Ron Alphin of Parts Now
After graduating from college and serving in the US Navy, Ron Alphin began his office technology career in 2008, selling copiers for Datamax, a Canon dealership in St. Louis, Missouri. About a year later, he transitioned into selling Managed Print Services (MPS) and Managed Network Services (MNS), which he states was critical in developing his understanding of both the dealer and end user perspectives. In 2010 Alphin moved to Supplies Network, which at the time was building its own MPS program and infrastructure. “I started as both sales and operations, and then went strictly to head the operations as we grew the business, and was there for eight years,” he recalls.
Today Alphin, VP of Business Solution Operations at Parts Now, is a key figure in this LMI Solutions company that focuses on all areas of service operations, including technical training, support, and MPS services. He says that a typical day consists primarily of meetings with internal departments and external partners in the development of their multiple service offerings. “The rest of the day is rationalizing and documenting strategies and processes,” he adds.
Alphin tells us it was an honor to be recognized by his peers as an ENX Magazine Difference Maker, particularly because he has learned so much from them and their support has helped maintain his passion for the industry. “The people are all willing to work together to help and collaborate with those who want to take an active involvement in the direction we take,” he says. “It is humbling to be recognized by the people I respect so much.”
As for those who helped shape his professional life, Alphin credits Kevin DeYoung of Qualpath, as well as Ken Stewart and Barney Kister of Supplies Network. He adds: “Probably the one who has had the most impact both personally and professionally has been Doug Johnson of LMI. I have had the privilege of working with him at my previous two companies, and he has always helped me to grow and balance my personal goals with my professional ones.”
2016 was a notable year for Alphin because of the difficult decision he made to move to LMI Solutions. He says that although he left some great people, he found a new home that provides him a more challenging and rewarding future. “2016 has been one of acclimating and focusing on development of a new evolution of services and solutions at Parts Now/LMI,” he explains. “Partners are starting to experience some of that evolution now, but In 2017 we will broaden the offering to all our partners, and further expand the portfolio of our services and tools that will truly enhance a partner’s ability to deliver a positive experience to their customers.”
Asked about the state of the office technology industry, Alphin points out that it has matured in many ways, noting that the change in volume and the way print is delivered presents new challenges. He says that we have all seen the disruptive moves that led to greater market share through acquisition, price pressure, new product/service offerings, and other forms of competition, but cautions that it is not a doomsday scenario. “This also creates a vast opportunity for how we may evolve and change the Industry,” he explains. “Things like how we might change what and how customers can consume our products and services as we evolve the Industry. It is exciting to me to see where it may go, and more importantly, who will be the ones to help the evolution.”
Alphin says that working and collaborating with people to build new opportunities is what he enjoys most about his job. “Having a company that supports and empowers that is just icing on the cake,” he adds.
