The Stramaglio Show

On this episode of The Stramaglio Show, Mike Stramaglio is joined by Medal of Honor recipient James “Doc” McCloughan and his associate Adrian Kozakov for a powerful conversation on service, sacrifice, and legacy.
Doc shares the remarkable story behind receiving the Medal of Honor nearly five decades after his heroic actions as a combat medic in Vietnam. Rather than focusing on recognition, he centers the moment on his fellow soldiers, the lives lost, and the responsibility that comes with surviving. His reflections reveal a lifelong commitment to humility, teaching, and preparing others to face their own challenges with courage.
Adrian expands the conversation to the future, highlighting the importance of preserving the values of the Congressional Medal of Honor through education, leadership, and corporate support. Together, they issue a clear call to action for leaders to help carry these values forward for generations to come.
Visit medalofhonordetroit.com to learn how you can ensure these values and inspire generations to come for the next 250 years of America. 
Chapters00:00 Welcome and Introductions03:26 Defining Service and Values05:36 Receiving the Medal of Honor13:14 Impact and Core Values20:13 Adrian’s Mission and Support27:49 The Ultimate Sacrifice and Future Hope
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 special year-end episode of The Stramaglio Show, Mike Stramaglio is joined by Greg Welchans, President and CMO of Distribution Management, Inc., and Katie Doyle, AVP of Corporate Philanthropy at City of Hope. The conversation weaves together industry leadership, personal journeys, and a powerful mission to eradicate cancer and diabetes. Greg shares his path through the office products industry, the mentors who shaped his leadership style, and his three-decade commitment to City of Hope. Katie offers insight into City of Hope’s groundbreaking work in precision medicine, artificial intelligence, early detection, and compassionate care, while underscoring the urgency and hope behind its mission. Together, they highlight the generosity of the industry, the role of technology in advancing healthcare, and the responsibility leaders have to give back. The episode closes with messages of health, gratitude, and optimism for the year ahead.
Chapters00:00 Introducing Our Guests04:00 City of Hope’s Mission & Progress08:42 Industry’s Support for City of Hope13:59 Technology & Mentorship in Industry19:05 Industry Outlook & Next-Gen Leaders24:19 City of Hope’s Vision & Slogan29:32 Personal Hope & Holiday Wishes
Guest LinksCity of Hope: https://www.cityofhope.org/givingDistribution Management: https://distributionmgmt.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 Stramaglio welcomes industry veteran John Kuchta, who reflects on 55 years in the channel and why he believes the future is brighter than ever. John shares how taking a family business forward after his father’s passing shaped his leadership, and how industry communities helped him learn the financial discipline to build a profitable, people-first operation.
John also walks through his decision to sell Lincoln Office Equipment to Brad Knepper and All Copy Products, with a focus on protecting employees and planning for succession. The conversation turns to what is coming next, including AI, quantum computing, and emerging materials like graphene, plus how All Copy Products is encouraging practical AI adoption through daily use and internal momentum. The episode closes with John’s advice for the next generation: keep trying, take care of your people, and never stop learning.
Chapters:00:00 Welcome and Early Career07:29 Selling Lincoln Office Equipment10:12 Future of Industry: AI & Quantum Computing13:02 Industry Generosity and Young Talent17:17 Next Generation Leaders and Advice20:31 Evolution of ECS and AI Adoption25:56 Legacy, Customer Care, and Future Outlook
Guest Links: All Copy Products: https://www.acp.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 sits down with Howard Bonus, longtime executive at DLL, to talk about the evolution from traditional print into a broader, technology-driven workplace ecosystem. Howard shares how DLL is approaching “print and non-print” growth globally, why AI and robotics currently focus on optimizing existing processes, and how dealers can marry their print portfolios with emerging IT and security offerings to grow faster. He and Mike explore consolidation, the classic 80/20 rule in dealer performance, and a powerful IDC prediction that, “By 2028, 40% of organizations currently under a print services contract will seek to consolidate print and IT services under one contract through a "single source" provider.” (Source: IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Imaging, Printing, and Document Solutions 2026 Predictions. IDC #US53858425, October 2025.)
Howard also gets personal, reflecting on lessons from his early days in the restaurant business, the mentors who shaped his leadership philosophy, and the Generation Next program he helped build to bring young sales talent into the industry. They wrap with advice for emerging leaders, DLL’s commitment to enhancing customer experience first, and, of course, Howard’s favorite Frank Sinatra tune, “New York, New York."
Chapters:00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Howard Bonus04:03 DLL’s Alignment with Technology Evolution08:10 Industry Outlook and Market Convergence14:50 DLL’s Vision and Philosophy19:12 Personal Insights and Future Growth22:35 Advice for Young Professionals and Mentorship27:54 Career Pride and Future Engagements
Guest Links:DLL Website: https://www.dllgroup.com/enHoward's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-bonus-10749718
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 sits down with Brad Knepper, President of All Copy Products, for a candid and inspiring conversation about leadership, loyalty, and risk-taking. From humble beginnings in Iowa to building one of the industry’s top independent dealerships, Brad shares how a $500,000 loan at 43% interest launched a 26-year journey that now drives over $140M in revenue.Brad opens up about the power of long-term relationships, surrounding himself with trusted colleagues, and maintaining aggressive growth through diversification—expanding into IT, VoIP, security, apparel, and even AI. He discusses evolving compensation strategies, the critical mindset shift from print to services, and why he still loves this business just as much as he did on day one. Honest, self-aware, and driven, Brad’s message to the industry is clear: stay positive, embrace change, and lead boldly. 
00:00 Brad Knepper’s Journey to All Copy03:17 The Power of a Dedicated Team06:05 Entrepreneurial Roots and Philanthropy09:50 Strengths, Weaknesses, and Risk-Taking12:48 Culture and Succession Planning15:07 Diversification and Future Growth19:19 Production Print and Industry Outlook22:15 Advice and Compensation Strategies25:34 AI Integration and Dealer Position28:03 Industry Outlook and Final Thoughts
Guest LinksAll Copy Products: https://www.acp.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 legendary leader Ed McLaughlin for an honest and inspiring conversation. The discussion spans five decades in the industry, from the early days of Univac and 3M to groundbreaking work at Sharp. Along the way, listeners hear stories of collaboration with iconic figures, lessons in leadership and innovation, and the importance of staying “fashionable” by adapting to customer and technology needs.
With humor and humility, Ed reflects on successes, mistakes, and the pride of building both career and family. Looking ahead, he shares why print, workflow, and services remain vital, and why change should always be seen as an opportunity.
 
