What is the biggest
misconception about the industry?
The biggest misconception about
my industry is that it's still about copiers — or, as we call it, "the
boxes." Meridian
did originally start in 1985 with fax
machines and copiers, but it quickly evolved into much more. Today, we serve
thousands of clients throughout the DMV (and nationally, too) with a focus on
overall technology strategy, identifying and implementing ways we can help you
streamline business processes, create efficiencies, achieve goals, gain
visibility, control costs, mitigate risks, drive business and more. From
trusted advisor or strategic business partner, to supplemental “hybrid IT”
support for in-house IT teams or an entirely outsourced IT department, to your
Virtual Chief Information Officer and more — our relationships with clients
take many forms and are nimble enough to evolve as their businesses do over
time. Sometimes, it does still involve some print or copying hardware, but the
ways in which we help our clients leverage technology to manage and grow their
businesses is so much bigger than those boxes.
What is your biggest current
challenge at work?
My biggest current challenge at
work is finding ways to get creative with my client relationships. Prior to
Meridian becoming a Konica Minolta company, we were limited in that we did not
have access to the host of products and services we can now provide from
Konica's comprehensive suite of business technology offerings. Now that that's
changed, I'm challenging myself to step outside my comfort zone and have new
conversations with clients that span beyond the Managed IT Services, print
management, document management, and office equipment that they've always known
us for. It's an exciting challenge, though, and one that's pushed me to learn
more about things I rarely dealt with before, such as Smart IP Camera Systems,
telepresence robots, collaborative "smart" boards, virtual
receptionist systems, conference room management software, 3D printers, and
much more.
What keeps you up at night?
Security. As a former law enforcement
officer and current consultant for office technology and IT, I have a unique
perspective on how physical and digital threats have evolved over the years. In
general, these days, everyone knows that cyber crime is an issue and most try
to take steps to mitigate the risks. However, it always amazes me how easy it
is for an otherwise-very-secure firm to overlook critical details.
This can include anything, from
the simple things — ensuring the door to your server room is always locked,
keeping workspaces clear of sensitive information like passwords on sticky
notes, thumb drives with important data, etc. — to more complex topics like
middleware/Java security risks, print and device security, 24/7 proactive
network monitoring, remote remediation, securing back-ups, firewalls,
authentication requirements and more.
Luckily, this is also an area
Meridian is well-equipped to help with, with Konica Minolta's full business
solutions suite, including Smart IP Camera Systems, Virtual Receptionist
Systems, bizhub hardware that has some of the most advanced security features
available on the market, and more.
What project is your company
most proud of?
For a company that's been around
as long as Meridian — 35 years in 2020 — it's hard to pick just one project
we're most proud of, especially since we take such pride in delivering superior
customer experiences across the board, not only for our largest accounts, but
also for the smallest clients, and all those in between. However, a few
specific examples do come to mind.
The first is Foulger Pratt, who
I've personally had the pleasure of working with. The customer quote Foulger
Pratt graciously provided for Meridian's website does a great job of telling
the story for me, "Partnering with Meridian has enabled us to leverage
technology to increase our efficiency and reduce operating expenses by about
25% per year. No other technology partner has come close to the responsiveness
and level of customer support I receive from the Meridian team."
The second example is actually
two very large projects executed simultaneously. In the summer of 2016, we
upgraded the entire fleets of multifunctional printers for both Fairfax and
Montgomery County Governments, in addition to maintaining our high service
standards for all other accounts at the same time. This included ordering,
receiving, assembling, configuring, delivering and installing more than 500
multifunctional devices all over Fairfax County and Montgomery County — from
offices and libraries, to firehouses and social services locations, and more —
as well as picking up their antiquated devices for return. This extremely
well-coordinated effort, all while still providing excellent service to all
customers, was an amazing feat like nothing I've ever witnessed before. It's
something the entire Meridian team can be proud of.
How does your ABC membership
help your company?
As Meridian's Strategic
Account Director for Construction and Property Management, ABC membership helps
create a direct connection and foster relationships with the companies I
specialize in helping. It also helps ensure I'm on-point when it comes to the
issues and challenges facing the construction industry, so that my technology
advice and solutions can be as relevant and useful as possible. Ultimately, ABC
membership helps me and my company, Meridian Imaging Solutions, do a better job
of helping the construction industry get the most out of technology and stay
ahead of trends and threats.