Recent News & Press Coverage

Learn more about the benefits of being a part of a business community by joining us at our 2014 Success Summits.

To read the article, click here: http://bit.ly/1dMlhVZ

BSM Magazine spoke with The ASCII Group’s Alan Weinberger who reflected on 30 years of business in the Channel. 

To read the article, click here:  http://bit.ly/1fwf4dq

The ASCII Group’s Alan Weinberger is featured in a candid podcast with BSM Magazine – shedding light on the past, present and future of the 30 year community.

To listen, click here: http://bit.ly/Ma9XIb

The largest community of solution providers in the world celebrates 30 years in business

Bethesda, Maryland – January 22, 2014 — The ASCII Group is pleased to announce that 2014 marks thirty years in business for the membership-based community, which has become the oldest and largest group of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers in the world.

As with many businesses, numerous roles and responsibilities fall directly on the backs of the leaders of the company, and the end result is often less production.  The ASCII Group helps Solution Providers refocus their efforts back on revenue generating activities while providing support in operations, sales, marketing, purchasing, and vendor management.  Additionally, The ASCII Group educates all end-users of IT solutions, services and devices on the value of the Solution Provider and their offering of independent, trusted advice that is not dependent on a particular vendor’s technology. 

Alan D. Weinberger founded The ASCII Group in 1984 with 40 computer dealers to become the first industry-neutral “Community Network” of independent resellers.  He organized the founding 40 software retailers to join together as a buying group and pay monthly fees to support the organization – and in turn, support each other and their programs for mutual benefit; thus resulting in the industry’s first such network. 

Three decades later, the IT industry has shifted towards a service model and the core of local IT services, support and advice is now the independent MSP, VAR and Solution Provider.  Going forward in 2014, The ASCII Group continues to have the same focus that it had in 1984 – providing Solution Providers with the tools necessary to survive, learn together and grow in the competitive technology market.

Alan D. Weinberger, Chairman and CEO, recalls, “When I started The ASCII Group in 1984, I had a vision of wanting to help business owners who were instrumental in creating the IT revolution.  I’m proud of the fact that so many years later, the 70 programs that we have established for our members have helped to expand their businesses.  I believe that our 30th anniversary is a testament to listening to our members and remaining dedicated to their needs.”

“We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with our members and employees – many of whom have been with ASCII throughout our 30 years,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group.  “Though there are many factors which have attributed to our success, underlying all of them is an unwavering commitment to our members.  We are not only celebrating 30 years of ASCII, but 30 years of partnerships, services and collaboration.”

Upcoming plans for 2014 include the eight city ASCII IT SMB Success Summits; online registration for this complementary event is at www.asciievents.com. 

To commemorate the company’s anniversary, The ASCII Group has released a celebratory logo which will be used in conjunction with the standard company logo throughout the year. 

To learn more about The ASCII Group’s portfolio of resources and turnkey programs, 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.  You can learn more at www.ascii.com or by calling 800-394-2724.

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Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Director of Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com

Bethesda, Maryland – January 16, 2014 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, is pleased to announce the upcoming dates and locations for its 2014 IT SMB Success Summit Series.  The eight city conference tour is expected to draw more than 1,600 solution providers, leading technology vendors, and industry experts.

Debuting in 2000, the Success Summits have become the premier event for IT Solution Providers because The ASCII Group has successfully created a model that balances education and industry presentations with fruitful networking opportunities.  For 30 years, The ASCII Group has leveraged the power of community to benefit its members. 

A major highlight of the 2014 series is the list of contemporary speakers that are scheduled for the educational sessions, including CEO’s Anurag Agrawal and Gordon Tan, and Forbes Contributor Roger Dooley.  Full session descriptions can be found on the 2014 ASCII IT SMB Success Summit website.

“We have an exciting year ahead planned for the ASCII IT SMB Success Summits,”  said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group.  “With new cities, research and content, the 2014 series features fresh, modern Keynote presentations and education, an energized solutions pavilion and extensive networking opportunities.”

“The ASCII Success Summits are a great opportunity for peer networking as well as learning about the latest industry trends and cutting-edge technology,” said Matt Adkins, Vanguard Technologies, ASCII member since 2009.  “More than just a regional event, the Summits provide real education and partnership building that I can take back to my office – and start utilizing immediately.”  

