{"id":55104,"date":"2023-05-04T11:47:57","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T18:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=55104"},"modified":"2023-05-05T08:08:06","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T15:08:06","slug":"point-of-contact-how-the-humble-business-card-catapulted-konica-minolta-difference-maker-alison-seltzner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/the-week-in-imaging-twii\/editors-blog\/2023\/05\/point-of-contact-how-the-humble-business-card-catapulted-konica-minolta-difference-maker-alison-seltzner\/","title":{"rendered":"Point of Contact: How the Humble Business Card Catapulted Konica Minolta Difference Maker Alison Seltzner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Alison Seltzner<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s be honest, the significance of the once-ubiquitous business card has diminished significantly in the last 20 years, as the Rolodex has given way to electronic alternatives. But don\u2019t tell that to Alison Seltzner, the strategic accounts director for Konica Minolta Business Solutions. One may argue that the humble business card was the genesis of her illustrious 30-plus year career in the office technology universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s not be too hyperbolic\u2014it was Seltzner\u2019s intelligence, tenacity and critical-thinking skills that landed her the initial gig with Minolta in 1992. But a crash course in card collecting and a dash of ingenuity played no small role in the process. We\u2019ll take it from the top:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seltzner\u2019s early career saw her involved in various business sectors, from office interiors to pharmaceuticals. When the latter business was bought out, she had the option of following it to Detroit or remaining in Chicago. She opted for the latter and a severance package and needed to tighten her belt for a couple of months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With her funds dwindling, Seltzner interviewed with Minolta for a job as a color specialist, selling within Chicago\u2019s famed Loop. The sales manager interviewing her provided a test: go out into the wild and secure 250 business cards. The real-world challenge would reveal whether Seltzner was intrepid enough to make contacts on the fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBack in those days you could hit a high-rise and score a lot of business cards,\u201d said Seltzner, a 2023 ENX Magazine<\/em> Difference Maker. \u201cI went into each office and asked them to help me, that I was interviewing for this job and needed the business card of the person who made copier decisions in the office. They practically threw them at me\u2014I went back [to Minolta] in a matter of hours with the cards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seltzner was hired on the spot, as she was the lone candidate who completed the task. Not only did she win the gig, but she was also able to leverage those business cards to cold call for the first six months of her employment. Not only that, a \u201cremember me?\u201d talk track provided an excellent opener to segue into the copier needs of the client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It didn\u2019t take long for Seltzner to realize that she absolutely loved everything about sales\u2014the process, demos and closing. She brought over that love to the wholesale side of the business and relishes enabling dealers to enjoy success in offering Konica Minolta products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selling Bug<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love challenges, becoming better all the time and constantly learning,\u201d she observed. \u201cAt the base of all things, I love selling and closing a deal. Today, it’s about the long strategy with a company. How do we partner to succeed together? How can Konica Minolta be a part of your company’s overall success? What makes a good partnership between a manufacturer and a dealer and being that solution?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seltzner has come full circle with Konica Minolta following stints with Sharp and IKON Office Solutions. A trained specialist in color and production print who demonstrated excellence in areas including managed services, Seltzner\u2019s value to the organization is underscored by her role as an account rep for Marco, the largest dealer in North America by sales volume. For her efforts, she copped Marco\u2019s inaugural Vendor of the Year award in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seltzner loves collaborating with team members and helping to enable their personal growth. She feels building strong relationships with clients and co-workers alike through trust, reliability and creativity produces win-win scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the way, Seltzner has benefitted from the wisdom of Scott Boukal, an early influencer who blended education and insight with humor and fun. Later in Seltzner\u2019s career, Laura Blackmer proved to be a role model for balancing family, travel and career with style and grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\u201cI continue to learn to be more confident, take on more responsibility and trust in my decisions because of her guidance,\u201d Seltzner added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2022 campaign proved to be a banner one. Capturing Strategic Account of the Year shed light on the value of Seltzner\u2019s team in managing the business of the dealer. Individually, she was selected Midwest MVP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Team Player<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As 2023 garners steam, hitting her numbers and seeing all of her teammates enjoy much success is important, but Seltzner notes the dealer\u2019s desire to grow and succeed while relying on Konica Minolta as a primary line partner truly resonates with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to continue to plan and execute the plan, to be an active participant in my company\u2019s strategy and contribute wherever I can,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Away from the office, Seltzner and her