Network News Volume 42 No.1
eVolution
Service Rrevolution |
Many
.com companies have bit the dust this last year but there are over
5000 new companies thriving and surviving using electronic means for
their business strategy. Additionally, I red recently there are a
million nuts and bolts companies in the U.S. using the information
super highway to enhance their business strategy. For instance the
airlines have gone to eTicketing which made their costs go from $24
per ticket to pennies per ticket. How has our individual lives changed
as a result of the information super highway. Have you considered
that perhaps some of the benefactors may indeed be us baby boomers
& when we turn senior citizens we can remain independent in our
own homes ordering food, medical supplies, etc. with just a click
away. Information is instantaneous and accessible from anywhere,the
beach, playing golf, sitting on the tarmac at the airport, virtually
anywhere now we can access the internet which will connect us to each
other, company to company, allow us to sell our products, use it to
make our business more productive, eService, eCommerce, eTraining,
eBusiness.
Over the three days of the SIA conference the focus is to show ways
we can enhance our business, how we position our products, how we
market ourselves, even how to set up a better website. What made the
difference in the companies that made it and those that didn’t.
Contents
SIA to Elect New Board at Conference |
Randy Parks, V.P. & G.M. Omnitech-Gencorp, Larry Gashi, Pres.SATS Technology Support, Dave DeGeorgi,Pres. EAD Systems, Barry Cummins, Pres. Varilease, of the Computer Group. The Medical Board includes Malcolm Ridgway, Sr. V.P Masterplan, Rory Scheving,V.P.Novare, Steve Schwarz,Pres. Acceletronics, and Dave Johnson, V.P. MedAssets. The Copier Group will remain Lee Carr, Pres. Service Technologies. Carole Greene, Sr. V.P of Maintech and Al Lapides, Chairman of RPI are retiring from the Board. We thank them for their service.
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Introducing
a New Sponsor & Members |
Acceletronics
was started in 1981 by Dave Veith & Rich Kelly, ex-Siemens &
ex-Varian linear accelerator service engineers. Dave opened
up service in the Philly area and Rich started off in D.C. During
the 1980's, Acceletronics became the largest ISO in radiotherapy in
the Mid-Atlantic region with a reputation for high quality, excellent
response & lowest cost services. In 1991, I was recruited
for the Chicago service operation, as a 30 yr old senior field service
engineer.
In 1993, after tripling in size, we formed Acceletronics Midwest, Inc. and I was honored to be named its president. Acceletronics Midwest was servicing at over 90 Midwest hospitals, and had grown by the hard work and dedication of our team and the medical community's acceptance of us. We expanded into the upper Midwest out to the Dakota's, St. Louis, Indiana and Michigan.
In 1997, I was named President & CEO of Acceletronics, which by then had become the parent company for 2 regional service companies and 1 parts operation. Acceletronics group, is now expanded into Florida & Puerto Rico, Western PA, Eastern Ohio & NY State, forming 2 new service subsidiaries. We started the ISO 9000 registration process.
We spun off Acceletronics parts business into an online 24/7 parts repair depot & support company which is growing steadily. On the legal front, we have successfully defended ourselves against a myriad of false claims made by Varian in California courts, and continue to prosecute our case in Texas's federal court, awaiting a class action ruling on their refusal to sell ISO's parts. We joined SIA in an effort to expand our network in the medical and other tech areas and look forward to meeting other members at the annual meetings. The Acceletronics group currently consists of 5 companies with 40+ full time employees, that service cancer care equipment & industrial radiography systems in 22 States & Puerto Rico. Acceletronics celebrated its 20th anniversary in Jan 2001 and it's ISO 9002 registration in March 2001.
New Members…..
Antenna Software
Peter Semmelhack, Pres.CEO, NY, NY 212 343 2866
ARC Services, Inc.
Greg Benner, V P Sales/Mktng., Chesterfield, S.C.
843 623 3200
DITEC, Inc.
Manny Roman, Pres.
Solon, OH 440 519 1555
Olympus America, Inc.
Robert Heiler, Dir. Sys.Dev.
Melville, NY 631 844 5962
Penn Biomedical Support
Steven Kerns, V.P. Donald Yanusko, Pres. Douglasville, PA. 610 404
0100
Triangle Technology Srvs.
Mindy Barbee, President
Morrisville, NC
919 468 1899
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SIA Survey of Members shows Increasing Partnerships between Members
In an effort to increase the value to SIA members we recently conducted a quick survey to determine the value of the database and level of partnering within SIA. The results of the survey showed that about half of the members have downloaded the database but not in the last year and a little over a third would like to see a hard copy “member-to-member Network partnering book” in hard copy in addition to the electronic version.
The most positive information on the survey showed that about 60% of the members have partnered with at least two other members in the last year which resulted in a dollar value of the partnerships to them averaging close to $50,000 per year.
