The Stramaglio Show

On this episode of The Stramaglio Show, Mike welcomes Gary Shergill, CEO of Avanue and founder of Avanico, for a conversation about ERP technology, AI, and what it means to build something from the ground up with no sales team and a whole lot of trust.
Gary traces his journey from a cubicle in Chicago checking other people's code to becoming one of only two remaining SAP Business One consultants who have been with the product since its US inception in 2004. From that foundation, the company grew organically to 150 consultants operating in 27 countries, entirely through word of mouth and a delivery-first culture.
The conversation covers Gary's acquisition of the Forza platform, which Mike founded through MWA Intelligence, and its rebirth as Avanue. Gary shares his take on ERP transition fears, why AI needs actual intelligence behind it and not just hype, and why the next generation of employees will simply not tolerate outdated technology.
His message to the industry is direct: stop complaining about your current platform and start asking who can take you forward.
Timestamps00:00 Introducing Gary Shergill and Forza04:12 The Evolution of Avanico and Avanue10:10 Navigating ERP Implementation Challenges14:13 Pride, Frustration, and Industry Noise20:55 Leveraging Technology and AI for Growth30:26 The Future of Dealer Networks37:21 Final Thoughts and Lasting Advice
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Show LinksLearn more about Stramaglio Consulting: https://stramaglioconsulting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheStramaglioShowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestramaglioshow/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-stramaglio-show/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEMWp0DB0L9yrKSQhhNniow

On this episode of The Stramaglio Show, Mike welcomes back Mike Marusic, President & CEO of Sharp Business USA, for his first return visit since their conversation three years ago. A lot has changed!
The conversation covers the Konica Minolta and Marco partnership and what it means for the dealer community, Sharp's unique advantage through its Foxconn relationship, and why Sharp's pipeline heading into the second half of the year is bigger than all of 2025 combined. Marusic also shares two pieces of career advice every young person in the industry should hear: learn more from your mistakes than your wins, and always keep a financial safety net so you can make the right call without fear.
The episode also touches on Sharp's growing display and laptop business, the next generation of industry leaders, and the difference between responsibility and accountability, which Mike Marusic sees as one of the most important distinctions in business today.
Timestamps00:00:00 Addressing Industry Challenges and Dealer Relationships00:04:03 Industry Consolidation and Supporting Dealers00:08:44 Leveraging AI and Foxconn Advantages00:13:12 Strategy for Growth and Product Diversification00:19:15 Empowering Future Generations in Business00:24:31 International Collaboration and Cultural Integration00:29:22 Career Lessons and Advice for Success00:36:07 Commitment to Stability and Future Outlook
Guest Links:Sharp Business USA: https://business.sharpusa.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Show LinksLearn more about Stramaglio Consulting: https://stramaglioconsulting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheStramaglioShowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestramaglioshow/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-stramaglio-show/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEMWp0DB0L9yrKSQhhNniow

On this special edition of The Stramaglio Show, Mike welcomes a first for the show: a conversation conducted entirely in Japanese. Hosted by Hiro Ueda, Partner and COO of Stramaglio Consulting and Mike's longtime business partner, this Domo Edition features Tony Yoshimura, Associate Vice President of Business Planning at Sharp Business USA, in a conversation that is as personal as it is insightful. English subtitles are included.
Tony traces a career path that began with an accidental assignment to Sharp's copier division in Japan, a division he had actively tried to avoid, and eventually led to a 20-year life in the United States. He shares the story of how a series of unlikely circumstances kept extending his stay until the decision to remain permanently came naturally.
The conversation covers the cultural differences between Japan and the United States, the evolving role of AI in business planning, and Sharp's broader strategic direction, including AI servers, autonomous mobile robots, and the company's deep commitment to quality. Tony also shares a tennis lesson from junior high school that stuck with him for life: keep the ball in play, avoid mistakes, and let the other side beat themselves.
A genuinely warm and wide-ranging conversation with one of the industry's most thoughtful behind-the-scenes leaders.
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Show LinksLearn more about Stramaglio Consulting: https://stramaglioconsulting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NextweekslifepodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextweekslifepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-week’s-life-podcast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEMWp0DB0L9yrKSQhhNniow

