Newport, R.I., was the final stop on this year’s ASCII Success Summit in North America, where solution providers gathered for two days of business and technology sessions and peer networking. In addition to vendor awards for the Newport event, ASCII Group also announced winners of the annual ASCII Cup, gold and silver medalists, and top distributor.†The awards are presented each fall to technology companies that have showcased channel goodwill and a commitment to helping ASCII members grow their businesses. Winners are voted upon by ASCII members at regional events, and the Cup and awards were presented on October 14.
The success Summit pre-day events on Thursday, October 13, started with an address by ASCII Group President Jerry Koutavas. That talk was followed by a half-day of vendor sessions. In the evening there was an ASCII member meeting followed by a networking reception.
On Friday, October 14, after a networking breakfast, Success Summit kickoff, and business card exchange, attendees heard presentations from ASCII members on “MSP Security Growth, from Start to Smart,” by Jay Ferron, principal of Interactive Security Training LLC; and “Breaking Into the Financial Vertical, Keys to Unlock the Vault,” presented by Harry Srolovitz of Praxis Data. †And ASCII’s Koutavas spoke on “How ASCII Makes Business Happen—Why Our Network Matters.”
Ken Feinberg presented the keynote, “When Business Decisions Are Life Changing—What Is a Life Worth?” Feinberg was tasked with determining restitution for the 9/11 victims. The law required more money to the stockbroker, the bond trader, and the banker than to the waiter, the policeman, the fireman, and the soldier at the Pentagon. His growing belief in the equality of all life was in direct conflict with how our system operates. He shared his story with attendees.
Vendor presentations included Carbonite, Cytracom LLC, Data Deposit Box Inc., Datto Inc., Mailprotector, Lenovo, LOGICnow, Schneider Electric, and StorageCraft Technology Corp. Attendees also had the opportunity to browse the solutions pavilion, meet ASCII staff, and vote on vendor awards.
The Newport award winners are as follows:
Pre-day
- Best Education – Herman Pool, Vertical Axion
- Best Technical Demo – CloudConnect
- Best IT Workshop – ConnectWise
Main Day
- Best Rapid Pitch – Pax8
- Best Keynote Presentation – Datto
- Best Creativity & Innovation – Data Deposit Box
- Best IT Management Tool – LOGICnow
- Best Partner Incentives – Cytracom
- Best Market Opportunity – Data Deposit Box
- Best Security Solution – Bitdefender
- Best Productivity Solution – IT Glue
- Best Storage Solution – Data Deposit Box
- Best Cloud Solution – OpenDNS
- Best Revenue Generator – StorageCraft
- Best Channel Program – Lenovo
- Top Distributor – ASI
- Best Partner Involvement – Datto, Pax8 & QuoteWerks
- Best of Show – Datto
The ASCII Group IT community is made up of a supporting network of 2,000+ MSP/VARs worldwide. ASCII provides a portfolio of IT business-building services that range from turnkey marketing campaigns to a highly utilized peer-to-peer business referral and lead network.
2017 Success Summit cities will be Houston, Anaheim, Boston, Columbus, NY-NJ, Chicago, Toronto, Miami, and Washington, D.C.