husband, Ed, have been married for 24 years. They have two children in college\u2014a daughter studying biology and exercise science at High Point University, and a son who is an engineering major at Virginia Tech. The Wisconsin residents are also farmers, raising chickens and steer while also growing corn and soybeans. In addition to traveling and hunting, she is an ardent lacrosse fan and a level three certified men\u2019s coach. Seltzner logged 10 years as head coach for the local high school\u2019s junior varsity team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s be honest, the significance of the once-ubiquitous business card has diminished significantly in the last 20 years, as the Rolodex has given way to electronic alternatives. But don\u2019t tell that to Alison Seltzner, the strategic accounts director for Konica Minolta Business Solutions. One may argue that the humble business card was the genesis of her illustrious 30-plus year career in the office technology universe. Let\u2019s not be too hyperbolic\u2014it was Seltzner\u2019s intelligence, tenacity and critical-thinking skills that landed her the initial gig with Minolta in 1992. But a crash course in card collecting and a dash of ingenuity played no small role in the process. We\u2019ll take it from the top: Seltzner\u2019s early career saw her involved in various business sectors, from office interiors to pharmaceuticals. When the latter business was bought out, she had the option of following it to Detroit or remaining in Chicago. She opted for the latter and a severance package and needed to tighten her belt for a couple of months. With her funds dwindling, Seltzner interviewed with Minolta for a job as a color specialist, selling within Chicago\u2019s famed Loop. The sales manager interviewing her provided a test: go out into the wild and secure 250 business cards. The real-world challenge would reveal whether Seltzner was intrepid enough to make contacts on the fly. \u201cBack in those days you could hit a high-rise and score a lot of business cards,\u201d said Seltzner, a 2023 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. \u201cI went into each office and asked them to help me, that I was interviewing for this job and needed the business card of the person who made copier decisions in the office. They practically threw them at me\u2014I went back [to Minolta] in a matter of hours with the cards.\u201d Seltzner was hired on the spot, as she was the lone candidate who completed the task. Not only did she win the gig, but she was also able to leverage those business cards to cold call for the first six months of her employment. Not only that, a \u201cremember me?\u201d talk track provided an excellent opener to segue into the copier needs of the client. It didn\u2019t take long for Seltzner to realize that she absolutely loved everything about sales\u2014the process, demos and closing. She brought over that love to the wholesale side of the business and relishes enabling dealers to enjoy success in offering Konica Minolta products. Selling Bug \u201cI love challenges, becoming better all the time and constantly learning,\u201d she observed. \u201cAt the base of all things, I love selling and closing a deal. Today, it’s about the long strategy with a company. How do we partner to succeed together? How can Konica Minolta be a part of your company’s overall success? What makes a good partnership between a manufacturer and a dealer and being that solution?\u201d Seltzner has come full circle with Konica Minolta following stints with Sharp and IKON Office Solutions. A trained specialist in color and production print who demonstrated excellence in areas including managed services, Seltzner\u2019s value to the organization is underscored by her role as an account rep for Marco, the largest dealer in North America by sales volume. For her efforts, she copped Marco\u2019s inaugural Vendor of the Year award in 2019. Seltzner loves collaborating with team members and helping to enable their personal growth. She feels building strong relationships with clients and co-workers alike through trust, reliability and creativity produces win-win scenarios. Along the way, Seltzner has benefitted from the wisdom of Scott Boukal, an early influencer who blended education and insight with humor and fun. Later in Seltzner\u2019s career, Laura Blackmer proved to be a role model for balancing family, travel and career with style and grace. \u201cI continue to learn to be more confident, take on more responsibility and trust in my decisions because of her guidance,\u201d Seltzner added. The 2022 campaign proved to be a banner one. Capturing Strategic Account of the Year shed light on the value of Seltzner\u2019s team in managing the business of the dealer. Individually, she was selected Midwest MVP. Team Player As 2023 garners steam, hitting her numbers and seeing all of her teammates enjoy much success is important, but Seltzner notes the dealer\u2019s desire to grow and succeed while relying on Konica Minolta as a primary line partner truly resonates with her. \u201cI want to continue to plan and execute the plan, to be an active participant in my company\u2019s strategy and contribute wherever I can,\u201d she added. Away from the office, Seltzner and her husband, Ed, have been married for 24 years. They have two children in college\u2014a daughter studying biology and exercise science at High Point University, and a son who is an engineering major at Virginia Tech. The Wisconsin residents are also farmers, raising chickens and steer while also growing corn and soybeans. In addition to traveling and hunting, she is an ardent lacrosse fan and a level three certified men\u2019s coach. Seltzner logged 10 years as head coach for the local high school\u2019s junior varsity team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":166,"featured_media":55118,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3626,80,1650,82,84,1638],"tags":[4322],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55104"}],"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=55104"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55119,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55104\/revisions\/55119"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}