{"id":51147,"date":"2022-08-25T13:12:51","date_gmt":"2022-08-25T20:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=51147"},"modified":"2022-08-25T13:12:54","modified_gmt":"2022-08-25T20:12:54","slug":"inauspicious-introduction-doesnt-deter-konica-minolta-difference-maker-cody-walton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/the-week-in-imaging-twii\/editors-blog\/2022\/08\/inauspicious-introduction-doesnt-deter-konica-minolta-difference-maker-cody-walton\/","title":{"rendered":"Inauspicious Introduction Doesn\u2019t Deter Konica Minolta Difference Maker Cody Walton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Cody Walton<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a memorable scene in the movie \u201cFast Times at Ridgemont High\u201d where Mark Ratner is on a first date with the incomparable Stacy Hamilton at a restaurant. When the check comes, Ratner reaches for his wallet, and a subtle look of horror crosses his face when he realizes that it is not on his person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve all been in this predicament at least once in our lives, and it\u2019s usually not a big deal. But for Ratner, he sees the opportunity to make a great first impression slowly disintegrate. That\u2019s precisely the feeling Cody Walton experienced when he met his new Konica Minolta teammates for dinner shortly after joining the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was nervous preparing to join my new team for dinner and I forgot my wallet,\u201d Walton explained. \u201cWhen the check came, I realized I didn\u2019t have any money. You can say it was very embarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Walton didn\u2019t have a Mike Damone to bail him out of the jam, it\u2019s made for a fun retelling throughout the seven-plus years he\u2019s spent with the manufacturer. It wasn\u2019t the first impression that foretold the greatness of this 2022 ENX Magazine<\/em> Difference Maker, but it certainly endeared him among teammates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve learned that everyone at Konica Minolta has your back\u2014even if you\u2019re the new guy\u2014and it\u2019s the people there who make it a special place,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re like family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tech Passion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s little disputing that Walton is a pretty intelligent fellow. He attended Texas Tech University and studied graphic design, where he developed a strong acumen around printing and color matching. Printing had long been in his wheelhouse; while in school, he would routinely handle the output needs of his classmates, and the people at Kinko\u2019s knew him on a first-name basis and gave him carte blanche to work the machines. On one of his first job interviews, he was essentially hired on the spot after talking about the finer points of Pantone, which labeled him a color specialist in the eyes of the employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot has changed in the industry, but like many others in the solutions space, the natural progression from application\/color specialist to software solutions to the next iteration of technologies and services seems fluid,\u201d Walton said. \u201cI\u2019ve always been intrigued by technology, innovation and problem-solving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the national manager of strategic solutions-dealer sales, Walton is tasked with helping reseller partners leverage the full breadth of Konica Minolta\u2019s offerings, from managed IT and intelligent information management to unified communications and traditional software, among other solutions. He feeds off the success of his dealer partners and channels their enthusiasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A solid proponent of the digital transformation (DX) movement, Walton believes video security solutions, artificial intelligence and robotics processing automation can open new and exciting doors for dealers and their end-user clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGetting a dealer to believe in this shift in the market, to look at DX from a different perspective and help them get the wins and celebrate those wins is the most rewarding aspect,\u201d he noted. \u201cSomewhere in there, it\u2019s still a document, still a workflow, but to see the dealers approach the technology in a different way, that\u2019s what drives me. I love the challenge of telling our story and seeing them believe they can become successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walton, who provided various solutions engineering support during his 10-year stint with Toshiba, has long embraced a team approach. He celebrates their wins alongside them, but when adversity rears its head, Walton is always happy to act in a supporting function. He\u2019s instinctively drawn toward people who employ a sleeves-up work mentality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From an inspirational standpoint, Walton takes some of his cues from Konica Minolta\u2019s Laura Blackmer, whom he called a \u201csource of inspiration.\u201d He feels her understanding of the business goes well beyond the solutions portfolio, as Blackmer helps put into perspective the roles of the dealer community, partners, associations and all the various stakeholders, as well as the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy current role was created to help make our business more translatable both internally and to our dealers,\u201d Walton said. \u201cI frequently ask Laura for guidance as I engage with our dealers. She has so much knowledge of people and the industry. She knows how to navigate through situations and how to keep a level head. Laura instills great loyalty in her team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top Gear<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walton is completely energized by the rollout of Konica Minolta\u2019s Rev\u2019d Up dealer performance program, which also underscores the OEM\u2019s commitment to investing in digital transformation and diversification opportunities. The program culls a variety of initiatives into one main push that incents dealers who are likewise dedicated to these avenues of profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

