The Business Technology Association (BTA) blew out the candles at its 100th anniversary celebration earlier this month in Kansas City. It’s been a long journey for the organization since its debut as the National Association of Typewriter Dealers, and while the technologies have changed significantly, the association has thrived from decade to decade via its substantial value proposition.
Brent Hoskins
Leading up to the event, BTA Executive Director Brent Hoskins offered his views on the keys behind the association’s ability to connect with its membership throughout the turbulence of business evolution. Hoskins is himself a pillar of constancy; in November, he’ll celebrate his 40th anniversary with BTA, where he’s also served as editor of the association’s official magazine, Office Technology.
One thing is clear. Those qualities that have sustained BTA for 100 years, including a wealth of volunteers and a value proposition that’s without peer, will undoubtedly carry it through the next century.
ENX: It would be fun to go back in time and sit in at the first meeting of the National Association of Typewriter Dealers, which would eventually become BTA. What can you share about the association’s earlier meetings?
HOSKINS: While the BTA archives don’t include a lot of information about our first few years, the earliest photo we have of an association meeting is dated August 20, 1928. The “Typewriter Convention” took place at the Hotel Hollenden in Cleveland, Ohio. Unfortunately, we only have the photo; we have no information about the convention.
We do, however, have almost every magazine issue published by the association since 1949. The earliest issues in our archives that provide any information about the association’s conventions list sessions such as The Cost of Doing Business and Selling in Today’s Economy. The topics of both sessions would be relevant today.
ENX: The products and services provided by the association to its dealer members have certainly evolved over the years. What do you believe has been the primary factor ensuring BTA’s continued success?
HOSKINS: The answer is simple—it’s the dealer volunteer leadership. In my nearly 40 years of service at BTA, I’ve had the privilege of working with 39 national presidents, their officer teams and the national and district board members. Collectively, they’ve worked diligently to ensure that BTA remains on the right path to optimize the value the association presents to its members. If the dealer volunteers had faltered along the way, the association would have faltered, too. Instead, leadership has remained strong, ensuring BTA’s continued success.
ENX: As you mark the 100th anniversary of the association, what aspect of the organization do you find most compelling?
HOSKINS: At the heart of that longevity is the association’s ability to persevere. Think about the remarkable changes in technology in the workplace that have occurred between day one of the National Association of Typewriter Dealers and today’s Business Technology Association. There’s no comparison. Yet, the association has remained the dealer channel’s premier source of educational events and networking opportunities for 100 years. That’s a compelling indication that BTA is getting it right.
ENX: What would be your elevator pitch to attract dealers who aren’t BTA members?
HOSKINS: Membership in BTA is the best $500 a dealer will spend this year. It provides access to BTA’s growing list of member benefits, including access to BTA’s general counsel for free legal advice. Think about how quickly you would reach $500 hiring an outside attorney to discuss industry-related matters.
Perhaps the most talked-about benefit of BTA membership is the opportunity to connect with fellow dealers through the association’s events and various programs. At our district events, dealers can connect and learn from one another. This is also true with our virtual Dealers Helping Dealers Discussion Group meetings. Currently, there are seven of these groups that meet on a regular basis to respond to one another’s questions, sharing best practices, insight and wise counsel.
There’s one more example of the value of membership that’s on my mind. I recently signed 54 BTA secondary education scholarship checks totaling $103,500 going to the sons and daughters of BTA member dealership employees. BTA has awarded $1.9 million in scholarships since the 1984–85 school year.
ENX: What would you say is the special sauce behind BTA’s signature annual events?
HOSKINS: Since about 2008, we’ve focused on hosting BTA district events with the current format. We’re very pleased with the attendance numbers and positive feedback we’ve received. What’s the special sauce? I believe it’s the format.
We keep everyone close and connected by using a single ballroom for the main-stage educational sessions and the time with exhibitors. When we first started hosting the current generation of events, we discussed how at their dealer meetings, the OEMs sometimes hold educational sessions quite a distance away from the exhibit areas. We could see that this doesn’t work well and vowed to avoid doing the same.
In addition, BTA events always include ample networking time. I enjoy seeing dealers engaging in conversation with one another. It’s particularly rewarding to see BTA Dealers Helping Dealers Discussion Group participants meeting in person for the first time at our district events.
ENX: The member benefits page on BTA.org is an exhaustive list of learning, training and collaboration experiences; business support functions; legal services; peer groups and scholarship opportunities. Talk about the team and member volunteer efforts that make it all possible.
HOSKINS: Regarding our team, even though we collectively have more than 90 years of experience working for the association, the BTA staff is small. However, we always have around 20 elected dealer volunteers we rely on heavily; the staff members turn to them for guidance, feedback and direction on a regular basis. I view the volunteers as additional remote employees of BTA.
I share that to give an example of volunteer involvement in the association’s benefits—in this case, the educational lineup. During the 2025–26 fiscal year, BTA relaunched its FIX workshop as FIX: Cost Management for Service 3.0, led by Jack Duncan. This was the direct result of the efforts of 2025–26 President Debra Dennis.
Meanwhile, the staff members are always on the lookout for new benefits to offer our members. Occasionally it’s necessary to discontinue a benefit program once it’s no longer of value and has become outdated.
ENX: Given your journalism background, Office Technology magazine (and the BTA Hotline) must occupy a special place in your heart. Talk a little about its legacy.
HOSKINS: I arrived at BTA after serving as a reporter at a Kansas City, Missouri, suburban newspaper. Writing has been my passion since high school; I graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. I became editor of what is now Office Technology back in December 1988.
Prior to the Office Technology name, the magazine was known as Solutions for a few years. Prior to that, it was the NOMDA Spokesman for decades. Fortunately, we have archives of BTA’s magazines back to the 1940s. We also have the first issue of the first magazine, Dealers Topics, from November 1938.
Given that 2026 is our 100th anniversary year, I’ve reviewed more past issues this year than I have previously. This has helped me realize that I’m a steward of the publication for now but only a part of its distinguished legacy. You’re correct that the magazine holds a special place in my heart. It always will.
ENX: As you work toward year 101 and beyond, what will be the key to maintaining the value and relevance of BTA?
HOSKINS: Again, because this is our 100th anniversary year, understandably we’ve spent time this year looking back at the past century. That will stop as the year comes to an end. We’ll return to being solely focused on the present and the future.
As has always been the case, the key to our ability to maintain BTA’s value and relevance is the association’s leadership remaining in lockstep to provide dealer members with valuable guidance for what they need now and into the future. The focus on AI is a good example. There have been sessions at our district events, BTA webinars and articles in Office Technology magazine focused on AI. Plus, BTA recently introduced the BTA AI Workflow Assessment Workshop, led by West McDonald.
BTA has a 100-year history of getting it right when it comes to value and relevance. That will certainly continue in our second 100 years.
