I’m enthused to publish this inaugural message for the office technology industry as The Cannata Report’s newly named editor-in-chief. Here’s a quick, at-a-glance introduction for readers wondering, “Who is this guy?”
Some of you know me from the greater printing industry, which I covered as a trade journalist and editor for more than two decades, reporting on the North American commercial print sector—first for Graphic Arts Monthly and Printing News, then on behalf of WhatTheyThink.com and Printing Impressions among other media outlets. I’ve honed the skill of striking a rapport with people at all organizational levels: from ghost-writing speeches for top brass at mega printer RR Donnelley to interviewing press operators on the factory floor and chatting on the phone with dealer owners or their service techs.
Others may recognize my byline from myriad Cannata Report articles researched and written over the past eight years. I’m quite familiar with crossover OEMs, including Canon, HP, Konica Minolta, Ricoh, and Xerox. Perhaps we’ve met in person at a PRINTING United show, at the drupa international trade fair in Europe or, more recently, at a dealer event or user-group meeting.
Some of my buddies sold copy machines early in their careers and, working in the channel space since, I’ve come to better understand the challenges faced by today’s dealers. I’ve learned some new acronyms (MPS and MSP) not to mention buzzwords and phrases, such as “diversification” and “recurring revenue streams.” Like many of you, I’m a loving and devoted son, brother, dad, friend and, of course, a frequent LinkedIn poster! Having grown up in the literal shadow of Chicago, sometimes my city-boy side makes an appearance.
As an athlete who played small-college quarterback (and coached football at the high-school level), my style tends to be firm but fair, complemented by a no-excuses work ethic. It’s telling that my favorite quotation comes from old-school sports columnist Ring Lardner. He was a satirist who also wrote short stories. “Life is tough,” the salty Lardner once said, perhaps during a heated poker game. “Three out of three people die, so shut up and deal.”
Fiery competitive spirits, resilience, and resourcefulness are requisites for navigating these ever-changing channel waters, which can sometimes be choppy. My ultimate goal is to help adaptive dealer leaders fight through adversity and find profits amid the surging tides.