Designed for qualified industry IT professionals, this complimentary event is targeted towards those looking to enhance their current business model.  ASCII members receive free admission and qualify for a free hotel room.

ASCII Success Summit 2014 Cities:

Newport Beach                  February 19-20                       Newport Beach Marriott

Austin                               March 19-20                            DoubleTree by Hilton Austin

Chicago                             April 16-17                               Chicago Marriott O’Hare

Columbus                          May 28-29                               Renaissance Columbus Downtown

Atlanta                               June 18-19                              The Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens

Providence                        July 30-31                                Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick

Phoenix                             September 17-18                     Sheraton Crescent Hotel

Atlantic City                       October 22-23                          Bally’s Atlantic City

To learn more about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jessica Schroder, Director of Marketing and Events, at jessica@ascii.com.

Online registration is now open for the eight 2014 ASCII Success Summits at www.asciievents.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.  You can learn more at www.ascii.com or by calling 800-394-2724.

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Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Director of Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com

In order to further enhance knowledge-sharing between its members, The ASCII Group has created several list serv rooms for its members dedicated to specific technologies, including Autotask, ConnectWise, Labtech, Tigerpaw, and Zenith. These list servs are a complement to ASCII’s popular ASCII-Link list serv, where 700 ASCII members currently post over 25,000 emails each year to help each other with technical questions, vendor recommendations, business questions, and much more.  

The list serv embodies the concept of the ASCII community, with members sharing information and building long-lasting partnerships. ASCII members are already raving about these dedicated rooms.  In a recent survey of the ASCII-LabTech list serv users, an overwhelming percentage of them said ASCII’s list serv was more valuable than any other Labtech resource available.

“There’s an incredible amount of information ASCII members share with each other on our list servs,” said Doug Young, Senior Vice President and COO of ASCII.  “Members who would otherwise spend hours researching an issue normally get answers within a few minutes when they post on our list serv, and many often learn about great product features they were unaware of.”

ASCII members can participate in these list servs as part of their ASCI membership.

Bethesda, Maryland and Calgary, Alberta – November 20, 2013 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers,  announced today that Passportal, an online password management system designed specifically for MSPs, will be providing a free user license to ASCII Group members. 

Passportal is a robust online password management system designed specifically for Managed Service Providers responsible for maintaining the passwords and credentials required to support and manage their clients IT systems.  Passportal was built by an MSP for MSPs, and is a SaaS product featuring 4 tiers of protection and encryption for passwords.

“Security is a major concern for solution providers. With the increased offerings of cloud applications, managing client passwords can be a daunting, yet critical task,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group.  “The program that Passportal is offering the ASCII membership allows MSPs to accurately track and report on this vital service.”

“We are pleased to be working with The ASCII Group and offering their members one free user license so they can be properly positioned when it comes to security for client passwords.  Passportal understands the pains and struggles that solution providers have when trying to manage and audit access to hundreds or thousands of passwords,” said Colin Knox, CEO, Passportal.

For more details on how The ASCII Group members can get started with their free user license on Passportal, information is available within the ASCII Group Partner Portal.

The ASCII Group’s portfolio of resources includes turnkey programs in operations, sales and marketing, and vendor management.  To learn more about the 70+ membership programs, 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.  You can learn more at www.ascii.com or by calling 800-394-2724.

About Passportal:

Passportal has become the industry standard password management system for Managed Service Providers and IT consulting firms.  Built by an MSP for MSPs, Passportal is among the growing number of companies who have built industrial strength tools to use in-house and then commercialized them for other MSPs.  The cloud based product features 4 tiers of protection and encryption for passwords and is hosted in SSAE 16 Type II certified data centers in Canada and the United States.  Passportal is also the first in a family of password management tools that the company is developing. If you are an MSP that is serious about the management and protection of your client passwords, go to www.passportalmsp.com and sign up today.

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The ASCII Group Press Contact:
Alysia Vetter
Director of Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com

Passportal Press Contact: 
Colin Knox
CEO 
Tel: 888-870-7840
Email: cknox@passportalmsp.com 
Web: www.passportalmsp.com  

Bethesda, Maryland and Brisbane, Australia – November 12, 2013 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, is pleased to announce a partnership with Client Heartbeat, an easy to use customer retention tool that surveys clients and measures satisfaction, while delivering powerful, intelligent data that can be used to identify those that are ‘at risk’.  The partnership will provide the ASCII community with access to the business intelligence monitoring tool.

