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. Press inquiries: Contact alysia@ascii.com

The ASCII Group Unveils New Website and Member Portal to Support the Evolving MSP Community
Washington, D.C. – July 17, 2025 – The ASCII Group, North America’s original vendor-neutral community for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), has launched a redesigned corporate website and a new member portal, delivering a more connected and engaging experience for today’s MSPs.
These updates reflect a broader initiative to elevate the ASCII experience—streamlining access to programs, enhancing peer collaboration, and building on the vision of ASCII’s late founder, Alan Weinberger, who championed the power of community in the IT channel.
The new website features improved navigation, refreshed content, and a clearer representation of ASCII’s vendor-neutral position in the market. It also provides easier access to information on member benefits, industry events, and peer programs.
“The new site is a true reflection of the community we serve,” said Jerry Koutavas, CEO of The ASCII Group. “It reinforces our commitment to helping MSPs grow and stay competitive, while better showcasing the breadth and depth of what ASCII offers.”
Earlier this year, ASCII also introduced its member benefit portal—a centralized platform for real-time community engagement. Built to support meaningful peer interaction, the portal enables members to submit subcontracting requests, exchange vendor recommendations, explore acquisition opportunities, and offer or receive support during service disruptions or emergencies.
“The member portal brings to light what has always existed within our community—MSPs supporting each other in practical, business-focused ways,” added Koutavas. “By formalizing that collaboration, we’ve made it easier for members to connect, share, and solve challenges together.”
Both the website and portal were developed with direct input from ASCII members and are part of the organization’s ongoing effort to remain the most accessible, trusted, and community-driven resource for MSPs in the channel.
About The ASCII Group, Inc.
Founded in 1984, The ASCII Group is the original IT community of the channel, uniting Managed Service Providers (MSPs) across North America. As a vendor-neutral organization, ASCII provides unbiased resources and a collaborative environment to support business growth. Members span the U.S. and Canada, ranging from SMB-focused MSPs to international solution providers. ASCII offers leveraged purchasing programs, education, marketing support, peer networking, and more, complemented by a vibrant ecosystem of technology vendors. Learn more at www.ascii.com.
Press Contact:
Alysia Vetter
Chief Marketing Officer
Tel: 800-394-2724 x131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
The ASCII Group Launches New Marketing Resource of Ghosted Newsletters, Small Business Computer Consulting Blog, June 23 2012
The ASCII Group has detected a similar problem of a lack of marketing resources among IT providers.
In a recent survey of its members, the trade group of MSPs, VARs, and IT resellers found that 72{cd933a35b4dea5d347db3c1b94e2678db2fa666034d5c43bfb6d103821efc580} of the participating IT companies declared that this shortage of marketing resources was limiting their business success. Read More….
ASCII: The Value in Community, Channel MSP.com, May 3, 2012 by Trevor DiGirolamo
Every solution provider wants to be the “trusted technology adviser” for their clients and meet every technology need. There are challenges to achieving that role, however: What do you do when the client asks you about the best vendor for an area that is outside your realm of expertise? What if you’re not authorized for the product your client needs? What do you do when your client needs an answer quickly but you need to do some research? Read more….
ASCII SMB 150 Press Release
ASCII Executives Named to SMB 150 List
Jerry Koutavas and Doug Young have been voted two of the top 150 worldwide SMB IT channel influencers
Bethesda, Maryland — April 25, 2012 — The ASCII Group, Inc. (ASCII), the nation’s oldest and most established community of solution providers, announced today that President Jerry Koutavas and Chief Operating Officer Doug Young have been named to the SMB 150 Channel Influencers List. The SMB 150, a collaboration between SMB Nation and SMB Technology Network, is the SMB technology channel’s annual list of its 150 most influential members.
Young and Koutavas were chosen during a two-phase voting process. In the initial stage, channel community members voted on 400 nominees at SMB150.com. Following the community vote, a panel of industry experts evaluated each nominee based on a pre-established rubric. The community vote accounted for 40{0227c8b27d3643b319fca80e0d52ece22d029d3e12a11668fde66cd4475dd8cc} of each nominee’s overall rating, with the expert panel’s decision contributing the remaining 60{0227c8b27d3643b319fca80e0d52ece22d029d3e12a11668fde66cd4475dd8cc}.
Koutavas stated, “It’s an honor to be included as one of the top channel influencers. Since 1984, ASCII has diligently worked with both our solution provider members and vendors to grow the strength of the channel, and I want to thank everyone for recognizing our efforts.” Young added, “I’m thrilled to have been selected for this honor, especially considering the quality of the other nominees.”
Koutavas, Young, and their fellow SMB 150 influencers have been invited to attend the SMB 150 Awards Gala on May 16, 2012, at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles. The event is hosted by SMB Nation and SMB Technology Network and sponsored by BlackBerry, OKI Data Americas, and Quest Software. Each SMB 150 winner will receive a personalized award plaque, recognition in the SMB Nation magazine and other media outlets, and a 64 GB BlackBerry PlayBook.
“I encourage everyone in the SMB channel community to join me in celebrating the accomplishments of the men and women who made the SMB 150 list,” said SMB Nation Founder and Chairman Harry Brelsford in a blog article posted on the SMB Nation website. “Each and every one of them has spent countless hours growing our community and deserves every accolade we can give them. I can’t wait to toast them in Los Angeles.”
For more information on 2012 SMB Nation 150 Award Gala – A Magical Evening!
Company Overview of The ASCII Group, Inc., Bloomberg Businessweek, April 19, 2012
The ASCII Group, Inc. operates as an information technology solutionprovider, integrator, and value added reseller in North America andEurope. Read More….
EMRapproved and The ASCII Group, Inc. Partner to Offer Comprehensive Healthcare IT Certification Program, PRWeb, March 14, 2012
EMRapproved.com, the industry-leading healthcare IT resource, hasexpanded their newly branded Technology 4Med+™ Channel program bypartnering with the nationwide ASCII membership organization. In recentattendance at the ASCII Success Summit in Florida, EMRapprovedintroduced its self-paced online Healthcare IT Certification courseware and healthcare marketing programs to the skilled IT members. Read More….
GreatAmerica to Provide Financing for ASCII Group Members, greatamerica.com,
The ASCII Group, Inc. (ASCII), the nation’s oldest and most establishedcommunity of independent managed service providers, system integratorsand solution providers is pleased to announce a partnership withGreatAmerica Leasing. This alliance will provide the ASCII communityaccess to GreatAmerica’s suite of leasing and financial options. Read More….
JoomConnect is a proud sponsor of the ASCII Group
ASCII and JoomConnect have partnered up to create a better website topromote their MSP mentoring programs and events. We had so much successthat we are teaming up again! Read More….
Intronis Wins Second Award for Best Customer Support at ASCII Success Summit Los Angeles, PRWeb, April,
Intronis,the world’s leading cloud backup and recovery solution for the ITChannel, today announced that the company won its second Best CustomerSupport Award in 2012 at the ASCII Success Summit in Los Angeles. Read More….
Datto SIRIS Collects another Cloud Solutions Trophy, ChannelPro-SMB, April 17, 2012
Channel buying association ASCII Group Inc. has announced Datto Inc. as the winner of its ASCII Boston Success Summit ‘Best Cloud Solution’ award. Recognizing Datto’s business continuity solutions, SIRIS, Datto was also honored with a “Best of Show” award at an ASCII Success Summit. Read more….
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