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
6 Things Partners Need to Know About The Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts
CRN sat down with Alan Weinberger, lawyer, chairman and CEO of The ASCII Group to learn about what the latest legislation will mean for the channel.
Read the article here: http://bit.ly/2kRCDcv
ASCII Members in the News (Industry Articles & Info) Winter
Channel Executive Magazine:
The Distributor’s Relevance In The Age of The Internet
Featuring ASCII members Stanley Louissaint and Mike Bloomfield.
When Channel Vendors Sell Direct Featuring ASCII members Zina Hassel and Dave Gillam.
TechDecisions:
When It Comes to Cybersecurity, Winter is Here
By Mike Bloomfield, President, Tekie Geek, Member of The ASCII Group since 2016.
The Perfect Customer According to This IT Service Provider
By Frank Bravata, President & CEO Cyber Brigade, Member of The ASCII Group since 2011.
How to Be the Perfect Customer for IT Providers By Albert J. Gyomber, President of Technology Visionaries LLC., Member of The ASCII Group since 2010.
TechTarget | SearchITChannel:
Digital transformations of business: What’s the MSP’s role?
By Paul Parisi, President & Founder at Savior Labs, Member of The ASCII Group since 2016.
The ASCII Group Awards Datto the Coveted 2017 ASCII Cup
Bethesda, Maryland – October 26, 2017 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent North American MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, is pleased to announce the winners of its annual ASCII Cup, with awards given to the ASCII Cup winner, Top 10 Vendors, and Top Distributor. The awards are presented each October to technology companies that have showcased channel goodwill and a commitment to helping ASCII members grow their IT 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 26, in Washington, D.C.
ASCII Success Summit attendees vote for the vendors in 10 different categories: Best Education; Best Technical Demonstration; Best IT Workshop; Best Keynote Presentation; Best Partner Incentives; Best Market Opportunity; Best Productivity Solution; Best Revenue Generator; Best Channel Programs; and Best Distributor. 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 2017 winners of The ASCII Cup, Top 10 Vendors and Distributor of the Year were announced at a private industry gathering.
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 2017 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year is Datto.
Top Vendor #2 for ASCII Cup 2017 – Pax8
Top Vendor #3 for ASCII Cup 2017 – Cytracom
Top Vendor #4 for ASCII Cup 2017 – IT Glue
Top Vendor #5 for ASCII Cup 2017 – RapidFire Tools
Top Vendor #6 for ASCII Cup 2017 – Vertical Axion
Top Vendor #7 for ASCII Cup 2017 – Carvir
Top Vendor #8 for ASCII Cup 2017 – Mailprotector
Top Vendor #9 for ASCII Cup 2017 – ChannelOnline
Top Vendor #10 for ASCII Cup 2017 – Solutions Granted
Distributor of the Year for ASCII 2017 Cup was Pax8.
“The ASCII Group and its community would like to congratulate Datto on winning the 2017 ASCII Cup. We would also like to recognize the Top 10 Vendors and the Distributor of the Year, and thank all of the companies that were featured at our Success Summits this year, for remaining committed to the channel and delivering 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 the premier community of North American MSPs, VARs and solution providers. The group has over 1,300 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 reach. Founded in 1984, ASCII provides services to members including leveraged purchasing programs, education and training, marketing assistance, and extensive peer interaction. ASCII works with a vibrant ecosystem of major technology vendors that complement the ASCII community and support its mission of helping MSPs and VARs grow their businesses. For more information, please visit www.ascii.com.
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Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Director of Marketing & Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
The ASCII Group Announces Best of Show Award Winners from Miami 2017 IT SMB Success Summit
The ASCII Group, a membership-based community ofindependent MSPs, VARs and solution providers, is pleased to announce the ‘Bestof Show’ award winners from its 2017 IT SMB Success Summit in Miami. Theawards are voted on by the attending solution providers, and honor the industrysponsors in multiple Best of Show categories.
Pre-Day
Best Education – Solutions Granted
Best Technical Demo – RapidFire Tools
Best IT Workshop – Solutions Granted
Main Day
Best Rapid Pitch – Duo Security
Best Keynote Presentation – Pax8
Best Partner Incentives – Comodo
Best Market Opportunity – Datto
Best Productivity Solution – IT Glue
Best Revenue Generator – Datto
Best Channel Programs – Datto
Top Distributor – Pax8
Best Partner Involvement – Cytracom, Pax8, CNET
Best of Show – Datto
The ASCII Group Announces Enhanced Educational Agenda for its 2018 IT SMB Success Summits with New Cities, Content and Keynote by Former White House CIO
Bethesda, Maryland – September 21, 2017 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent North American MSPs, VARs and solution providers, is pleased to announce new event cities, conference content, and keynote speaker for its 2018 IT SMB Success Summit Series. The Summits will heavily emphasize professional development for the attendees, leaving extended time for discussion of business challenges.
The Summits bring together over 1,400 IT solution providers and dozens of technology vendors in a two-day format that includes extensive networking, education and training. With events in nine markets across North America, The ASCII Group continues its mission of 33 years to help IT business owners grow and thrive. Sponsorships for the 2017 Summits sold out well in advance and points to the vendor community’s continued interest in channel partners’ achievements.
The 2018 Summits will contain education, presentations from top industry specialists, a leading edge vendor solutions pavilion, and an exclusive ASCII members-only meeting. Additionally, the Summits include numerous networking opportunities between fellow MSPs and industry experts, including: roundtables; Summit exercises; receptions; and breaks – all which are designed to foster dialogue.