On this episode of The Stramaglio Show, Mike welcomes Paul Hanna, founder and CEO of Blue Technologies, and Lauren Hanna, his daughter and a 15-year veteran of the company, for a candid conversation about building a business, bridging generations, and what it really takes to work with family.
Paul traces Blue Technologies back to its first day in 1995. Thirty years later, the business is still growing, still single-line with Konica Minolta, and now navigating one of the most exciting and challenging chapters in its history.
Lauren brings a perspective that is equal parts analytical and human. She talks about learning to communicate new ideas without putting her dad on defense, leaning on the team around her, and why she still loves an industry that never gives her the same day twice.
Together, they cover AI adoption, vendor relationships, the value of peer groups like CDA, and why the next generation is here to help solve what comes next.
Timestamps00:00:00 Blue Technologies History and Origins00:03:45 Lauren’s Path into the Business00:07:15 Navigating Working Relationships00:13:48 Industry Outlook and Mentorship00:21:12 The Impact of Peer Groups00:26:03 Leveraging AI in Business00:31:25 Vendor Partnerships and Final Reflections
Guest LinksBlue Technologies: https://btohio.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Show LinksLearn more about Stramaglio Consulting: https://stramaglioconsulting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NextweekslifepodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextweekslifepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-week’s-life-podcast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEMWp0DB0L9yrKSQhhNniow

On this episode of The Stramaglio Show, Mike welcomes Brian Wyatt, CEO of Marco Technologies, and Trevor Akervik, President of the Print Division at Marco, for a conversation about bold strategy, industry disruption, and what it looks like when a company decides to think bigger.
Brian brings 25 years of technology services experience and a fresh set of eyes to an industry he joined just seven months ago. Trevor brings 26 years inside Marco, having helped build its MSP practice from scratch before turning his attention to reimagining the print division post-COVID. Together, they make for a compelling leadership combination.
The conversation covers Marco's new national logistics and service platform, built on the back of winning Fortune 5 customers and now being extended to dealers across the country. Trevor addresses the skepticism head-on: Marco has been serving dealers through interterritorial agreements for 30 years, and this is an evolution of that, not a threat to it.
Brian and Trevor also share their recent trip to Japan, their thoughts on private equity as a long-term partner, and why they believe the dealer community has more road ahead than the noise of the day might suggest.
Timestamps:00:00 Introducing Brian Wyatt & Trevor Akervik02:42 Brian Wyatt’s Journey to Marco06:19 Trevor Akervik's History with Marco10:04 Surprise and Culture at Marco12:32 Marco’s National Expansion Strategy17:49 Addressing Industry Skepticism23:18 Visiting OEMs in Japan26:56 Private Equity and Marco’s Future30:29 Message to Dealers and Young People34:52 Favorite Sinatra Song & Final Thoughts
Guest Links:Website: https://www.marconet.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Show LinksLearn more about Stramaglio Consulting: https://stramaglioconsulting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NextweekslifepodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextweekslifepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-week’s-life-podcast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEMWp0DB0L9yrKSQhhNniow

