More than 300 attendees jammed the Scottsdale Resort & Spa earlier this month for the annual Executive Connection Summit (ECS). It proved to be more exciting than the Super Bowl and, unless you hit on one of the quarters in your company block pool, ECS definitely more profitable.
Rather than provide you with a book report on the proceedings, we wanted to offer up the thoughts of those who were there to soak up the ECS knowledge and the 75-degree-plus weather in beautiful Arizona. If you weren’t there, be sure to put it on your must-attend conference list for 2027. Here’s a sampling of the presentations that resonated with attendees.
Stephanie Keating Phillips, AIS-MN: One of my biggest takeaways from ECS this year, outside of the networking, was the Breakaway team session.
I’ll admit I’m a little biased, but the ideas and insights shared truly resonated with me as a leader in my dealership. It wasn’t just theory, it was practical, forward-thinking perspective on where our industry is headed and what it takes to stay relevant and competitive.
Jerry Blaine, LDI Connect: ECS delivered three highly focused days of meaningful presentations and strategic insight across the entire office technology industry, touching all the bases.
It’s an amazing accomplishment securing such an important and prolific audience and stakeholders in the industry, leading to real-world discussions about growth, differentiation and evolving customer expectations.
True to the theme “Float All Boats.”
Art Post, Print4Pay Hotel: Great conference overall, my highlights included the opening keynote by Pei-yu (Sharon) Chen from ASU and her insights on the future of our industry. Meeting and hearing Medal of Honor recipient “Doc” McCloughan was truly an honor and a moment I won’t forget. The conversations between sessions, two nights of bourbon and cigars, and the incredible funds raised for Charity of Hope made the event even more memorable. Our AMR’s and Robots moving around the conference generated a lot of interest for our industry moving forward.
Debra Dennis, CopyPro: What resonated most with me at ECS was the way Jim “Doc” McCloughan’s keynote grounded the entire event in the principle that leadership is ultimately about service — a powerful reminder that before AI, robotics, or strategy, it’s about people. I was also energized by the transparent, forward-looking conversations between dealers and OEM partners, which reinforced that collaboration and alignment are stronger than ever despite economic headwinds. Finally, the emphasis on imagination and initiative — especially around AI, managed IT discipline, and the next generation of leadership — made it clear that our channel isn’t just reacting to change, it’s actively shaping what comes next.
Tim Renegar, Kelly Office Solutions: ECS is the place for those in the industry to expand their thinking. The content of the meeting never ceases to amaze me in the diversity of relevant subject matter. We always come away with different perspectives about cutting-edge topics or different ways to look at older, existing problems with new technologies. Also, where else can you find such a diversity of subject matter experts? For me, it was a chance to meet with seven different partners or potential partners in one place. Few meetings, places or times on our calendars where that could happen! I can’t understand why anyone in the industry would miss it.
Barry Simon, Datamax: First, I would like to thank Mike Stramaglio, Hiro Ueda and all the Consortium members for doing a phenomenal job of putting this event together. It’s not a simple task.
There were so many great moments at this event: Arizona State University Chair and Professor Pei-yu (Sharon) Chen’s presentation was a fantastic look at artificial intelligence, how it’s utilized by the younger generation, and ultimately what it means moving forward in our industry. The Breakaway Team had some great industry insights; I enjoyed the presentation by industry groups like BTA, CDA and others; the ERP Panel (ECI, DX1 and Avaniko) discussed where our ERP systems are currently and where they need to go. The manufacturers’ panel (Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Sharp, Toshiba and Xerox) was also a highlight for me. The Automated Demand Engine Panel, composed of Dominic Pontrelli, Brent Sisell and Kate Kingston, used Datamax as an “incubator” program and gave some great insight on the potential behind today’s data-rich digital environment.
Finally, Keynote Speaker, Army Veteran, and Medal of Honor Winner Jim (Doc) McCloughan shared his heroic journey and honestly, his story blew everybody away. His speech was just phenomenal.
Joe Blatchford, Image 2000: I attend quite a few conferences over the course of a year. I was first introduced to the Executive Connection Summit about three years ago. Although most conferences try to provide unique content for their audience, ECS has truly mastered the art of delivering diverse and engaging content that is both interesting and useful. Our last meeting was no different.
One of the standout moments for me was the keynote speaker, Sharon Chen, who provided key insights into what ASU is working on with AI. The presentation by Jim “Doc” McCloughan was particularly fascinating; learning that only 61 Medal of Honor recipients are still alive is truly humbling. Additionally, the dealer panels are always very informative, offering valuable insights into what the future holds for our industry.
I think the reason the ECS conference is so successful is that they mix up the presentations, so you are not hearing the same information over and over again. Also, the style of presenters is different for each type of presentation, which keeps us engaged.
Felix Villaneuva, Field Management Consulting: The ECS experience was truly energizing. Beyond the networking, I was especially impressed by the depth of discussion around AI and the transformative impact it’s poised to have on our businesses. The presenters were both visionary and practical, delivering insights that were inspiring, actionable and clearly indicative of how AI will reshape how we operate and lead.