 
00:00 Welcome and Birthday Reflections
03:02 Ed McLaughlin’s Career Journey
06:50 Lessons from Industry Leaders
12:05 Future of the Industry
16:03 AI & Military Spouses in Business
19:00 Wisdom for Young Professionals
23:16 Mentorship and Legacy
26:20 Product Development at Sharp
29:32 Supporting Industry Evolution
33:35 Adaptation and Sinatra’s Artistry
 
Guest Links
VirtForce: https://jobs.virtforce.us/
Predictive InSight: https://predictive-insight.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmcl/
 
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 Rick Harber, a 30-year veteran of the MSP space and founder of Decision Digital, for a conversation that bridges two industries: managed services and office technology. Rick shares how his aerospace roots led to a lifelong tech career and offers candid insight on how OT dealers can profitably expand into IT, cybersecurity, and automation.
Rick draws sharp comparisons between print and voice transitions, explains why recurring revenue is essential, and breaks down what it really takes to build a sustainable MSP model. He also introduces Catapult, a practical training platform focused on business process, workflow, and automation, tailored for the OT channel. With clear-eyed advice and a forward-thinking mindset, Rick issues a challenge to the channel: stop leading with features, and start aligning tech with customer strategy.
 
00:00 Introducing Rick Harber, CEO of Decision Digital
03:17 IT and Copier World Evolution
07:05 COVID-19’s Impact on Print
12:39 Profitability in MSP Space
16:05 MSP vs. OT: Mindset Differences
20:14 Redefining ‘IT Firm’
26:27 Introducing Catapult Event
30:22 Strategic Customer Engagement
 
 
Catapult 2025 Tickets: https://decisiondigital.ticketspice.com/catapult-fall-2025
Use code "Summit2Success" at checkout for $75.00 discount.
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 Melissa Confalone, President of Fraser Advanced Information Systems, for a powerhouse conversation on leadership, culture, and innovation. With 30 years at Fraser under her belt, Melissa shares her remarkable journey from would-be lawyer to industry trailblazer, revealing the mentorship, grit, and gut instincts that shaped her rise.Melissa opens up about the evolution of Fraser’s sales-driven DNA, their aggressive embrace of AI and automation, and how they're attracting next-gen talent by reinventing the copier business for a digital world. She and Mike dig into the real impact of culture, the responsibility of leadership, and what it means to build not just a business, but a movement. From fly-me-to-the-moon moments to hard-earned insights, this episode is packed with wisdom for the future of the industry. 
Chapters00:00 Welcome and Introduction01:06 Melissa’s Journey Begins03:01 Growth and Mentorship06:31 Celebrating 30 Years08:39 Attracting the Next Generation10:10 Embracing AI in Business12:36 The Future of the Industry15:04 Fraser’s IT Services Growth18:06 A Positive Outlook20:58 Building a Strong Company Culture23:29 The Nature of Leadership29:04 Advice for Young Professionals31:06 Looking Ahead
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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