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Above: Frank Cannata (far left), Carol Cannata (left) and CJ Cannata (right) present Ted LeBlanc (center right) with Toshiba’s 2017 “Best A3 MFP Manufacturer” Frank Award at The Cannata Report’s 32nd Annual Awards & Charities Dinner. Toshiba’s win in this or related categories was a first, and the biggest news of the evening in terms of award winners.
Scott Cullen (left) and CJ Cannata (right) present Rick Taylor with his 2017 “Best Male Executive” Frank Award at The Cannata Report’s 32nd Annual Awards & Charities Dinner.
As determined by The Cannata Report’s Annual Dealer Survey, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) and Toshiba America Business Solutions (Toshiba) dominated the Frank Awards at The Cannata Report’s 32nd Annual Awards & Charities Dinner on November 2 with multiple wins. Rick Taylor, president and CEO, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. achieved a landmark by winning Best Male Executive for the 11th time. Moreover, Konica Minolta won three Frank Awards, setting a record for the most wins ever by a single company. Toshiba won our first ever “Best A3 MFP Manufacturer” award in a milestone victory, as accepted by Vice President, U.S. Dealer Sales, Ted LeBlanc. (Note in the past, dealer survey data pertaining to A3 MFP and Production Print Devices aligned, yielding a “Best Manufacturer” award winner. However, this year, that was not the case. As a result, The Cannata Report dispensed with the “Best Manufacturer” award and established separate “Best A3 MFP Manufacturer” and “Best Production Print Manufacturer” awards.)
Laura Blackmer, former senior vice president, sales, Sharp Electronics Corporation, also set a record by winning Best Female Executive for the third year in a row. Blackmer is the only executive to win this award since its inception in 2015.
Inclusive of aforementioned highlights, categories and winners included:
Best Male Executive: Rick Taylor
Best Female Executive: Laura Blackmer
Best A3 MFP Manufacturer: Toshiba
Best A4 MFP Manufacturer: Lexmark International, Inc.
Best Production Print Manufacturer: Konica Minolta
Best-in-Class Manufacturer: Toshiba
Best Marketing Strategy: Konica Minolta
Best Software & Services Provider: ACDI
Best Leasing Company: GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation
As determined by The Cannata Report’s executive management team, The Cannata Report also presented a surprise Lifetime Achievement award to Robert C. Goldberg, general counsel of the Business Technology Association and emcee of the Cannata Dinner for many years. Goldberg is renowned in the imaging industry as “the dealer’s attorney and best friend,” as stated by Frank G. Cannata, CEO, The Cannata Report, while presenting the award. Goldberg’s win marks the sixth time over 32 years that The Cannata Report has presented a Lifetime Achievement award.
The 32nd Annual Dealer Survey was officially sponsored by EverBank and the 32nd Annual Awards & Charities Dinner”“which transpired at The Madison Hotel in Morristown, New Jersey”“was officially sponsored by Clover Imaging Group, Hytec Dealer Services, and PSIGEN Software, Inc.
The Cannata Report will publish a complete recap of the event, inclusive of photos and video, in our December/January 2017 issue and on thecannatareport.com.
