Elite Dealers Less Than $5 Million

4 The Office

Pittston, PA

www.4theoffice.net

President/Owner: Carmen Pitarra

Year Founded: 2007

Number of Employees: 6

Primary Vendors: Xerox, HP, Sharp, SP Richards

Primary Solutions Offerings: PaperCut, Axess Print Management, PrintSmart Print Management, MPS

Primary Leasing Partners: Xerox Financial Services, Wells Fargo

Approximate Yearly Revenue: Less than $5 million

Fastest Growing Segments of the Business: Service (30 percent), HP wide-format printers and service (30 percent), copiers/MFPs (40 percent), print management (40 percent)

Biggest Accomplishment of the Year: Continued growth across multiple segments, including the renewal/extension of three large MPS contracts of about 200 machines each.

Why We Consider 4 the Office Elite:

• Growth across the business. With solid revenue increases in hardware, service, and solutions, 4 the Office shows that you don’t have to be big to diversify successfully.
• Partner recognition. 4 the Office won both the Xerox Gold Award for Excellence and the HP DesignJet Gold Partner Status.
• Willingness to share the wealth. Everyone in the organization has the ability to earn incentives and share in the company’s success.
• Charitable donations. The company also donates money, equipment, and supplies to local non-profit organizations. It also provides employees time and resources for community events, and supports the local Little League teams in multiple communities.

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Advanced Business Solutions, LLC (ABS)

Jacksonville, FL

www.goabsinc.com

Year Founded: 2004

President/Owner: Adam Gregory

Number of Employees: 8

Primary Vendors: Oki Data, Canon, Muratec, HP

Primary Solutions Offerings: Intellinetics

Primary Leasing Partners: Leaf Financial, CIT, Wells Fargo

Approximate Yearly Revenue: Less than $5 million

Fastest Growing Business Segments: A4 machines and document management

Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: ABS opened its Florida office over a year ago and revenue has gone up 30 percent from last year.

Why We Consider ABS Elite:

• Commitment to great customer service. Customer may access the owner anytime to resolve issues that require higher management. ABS employees strive to treat others as they would want to be treated.
• Strong marketing. ABS maintains a blog on its newly redesigned website to tell the company’s story, and it uses Google Analytics to measure its effectiveness. It also does target marketing to verticals for its A4 products.
• Partner Recognition. ABS has been honored with the Oki Data BTA Elite Dealer award.
• Community support. ABS supports local youth baseball and high school programs, and sponsors local events through radio.

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Allied Business Solutions

Boise, ID

www.digitalallied.com

Year Founded: 2003

President/Owner: Tom Beeles

Number of Employees: 24

Primary Vendors: Toshiba, Lexmark, and FP

Primary Solutions Offerings: M-Files, PaperCut

Primary Leasing Partners: US Bank, GreatAmerica, Everbank

Approximate Yearly Revenue: $3 million

Fastest Growing Business Segments: ECM

Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Growth of over 25 percent so far this year

Why We Consider Allied Business Solutions Elite:

• A personal approach. Allied treats its customers with integrity and tries to find the best fit for them. When customers call, they speak with a live person right away. Allied often invites prospective clients in for product demos where it provides lunch and shows the customer what Allied is about.
• High visibility in its community. Allied partnered with the local baseball team, which allowed it to advertise all season long, including banners in the stadium. The partnership also allowed them to host a customer appreciation picnic (250 guests) and also take clients to games with season box seats.
• Partner recognition. Allied has received the Pros Elite Top Office Equipment Dealer, Toshiba Pro-Masters Dealer, and Toshiba Certified Innovative Dealer awards.
• A positive work environment. Allied was awarded one of the Best Places to Work in Idaho, which requires a nomination by an employee and then a survey of all employees. The company also invests in on-going training for all departments.
• Giving back to the community. Allied runs a My New Office—an Office Makeover contest for non-profits to receive new, free office equipment. It also supports the local Boys & Girls Club and Big Brother Big Sister organizations. The company also cooks dinner for families who are staying at the local Ronald McDonald house and has donated equipment to Ronald McDonald house.

