cross-functionally throughout Xerox Corporation worldwide. In his new role, he will report directly to Sam Errigo, Senior Vice President Business Intelligence Services, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.