The American Co-op, a long-standing peer group of office equipment resellers, recently wrapped up another successful meeting—this time in Sugar Land, Texas, hosted by Function4. The event took place April 23-25 and brought dealers together for a mix of networking, best practice sharing, and vendor updates.
These meetings are an important opportunity for members to regroup, evaluate business practices, and share what’s working. Like many peer groups, the American Co-op is currently recruiting for a few open territories, as they look to add new resellers to replace those who have exited or been acquired.
Things kicked off with a welcome reception at the hotel. The next morning, attendees were shuttled to Function4’s impressive new headquarters for a tour led by Bill Patsouras and Bob Evans. The facility is beautiful, and yes—photos can be seen at the bottom of this article.
One standout moment: Bill’s office and his impressive whiskey collection, which definitely caught everyone’s attention.
Function4 got things started with a presentation on how they’re using CEO Juice to streamline their operations. It’s always great to see a dealer talking tech in front of their peers, and this was no exception. (CEO Juice is a valued sponsor of our newsletter.)
From there, Sally Brause of GreatAmerica Financial Services gave an overview of EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System that’s gaining traction among dealers looking to improve internal processes.
Next up was the “What’s Happenin’ in the Industry” segment, presented by yours truly, followed by lunch and a keynote presentation from Laura Blackmer, president of Konica Minolta. Tariffs were a hot topic during her talk, with plenty of questions and conversation. Following Laura, Bryan Chandler and Bob Timm of PEAC Solutions spoke about their expanding role in the channel. Jenna Stramaglio of ConnectWise also attended, chatting with resellers throughout the event.
The rest of the day featured presentations from Image Star, Intermedia, and Static Control before the group headed off to dinner. Incidentally, the countdown for Noel O’Dwyer’s retirement (Intermedia) is officially underway. Come see him off at the BTA National Conference in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM!
The second day was held back at the hotel and started with a private business meeting—doors closed to all but dealer members. These sessions are where the group dives deep, sharing numbers and benchmarks that help shape direction for the year. Image 2000 wrapped things up before lunch with a presentation on CRM strategies.
If you’ve never been part of a peer group like the American Co-op, they’re worth a look. Dealers get to share ideas, discover new vendors, and gain real insight from others who’ve been through the same challenges. Whether you’re a new reseller or a seasoned veteran, groups like this offer one of the best ways to stay sharp and competitive.
SOURCE Industry Analysts Inc.