In addition to best practice addresses from ASCII members and thought leaders, the special guest for 2018 is Theresa Payton, former White House CIO and star of the CBS TV Series, “Hunted”. Theresa was the first female to serve as White House chief information officer, and named #4 on IFSEC Global’s list of the world’s Top 50 cybersecurity influencers in 2017.
“ASCII’s true value is in the conversations and knowledge that members are exchanging; members want to learn from each other. Our 2018 Summits will be more collaborative, with extensive discussions between our community and the influential vendors and industry specialists joining us,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group.
“ASCII is on my event ‘go-to’ list every year,” said Raffi Jamgotchian, Triada Networks, ASCII member since 2008. “They combine a great mix of speakers, workshop sessions, and top-notch vendors that understand the importance of the channel. Best of all, I get to connect with my peers. Although we are in the same competitive market, ASCII members are always there to help out.”
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.
For further information on ASCII’s IT SMB Success Summits, please visit www.asciievents.com.
2018 Summit Cities:
- Orange County, CA February 21-22
- Fort Lauderdale, FL March 21-22
- Austin, TX April 18-19
- Chicago, IL May 16-17
- Ann Arbor, MI June 27-28
- Charlotte, NC July 25-26
- Toronto, Canada August 22-23
- Newark, NJ September 26-27
- Seattle, WA October 17-18
About The ASCII Group, Inc:
The ASCII Group is the premier community of North American MSPs, VARs and solution providers. The group has over 1,300 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 reach. Founded in 1984, ASCII provides services to members including leveraged purchasing programs, education and training, marketing assistance, and extensive peer interaction. ASCII works with a vibrant ecosystem of major technology vendors that complement the ASCII community and support its mission of helping MSPs and VARs grow their businesses. For more information, please visit www.ascii.com.
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Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Director of Marketing & Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
ASCII Group Members in the News (Industry Articles) September & October 2017
Channel Executive Magazine:
September Partner Perspectives Column – Partner Programs: Before You Enroll featuring ASCII members Joe Molick and Brooke Justice.
A Balanced Approach to Cybersecurity Risk Mitigation – by Jeff Jackson, President, Summit Computer Services, Member of The ASCII Group since 2017.
October Partner Perspectives Column – Partner Programs: Is Pay-to-Play OK? featuring ASCII members Raffi Jamgotchian and Chad Kempt.
ChannelPro Magazine:
Q&A Corner with Alan Weinberger, CEO, The ASCII Group – questions with Mike Bloomfield, President, Tekie Geek, Member of The ASCII Group since 2016.
The ASCII Group Announces Best of Show Award Winners from Chicago 2017 IT SMB Success Summit
The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and solution providers, is pleased to announce the ‘Best of Show’ award winners from its 2017 IT SMB Success Summit in Chicago. The awards are voted on by the attending solution providers, and honor the industry sponsors in multiple Best of Show categories.
Pre-Day Winners
Best Education- Xcellerate
Best Technical Demo- ChannelOnline
Best IT Workshop- ChannelOnline
Main Day Winners
Best Rapid Pitch- iRemoteReset
Best Keynote Presentation- Cytracom
Best Partner Incentives- Pax8
Best Market Opportunity- Mailprotector
Best Productivity Solution- IT Glue
Best Revenue Generator- Datto
Best Channel Programs- Datto
Top Distributor- Pax8
Best Partner Involvement- Cytracom/Datto/Pax8
Best of Show – Cytracom
The ASCII Group Announces Best of Show Award Winners from New Jersey 2017 IT SMB Success Summit
The ASCII Group, a membership-based community ofindependent MSPs, VARs and solution providers, is pleased to announce the ‘Bestof Show’ award winners from its 2017 IT SMB Success Summit in New Jersey. Theawards are voted on by the attending solution providers, and honor the industrysponsors in multiple Best of Show categories.
Pre-Day Winners
Best Education – Carvir
Best Technical Demo – Trend Micro
Best IT Workshop – Vertical Axion
Main Day Winners
Best Rapid Pitch – Carvir
Best Keynote Presentation – Cytracom
Best Partner Incentives – Pax8
Best Market Opportunity – Mailprotector
Best Productivity Solution – IT Glue
Best Revenue Generator – GreenLink Networks
Best Channel Programs – Datto
Top Distributor – Pax8
Best Partner Involvement – Autotask, Datto, Pax8 &QuoteWerks
Best of Show – Datto
2017 ASCII IT SMB SUCCESS SUMMIT SPONSORSHIPS ARE SOLD OUT
The ASCII Group is pleased to announce that it has sold out of sponsorships for its 2017 IT Success Summit conferences at ALL levels for the remainder of the events this year. ASCII has already successfully completed four US events and one in Toronto, Canada, and four more events are scheduled in 2017.
The events bring together over 150 IT solution providers and dozens of vendors in a two-day format that includes extensive networking, education, and training. The sold-out sponsorships are a first for the 33-year-old company and points to the continued growth and interest in channel partners’ achievements from the vendor community.
ASCII is in the process of finalizing cities and dates for 2018 and will make a formal announcement in the coming weeks.
If you have questions or would like to receive 2018 sponsorships materials, please reach out to shannon@ascii.com.
For more information on the remaining shows in 2017, visit www.asciievents.com.
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