{"id":32473,"date":"2018-12-27T08:56:14","date_gmt":"2018-12-27T16:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=32473"},"modified":"2018-12-27T08:56:14","modified_gmt":"2018-12-27T16:56:14","slug":"following-a-dream-pays-dividends-for-toshiba-difference-maker-joe-contreras","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/the-week-in-imaging-twii\/editors-blog\/2018\/12\/following-a-dream-pays-dividends-for-toshiba-difference-maker-joe-contreras\/","title":{"rendered":"Following a Dream Pays Dividends for Toshiba Difference Maker Joe Contreras"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Joe Contreras, Toshiba<\/p><\/div>\n

Early in his career, Joe Contreras\u2019 lunchtime drive would take him past a Toshiba facility. The Texas A&M product was employed with a smaller organization, where he was involved in the PC networking hardware sector. Yet, seeing the Toshiba building in person stirred his passion for working with an industry leader. With every drive-by, the dream transformed into a steely resolve\u2014Contreras could virtually reach out and touch his future.<\/p>\n

Eighteen years later, Contreras is living his dream.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I love most about Toshiba is the people we work with,\u201d said Contreras, vice president, Product and Solutions Marketing for Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. and a 2018 ENX Magazine<\/em> Difference Maker. \u201cWe have a phenomenal team in place that is always focused on delivering the best experience for our customers. That\u2019s what helps set us apart in the industry from others\u2014we\u2019re nimble, all of our executives are accessible and I\u2019ve been able to learn from them throughout my career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been through a lot of life changes during this time; I got married and had a child. There are a lot of things I\u2019ve shared with the people here who have become a part of my extended family.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Contreras\u2019 initial entry wasn\u2019t with Toshiba\u2019s PC division\u2014he started in the business solutions division in September of 2000 with fax product marketing\u2014he has found a home in Product and Solutions Marketing. Contreras has set his own personal guidelines with a four P approach to business that drives his approach: Passion (\u201cLove what you do and do what you love\u201d), Purpose (\u201cKnow what your contribution is to the growth and success of the organization\u201d), Presence (\u201cLeave a lasting impression when you meet with colleagues or clients\u201d) and Professional (\u201cTreat everyone as if they\u2019re the CEO, and never lose your cool\u201d).<\/p>\n

Laying the Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Contreras has benefitted from a wealth of knowledge provided by innumerable executives and other key figures within the Toshiba organization, he credits much of his influence to the guidance and morals bestowed upon him by his parents, Sylvia and Lee. They were the foundation of his ambition and work ethic and provided the foundation that helped kick-start Contreras\u2019 career.<\/p>\n

Along the way, Contreras has gained an appreciation for the value of being inquisitive. Though introverted by nature, he has found that by asking questions, it has expanded his knowledge base and helped unearth other aspects that perhaps have been overlooked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt helps you take a bigger picture view of the world,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\"\"It\u2019s been an exciting year for Contreras and Toshiba. The 2018 LEAD event was a resounding success, perhaps the best conference yet, with A3 and A4 product introductions and the announcement of a key partnership with Brother on the A4 side. Toshiba also unveiled its Elevate 2.0 platform, along with the Elevate Composer tool, and Contreras has already received a bounty of positive feedback from these endeavors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re putting a full-court press on Elevate in 2019, and we\u2019ll continue to work with our dealers in evangelizing how that helps differentiate us in the marketplace,\u201d he said. \u201cIt goes beyond here in North America, as they will become globally utilized tools.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Digital Future<\/strong><\/p>\n

That inquisitive nature will serve Contreras well moving forward as he endeavors to learn and evolve while keeping an eye (and ear) on the market while observing how people and businesses interact in the digital age. That begins, but certainly doesn\u2019t end, with observing how his own child embraces the digital world.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur 11-year-old son (Tai) was born in the digital age, so learning how he interacts and communicates with technology helps me as well,\u201d Contreras noted. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot I can learn about what the future looks like and how the younger generation utilizes technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

Contreras and his wife, Moana, celebrated their 15th<\/sup> wedding anniversary in October. Tai\u2019s passion for basketball, from playing in a local youth league to watching both Los Angeles NBA teams (Lakers and Clippers), has made it a family affair. Having uber-superstar LeBron James in town adds spice to the experience as well.<\/p>\n

