Vince Jannelli
Sharp Electronics’ senior director of software product management, Vince Jannelli, recalls the best advice he ever received: “We have two ears and one mouth, and we should use them in proportion,” he says.
The emphasis on learning is not surprising considering Janneli’s background. He notes that the economy was in a recession the year he finished graduate school, so while trying to figure out his course of action he took a temporary position in Canon’s OEM printer group. He left after a while to try his hand at academic work on applied game theory in macroeconomic policy, but says he really missed the action of the private sector. “I called around and ended up connecting with Steve Utsumi, who at the time headed up Canon’s OEM printer group,” he says. “Steve encouraged me to apply for a marketing position on his team; the rest, as the saying goes, is history.”
At Sharp, Jannelli’s responsibilities stretch beyond product management and he compares his typical work day to a box of chocolates. “Truly, every day is different,” he says. “My focus shifts between supporting our sales team and channel partners and guiding our development teams, all while looking for new ways to better help our customers.”
He adds: “Focusing on software, while working in a mainly hardware-focused organization can present some challenges, but it has provided me with the opportunity to help drive change and push Sharp forward.”
Jannelli expressed surprise when he learned he had been recognized by his peers as an ENX Magazine Difference Maker. He points out that product teams mostly focus on getting the tasks at hand completed and he notes it’s not the most glamorous of work. “It’s quite gratifying to know my peers recognize these efforts,” he adds.
As for the colleagues and mentors who made a difference in his life, Jannelli maintains he has learned something from everybody in the industry with whom he’s made contact, but two people standout in particular. “The first is Steve Utsumi,” he says. “Although long retired, he provided me with my first opportunity within this industry. Second is Joe Reeves, CEO of Smile Business Products, who over the course of a few days, taught me more about what‘s important to a dealer owner than I could have learned in a few years.”
Today Jannelli is engaged in laying the foundation for an improved execution of the Sharp strategy. He says that the company is in a state of transition, and his focus is to help drive change within the organization.
Asked about the state of the industry, he posits that it has been in a state of flux for some time, but notes that the impression is that the rate of change is accelerating. “This is true from both a business and technology perspective,” he explains. “The rate of consolidation in the channel is increasing. Likewise, the technology in the services being offered is evolving to better leverage the changes in the broader technology landscape. Long term, the ability to bring integrated solutions through the channel to the end customer will determine who flourishes.”
Jannelli says that the best thing about his job is the variety. Whether it’s a new strategy, process or technology, it’s never rote, he says. “Also, the opportunity to work with people from all across the country and around the world,” he adds. “There are so many talented people out there, and everyone brings something unique to the table, providing plenty of opportunity for new insights and ways of thinking.
Jannelli trys to maintain a proper balance in his life, and that includes spending time with his family. Growing up in Italy, he caught the soccer bug at a young age. Until recently, he played with some friends in North Jersey almost every week. “Now I get to enjoy the sport with my young son, who’s just joined the local travel team, and who likes to remind me that he beats me regularly at FIFA on the Xbox,” he confesses.
