Recent News & Press Coverage
Stay informed with official news and updates from The ASCII Group. This section features company announcements, strategic initiatives, and industry coverage that reflect our continued commitment to the MSP community and the broader IT channel.
The ASCII Group Appoints Ted Roller as Chief Community Officer
Washington, D.C.– January 14, 2026 – The ASCII Group, North America’s original and vendor-neutral community for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), is pleased to announce the appointment of Ted Roller as Chief Community Officer, a newly created executive role focused on strengthening member engagement and expanding ASCII’s community across the United States and Canada.
In this role, Roller will lead initiatives designed to deepen member connection and engagement, working closely with MSPs to help shape the future of the ASCII community. His focus will be on ensuring ASCII continues to reflect the real-world needs of MSP business owners and remains a trusted resource for peer insight and collaboration.
Roller brings more than 25 years of experience in the IT channel, with a career spanning MSP ownership and senior channel leadership roles. Earlier in his career, he owned and operated an MSP that was recognized locally as one of the Fast 50 fastest-growing companies, providing firsthand experience with the operational and strategic realities MSPs face.
He has since held senior channel leadership positions at LogMeIn, Intronis, Mailprotector, CloudRadial, Zomentum, and FlexPoint, where he helped build partner programs, strengthen community engagement, and support growth through indirect sales models. In addition, Roller has contributed to industry education as faculty for CompTIA and has been recognized by organizations including MSPmentor, The Channel Company, and SMB Nation.
“Ted’s background as both an MSP owner and a channel executive makes him uniquely qualified to lead our community efforts,” said Jerry Koutavas, CEO of The ASCII Group. “His role will be instrumental in strengthening member engagement and expanding ASCII’s reach as we continue to support MSPs across North America.”
“ASCII has always represented something different in this industry,” said Roller. “It is a community built on trust, openness, and shared experience. I’m honored to join the team and look forward to helping shape the next chapter of member engagement and community leadership.”
About The ASCII Group, Inc.
The ASCII Group is the premier community of North American MSPs, MSSPs and Solution Providers. The Group has members located throughout the U.S. and Canada, and membership encompasses everyone from credentialed MSPs serving the SMB community to multi-location solution providers with a national and international reach. Founded in 1984, ASCII provides services to members including leveraged purchasing programs, education and training, marketing assistance, extensive peer interaction and more. ASCII works with a vibrant ecosystem of leading and major technology vendors that complement the ASCII community and support the mission of helping MSPs to grow their businesses. For more information, please visit www.ascii.com.
Press Contact
Jessica Turner
Senior Digital Engagement Manager
Tel: 800-394-2724
Email: jturner@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
NEW! ASCII Webinars Scheduled for February – New Topics & Hosts
The ASCII Grouphas 3 new webinars scheduled for February.
Visit our webinars page for more information and to register. https://overview.ascii.com/how-msps-are-winning-with-the-ascii-netw
ASCII (Canada) Member Guest Column in Business Solutions Magazine
Business Solutions Magazine
4 Data Trends That Will Keep BDR Top of Mind for Customers – Guest Column by ASCII member Matthew Held of Manawa Networks
ASCII Members in the News (Industry Articles & Publications) Jan 2017
Business Solutions Magazine
Membership Has Its Privileges – ASCII member Lynn Souza,President and CEO of Connect Computer, explains the benefits of belonging to the group.
TechDecisions
How to Protect Your Business from Dangerous Spam and Phishing Emails by Jeff Olejnik, President of Newport Solutions, Inc. and member of The ASCII Group since 2016.
Alan Weinberger Provides a Deeper Dive into the Story of The ASCII Group as told to Business Solutions Magazine
Leadership Is Recognizing You Serve The People You Lead (Business Solutions Magazine) – http://bit.ly/2h9rdSw
International Trade Council Interview with ASCII CEO Alan Weinberger
Read the November interview with ASCII CEO, Alan Weinberger
http://bit.ly/2f2QVXO
Special Webinar: How do you know when to join a peer group?
Are you ready to join an industry peer group?
Are you looking to join a community of like-minded peers, but unsure which one is right for you? Is it time to grow your business, your revenue and your network?
Join Jerry Koutavas from The ASCII Group as he discusses the benefits of belonging to a peer group and how buying power is stronger because of it. Additionally, he will explain how to take advantage of these price points and use programs and services aimed at growing your MSP business.
Mark your calendar!
How do you Know When to Join a Peer Group?
Date: December 14, 2016
Time: 2:00pm EDT
Duration: 1 hour
Register Now for the Webinar: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6628219309664959748
ASCII Members In The News (Industry Articles and Publications)
Read the latest articles written by ASCII members for top industry publications.
Tech Target | SearchITChannel
Ask the Expert: How to Navigate a Law Firm’s IT Committee by Andrew Harrover, CEO, Matrix Computer Consulting and member of The ASCII Group since 2012.
Business Solutions Magazine
6 Ways to Improve Security in Your Offering by Austin Justice, Vice President, Justice IT Consulting and member of The ASCII Group since 2015.
Common MSP Pricing Mistakes by Rayanne Buchianico, ABC Solutions, LLC and member of The ASCII Group since 2016.
How to Add Security to Your Offering by Mauricio Bayon, President of Bayon Technologies Group and member of The ASCII Group since 2016.
The ASCII Group Awards Datto the 2016 ASCII Cup (Press Release)
Bethesda, Maryland – October 17, 2016
The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, is pleased to announce the winners of its annual ASCII Cup, with awards given to the ASCII Cup winner, Gold and Silver Medalists, and Top Distributor. The awards are presented each fall to technology companies that have showcased channel goodwill and a commitment to helping ASCII members grow their businesses. Winners are voted upon by ASCII members at regional events, and the Cup and awards were presented at the ASCII Success Summit on October 14, in Newport, Rhode Island.
