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
ASCII Chief Blasts Lenovo-Best Buy Deal By Edward F. Moltzen, CRN, April 12, 2006
Lenovo’s deal with brick-and-mortar retailer Best Buy to begin selling notebooks and desktops to SMBs prompted a strong reaction from the head of the ASCII Group, who called the deal “outrageous” and said it would hurt VARs…
read more...
http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/185300554/ascii-chief-blasts-lenovo-best-buy-deal.htm
Katrina Relief: Doing Their Part By CRN Staff, CRN September 02, 2005
Here’s a partial list of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts by high-tech companies and organizations:
ASCII GROUP: Coordinating requests from members to offer e-mail, DNS and Web sites for other ASCII members in the Gulf Coast. Plans to expand effort…
read more...
http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/170700282/katrina-relief-doing-their-part.htm
At The Heart Of The Organizing Principle By Michael Gros, CRN November 05, 2004
A few years ago, I was researching an article on how VARs sell projectors to small businesses and, to better understand the process, filled out a form on the Web sites of two leading vendors, indicating that I wanted to speak to a reseller. Weeks went by, and then months. A year and a half later, I got a call from a VAR representing vendor No. 1, followed later by a VAR associated with vendor No. 2….
read more...
http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/51202411/at-the-heart-of-the-organizing-principle.htm
Crime Scene By Steven Burke, CRN September 17, 2004
At least once a day, solution provider CompSource finds itself the target of a ripoff artist. In fact, Dean Bellone, founder and CEO of the $12 million, 13-year-old Cleveland-based company, has been targeted so many times he now considers himself a fraud expert…
read more...
http://www.crn.com/news/security/47900182/crime-scene.htm
Crime Scene By Steven Burke, CRN September 17, 2004
At least once a day, solution pro-vider CompSource finds itself the target of a ripoff artist. In fact, Dean Bellone, founder and CEO of the$12 million, 13-year-old Cleveland-based company, has been targeted so many times he now considers himself a fraud expert…
read more...
http://www.crn.com/news/security/47900182/crime-scene.htm
ASCII Group Writes Engagement Principles For Vendors By Craig Zarley, CRN June 09, 2004
The ASCII Group has written a “Statement of Principles for Sales and Service of IT products and Solutions” in an effort to get vendors to treat VARs more ethically, said Alan Weinberger, ASCII Group chairman and CEO.
Weinberger said the VAR organization, which has more than 2,000 members, would encourage vendors to sign the statement, saying they agree with terms of the document. “We are asking vendors to be straight forward with VARs by signing it,” he said…
read more...
http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/21600204/ascii-group-writes-engagement-principles-for-vendors.htm
Comdex Pays Off For ASCII Members By Jeff O'Heir, CRN November 20, 2003
For a few days, Danny Boice felt “larger than life.”
As principal partner with The Jaxara Group, a $1 million software developer and solution provider in Washington, D.C., Boice was one of 20 solution providers and ASCII members that set up shop on the show floor at Comdex Las Vegas 2003. For the first time in the show’s 23-year history…
read more...
http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/18840166/comdex-pays-off-for-ascii-members.htm
ASCII Group Hopes To Heighten Solution Provider Profile At Comdex By Scott Campbell, CRN September 29, 2003
Solution providers will have a larger presence at Fall Comdex this year–as exhibitors.
At the Las Vegas show, The ASCII Group plans to man six “innovation centers” with three or four solution providers each. The booths will focus on education, finance, government, health care, manufacturing and distribution solutions that have been built and deployed by the solution providers, said Alan Weinberger, CEO of The ASCII Group, Bethesda, Md.
“For 20 years, Comdex has been about manufacturers and products. We’re helping to reorient the show to bring solution providers front and center,” Weinberger said….
read more...
http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/18823862/ascii-group-hopes-to-heighten-solution-provider-profile-at-comdex.htm
ASCII Secures Volume Pricing, Dedicated Customer Support From SED International By Scott Campbell, CRN September 26, 2003
The ASCII Group has reached an agreement with SED International to offer exclusive discounts and customer service to ASCII’s 2,000 North American members, according to executives. SED, Tucker, Ga., will offer dedicated customer service, promotions and vendor access to ASCII members, said Doug Young, vice president of distribution programs at ASCII…
read more...
http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/18839922/ascii-secures-volume-pricing-dedicated-customer-support-from-sed-international.htm
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