{"id":61700,"date":"2024-08-29T14:38:28","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T21:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=61700"},"modified":"2024-08-29T14:38:31","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T21:38:31","slug":"the-ultimate-team-player-xerox-difference-maker-brian-kimball-builds-positivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/the-week-in-imaging-twii\/editors-blog\/2024\/08\/the-ultimate-team-player-xerox-difference-maker-brian-kimball-builds-positivity\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Team Player, Xerox Difference Maker Brian Kimball Builds Positivity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Brian Kimball<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Although Brian Kimball isn\u2019t really much of a sports enthusiast, outside of enjoying a game of golf, he certainly can appreciate the glamor, tradition and the significance of the Stanley Cup. The oldest trophy in North American sports, annually bestowed upon the champion of the National Hockey League, is also one of the most revered and respected of awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimball has never hoisted the Cup, but he certainly knows how it feels. As a key member of Conway Office Products, which would eventually become part of Xerox\u2019s Global Imaging Systems (GIS), he was once presented with the Conway Cup Award. As in the case with Lord Stanley\u2019s silver chalice, winners of the Conway Cup have their names engraved in the trophy. And just like the Stanley Cup, the winner gets to possess the trophy for one year, until the next recipient is celebrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In another life, Kimball would make for the ideal hockey player. He is a tireless and relentless worker, and someone who genuinely embraces the team concept. Every single NHL champion has those qualities baked into its DNA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe accolade meant the most to me because it was not easy to achieve,\u201d said Kimball, a 2024 ENX Magazine<\/em> Difference Maker. \u201cYour name is engraved on the trophy along with other achievers in past years. I always knew I made a difference, but this meant everyone could see it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being able to fix and build was woven into Kimball\u2019s fabric at an early age. From working on his pedal bike or dirt bike, he loved to take things apart and rebuild them. His father was a mechanic, and they spent countless hours working on cars together. He\u2019d planned to attend Universal Technical Institute in Arizona and become a specialty mechanic, but soon discovered that wasn\u2019t what he wanted to do. He worked for a dry cleaner, fixing the machines by trial and error (pre-Google days), and spent six years doing repairs, not to mention electrical and plumbing. The training was \u201clearning by doing. It wasn\u2019t anything I could handle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1997, a buddy of Kimball\u2019s told him about the place where he worked, Conway Office Products, and that it was in need of good technicians. While the company wasn\u2019t hiring at the time, the friend sold Conway\u2019s service manager on the idea of hiring Kimball. In the early days, he worked on analog Konica machines. He became a color specialist when those models were introduced, then went on to manage a service team in greater Boston, followed by director of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shining Example<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the way, he\u2019s copped multiple Technician of the Year awards and multiple Gold and Silver Seal technical awards from Konica Minolta. Xerox acquired Global Imaging Systems, which included Conway, in 2007. He continues to set the standard for helping other techs become proficient in servicing Xerox hardware as the regional service development manager for Xerox\u2019s U.S. Dealer Program<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou need to have a never-give-up approach to anything that you do,\u201d Kimball said. \u201cMy motto is, \u2018I didn\u2019t ask you if it was your job. I asked you if you could help.\u2019 If you know the answer, just help. Whether it\u2019s the end customer, internal or external, let\u2019s just get it done. See the big picture; that\u2019s what\u2019s most important. If you can do that, it\u2019s easy to effect change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his time in the industry, he\u2019s benefitted most from the wisdom of GIS\/Xerox service leaders Michael McKenna and Frank Ferreira. Combined, the trio shared many qualities and followed the mantra of \u201cKeep it simple and remember it\u2019s not life or death.\u201d It\u2019s important to take a moment, process and then act. That is particularly important on the service side, where dealing with irate people calls for a measured response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cIf you answer the phone and someone is demanding something, you get trapped into saying \u2018yes\u2019 to them, right?\u201d Kimball related. \u201cKeep it simple. Process it and tell the person you\u2019ll return their call in 15 minutes. Then you devise a plan, call back and present it. That\u2019s a lot easier than getting backpedaled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has Kimball ever encountered a break that couldn\u2019t be fixed? \u201cIf there\u2019s no water damage and the frame hasn\u2019t been bent, it\u2019s fixable,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve never been beaten by a machine, and I have references.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Brian Kimball hits the road for Bike Week in Laconia, New Hampshire<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Building Blocks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the reasons Kimball was installed as a regional service development manager was to bring about positive change for Xerox\u2019s dealer partners. This entailed developing service programs and traveling around the country to train them. One of the more challenging tasks, which his team embarked upon in 2023, was to plug the void in the company\u2019s post-sales analyst support. It was available for direct customers but not the dealer channel. Laying the foundation was no small task, but Kimball was able to bring in a regional service development manager to help instruct dealers on how to service Xerox machines. By year\u2019s end, the support function was in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis wasn\u2019t easy and it certainly took a team effort,\u201d Kimball noted. \u201cIt\u2019s something I\u2019m very proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