Over the years when we conduct a survey at the annual conference
the overwhelming value the members tell us of the association is “Networking”
with other members. Your new Board is working on a benefit that will
increase that capability for you. In this global “uneasy” economy
the difference in those that make it and those that don’t may be the
foresight in making decisions about joining networks like SIA that
provide a dollar value to you bottom line. If you are a member of
SIA get on the partnership bandwagon...partner with other SIA members
to increase your value.
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Letter from the President
Dear SIA Members,
I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve as the Board President
during the next two years and look forward to not only working with
the Board members, but each member of the association. My job and
that of the Board is to be responsive to the needs of our membership
and to grow and continually invigorate the association with services
and resources that matter most to you. Please do not hesitate to let
me know personally how SIA can better serve you, your company’s interests
and the industry as a whole in the coming years. I can be reached
via Email at John.Walker@tfetech.com or by telephone at 801-298-8000.
Already hard at work a brain storming session of more than 21 members of the association, consisting of current and past Board members, will be meeting on March 25th in advance of the Annual conference. We will be looking at the various issues that unite all service companies especially those pertaining to a level playing field and true choice for our customers, as well as how the association can better serve you the membership. This all day work session will help us to focus and come to unanimity on our goals for the coming years. During the Annual Conference and throughout the year I will continue to report on the goals developed during this session and our achievements throughout the year.
This year is also an election year, with new members being elected to the Board. Please remember that this is your association and that the members of the Board are your representatives. If you know of, or wish to nominate a Board candidate please feel free to contact Claudia Betzner or myself directly. Through involvement you can make a difference, just as our association makes a difference in the industry.
While we add new members to the Board, it seems that we must also say goodbye to some long-standing members as well. Carole Greene, and Al Lapides, have indicated their desire to leave the board, but remain a part of the association. I wish to personally thank each for all of their hard work, dedication, and quality of service that they have provided to the Board and the Association. Please remember that the Board consists of members who voluntarily give of their time and talents on your behalf. Please take a moment during the conference and throughout the year to offer the Board members not only your thoughts and ideas, but your thanks for the work they have done and are doing on your behalf.
As I have indicated above, please let me know at any time, whether by telephone or Email, how SIA can better benefit your company even more in the coming years, and remember to tell other business associates about our hard-working trade association.
See you at the Annual Conference in Las Vegas.
Respectfully,
John Walker
SIA Board President
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Legal Update
CSU
V. Xerox - As everyone has heard by now, the decision came down
on Tuesday, February 20 from the U. S. Supreme Court which denied
CSU’s petition for certiorari ……. What does this mean? For CSU the
case is over, done, finished forever more. The only thing now is if
Xerox changes it’s policy and does not sell parts to ISO’s which creates
so much pain and suffering by the Independent Service Industry another
suit is filed and it finds it’s way back to the U. S. Supreme Court.
According to Ron Katz, the General Counsel for SIA who wrote the SIA
brief in support of CSU, “It is unfortunate that the court did not
take this opportunity to resolve differing views among Circuit Courts.
We need more certainty in this area of the law, and only the U. S.
Supreme Court can provide it.” The big question is “What is Xerox’s
policy going to be now?” Given Xerox’s financial problems they will
probably not make a lot of changes this year.
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Sponsors & Board |
 |
| Masterplan Malcolm Ridgway, Sr.V. P. 818 734-8376 Bruce Cree, President |
| CSU Richard Watkins,Pres.& CEO 913 541 0960 |
| EAD Systems
Corp. Dave DeGiorgi, Principal 781 767-5422 |
| Maintech Frank D'Alessio, President Carole Greene, Sr.V.P. Marketing & Sales 973 614-1700 |
| Northrop Grumman Joe Mulderig, President Logicon Commercial Information Services, Inc. 516 563-6907 |
| Novare Services, Inc. Rory Scheving,Vice President 810 735 6335 |
| TFE Technology Holdings LLC John Walker C.E.O. & President 801 298 8000 |
| SATS Technology Support Services Larry Gashi, President 941 360 0422 |
| Acceletronics Steve Schwarz, Pres.& CEO 800 394 2717 |
| Board of Directors: |
| Chairman: Rich
Heimann, Pres. Int’l Bandwidth President: John Walker, Pres. TFE Technology Holdings LLC Sec-Treas: Mac McBride, Pres. Red Lion Med.Safety Gen’lCounsel: Ron Katz, Principal Coudert Brothers Executive Director: Claudia J. Betzner |
| Computer Service Group V.P. John Walker,Pres. TFE V.P.Membership: Carole Greene, Sr. V.P. Sales & Mktng. Maintech Sec. Dave DeGirogi, Principal EAD Systems Corp. S.I.G.CoOrdinator: Barry Cummins, Pres. Varilease Tech.Gp. |
| Business Products Group
Exec.V.P.Lee Carr, Pres. Service Technologies |
| Medical Service Group Exec.V.P. Dave Johnson,V.P. MedAssets, Inc. V.P. Membership Al Lapides, Chairman, RPI Secretary: Malcolm Ridgway, Sr.V.P. MasterPlan V.P.Rory Scheving, V.P.Ops Novare Services, Inc. |