As Walton looks to ensure his team has the tools, products and programs in their belt to spread the gospel among dealers, he feels the road to improvement intersects with the success of Konica Minolta\u2019s dealer community. Given the challenges of the imaging channel, Walton and Co. seek to simplify technology and make it more consumable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important not to be afraid to look at things differently, challenge the status quo and conventional wisdom to see if there is a different, better way to do things than how we have done them in the past,\u201d he noted. \u201cThere is also a place for process, which as a large company we have plenty of, allowing us to take things one step at a time to get things done, never losing sight of the goal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the home front, Walton and his wife, Heather, have been married 14 years and have three sons\u2014Cole, Henry and Parker. A native Texan, he loves to sample the best barbecue and counteracts the calories by playing basketball and running. Walton also coaches his son\u2019s t-ball team, and the family enjoys spending time at the beach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a memorable scene in the movie \u201cFast Times at Ridgemont High\u201d where Mark Ratner is on a first date with the incomparable Stacy Hamilton at a restaurant. When the check comes, Ratner reaches for his wallet, and a subtle look of horror crosses his face when he realizes that it is not on his person. We\u2019ve all been in this predicament at least once in our lives, and it\u2019s usually not a big deal. But for Ratner, he sees the opportunity to make a great first impression slowly disintegrate. That\u2019s precisely the feeling Cody Walton experienced when he met his new Konica Minolta teammates for dinner shortly after joining the organization. \u201cI was nervous preparing to join my new team for dinner and I forgot my wallet,\u201d Walton explained. \u201cWhen the check came, I realized I didn\u2019t have any money. You can say it was very embarrassing.\u201d While Walton didn\u2019t have a Mike Damone to bail him out of the jam, it\u2019s made for a fun retelling throughout the seven-plus years he\u2019s spent with the manufacturer. It wasn\u2019t the first impression that foretold the greatness of this 2022 ENX Magazine Difference Maker, but it certainly endeared him among teammates. \u201cI\u2019ve learned that everyone at Konica Minolta has your back\u2014even if you\u2019re the new guy\u2014and it\u2019s the people there who make it a special place,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re like family.\u201d Tech Passion There\u2019s little disputing that Walton is a pretty intelligent fellow. He attended Texas Tech University and studied graphic design, where he developed a strong acumen around printing and color matching. Printing had long been in his wheelhouse; while in school, he would routinely handle the output needs of his classmates, and the people at Kinko\u2019s knew him on a first-name basis and gave him carte blanche to work the machines. On one of his first job interviews, he was essentially hired on the spot after talking about the finer points of Pantone, which labeled him a color specialist in the eyes of the employer. \u201cA lot has changed in the industry, but like many others in the solutions space, the natural progression from application\/color specialist to software solutions to the next iteration of technologies and services seems fluid,\u201d Walton said. \u201cI\u2019ve always been intrigued by technology, innovation and problem-solving.\u201d As the national manager of strategic solutions-dealer sales, Walton is tasked with helping reseller partners leverage the full breadth of Konica Minolta\u2019s offerings, from managed IT and intelligent information management to unified communications and traditional software, among other solutions. He feeds off the success of his dealer partners and channels their enthusiasm. A solid proponent of the digital transformation (DX) movement, Walton believes video security solutions, artificial intelligence and robotics processing automation can open new and exciting doors for dealers and their end-user clients. \u201cGetting a dealer to believe in this shift in the market, to look at DX from a different perspective and help them get the wins and celebrate those wins is the most rewarding aspect,\u201d he noted. \u201cSomewhere in there, it\u2019s still a document, still a workflow, but to see the dealers approach the technology in a different way, that\u2019s what drives me. I love the challenge of telling our story and seeing them believe they can become successful.\u201d Walton, who provided various solutions engineering support during his 10-year stint with Toshiba, has long embraced a team approach. He celebrates their wins alongside them, but when adversity rears its head, Walton is always happy to act in a supporting function. He\u2019s instinctively drawn toward people who employ a sleeves-up work mentality. From an inspirational standpoint, Walton takes some of his cues from Konica Minolta\u2019s Laura Blackmer, whom he called a \u201csource of inspiration.\u201d He feels her understanding of the business goes well beyond the solutions portfolio, as Blackmer helps put into perspective the roles of the dealer community, partners, associations and all the various stakeholders, as well as the competition. \u201cMy current role was created to help make our business more translatable both internally and to our dealers,\u201d Walton said. \u201cI frequently ask Laura for guidance as I engage with our dealers. She has so much knowledge of people and the industry. She knows how to navigate through situations and how to keep a level head. Laura instills great loyalty in her team.\u201d Top Gear Walton is completely energized by the rollout of Konica Minolta\u2019s Rev\u2019d Up dealer performance program, which also underscores the OEM\u2019s commitment to investing in digital transformation and diversification opportunities. The program culls a variety of initiatives into one main push that incents dealers who are likewise dedicated to these avenues of profit. As Walton looks to ensure his team has the tools, products and programs in their belt to spread the gospel among dealers, he feels the road to improvement intersects with the success of Konica Minolta\u2019s dealer community. Given the challenges of the imaging channel, Walton and Co. seek to simplify technology and make it more consumable. \u201cIt\u2019s important not to be afraid to look at things differently, challenge the status quo and conventional wisdom to see if there is a different, better way to do things than how we have done them in the past,\u201d he noted. \u201cThere is also a place for process, which as a large company we have plenty of, allowing us to take things one step at a time to get things done, never losing sight of the goal.\u201d On the home front, Walton and his wife, Heather, have been married 14 years and have three sons\u2014Cole, Henry and Parker. A native Texan, he loves to sample the best barbecue and counteracts the calories by playing basketball and running. Walton also coaches his son\u2019s t-ball team, and the family enjoys spending time at the beach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":166,"featured_media":49702,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3626,80,1650,82,84,1638],"tags":[4216],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51147"}],"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=51147"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51150,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51147\/revisions\/51150"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}