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

2025 ASCII Cup Celebrates Innovation and Excellence in the Channel
RYTHMz Named Vendor of the Year by the MSP Community Washington, D.C.
- October 31, 2025 -
Washington, D.C. – October 31, 2025 – The ASCII Group, the original and premier community of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) across North America, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 ASCII Cup. This annual award honors technology companies that have made a lasting impact in the MSP channel through innovation, commitment, and engagement.
The 2025 ASCII Cup was presented in Philadelphia, PA, on October 30, following the final stop of the year for the ASCII Edge conference series. Inspired by Philadelphia’s iconic Rocky legacy, the evening highlighted the strength and perseverance that define the IT channel.
Throughout 2025, ASCII members voted at eight regional ASCII Edge events across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating technology vendors across 12 categories such as innovation, partner program excellence, and overall value. This peer-driven process ensures the companies recognized are those making the greatest impact on MSPs.
The 2025ASCII Cup award recipients are:
- 2025 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year – RYTHMz
- First Runner-Up – Pax8
- Third Place – SonicWall
- Fourth Place – BLOKWORX
- Fifth Place – Microsoft
- Sixth Place – Kaseya
- Seventh Place – Monjur
- Eighth Place – DefensX
- Ninth Place – FutureSafe
- Tenth Place – SuperOps
“The ASCII Cup reflects the voice of MSPs,” said Jerry Koutavas, CEO of The ASCII Group. “Recognizing RYTHMz as Vendor of the Year, along with the other companies honored, underscores the vital role our industry partners play in helping MSPs succeed.”
“It is with sincere gratitude that we accept this recognition from The ASCII Group and its members. As a former member myself, I understand the profound impact this community has on an MSP’s journey,” said Steve Copeland, CEO and Founder, RYTHMz. “Our industry is at a pivotal moment—evolving from ‘Managed Services’ to ‘Managed Solutions.’ Through this shift, one truth remains: connectivity is your brand. RYTHMz is proud to help lead this evolution alongside our partners in the ASCII community, and we’re truly honored by this recognition.”
The celebration also honored the late Alan D. Weinberger, founder of The ASCII Group, whose vision for a vendor-neutral community of IT professionals continues to guide the organization today. For more than 40 years, ASCII has connected IT business owners with resources, programs, and a trusted peer network to help them grow stronger companies. The 2025 ASCII Cup reflects this spirit of collaboration and the vital role technology partners play in MSP success.
For photos and highlights from the 2025 ASCII Cup, please visit The ASCII Group’s Facebook page.
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
Alysia Vetter
Chief Marketing Officer
Tel: 800-394-2724
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
ConnectWise Wins Best Software Solution At 2010 ASCII Reseller Success Summit, Business Solutions Magazine, October 27, 2010
ConnectWise Software, the leading business operating system designed exclusively for IT service providers, VARs and MSPs, announced today it was voted the Best Software Solution by solution provider attendees at the 2010 ASCII Reseller Success Summit in Boston.
Read More….
http://bsminfo.com/article.mvc/ConnectWise-Wins-Best-Software-Solution-0001
ConnectWise Wins Best Software Solution At 2010 ASCII Reseller Success Summit
ConnectWise Software, the leading business operating system designed exclusively for IT service providers, VARs and MSPs, announced today it was voted the Best Software Solution by solution provider attendees at the 2010 ASCII Reseller Success Summit in Boston.
Read More….
http://bsminfo.com/article.mvc/ConnectWise-Wins-Best-Software-Solution-0001
The ASCII Group Announces Influential Service To Help Solution Providers Manage Their Social Media Presence, Business Solutions Magazine, October 26, 2010
Bethesda, MD /PRNewswire/ – The ASCII Group, Inc. (ASCII), the nation’s oldest and most established community of independent solution providers, has announced an innovative and unique social media service to help ASCII members manage and increase their presence on social media outlets.
Read More….
http://bsminfo.com/article.mvc/The-ASCII-Group-Announces-Influential-0001
Reflexion Accepts ASCII Cup, Business Solutions Magazine, August 5, 2010, Gennifer Biggs
The ASCII Group, the largest community of independent computer resellers in the world, took time out of a busy schedule at CompTIA Breakaway to present its ASCII Cup on Reflexion Networks as its “Vendor of the Year.” Reflexion is a provider of hosted email and web security, compliance and business continuity services for small and midsize businesses worldwide.
Read More….
http://bsminfo.com/article.mvc/Reflexion-Accepts-ASCII-Cup-0001
The ASCII Member Profile: Kevin Vaughn
June 8, 2010, by ChannelPro TV
Kevin Vaughn of A-One Networks describes his ASCII experiences with Channelpro Publisher Michael Siggins, membership has its privileges & advantages!
Read More….
http://www.channelprosmb.com/article/18788/VIDEO-ASCII-Member-Profile-Kevin-Vaughn/
What's Your Definition of Cloud Computing? Even The Industry Doesn't Agree!
KI Technology Group, June 7, 2010, by Linda Lynch
Linda discusses how the panel for Cloud Computing could not quite agree on what cloud computing is.
Read More….
http://www.kitechnologygroup.com/Blog/tabid/66/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/241/categoryId/19/Whats-your-definition-of-cloud-computing-Even-the-industry-doesnt-agree.aspx
ASCII Summit: Are MSPs Driving Commoditization of Their Offerings?
A reminder of why it is important to keep the personal touch in your dealing with clients, especially when your face to face time is becoming less and less.
Read More….
http://bsminfo.com/article.mvc/Commoditization-Of-Managed-Services-0001
ASCII Summit: Is Your Managed Services Business Efficient Enough?, BusinessSolutions, June 6 2010, by Gennifer Biggs
With so many tools available today to drive efficiency, it seems inevitable that we as a workforce are more efficient. The question is are we use the tools the right way?
Read More….
http://bsminfo.com/article.mvc/Is-Your-Managed-Services-Business-Efficient-0001
ASCII Outlines Roadmap for Members, BusinessSolutions, June 3, 2010, by Gennifer Biggs
The daylong Chicago ASCII Reseller Success Summit kicked off with some insight into the group’s roadmap, provided by Jerry Koutavas, president of the organization – but only after asking everyone to get our their business cards and network. It was simply nonnegotiable.
Read More….
http://www.bsminfo.com/article.mvc/ASCII-Outlines-Roadmap-For-Members-0001
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