“Life is good and I have it way better than I deserve.”
These are the words of Scott Lewis, vice president of sales and marketing for ARLINGTON, and a 2019 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. The statement says much about his attitude toward life and implies his gratefulness toward what it has bestowed upon him. As to the question of whether his good fortune is deserved, the answer is likely a resounding yes.
Lewis gives the impression of someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously. The easy-going nature belies a business approach that is ripe with success. He takes great enjoyment from watching his ARLINGTON teammates succeed, “seeing the thrill of victory in the lives of people you know are working so hard.” And he credits his own success by measuring the impact others have made with the organization, and staying out of their way.
“Surround yourself with people much smarter than you,” Lewis observed. “Don’t shackle those people with unnecessary management bells and whistles, and join their collaborative efforts to make the business work.
“My senior team is a mixture of industry vets. They are the true difference makers.”
A Career By Chance
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Lewis’ initial foray into the industry was one of opportunity. He was preparing to marry and needed a job, and just happened to find one within the industry.
“It was going to be temporary,” he said. “Turns out, it lasted longer than I expected.”
He eventually became the owner of Queen City Business in Charlotte, which he led for 10 years. Lewis spent another three years doing mission work in China. In 2008, he joined then-Carolina Wholesale, a journey he continues today as part of the recently rebranded ARLINGTON.
One of Lewis’ early influences was Trey Price, a former boss. Price had a way of making others feel needed, he said, which was demonstrated not by words, but through how he lived and worked.
“People matter,” Lewis said. “At the end of the day, we are selling toner and ink—important stuff because it supports our families. But in the scheme of life, my gut tells me our priorities should be focused on a higher calling. Trey understood the balance.”
Banding Together Toward Goal
Last November, the Carolina Wholesale Group rebranded its three distribution brands—Carolina Wholesale, Arlington and Digitek—under the ARLINGTON banner. Lewis called this a defining moment for the organization, one that entailed many minute details to complete the transition. Elements such as messaging, compensation plans and territory divisions made for a complex project. But Lewis was proud of the way the entire team bonded together in making for a successful transition.
During his career at ARLINGTON, Lewis has played a pivotal role in forging strong ties with partners at Canon U.S.A., Ricoh Americas and Lexmark. The executive team has identified five areas to focus its efforts, and Lewis credits COO Rob Collins with doing a yeoman’s job of keeping the team on task.
“All these internal goals have one main emphasis, namely improving our ability to take care of customers,” Lewis observed. “At the end of the day, it is all about them and their success.”
One area Lewis sees ARLINGTON building upon is its approach to millennials. He feels tasked to augment the “old school” mentality with go-to-market strategies that creates a customer experience in line with the way clients desire to partner.
Growth and Faith
In terms of personal growth, Lewis intends to remain faithful to daily Bible reading, and he believes he has been more successful in that area this year. He strives to be kinder, more patient and less self-centered, buoyed by his faith.
On the home front, Lewis and his wife, Connie, will celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary on July 20. They enjoy spending time with their daughters, Brittney and Kendall, along with their friends. The Lewises also have two other “daughters” they have hosted, from China and Korea (Savannah and Ansley), who are considered part of the family. The Lewises also love to take week-long vacations with their best friends from church. Lewis also enjoys his free time by reading, treadmill walking and watching movies. The family’s four dogs also keep him busy.
