Executive Connection Summit 2024
January 14-17, 2024
Stay ahead of the Imaging Channel
2024 Keynote Speakers
David Pohlman
President
GreatAmerica Financial Services
David Pohlman is President of GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation. David provides leadership over all GreatAmerica business units and makes strategic, financial, and operational decisions that support our customers. Prior to joining GreatAmerica in 2003, David was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of US Bancorp's small ticket vendor leasing businesses. Prior to US Bancorp, David spent 11 years with Lyon Financial Services. His positions included General Manager of their BCL office equipment business unit and General Manager of their Secured Funding healthcare business unit. David earned his B.S. from St. Cloud State University and an advanced management degree from Babson School of Executive Education. David is a former Board Member of the United Way of East Central Iowa.
Mike Marusic
President / CEO
Sharp
As the President and CEO of Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America Mike Marusic is responsible for the strategic direction and performance of Sharp’s B2B division in the Americas. Marusic has over 25 years of experience in both the document and computer peripheral businesses. Prior to his current position, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for Sharp Electronics Corporation and the EVP, Marketing, Operations and Technical Services for all B2B products. In these roles he was responsible for bringing new products to market, identifying customer needs, and improving operational processes to maximize Sharp’s business opportunities. Prior to joining Sharp in 2002, Marusic headed up the marketing group for Panasonic's copier and computer peripheral division. He received an MBA from Fordham University and a BA from Siena College.
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Frank Cucco
Co-Founder / CEO
Impact Networking
Frank Cucco is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Impact Networking, a national managed service provider (MSP) that offers managed IT, cybersecurity, digital transformation, marketing, and print services to businesses of all sizes. Founded in 1999, Impact integrates technology, expertise, and outstanding customer service to help clients solve the most pressing business problems and identify new opportunities in engaging and insightful ways, making them faster, more productive, and more secure. Cucco brings to Impact a demonstrated aptitude for building and leading successful management teams and providing thought leadership, growth strategies, and proven execution plans to support significant revenue and profitability growth. Today, the MSP employs more than 900 industry experts and supports thousands of businesses from 23 locations across the Unites States.
Larry White
President / CEO
Toshiba America Business Solutions
Larry White is the president and chief executive officer of Toshiba America Business Solutions (TABS) and sets and oversees the strategic direction and operations for the company. The company comprises five divisions: the Electronic Imaging Division, Toner Products Division, Document Solutions Engineering Division, the International Division and Toshiba Business Solutions, the direct sales and service channel with a network of more than 100 offices across the United States and Latin America. Before stepping into TABS' top job, White was the company's chief operating officer. Within this leadership role, he oversaw strategic planning across the organization while specifically in charge of the company’s sales, customer service, supply chain, innovation, professional services and solutions marketing operations throughout North and South America. White also served as TABS’ chief revenue officer responsible for achieving revenue objectives by successfully developing and implementing profitable growth strategies for the company’s direct and independent sales channels. He joined Toshiba in 1996 as the vice president of operations and acquisitions for Toshiba Office Products Acquisition Company, which is currently Toshiba Business Solutions, the company’s direct sales channel. White holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas Tech University and in 2023 was one of four individuals recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by the Rawls School of Business at Texas Tech.
John Hey
Senior Partner
Strategic Business Associates (SBA)
John Hey began his career with the former D.C. Hey Co. and later became president and owner of the company. After reorganizing and repositioning the forty-year-old family business, the company was acquired by Alco Office Products (later IKON and then Ricoh). Mr. Hey was responsible for growing the Minnesota based dealership from $5 million to over $170 million in sales with more than 1000 employees and six branch operations. In addition, he completed more than a dozen acquisitions and consolidations that helped create one of the largest imaging dealerships in North America. Mr. Hey is a Sr. Partner at Strategic Business Associates (SBA), a consulting firm he founded in 2001. Along with his business partner Todd Johnson, SBA helps companies and industry trade associations analyze, benchmark, and implement successful profit and growth strategies. SBA conducts conferences and provides educational programs focused on the financial model, management training, and organizational development. SBA also assists owners with sales and acquisitions.
John Schweizer
Vice President
Connectwise
Bio coming soon...
Michael Mathe
Chief of Operations and Sales Enablement
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.
As Chief of Operations and Sales Enablement at Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc., Michael Mathé leads the teams driving the company’s digital transformation initiatives, including operations, production print, marketing, e-commerce and emerging technologies. With 30 years of industry experience, he has a proven track record in global business performance, acquisitions, expansion and accelerating sustainable revenue growth utilizing sound turnaround leadership. He is responsible for Konica Minolta’s OEM business development and IT value-added reseller (VAR) Channel and also oversees its Motorsports Strategic Marketing and Alliance Program. Michael started his career with Konica Minolta in 2012 as Senior Vice President, International Sales and was promoted to President in March of 2021. Prior to joining Konica Minolta he served as Vice President and General Manager, International Division at Toshiba America Business Solutions. Mathé has also held positions at Lanier Worldwide Inc., Riso, Inc. and Complete Business Systems (an Ikon Company) working in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Brazil, Central and South America and the Caribbean in positions ranging from general management, sales, marketing, advertising, operation and training. He is known as an engaging, agile leader with sound analytical abilities resulting in action oriented strategic plans, data driven performance and profitable turnaround and transformation. Mathé is a Digital Transformation Global Leader at Konica Minolta, and was previously a member of the Global Board of Directors for MGI Digital Technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina and is fluent in Spanish, French, Portuguese and English.
