By Andy Slawetsky, Portland, OR – Despite a major snowstorm, Pacific Office Automation (POA) made a bold statement at their annual sales kick-off in Portland this January. Over 1,400 employees were scheduled to gather at the Oregon Convention Center for their annual kick off and a huge number of them made it, while those who didn’t participated online.
POA, one of the elite megadealers in the office equipment industry, announced a commendable annual revenue of $458 million for 2023, marking a significant 9% growth over the previous year. With an eye on an ambitious $500 million target for 2024, POA is certainly not resting on its laurels and will continue to be one of the elite office equipment resellers.
Doug Pitassi, the charismatic President and CEO of POA, inspired the crowd with the theme ‘Be the Exception’. Pitassi’s leadership style is unique; he consistently challenges his team to step out of their comfort zones, a quality vividly showcased in the conference’s unconventional activities. This year, the top 11 sales performers faced a new challenge – showcasing their talents in Broadway-style performances in front of the entire company, and the entire industry.
This year’s theme resonated with James Clear’s concept from his book “Atomic Habits,” encouraging each team member to excel in their unique way, contributing to POA’s distinct culture. The performances, part of this theme, were not just entertaining but symbolic of POA’s philosophy of pushing boundaries and embracing challenges.
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The event was graced by industry heavyweights like Laura Blackmer, President of Konica Minolta, Mike Marusic, CEO of Sharp, Sam Yoshida from Canon USA, and Jim Coriddi of Ricoh. Their presence underlined POA’s significant role in the office equipment sector. Blackmer’s words, echoing Coach John Wooden, perfectly captured POA’s spirit: “Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.” POA, with its repeated growth, embodies this ethos.
POA’s success is geographically widespread, with notable achievements in various regions, particularly the Southwest market surpassing a remarkable $100 million in revenue. The Oregon headquarters itself contributed a jaw-dropping $146 million.
A key focus for the future is the IT Services division, already showing a promising growth of almost 12%. This is a relatively new push for POA and an area of great opportunity.
The gala, following the business proceedings, was an embodiment of celebration and recognition. It’s impressive to see the number of salespeople at POA generating over $1 million in revenue annually. The awards and speeches highlighted the talent and dedication prevalent within the organization.
POA’s annual kick-off was more than just a meeting; it was a vibrant showcase of the As they gear up for an even more successful 2024, POA continues to set the bar high for the office equipment industry.
SOURCE Industry Analysts Inc.