He relishes the leader role that comes with his responsibilities. Kimball can help move the needle by making a quantifiable difference in how his team performs, building a positive team culture and ensuring that all members are on the same page. The idea is to produce a quality, homogeneous experience for partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat Big Mac needs to be the same on the East Coast as it is on the West Coast,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimball believes the path to self-improvement is best accomplished by focusing on the team approach. Having spent so many years operating in the context of an office dealer, he\u2019s been able to share that perspective from the point of view of an independent dealer and a direct operation. The idea is to make the team as a whole stronger through increased internal communications, team meetings and best practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mechanically inclined individual, it\u2019s not surprising that Kimball\u2019s off-hour\u2019s passions are decidedly hands-on activities. From working out to riding his Harley-Davidson Road Glide, snowmobiling and golfing, he embraces a robust and adventurous lifestyle. He has a daughter, Makenna, who is 23. Kimball hopes to tap into his professional arsenal in imparting values to her that stress positivity, self-improvement and accountability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlways be the bigger person,\u201d Kimball added. \u201cIt takes more energy to be negative.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Although Brian Kimball isn\u2019t really much of a sports enthusiast, outside of enjoying a game of golf, he certainly can appreciate the glamor, tradition and the significance of the Stanley Cup. The oldest trophy in North American sports, annually bestowed upon the champion of the National Hockey League, is also one of the most revered and respected of awards. Kimball has never hoisted the Cup, but he certainly knows how it feels. As a key member of Conway Office Products, which would eventually become part of Xerox\u2019s Global Imaging Systems (GIS), he was once presented with the Conway Cup Award. As in the case with Lord Stanley\u2019s silver chalice, winners of the Conway Cup have their names engraved in the trophy. And just like the Stanley Cup, the winner gets to possess the trophy for one year, until the next recipient is celebrated. In another life, Kimball would make for the ideal hockey player. He is a tireless and relentless worker, and someone who genuinely embraces the team concept. Every single NHL champion has those qualities baked into its DNA. \u201cThe accolade meant the most to me because it was not easy to achieve,\u201d said Kimball, a 2024 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. \u201cYour name is engraved on the trophy along with other achievers in past years. I always knew I made a difference, but this meant everyone could see it.\u201d Being able to fix and build was woven into Kimball\u2019s fabric at an early age. From working on his pedal bike or dirt bike, he loved to take things apart and rebuild them. His father was a mechanic, and they spent countless hours working on cars together. He\u2019d planned to attend Universal Technical Institute in Arizona and become a specialty mechanic, but soon discovered that wasn\u2019t what he wanted to do. He worked for a dry cleaner, fixing the machines by trial and error (pre-Google days), and spent six years doing repairs, not to mention electrical and plumbing. The training was \u201clearning by doing. It wasn\u2019t anything I could handle.\u201d In 1997, a buddy of Kimball\u2019s told him about the place where he worked, Conway Office Products, and that it was in need of good technicians. While the company wasn\u2019t hiring at the time, the friend sold Conway\u2019s service manager on the idea of hiring Kimball. In the early days, he worked on analog Konica machines. He became a color specialist when those models were introduced, then went on to manage a service team in greater Boston, followed by director of service. Shining Example Along the way, he\u2019s copped multiple Technician of the Year awards and multiple Gold and Silver Seal technical awards from Konica Minolta. Xerox acquired Global Imaging Systems, which included Conway, in 2007. He continues to set the standard for helping other techs become proficient in servicing Xerox hardware as the regional service development manager for Xerox\u2019s U.S. Dealer Program. \u201cYou need to have a never-give-up approach to anything that you do,\u201d Kimball said. \u201cMy motto is, \u2018I didn\u2019t ask you if it was your job. I asked you if you could help.\u2019 If you know the answer, just help. Whether it\u2019s the end customer, internal or external, let\u2019s just get it done. See the big picture; that\u2019s what\u2019s most important. If you can do that, it\u2019s easy to effect change.\u201d During his time in the industry, he\u2019s benefitted most from the wisdom of GIS\/Xerox service leaders Michael McKenna and Frank Ferreira. Combined, the trio shared many qualities and followed the mantra of \u201cKeep it simple and remember it\u2019s not life or death.\u201d It\u2019s important to take a moment, process and then act. That is particularly important on the service side, where dealing with irate people calls for a measured response.  \u201cIf you answer the phone and someone is demanding something, you get trapped into saying \u2018yes\u2019 to them, right?\u201d Kimball related. \u201cKeep it simple. Process it and tell the person you\u2019ll return their call in 15 minutes. Then you devise a plan, call back and present it. That\u2019s a lot easier than getting backpedaled.\u201d Has Kimball ever encountered a break that couldn\u2019t be fixed? \u201cIf there\u2019s no water damage and the frame hasn\u2019t been bent, it\u2019s fixable,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve never been beaten by a machine, and I have references.\u201d Building Blocks One of the reasons Kimball was installed as a regional service development manager was to bring about positive change for Xerox\u2019s dealer partners. This entailed developing service programs and traveling around the country to train them. One of the more challenging tasks, which his team embarked upon in 2023, was to plug the void in the company\u2019s post-sales analyst support. It was available for direct customers but not the dealer channel. Laying the foundation was no small task, but Kimball was able to bring in a regional service development manager to help instruct dealers on how to service Xerox machines. By year\u2019s end, the support function was in place. \u201cThis wasn\u2019t easy and it certainly took a team effort,\u201d Kimball noted. \u201cIt\u2019s something I\u2019m very proud of.\u201d He relishes the leader role that comes with his responsibilities. Kimball can help move the needle by making a quantifiable difference in how his team performs, building a positive team culture and ensuring that all members are on the same page. The idea is to produce a quality, homogeneous experience for partners. \u201cThat Big Mac needs to be the same on the East Coast as it is on the West Coast,\u201d he added. Kimball believes the path to self-improvement is best accomplished by focusing on the team approach. Having spent so many years operating in the context of an office dealer, he\u2019s been able to share that perspective from the point of view of an independent dealer and a direct operation. The idea is to make the team as a whole stronger through increased internal communications, team meetings and best practices. As mechanically inclined individual, it\u2019s not surprising that Kimball\u2019s off-hour\u2019s passions are decidedly hands-on activities. From […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":166,"featured_media":61703,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3626,80,1650,82,84,1638],"tags":[2191],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61700"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/166"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61700"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61700\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61704,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61700\/revisions\/61704"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}