Dakota Meyer
Medal of Honor Recipient
Own The Dash
Bio coming soon...
2024 Sessions
Putting #AI to Work
Standing room, Join Channel Business leaders, West McDonald and Michael Cozzens as they delve into the transformative impact of AI on the channel—exploring how it's not just changing the business as we know it, accelerating bottom lines, increasing sales revenues and operational efficiencies. Additionally, AI untuned businesses surely shall see skyrocketed valuations. This session will deliver an eye-opening panel discussion that will assist your perspective, drive more insights to how putting AI to work in your business!
The ECS24 #AI Leadership panel is a dynamic blend of industry proven juggernauts-OEMs, Dealers, Software Providers, seasoned AI power users, and Cybersecurity experts. They'll come together to share their real-world experiences, aspirations, and even reservations about leveraging AI technologies. We will explore everything from customer service chatbots, creative image generators, effects of customer experience to complex problem-solving algorithms that are driving new levels of business excellence.
Business owners, leaders who could be contemplated how to integrate #AI into operations, this is a business session that is a must attend!! Learn more of how generative AI is becoming an indispensable tool for achieving unprecedented operational efficiency, customer engagement, and revenue growth. Team Cozzens/McDonald and Panel will dig deeper on how all can put AI to work for tangible business success. This session is slated to be an invaluable exchange of #AI awareness, vision, how-to insight strategies, and exposure from a industry's best executive leader panel and AI experts making waves to deliver growing business results.
If you're ready to harness the transformative power of generative AI/AI tools and projected business initiatives? Join Team Cozzens/McDonald for this unmissable session and accelerate the business to newer heights. It's time to put AI to work and unlock your full growth potential!
Learn more —
Michael Cozzens
Owner/CEO
Cozzens Group
Moderator:
Panelists:
West McDonald
Founder
GoWest.ai
Laura Blackmer
President, Channel Sales
Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA
Jim George
President
Donellon McCarthy Enterprises
Tami Beach
Head of MSP Channel Sales
HP Inc.
Anthony Sci
President & CEO
Keypoint Intelligence
Peter Kujawa
VP & GM - Service Leadership
ConnectWise
David Tan
CTO
CrushBank
Joseph Brunsman
Managing Member
Brunsman Advisory
Keven Ellison
VP of Marketing
AIS-NOW
Veteran Opportunity Package
Description coming soon...
Learn more —
Chris Johnson
Sr. Director of Sales
Sharp Business USA
Moderator:
Panelists:
Joseph Pinzon
Chief Revenue Officer
Overwatch
Tiffany Kovaleski
Global Account Manager
Overwatch
Kendra Bitner
Learning & Development Program Manager
Impact Networking
Jim Hawkins
VP Sales Operations
Toshiba America Business Solutions
Leading the Way:
A Generational Shift in Leadership Styles
The younger generations, including Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z, (you are all millennials?) are poised to shape the future of leadership in profound ways. Join us for a captivating panel discussion with four emerging leaders in the office technology space whose fresh ideas, digital fluency, and deep desire for purpose-driven work are redefining traditional notions of leadership and paving the way for innovative and inclusive approaches.
This panel aims to delve into the characteristics, values, and skills that define leadership for the younger generations. The diverse backgrounds, experiences, and upbringings influence their leadership styles and strategies. From their collaborative mindset to their tech-savviness and emphasis on social consciousness, we will uncover the unique strengths that these emerging leaders possess, and their perspective on the opportunities that lie ahead for the younger generations in leadership roles.
Learn more —
Jennie Fisher
Sr. VP & GM
GreatAmerica Financial Services
Moderator:
Panelists:
Jenna Stramaglio
Channel Development Mgr
ConnectWise
Lindsay Usherwood
General Counsel
Usherwood
Lauren Hanna
VP of Sales
Blue Technologies
Aubri Akervik
Technology Advisor
Marco Technologies
Sarah Custer
VP, Sales Operations
Distribution Management
Greg Goldberg
General Counsel
BTA
Past ECS Summits
The Executive Connection Summit was a simple idea that transformed into an industry event; a stage and venue where people, innovation, and ideas meet - meet ECS! Over a decade ago, our channel went through an extreme transformation and while the OEMs, dealers, software vendors, and analysts, were at the forefront of that change there were limited platforms where our industry could come together and exchange best practices, cultivate conversations, and SELL! The Executive Connection Summit lets YOU do just that!
The Venue
Our AAA Four-Diamond Scottsdale Resort offers an upscale, authentic experience within easy reach of popular attractions. Sip a cold beverage in a cabana by one of our two pools or play a round at McCormick Ranch Golf Club, an adjacent award-winning golf course. We also offer three restaurants and 90,000 sq. ft. of event space.
Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch
7700 E McCormick Pkwy
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
