639 ASCII Celebrates 40 Years
In this special episode, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ASCII group, the oldest and largest independent IT community in the world. I'm joined by ASCII's founder and CEO Alan Weinberger, VP of Marketing Alysia Vetter, and longtime member David Stinner from US itek. We discuss the origins of ASCII, how it has evolved over the decades, the value it provides to members, and its exciting plans for the future.
ASCII was founded in the early 1980s when Alan Weinberger recognized that independent computer dealers and service providers were the smartest people in the industry, acting as trusted advisors to clients. Over 40 years later, that core vision remains - ASCII elevates managed service providers (MSPs) by leveraging the collective power of over 1,300 members and 10,000 employees across North America.
The community provides immense value through group purchasing discounts, educational resources, networking opportunities, and the ability to subcontract work across geographies. Members drive new programs and initiatives through the advisory board, such as the popular SPARC peer groups where MSPs openly discuss business challenges.
Looking ahead, ASCII is enhancing its global presence with instant translation capabilities, allowing members worldwide to collaborate seamlessly. The fundamental mission endures - empowering independent IT businesses by giving them a powerful collective voice while remaining vendor-neutral.
Key Takeaways
- ASCII celebrates 40 years as the oldest, largest independent IT community
- Provides collective bargaining power, education, and networking for MSPs
- Members drive new programs through advisory board and peer groups
- Expanding global reach with instant translation for international collaboration
- Remains vendor-neutral, elevating independent IT businesses as trusted advisors
Alan Weinberger: Founder, CEO and Chairman of The ASCII Group Inc. - https://www.ascii.com/
- Proud of the personal relationships and trust built between ASCII members over 40 years
- Sees ASCII's bottom-up approach, driven by member ideas through the advisory board, as a key differentiator from vendors
- Plans to enhance global presence with instant translation for international collaboration
- Uses analogies to elevate the importance of MSPs, drawing parallels to doctors, pilots, etc.
- Believes the public undervalues MSPs compared to regulated professions like medicine
Alysia Vetter: Vice President of Marketing at The ASCII Group Inc.
- Proud of the nurturing environment and team assembled by Alan at ASCII
- Appreciates having full access to membership to understand their pain points
- Highlights Alan's role in creating a "beautiful community" for members and staff over 4 decades
David Stinner: Founder & President at US itek, MSP Workforce - https://www.usitek.com/
- Sits on the ASCII advisory board to provide input on new programs, vendors, and educational topics
- Involved in launching the ASCII SPARC peer group program, which allows MSPs to openly discuss business challenges
- Leveraged relationships built through ASCII to get a major client opportunity by gathering video testimonials
- Values the relationships and trust factor within the ASCII community
=== Show Information
Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
Host: Marvin Bee
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=== Music:
Song: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo
Author: AlexanderRufire
License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024