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Consolidated Copier Services

McDonough, GA

www.consolidatedcopiers.com

Year Founded: 1987

President/Owner: Patrick Nunnally

Number of Employees: 14

Primary Vendors: Konica Minolta, Xerox, Muratec, Kip

Primary Solutions Offerings: Konica Minolta Dispatcher Phoenix, Nuance Equitrac, Pharos

Primary Leasing Partners: Wells Fargo, DLL, GreatAmerica

Approximate Yearly Revenue: Less than $5 million

Fastest Growing Business Segments: Major account (12 percent)

Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Consolidated launched a redesigned, customer focused website, which has already increased the number of new customers, leads, and service requests. It has also boosted customer satisfaction and attracted job candidates.

Why We Consider Consolidated Copier Services Elite:

• Investment in marketing. In addition to a new website, Consolidated hired a full-time marketing director to focus on public relations and support for the sales team. The company also invested in a full suite of software to bring marketing material design and development in-house.
• Customer satisfaction. Consolidated’s customer retention rate is a very high 96 percent, which it attributes to a highly tenured staff committed to customer care. The company has also made investments to deliver high-quality service including a direct phone line to the contract manager, hiring a dedicated Xerox customer specialist, and hiring a logistics manager who can deliver and install all equipment.
• Partner recognition. Consolidated received Konica Minolta’s Pro-Tech Service Award for the seventh year in a row. It has also been awarded with Konica Minolta’s Nation’s Fastest Growing Dealer (Small Market).
• Strong employee relationship. Consolidated has a Pledge to Our Employees, which outlines how the company makes sure that its team feels important and appreciated. It starts with balancing hard work with fun, family, health, and community. Examples of how Consolidated does this include fun company events, surprise bonuses for jobs well done, and not counting time taken off for children’s school-related activities.
• Giving back to the community. Through its Consolidated Cares program, the company chooses a need in the community each month and does what it can to meet that need. In the first month, Consolidated took baked goods to the local police department to show its appreciation. The company has donated items to public services and is now gearing up for its first blood drive.

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Executive Technologies, Inc. (ETI)

Sioux City, IA

www.etibusiness.com

Year Founded: 1969

President/Owner: Dave Strohman

Number of Employees: 25

Primary Vendors: Copystar, Panasonic, Samsung, Dell

Primary Solutions Offerings: Microsoft, PaperVison, PaperFlow, ImageSilo, TeamViewer, Kyocera HyPAS

Primary Leasing Partners: GreatAmerica, Wells Fargo

Approximate Yearly Revenue: Less than $5 million

Fastest Growing Business Segments: MPS has seen tremendous growth in the past three years. Overall, ETI has grown more than 400 percent in the last five years.

Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: In 2016, ETI was recognized as an Elite Dealer at the Copystar/Kyocera National Conference. Elite Dealer status is an award that is only given to the top dealerships in the country.

Why We Consider ETI Elite:

• A consultative approach. ETI takes the time to “walk a mile in their shoes.” This allows the company to provide a unique solution that reduces the client’s expenses and makes the client’s life easier.
• A multi-faceted marketing strategy. ETI uses a three-pronged marketing approach based on social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter) as well as various local media offerings. The company supports and participates in events with many local charities, the Chambers of Commerce in the areas it serves, and its own events at its own locations. The company effectively brands itself through a positive local and social media presence.
• Partner recognition. In addition to the Copystar Elite Dealer award, ETI has been recognized by GreatAmerica Financial Services as a Dealer of Distinction every year beginning in 2011 through 2016. GreatAmerica also recognized ETI as the first recipient of the dealer WOW award in 2015.
• Collaborative development of company culture. ETI fosters a positive and aggressive culture with a focus on team members’ needs and goals. In August, ETI employees met to analyze and identify company beliefs and vision to facilitate reaching its goals. The result was a belief statement that emphasized ethics, work ethic, accountability, customer focus, and company culture.
• Community involvement. ETI is an active member/supporter of many local Chambers of Commerce, local sports teams (Sioux City Explorers and the Sioux City Musketeers) and local Little League teams. The company participates in charitable outings through many of the nonprofit organizations within Sioux City. Its annual Christmas parties at all of its locations help provide for local families that have fallen on hard times.

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KÔTA, A Mohegan LDI Enterprise

Uncasville, CT

www.kotasolutions.com

Year Founded: 2014

President/Owner: Tod Pike

Number of Employees: 15

Primary Vendors: Canon, Samsung, Toshiba, HP

Primary Solutions Offerings: Nuance, EFI, PaperCut, MaxxVault

Primary Leasing Partners: Canon Financial Services, Everbank, DLL

Approximate Yearly Revenue: less than $5 million

Fastest Growing Business Segments: Government, corporate, hospitality/retail vertical markets

Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: KÔTA recruited Tod Pike to a leadership position in the organization, opened a new showroom and conference facility in central Connecticut, and has gained the attention as an exclusive sponsor in the category of the Connecticut Non-Profit Association and the Connecticut Golf Association.