On this episode of The Stramaglio Show, Mike welcomes Chris Johnson, Senior Director of Sales for the Central Region at Sharp Electronics Corporation, for a conversation about military service, veteran hiring, and what the imaging industry gains when it opens its doors to those who have served.
Chris spent 22 years in the Army Reserve, including a year in Afghanistan with the 173rd Airborne Division and a year in Iraq during the drawdown, working in psychological operations. He brought that same instinct for listening, building trust, and influencing outcomes into a 25-year career in the imaging channel.
At Sharp, Chris helped build the company's military employee resource group from the ground up, rewriting job descriptions, translating military resumes, and creating pathways that make Sharp a genuine destination for veteran talent. His message to the industry is straightforward: veterans bring discipline, leadership, and adaptability that no classroom can replicate, and the channel needs them.
The episode also touches on Sharp's dealer culture, the company's focus on being the hardware platform information moves on, and why lean and mean can be a competitive advantage when you actually live it.
Timestamps:00:00 Welcome Chris Johnson & Career Start03:02 Sharp’s Culture and Veteran Initiative05:23 Bridging the Veteran Employment Gap09:43 Veteran Recruitment & Support Strategies15:06 Military Experience & Civilian Application22:45 Family Impact & Leadership Lessons29:41 Veterans: Future of the Industry32:22 Sharp’s Culture and Vision36:50 Sinatra, Gratitude, & Veteran Support
 
Guest Links:Chris's Email - Chris.johnson@sharpusa.comSharp Military Employee Resource Group Enterprise (MERGE) - Sharpmerg@sharpsec.com-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Show LinksLearn more about Stramaglio Consulting: https://stramaglioconsulting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NextweekslifepodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextweekslifepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-week’s-life-podcast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEMWp0DB0L9yrKSQhhNniow

On this episode of The Stramaglio Show, Mike welcomes Oscar Sanchez, President and Chief Executive Officer of KYOCERA Document Solutions America, Inc., for a conversation about 30 years in the imaging industry, leading through uncertainty, and what it truly means to build trust from scratch in a new country.
Oscar shares his unlikely path to the top, starting as a marketing manager in Spain with no marketing department, surviving a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and becoming a sales manager by elimination. He uprooted his family from Spain to Amsterdam to the United States, arriving with no friends, no support system, and a brand new job, only to be immediately tested by COVID and supply chain chaos.
On the business side, Oscar offers a candid take on AI, IT services, A4 opportunity, and what KYOCERA is asking of its dealer partners going forward. His philosophy is refreshingly grounded: stay close to your core, build depth over breadth, and never stop learning from your mistakes.
Timestamps00:00 Kyocera’s Successful Year04:31 30 Years at Kyocera: Trust Building08:12 Universal Values of Trust11:21 Kyocera’s Approach to AI14:19 IT Services & Production Print17:00 Industry Challenges and Opportunities20:57 Dealer Partnerships and Growth25:33 Lessons from Difficult Transitions31:51 Family Support and Optimism
Guest Links: Kyocera Website: https://www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.us/en.htmlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscarsanchezgonzalez-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Show LinksLearn more about Stramaglio Consulting: https://stramaglioconsulting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NextweekslifepodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextweekslifepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-week’s-life-podcast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEMWp0DB0L9yrKSQhhNniow

On this episode of The Stramaglio Show, Mike welcomes Barry Simon, retiring President of Datamax, for a warm and deeply personal conversation about what it truly means to build a business the right way, with culture, community, and people at the center of everything.
Barry traces his journey from the north side of Chicago to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1985, where he grew a small operation of 15 people into one of the most respected dealerships in the country. Along the way, he shares the goal that defined Datamax: to have raving fans, not just customers.
As Barry steps into retirement, his advice to the industry is simple: never lose your culture, hire for passion, listen more than you talk, and never stop giving back.
Timestamps00:00 Welcome Barry Simon & Career Start03:59 Transitioning from Chicago to Little Rock08:04 Career Challenges & Company Culture12:00 Retirement & Leadership Message15:10 Letters from a Leader & Raving Fans19:50 Future of the Industry & Leadership23:39 CDA, Employee Loyalty & Community28:10 Interviewing, Customer Engagement & Gratitude33:40 Generational Differences & Rotary Impact37:37 Acknowledgements & Farewell
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Show LinksLearn more about Stramaglio Consulting: https://stramaglioconsulting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NextweekslifepodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextweekslifepodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-week’s-life-podcast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEMWp0DB0L9yrKSQhhNniow