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Client Heartbeat delivers automated surveys at regular intervals that MSPs can use to track customer fulfillment and service performance; responses are then benchmarked against other MSPs of a similar size in their region. 

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With an impressive participation rate of 60{0227c8b27d3643b319fca80e0d52ece22d029d3e12a11668fde66cd4475dd8cc}, Client Heartbeat tracks past client feedback, in combination with industry data, and can identify those customers susceptible of terminating their contracts.

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“Our goal is to continually help IT practices improve their operations and discover untapped revenue opportunities. By working with Client Heartbeat, our members can leverage information in retaining customers and avoid potential revenue loss,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group.

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“The ASCII Group’s network of events and extensive membership base provides us with the opportunity to develop relationships with IT companies who are already clearly forward thinking, and looking to improve their businesses,” said Gordon Tan, Founder of Client Heartbeat.  “Client Heartbeat provides over 300 IT companies with the best solution to identify unhappy customers, benchmark their performance against peers and monitor customer satisfaction.”

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The ASCII Group’s portfolio of resources includes turnkey programs in operations, sales and marketing and vendor management.  To learn more about the 70+ membership programs, please visit www.ascii.com.  

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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.  You can learn more at www.ascii.com or by calling 800-394-2724.

About Client Heartbeat:

Client Heartbeat is a simple customer feedback tool for IT service providers and MSPs, that surveys clients, measures satisfaction and identifies those that are ‘at risk’. The tool works by sending personalized, email surveys to clients (and getting industry high response rates of over 60{0227c8b27d3643b319fca80e0d52ece22d029d3e12a11668fde66cd4475dd8cc}). Unlike generic survey tools, Client Heartbeat tracks changes in customer satisfaction in combination with industry data, to give intelligence behind the results.  With inbuilt benchmarking features, Client Heartbeat compares satisfaction levels and performance against other companies of similar size and industry. 

For more information about Client Heartbeat visit www.clientheartbeat.com. 

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The ASCII Group Press Contact:
Alysia Vetter
Director of Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com

Client Heartbeat Press Contact: 
Ross Beard
Marketing Manager 
Tel: +61 7 3018 0279
Email: ross.beard@clientheartbeat.com
Web: www.clientheartbeat.com  

Bethesda, Maryland – September 23, 2013 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, is pleased to announce the award winners for its annual ASCII Cup, Top Contenders and Esteemed Noble Partners.  These awards are bestowed annually to a technology company that has shown outstanding channel goodwill and a commitment to helping ASCII members grow their revenue and serve their customers more effectively.  Winners are voted upon by ASCII members at regional events, and the Cup and awards were presented at the ASCII Success Summit in Austin, Texas.

The humble beginnings of the ASCII Cup are unknown; some say it was discovered after packing up the last box of the final Comdex show, while others think it was discovered in the secret tunnels under a certain campus in Redmond.  Some even believe it has been handed down by the Knights Templar.  Regardless of its origins, the ASCII Cup has power.  As the legend goes, for those who are bestowed to guard it, they will prosper from its keeping.  For those who drink from it, they will flourish from its power. 

The 2013 winners of The ASCII Cup, Top Contenders and Esteemed Noble Partners were announced at a private industry gathering at the Speakeasy in Austin on September 19. 

The ASCII Group is proud and delighted to honor the recipients of this year’s ASCII Cup, for they exemplify the principles on which the Cup was established.

The 2013 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year is AVG Managed Workplace / AVG CloudCare.

Knighted as the Top Four Contenders for The ASCII Cup are Lenovo, Datto, HP and LogMeIn.

Knighted as The Distributor of the Year was D&H for getting the most votes throughout the year in this category.

Recognized as Esteemed Noble Partners are Reflexion Networks, Symantec, Autotask, RapidFire Tools and Vertical Axion.

“It is with great pleasure that the ASCII Group community congratulates AVG as this year’s ASCII Cup recipient.  We would also like to acknowledge the Top Contenders and Esteemed Noble Partners, and all of the companies featured for having had a significant effect on the advancement of the channel,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group, Inc.

Photos and video of the celebration will be made available on the ASCII Facebook page and The ASCII Cup website.

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.  You can learn more at www.ascii.com or by calling 800-394-2724.

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Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Director of Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com