Why We Consider KÔTA Elite:

• Minority owned. As a certified minority-owned enterprise (MBE), KÔTA has been able to engage with the corporations and business that have a mandate or desire to do their procurement from a certified MBE.
• Ability to land significant accounts as a new company. KÔTA’s clients in its first year include Mohegan Sun, the Agoosa Sports Bar, and the Connecticut State Government.
• Opportunity for its employees. As a relatively new organization with proud parent operations, employees have a unique opportunity to create a path and grow with the company.
• Community support. KÔTA is very involved with native American affairs and active with a number of non-profits.

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Mid Ohio Business Machines, Inc. (dba Mid Ohio Strategic Technologies)

Columbus, OH

www.bizmachines.com

Year Founded: 1979

President/Owner: Karen L. Hoskinson, John D. Hoskinson II

Number of Employees: 16

Primary Vendors: Toshiba, Lexmark, Muratec, Fujitsu, Impression Solutions (Kyocera)

Primary Solutions Offerings: Intellinetics, SentryFile, Re-Rite

Primary Leasing Partners: GreatAmerica

Approximate Yearly Revenue: less than $5 million

Fastest Growing Business Segments: Hardware placements (specifically color units), document management, and workflow solutions

Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: The company purchased an 11,500-square-foot building in September 2015, which puts the office and warehouse under one roof. This was huge in terms of bringing in more partners/clients and being able to offer them more.

Why We Consider Mid Ohio Business Machines Elite:

• Ability to land large accounts. Mid Ohio Business Machines landed one of the largest privately held technology companies in the country. Not only did it win the corporate office equipment and solutions business, but it also placed machines in each of the customer’s retail stores in the US.
• Industry and community recognition. The company recently won the Family Business Milestone Award by the Conway Center for Family Business, the Top Woman Owned Businesses in Central Ohio Award by Columbus Business First, the Largest Woman-Owned Businesses in Central Ohio Award by Columbus CEO Magazine, and the Dealer of Distinction Award from GreatAmerica Leasing Corporation.
• Giving back to the community. Mid Ohio Business Machines supports numerous local charities and organization including food banks, churches, Christian schools, and the Sam Bish Foundation, which raises funds to fight childhood cancer.
• Customer retention. The company boasts a retention rate of more than 96 percent, which it attributes to the respect and care it gives its customers.
• Family-oriented culture. Family is important, not just the ownership and their families, but all of its employees and their families. They work to help each other cover other’s job duties if needed so that an employee in need can have flexibility. Employees are the most valuable asset, and the company treats them that way by listening to them and rewarding them for “thinking outside the box.”

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Premium Digital Office Solutions

Pine Brook, NJ

www.premium-digital.com

Year Founded: 2010

President/Owner: Alan Schwartz/ Van Seretis

Number of Employees: 14

Primary Vendors: Muratec, Konica Minolta, Panasonic, Neopost, Pitney Bowes, Dahle

Primary Solutions Offerings: Ademero Content Central Document Management and Workflow Software, CapturePoint Advanced Data Extraction Software

Primary Leasing Partners: EverBank, Wells Fargo, Leaf, DLL

Approximate Yearly Revenue: Less than $5 million

Fastest Growing Business Segments: Document management solutions, IT services, color MFPs and high speed multi-function products. Premium Digital has also been doing a lot of service for out of state dealers.

Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Premium Digital received Muratec’s prestigious Image Makers Award for being the number one dealer in the country.

Why We Consider Premium Digital Office Solutions Elite:

• Making customers feel like they are the only client. Premium Digital goes the extra mile to take pressure off their clients’ internal staffs, going outside the scope of normal service and support.
• Smart strategy for customer acquisition and retention. Premium Digital offers strong incentives to its service technicians to provide leads and to its sales team to exceed goals. It also incentivizes customers to stay loyal with rebates to new clients and offering blocks of copies to eliminate monthly or quarterly overage bills to keep clients within their budget.
• Partner recognition. In addition to the Muratec Image Makers Award, Premium Digital has earned the Platinum Dealer Award from Everbank Leasing Company.
• A positive work environment. Premium Digital provides flexible hours for family/work balance. It hosts monthly birthday parties and other events throughout the year such as bowling nights, fishing trips, and a holiday party.
• Charitable giving.  Premium Digital donates time and goods to local police departments. Both owners sit on the boards of some of their oldest non-profit customers to help raise funds and donate goods and equipment to help at risk children’s causes.

