BTA’s Capture the Magic Conference Honors Bob Goldberg’s 47-Year Legacy

The Business Technology Association (BTA) hosted its annual Capture the Magic office equipment reseller conference in Huntington Beach, CA, from June 17-19. This year’s event was especially notable as it marked the official retirement of BTA’s legal counsel, Bob Goldberg, after an amazing 47-year career. Bob’s son, Greg Goldberg, is set to take over the role starting July 1. Greg has already hit the ground running, taking part in a number of panels and presentations as he was easing into this role over the last year or two.

The conference kicked off with some opening comments and a quick presentation from reception sponsor HP, followed by a series of educational sessions. Industry leaders, including Sharp Electronics’ CEO Mike Marusic, Toshiba America Business Solutions’ CEO Larry White and John Stewart Region VP at Ricoh delivered speeches between sessions, offering their congratulations to Bob Goldberg and sharing fond memories of his contributions to the industry. Konica Minolta President Laura Blackmer was also there to honor Bob.

One of the standout moments of the conference was the presentation by Todd Johnson of Strategic Business Associates, who shared eye-opening and invaluable dealer metrics from their research. His session provided attendees with actionable information and a firm understanding of industry trends.

In recognition of outstanding service, Debra Dennis of CopyPro in North Carolina was named BTA Volunteer of the Year for the second time. Her dedication and contributions have been greatly appreciated in advancing the association’s mission and supporting the reseller community.

The presentations closed with a presentation given by Bob and Greg, Bob’s last as BTA General Counsel Greg officially takes over July 1. Here’s Bob’s portion, you can see Greg’s separately, here.

Bob Goldberg has been a stalwart advocate for office equipment resellers, guiding the often-contentious relationships between manufacturers and dealers with skill and diplomacy like only Bob can do. His efforts have earned him respect and admiration across the industry, with many recounting personal stories of how Bob assisted them in times of great need. Many stories were how Bob helped complete strangers he had just met.

In addition to his professional achievements, Bob has been an active participant in the Patriot’s Pack, a group of industry professionals who ride across the United States annually to raise funds for various charities. Past rides have supported the Jillian Fund, and this year, the Pack is raising money for a new veterans’ scholarship charity through BTA.

The conference featured a tribute dinner for Bob, where it was announced that a second $3,000 Bob Goldberg Scholarship would be added to BTA’s annual scholarship program. The dinner reception was filled with heartfelt speeches from colleagues and friends, both in person and via video messages. Notable speakers included Mike Stramaglio, Jim D’Emidio, Frank Cannata and many of Bob’s dealer friends, all of whom shared stories highlighting Bob’s impact on their lives and careers.

Sponsors of the BTA event, who also support our publication, showcased their latest offerings:

Xerox displayed their newest multifunction printers and document management solutions.
HP presented their range of office printers and print security solutions.
Ricoh showcased their innovative imaging and printing technologies.
Sharp highlighted their advanced office solutions and multifunction printers.
Toshiba demonstrated their business solutions and printing technologies.
ACDI featured their print management and technology solutions for PaperCut, ETHERFAX fax software, and Elatec RFID among others.
Brother displayed their A4 printers and scanners.
ConnectWise presented their IT programs and services.
Distribution Management showcased their hardware distribution services.
ECI featured their print management and ERP software.
Epson displayed their range of print hardware and scanners.
FP Mailing Solutions showcased their mailing hardware and software solutions.
GreatAmerica presented their equipment and software financing and HR services.
Hytec highlighted their circuit board repair programs.
IBPI demonstrated the benefits of the industry’s largest buyer’s group.
Konica Minolta showcased their All Covered IT services and hardware programs.
MyQ featured their print management solutions.

The evening was a fitting celebration of Bob Goldberg’s legacy and a testament to his enduring influence on the office equipment reseller community. As the industry bids farewell to Bob, it also looks forward to the continued leadership and support from Greg Goldberg, ensuring that the spirit of collaboration and respect that Bob championed will live on.