The Stramaglio Show

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

On this episode of The Stramaglio Show, Mike welcomes Jeremy Reimers, VP of Sales and Marketing at Capital Business Systems in Colorado, for a candid conversation about sales leadership, technology adoption, and what it takes to grow a dealership in a rapidly evolving industry.
Jeremy shares his unlikely path into the office technology channel — from IT and software roots to beverage distribution to a phone call that changed everything. He opens up about navigating COVID as a brand-new sales leader, building automation-driven marketing and sales systems, and how Capital has grown beyond copiers and printers into managed network services, unified communications, and document management.
From attracting Gen Z talent to embracing robotics, cybersecurity, and AI, Jeremy brings a fresh, practical perspective on what dealers need to do to stay relevant — and why change for the right reasons is the only real strategy. Plus, his ECS takeaways, his philosophy on generalist vs. specialist sales teams, and of course, his favorite Frank Sinatra song.
Timestamps00:00 Introducing Jeremy Reimers04:08 Evolving Sales and Marketing Strategies08:48 Navigating Sales Through COVID13:00 Company Growth and Future Talent17:58 AI in Sales Training and Development22:15 Personal Insights and Family Ambitions25:31 Industry Outlook and ECS Takeaways30:39 Embracing Constant Change33:57 Multi-Dimensional Sales Reps-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 Captain Tom Chaby, a retired Navy SEAL with 26 years of service and 11 years of total deployment time. From a broken home in suburban New York to the highest levels of Naval Special Warfare, Tom's journey is a masterclass in purpose, resilience, and the pursuit of something greater than yourself.
Tom shares what it truly means to lead in one of the world's most demanding environments, why humility and vulnerability are strengths, and why real leadership starts with leading yourself. He also brings those principles into the business world, working with companies like DEX Imaging to drive professional development, team effectiveness, and performance optimization.
Tom shares his deep commitment to The Honor Foundation, an organization that helps Navy SEALs and special operators transition from military to civilian life. Learn more about The Honor Foundation: www.honor.org
The episode closes with Tom's advice to anyone in the imaging channel: focus on process over outcome, stay neutral through the highs and lows, and trust the people around you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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