2007 Britannia Advisors Committee
Customers have invaluable insights to share, enhancing everyone’s experience from a unique prospective. Britannia, provider of industry specific software, announces the company’s 2007 Executive Advisor Board, a select group of Britannia clients who contribute to the company’s continuous innovation by providing valuable feedback and suggestions on its solutions.
Britannia Advisors Committee Members
Britannia Advisors Committee Member Biographies
The Lakewood, Colorado based Office Stuff opened its doors in September of 2000 however Connie and her husband combined with the staff bring 92 years of collective industry experience. Office Stuff was a user of the BritNet ASP system from day one and claim it has been a major factor in the dealership’s growth.
Office Stuff is a small dealership, only five people, but they think and run big. Their business model combines a fierce commitment to customer service, experienced employees, a strong technology backbone and a shrewd use of outside business partners to offer a broad range of products and services, while keeping overhead low. “We’re basically a stress reducer for our customers,” said Connie and “there isn’t a business out there today that isn’t trying to do more with less.”
O’Connor’s Office Products
Gary has a long history within the industry starting with The Gillete Co., Papermate Division in 1971, United Stationers Livonia (Detroit) 1975~1978 and then The Wakeland Group. He represented Avery Rubbermaid, Pilot Pen, Cardinal Binders along with several other great companies1978~1986.
In the summer of 1986, he purchased a Rep Group. His major lines included: Rolodex, IDL, Kleer-fax, and Stebco were his major lines. He later added additional lines, along with five additional Sales professionals. This business was later merged with Krumwiede and Assoc. group in 1995.
Gary bought O’Connor’s Office products in the fall of 2000. Since then his company has doubled in size, and he now has a second office products company named Federal Supply which is growing very rapidly.
Throughout his long career, Gary has been very active in industry associations.
A partial list of involvements would include: Professional Greater Detroit Office Products Assoc. 1973~1978, Fifth District Travelers Club, (association of factory representatives) and the National Office Products Association. There are others, and as you can see, he genuinely likes to be involved, and believes we all need to contribute back to our industry, and our community. Gary is delighted to have been selected to participate as a member of the Advisory Council.
Gary Wohlwend, co-owner of Ideal Office Source, formerly NADAPRO of Fort Wayne, IN. has been with the company since 1995. He first began working for NADAPRO as a delivery person and was moved into warehouse management before becoming an owner when he and his business partner, Tom Williams, bought the company in 2004.
They have been in business since 1981 and are currently in their 3rd location as they have successfully continued to grow over the years. Ideal Office Source is a one source provider to their customers; they carry a full line of furniture, printed products and promotional items as well as 25,000+ office supplies. Their dedicated staff of eleven has over 120 years experience in this industry.
Jeff Pourciau started out as a part time stock boy while in high school and continued working while attending LSU. He has twenty-seven years of work experience in the office supply industry, during which time he has covered just about every position in the industry.
Office Direct has been in business since 1976 and for the past ten years, Jeff has contributed to their on-going success. He currently operates as general manager for Office Direct. His daily responsibilities include general operations, marketing, pricing, and maintaining their bl5 website. In the last ten years sales have tripled.
His goals for being on the committee are to promote ideas from dealers to Britannia, with the purpose of helping the independent dealers’ operation become more efficient, more effective, and competitive. He also looks forward to hearing new ideas and suggestions from other dealers.
Kerry is the Chief Financial Officer of Cashion Enterprises, Inc. (dba Partners Business Products). He has been co-owner of the company for the last twenty years. His duties have progressed from Delivery Driver to the overseer of the Sales and Marketing side of this fast growing business in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area.
Other industry items include serving as dealer panel member for Longbow Consulting in discussing the use of Goldmine Software, and operating as a test company for new sales programs for the wholesaler. He has served in the past on his cities Planning and Zoning review Board and was selected by his wholesale supplier to serve on an advisory customer information gathering committee
His other activity is being involved with his wife (who is the CEO of the company) in running their horse ranch. His greatest claims to fame are his 37-year marriage to his wife (as they work together every day) and helping raise his two successful children (one working in the business today).
Kenny Sayes started with his family business in 1978 (United Office Supply) as a part time supply driver and warehouseman. In June 1981, he moved to outside sales. This is where he began to develop a passion for, as well as learn the ins and outs of the business. In 1985 he began his transition to management by handling all warehouse operations. It wasn’t long until he entered the position of General Manager.
In 1989 U.S. Office Products made an offer that the family could not refuse. When the dust settled, he was answering to a corporate mentality. Many things were learned throughout the next few years.
Fortunately, U.S. Office Products released him from his contract, and in November 1998, fifteen of the sixteen employees left to begin Sayes Office Supply. Six months later, U.S. Office Products had left the territory, and Sayes Office Supply retained the three million in sales revenues.
Today, Sayes Office Supply has grown to over seven million in sales. They have become the dominant player in contract furniture sales, as well as contract stationers in the territory. Sayes Office Supply is a Hon Diamond dealer, OFUSA franchisee, and Herman Miller dealer as well. In 2006 Sayes Office Supply had a sixteen percent increase in sales across the board.
Melissa Ball has been in the industry since 1988. She worked for a family owned company in Baltimore, MD relocated to Richmond, Virginia along with her husband Jonathan to start an OP division for an existing furniture branch. That company was purchased by USOP and so many of us know how that story went… like many others Jonathan and Melissa went out on their own to form Ball Office Products in 2000.
Ball Office Products is a fairly new company with old-fashioned principles and values. Although the company was founded in 2000, the Ball family has been serving customers since 1926. Their primary concentrations are on two main areas: quality business furniture and office supplies. They also provide many ancillary products such as carpet, wall covering, draperies and full interior design services.
Their motto: A new way of doing business the old way sums up our respect for the tradition of our background, and our efforts to embrace new technologies in an ever-changing marketplace. We strive to provide totally outrageous service and cost-effective solutions that support our clients' business objectives.
Ball Office Products has experienced significant growth in both furniture and office supplies - 18 employees serve central Virginia. Having experienced more than a few other systems in the past – they think Britannia has much to offer and will see them through many successful years especially as it draws on the strengths of its dealers.
Shane worked part time with the organization while in high school and College from 1985 to 1991. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration in 1991 and immediately began managing the daily workings of the company. In 1997 Shane and his current business partner, Willie Cunningham, purchased the office supply and paper division and creating Mister Paper Office Supply.
Mister Paper Inc. was founded in 1977, as a paper retailer selling all types of fine papers, continuous papers and specialty papers. Realizing that it was a natural transition with their current customer base, they ventured into office supplies and printing in 1988. They added office supplies and printing because the profit margins were attractive at that time, and delivering consolidated orders of paper and office supplies was manageable.
They have enjoyed steady growth during the last ten years, while being named the City of Gainesville Business of the Year and the USDA National Minority Business of the Year during that time. Mister Paper Inc. supports a number of local charities, but most of their efforts are with the American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House and March of Dimes. They have been partnering with Britannia since 2002 and have thoroughly enjoyed working together. Shane’s goal as a member of the Advisory Committee is to help increase the functionality of the Britannia system. The more efficient the system works, the more efficient his company works.