ASCII Success Summit attendees vote for the vendors in 12 different categories:
Top Security Solution;
Top Productivity Solution;
Top Storage Solution;
Top Cloud Solution;
Top Revenue Generator;
Top Channel Programs;
Top Distributor;
Best Keynote Presentation;
Best Creativity & Innovation;
Best IT Management Tool;
Best Partner Incentives;
Best Market Opportunity.
The winners at each Summit are selected based on the votes by the solution providers in attendance; at the end of the year, the winner of the ASCII Cup is determined by tabulating the results of all nine events. The 2016 winners of The ASCII Cup, Gold and Silver Medalists, and Top Distributor were announced at a private industry gathering at the Hyatt Regency Newport.
The ASCII Group is pleased to honor the recipients of this year’s ASCII Cup, for they represent the principles on which the Cup was established.
The 2016 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year is Datto.
Top Four Gold Medalists for The ASCII Cup are StorageCraft, Cytracom, IT Glue and BlackStratus.
Top Five Silver Medalists for The ASCII Cup are Data Deposit Box, Passportal, Connectwise, CNET and Lenovo.
Distributor of the Year for The ASCII Cup was Pax8.
“On behalf of The ASCII Group and our community, we congratulate Datto on winning the coveted 2016 ASCII Cup. We also wish to recognize the Gold & Silver Medalists, Distributor of the Year, and all of the companies that were featured at our Success Summits, for being committed to the channel and continuing to bring value to our members,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group.
Photos of the celebration will be made available on The ASCII Group and The ASCII Cup Facebook pages.
For more information, please visit www.ascii.com.
About The ASCII Group, Inc:
The ASCII Group is a vibrant reseller community of independent MSPs, VARs, and other solution providers. Formed in 1984, ASCII has more than 70 programs that provide turnkey cost-cutting strategies, innovative business building programs, and extensive peer interaction. ASCII members enjoy benefits such as marketing support; educational information; group purchasing power; increased leverage in the marketplace; and multiple networking opportunities. These programs enable ASCII members to increase revenue, lower operating costs, and grow service opportunities.
Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Director of Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
The ASCII Group Announces New Content, Cities and Leading Keynote Speaker for 2017 IT SMB Success Summits
Bethesda, Maryland– September 20, 2016 — The ASCII Group, the leading membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and solution providers, is pleased to announce updates to its 2017 IT SMB Success Summit Series including a new keynote speaker, conference content and event cities. Having become the premier series of events for IT solution providers to attend, The ASCII Group is extending its reach in nine markets across North America. With a continued focus on education, collaboration, networking, and engagement, the2017 series will also concentrate on driving the advancement of IT services.
Each Summit welcomes hundreds of Managed Service Providers as well as key industry leaders and market influencers. Now in its seventeenth year, the Success Summits are once again on track for record attendance with the central theme highlighting growth and advancement.
“The events enable our industry to reconnect and learn. At each event we see that light bulb moment happen, either through a new peer introduction, a newly discovered vendor opportunity or through a new service ASCII provides to help lower the overall burden on the MSP. The mission of our Summits continues to focus on helping solution providers further their business by leveraging the power of the ASCII Community,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group.
The 2017 Summits will include education, innovative industry presentations, a cutting-edge vendor solutions pavilion, and an exclusive ASCII members-only meeting. The Summit Series is designed for qualified industry IT professionals and MSPs, and is targeted towards those looking to increase revenue and enhance their current business model. Admission is free for ASCII members.
In addition to informative and real-life best practice addresses from ASCII members and thought leaders, the special guest speaker for 2017 is Frank Abagnale, acclaimed subject of the book, movie and Broadway play, “Catch Me If You Can”, and one of the world’s most respected authorities on forgery, embezzlement and securing documents.
“85 of ASCII members reported revenue growth in 2015, and our Summits, in conjunction with our other programs that save them thousands of dollars annually, remain a highly engaging opportunity for the membership,” said Alan Weinberger, CEO, The ASCII Group. “Summit participants said their top business reasons for attending include their desire to educate themselves on potential industry opportunities, to learn about new products and programs, and the need to seek out face-to-face partnerships with attending vendors, so we remain committed to joining together the best and brightest vendors with the top MSPs in North America.”
For further information on the ASCII IT SMB Success Summits in each city, please visit www.asciievents.com. Follow ASCII on social media@asciigroup and #ASCIISUCCESS.
2017 Summit Cities:
· Houston, TX February 22 – 23
· Orange County, CA March 29 – 30
· Boston, MA April 26 – 27
· Columbus, OH May 17 – 18
· Toronto, Canada June 21 – 22
· Newark, NJ July 26 – 27
· Chicago, IL August 30 – 31
· Miami, FL September 27– 28
· Washington, D.C. October 25 – 26
About The ASCII Group, Inc:
The ASCII Group is a vibrant reseller community of independent MSPs, VARs, and other solution providers. Formed in 1984, ASCII has more than 70 programs that provide turnkey cost-cutting strategies, innovative business building programs, and extensive peer interaction. ASCII members enjoy benefits such as marketing support; educational information; group purchasing power; increased leverage in the marketplace; and multiple networking opportunities. These programs enable ASCII members to increase revenue, lower operating costs, and grow service opportunities. Learn more at www.ascii.com or by calling 800-394-2724.
Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Director of Marketing& Communications
Tel:800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
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