One of the family\u2019s annual highlights is a ski trip to southern Utah with four other families who gather in a large cabin. This crew of 18 people makes for a fun and memorable experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great time to unplug and just enjoy the outdoors,\u201d Contreras said. \u201cMy wife and son picked up skiing four years ago, when we went for the first time, and now they\u2019re better at skiing than I am.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Early in his career, Joe Contreras\u2019 lunchtime drive would take him past a Toshiba facility. The Texas A&M product was employed with a smaller organization, where he was involved in the PC networking hardware sector. Yet, seeing the Toshiba building in person stirred his passion for working with an industry leader. With every drive-by, the dream transformed into a steely resolve\u2014Contreras could virtually reach out and touch his future. Eighteen years later, Contreras is living his dream. \u201cWhat I love most about Toshiba is the people we work with,\u201d said Contreras, vice president, Product and Solutions Marketing for Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. and a 2018 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. \u201cWe have a phenomenal team in place that is always focused on delivering the best experience for our customers. That\u2019s what helps set us apart in the industry from others\u2014we\u2019re nimble, all of our executives are accessible and I\u2019ve been able to learn from them throughout my career. \u201cI\u2019ve been through a lot of life changes during this time; I got married and had a child. There are a lot of things I\u2019ve shared with the people here who have become a part of my extended family.\u201d While Contreras\u2019 initial entry wasn\u2019t with Toshiba\u2019s PC division\u2014he started in the business solutions division in September of 2000 with fax product marketing\u2014he has found a home in Product and Solutions Marketing. Contreras has set his own personal guidelines with a four P approach to business that drives his approach: Passion (\u201cLove what you do and do what you love\u201d), Purpose (\u201cKnow what your contribution is to the growth and success of the organization\u201d), Presence (\u201cLeave a lasting impression when you meet with colleagues or clients\u201d) and Professional (\u201cTreat everyone as if they\u2019re the CEO, and never lose your cool\u201d). Laying the Foundation While Contreras has benefitted from a wealth of knowledge provided by innumerable executives and other key figures within the Toshiba organization, he credits much of his influence to the guidance and morals bestowed upon him by his parents, Sylvia and Lee. They were the foundation of his ambition and work ethic and provided the foundation that helped kick-start Contreras\u2019 career. Along the way, Contreras has gained an appreciation for the value of being inquisitive. Though introverted by nature, he has found that by asking questions, it has expanded his knowledge base and helped unearth other aspects that perhaps have been overlooked. \u201cIt helps you take a bigger picture view of the world,\u201d he added. It\u2019s been an exciting year for Contreras and Toshiba. The 2018 LEAD event was a resounding success, perhaps the best conference yet, with A3 and A4 product introductions and the announcement of a key partnership with Brother on the A4 side. Toshiba also unveiled its Elevate 2.0 platform, along with the Elevate Composer tool, and Contreras has already received a bounty of positive feedback from these endeavors. \u201cWe\u2019re putting a full-court press on Elevate in 2019, and we\u2019ll continue to work with our dealers in evangelizing how that helps differentiate us in the marketplace,\u201d he said. \u201cIt goes beyond here in North America, as they will become globally utilized tools.\u201d The Digital Future That inquisitive nature will serve Contreras well moving forward as he endeavors to learn and evolve while keeping an eye (and ear) on the market while observing how people and businesses interact in the digital age. That begins, but certainly doesn\u2019t end, with observing how his own child embraces the digital world. \u201cOur 11-year-old son (Tai) was born in the digital age, so learning how he interacts and communicates with technology helps me as well,\u201d Contreras noted. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot I can learn about what the future looks like and how the younger generation utilizes technology.\u201d Contreras and his wife, Moana, celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary in October. Tai\u2019s passion for basketball, from playing in a local youth league to watching both Los Angeles NBA teams (Lakers and Clippers), has made it a family affair. Having uber-superstar LeBron James in town adds spice to the experience as well. One of the family\u2019s annual highlights is a ski trip to southern Utah with four other families who gather in a large cabin. This crew of 18 people makes for a fun and memorable experience. \u201cIt\u2019s a great time to unplug and just enjoy the outdoors,\u201d Contreras said. \u201cMy wife and son picked up skiing four years ago, when we went for the first time, and now they\u2019re better at skiing than I am.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":166,"featured_media":32474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[80,1650,82,84,1638],"tags":[1662,349],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32473"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/166"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32473"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32476,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32473\/revisions\/32476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}