By West McDonald, Vice President of Business Development, Print Audit & Owner, FocusMPS
In 2014, Print Audit introduced the world to “The 7 Deadly Sinners of the Office Equipment Industry.” We had no idea just how popular and powerful this group of industry experts would be when we brought them all together. It’s almost as though on their own they were strong, but together they were explosive.
As of today, the Sinners have officially met their match. Our industry is not just driven by the efforts of men. Far from it. Many of the most powerful and influential leaders we have are women. As business owners and executives they have been, and continue to be, strong drivers for moving the office equipment industry forward. Like the Sinners, they are impressive individuals on their own merits. Also like the Sinners, bring them together and they are unstoppable. Who are these powerful women? Introducing the Avengettes, 7 of the most influential women leaders in the office equipment industry today. They are:
Jennie Fisher: SVP/GM Office Equipment Group, GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation
Jennie Fisher, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Office Equipment Group, is responsible for sales, marketing, operations, and financial performance for this business unit at GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation. She has been involved in lease financing and the office equipment industry since 1989.
Prior to joining GreatAmerica in 1993, Jennie worked for GE Capital. She earned her M.B.A. from the University of Iowa in May 2004. During her tenure with GreatAmerica, Jennie has held various leadership positions, including Team Leader East Coast, Internal Auditor, Sales Director Office Equipment, Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Vice of President Sales for the Office Equipment Group.
Jennie has served on the Board of Directors for the MPSA and the ITEX Advisory Board.
She previously served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the Board for Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa.
Sarah Custer: Director of Services and Solutions, Supplies Network
Sarah joined Supplies Network in 2001 and has held several positions over the years; advancing through the ranks within the sales team before taking on the role of MPS Program Advisor where her expertise and leadership were key to accelerating MPS growth. In 2012, Sarah was promoted to MPS Solutions Manager leading a team of Solutions Advisors responsible for MPS engagements and ultimately equipment sales and related services. Currently serving as Director of Services and Solutions, Sarah leads a team of MPS Solutions Advisors, Equipment Advisors, Contract Coordinators, Fulfillment Analysts and a Technical Operations team focused on break-fix service and software solutions. Additional responsibilities include providing critical direction and design of program enhancements and vendor integrations.
Sarah received a M.B.A. and a B.A. in Management from Webster University.
Tawnya Stone: Director, Enterprise Strategic Technology, GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation
Tawnya Stone has over 15 years of experience in IT project management and operations. In her roles atGreatAmerica she has used that experience to assist dealers and vendors to improve their operational efficiencies. Additionally, she is instrumental in architecting the company’s technology integrations and other software solutions. Here are a few initiatives that Tawnya has recently led.
- Created a Dealer Focus Group to solicit ongoing feedback from our customers
- Built multiple strategic integrations with key industry partners
- Identified gaps in our business/IT integrations and built a bridge to better implement technology solutions
Tawnya is the current chair of the Managed Print Services Community at CompTIA and has been an active participant since its inception. Her passion for the industry and willingness to pitch in have garnered her respect within GreatAmerica as well as the industry.
Jenna Stramaglio: Chief Marketing Officer, MWA Intelligence, Inc
Jenna Stramaglio is the Chief Marketing Officer at MWA Intelligence, Inc. and is responsible for all internal and external communications as well as supporting all sales and growth initiatives. Prior to MWAi, Jenna worked at Chicago Office Technology Group as an Account Manager followed by her position as a Marketing Coordinator at Electronics for Imaging. With over 10 years of experience in the industry and literally having grown up in the channel, she continues to help grow and improve the company in areas within and outside of Marketing.
Jenna earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Arizona State University, WP Carey School of Business and proudly supports The Jillian Fund.
Melissa D. Whitaker: CEO & Founder, Melissa Whitaker International
Melissa D. Whitaker is passionate about helping people in life and in business. Her motto is “Whatever you can conceive and believe, you can achieve.” Family is extremely important to Melissa, and is her ultimate driver in life. She especially wants her daughters to know that they can achieve anything they put their mind to.
Melissa is a sales & management expert, business consultant, international speaker and coach. She is the co-author of the best-selling books “Pushing to the Front” and “Beat the Curve,” with legendary Brian Tracy and the Founder/CEO of Melissa Whitaker International where she helps executives and their teams achieve alignment and drive profitable sales in an authentic way.
Through her proprietary program called MWI Total Sales Transformation System™, Melissa has helped thousands of sales reps and hundreds of companies achieve double digit % increases in their business within the first year of working with her and her team.
The transformation process creates long term sustainable growth through creating clarity, finding ideal clients, increasing sales, accountability, mindset and faith. Melissa is passionate about making sure people feel seen, heard and understood in her programs and in the corporate world.
Petra Diener: Talent and Communication Specialist / CEO, 3 Across The Sea
The Ludwig Maximilian’s University Munich graduate holds a Master of Arts in Drama, Literature and Education. As the current Talent and Communication Specialist / CEO of3 Across the Sea, Petra has lived and worked in many European countries (plus extensive stays in the USA and Australia), speaks 6 languages and is looking back at more than 25 years of professional experience both in the Theater / Movie and Printing industry. She is considered an expert in personal development coaching, marketing & communications, events management, digital printing and Managed Print Services (MPS).
Petra spends her spare time either in the kitchen, on social media, in a (movie) theater, or with her nose deep down in forensic science literature.
Sarah Henderson, Director, MPS Solutions, Clover Imaging Group
Sarah Henderson, Director, Axess MPS, is a versatile business professional with a passion for helping her customers achieve success. An experienced program manager, Sarah specializes in process design, product launches and customer engagement for The Clover Imaging Group. Through the Axess MPS program, she works hands on with dealers to implement the leading MPS software and solutions to identify sales opportunities, operational effectiveness and transform existing programs to improve profitability. As a dynamic public speaker and content creator, she is a thought leader within the imaging industry and was named a “Difference Maker” by ENX Magazine and a “Top 40 Influencer” by The Week In Imaging. Sarah has been elected to the Board of Directors twice and currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Managed Print Services Association (MPSA).
Prior to joining Clover Imaging Group in 2011, Sarah was the Director, Strategic Marketing for the Office Equipment Group at GreatAmerica Financial Services. She has also served as an elected City Councilmember, on municipal planning committees, and currently is an appointed member to the Iowa Board of Psychology. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa. Her free time is spent often with family as she is a proud hockey and dance mom.
Wowsa! What an incredible group of experts. Stay tuned in the coming months as they come together to help “save the office equipment industry” in a series of thought provoking blogs, webinars and potential live appearances. Print Audit is proud to carry the Sinners message of growth and change forward with a new series of industry leaders and innovators. I, for one, feel honored and privileged for having worked with each member of the Avengettes over the years and look forward to seeing what are sure to be incredible contributions moving forward.