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U.S. Business Systems, Inc.

Elkhart, IN

www.usbus.com

Year Founded: 1992

President/CEO: Michael Kidd

Number of Employees: 30

Primary Vendors: Kyocera, Sharp, Okidata, Lenovo, HP

Primary Solutions Offerings: MPS, managed network services, business process and automation improvement

Primary Leasing Partners: US Bank, GreatAmerica

Approximate Yearly Revenue: more than $4 million

Fastest Growing Business Segments: MPS (20 percent year over year), managed network services revenue growth has doubled over the last two years

Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Making U.S. Business Systems’ corporate core values (united focus and servant mentality) the driving force behind its approach to clients, vendor relationships, and associates.

Why We Consider U.S. Business Systems Elite:

• Emphasis on customer communication. U.S. Business Systems seeks customer feedback on its performance through anonymous surveys. If a problem arises, it is addressed promptly and involves the primary client contact. The company also offers Lunch & Learn events, a monthly newsletter, and periodic direct mail with FAQ’s and information on how to make their total experience better.
• Investment in keeping clients current on products and technology. A customer support rep provides in-depth training and retraining of the products and applications the client has deployed.
• Industry recognition. U.S. Business Systems has been the recipient of the Sharp Hyakuman Kai Award, the Kyocera Excellence in Customer Service Solutions award, and the Kyocera Outstanding Sales Achievement award.
• Supportive environment for employees. Management believes that everyone matters, from the newest hire to the original founders. Ideas are listened to and appreciated.
• Support for local schools, religious organizations, and charities. The company makes donations of money and time to schools, educational clubs, and regional religious organizations. It also contributes to and provides volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.

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Upstream Office Solutions

Tampa, FL

www.upstreamofficesolutions.com

Year Founded: 2012

President/Owner: Mark Wild

Number of Employees: 10

Primary Vendors: Toshiba, Kyocera

Primary Solutions Offerings: PaperCut, Filesight

Primary Leasing Partners: Everbank

Approximate Yearly Revenue: $2 to $3 million

Fastest Growing Business Segments: Overall growth has been double digits.

Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Leased an adjacent unit to double its space.

Why We Consider Upstream Office Solutions Elite:

• Smart partnering. Upstream partners with IT providers to gain access to their customers, especially in the medical field.
• Strength in the healthcare vertical. The company recently landed a $262,000 and over 300,000 copies per month account with a medical office with nine locations.
• Focus on the job. All employees know what the job is and what they have to do to achieve the set goals.
• Giving back to the community. Upstream sponsors several Chamber of Commerce golf tournaments, fundraising events for a local library, and customers’ church fundraising efforts.

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Yuma Office Equipment
Yuma, AZ

www.yumaofficeequipment.com

Year Founded: 1998

President/Owner: Daniel Bombard

Number of Employees: 17

Primary Vendors: Toshiba, Lanier, Sharp, Oki Data, Samsung

Primary Solutions Offerings: YOEConnext, Continuum, Intronis, Datto, Fonality, Intermedia

Primary Leasing Partners: GreatAmerica, US Bank, Marlin Leasing

Approximate Yearly Revenue: Less than $5 million

Fastest Growing Business Segments: Managed services (8 percent)

Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Joined the Oki Data America’s dealer council. Awarded ENX Magazine Elite Dealer of the year for 2015.

Why We Consider Yuma Office Equipment Elite:

• Service set up for quick response. A live person answers the phone at Yuma. It has more technicians than its competitors, and it stocks more parts and supplies. Yuma’s copier guys are also CompTIA Network+ trained, which gives the customers a better experience.
• Investment in marketing. Yuma hired well-regarded consultancy Robin Robins for its marketing. It does a new direct campaign each month as well as an email and print newsletter focused on managed IT services.
• Community recognition. Yuma has picked up two Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month awards and two Chamber of Commerce Customer Service Super Star awards. It’s also been named SBDC Small Business of the year.
• Giving back to the communities. Yuma donates machines to local charities and sponsors community events such as car shows and children’s sports teams.