Seventy years ago, the late Vincent Miceli, Sr. had a vision of what would become Pulse Technology. Let’s rewind: 1955 was a good year. For one thing, Velcro was invented that year. On the consumer electronics scene, Tappan introduced the first domestic microwave oven, and Zenith patented the first wireless television remote control (called the Flash-Matic).
In entertainment and fast-food, Disneyland’s themed park debuted in Anaheim, California, and the first McDonald’s restaurant opened in a suburb 30 miles northwest of Chicago. Nearby, Miceli had started a business in the garage adjacent to his Des Plaines, Illinois home. Sales inventory at Des Plaines Office Equipment (DPOE) consisted of typewriters, calculators, and other office equipment. (Remington, Royal, and Smith-Corona were some of the big typewriter brands of the time.)
On the duplicating side, Japanese engineers at Riken Optical Company, Ltd. (now Ricoh Company, Ltd.) rolled out a desktop diazo copier called the Ricopy 101 in the mid-1950s. It was the first product integrating exposure and development. Four years later, in 1959, the Haloid/Xerox company would present the first commercial plain-paper copier, known as the Xerox 914, which truly changed the office document landscape. Physicist Chet Carlson had co-invented the dry photocopying process called xerography 21 years earlier, in the late ’30s, but it wasn’t yet fast enough or economical to use.
Fast-forward a quarter century, when Chip and Victor Miceli, Vincent’s sons, purchased DPOE from their father. Under Vic and Chip’s leadership since 1986, when A.B. Dick, IBM, and Pitney Bowes were among the major office machine manufacturers, the company evolved and grew into a network services and information technology (IT) powerhouse. Now, with annual sales in the $25 million range and its reach spanning three states, including Northwest Indiana and Southern Wisconsin as well as the Chicago metro area in Illinois, the regional dealer rebranded in 2019. (Vic was a co-owner and VP until he left the business in 2020; Chip is president and CEO.)
“I took a different path than my father did,” Chip Miceli reflected, “but the roots of the company were based in something he said early on: ‘Go sell stuff.’ I did, and what I found—and I think he learned—was that customers would ask for products and services that we currently didn’t sell. It was a good basis for how we’ve grown by adding products and services to our menu based on what our customers asked for. It has helped us expand our offerings.”
Celebrating Good Times at Pulse Technology!
Last Wednesday, on June 4, a string quartet played softly in the Schaumburg, IL headquarters of Pulse Technology. More than 100 attendees to the 70th Anniversary soirée socialized and imbibed while munching on tasty appetizers. Among the channel guests present (in alphabetical order):
- Ray Belanger, retired president of Bay Copy, Rockland, Massachusetts
- Jennie Fisher, group president of Office Technology at GreatAmerica Financial Services, presented a special award to Chip on behalf of the finance/leasing partner
- Sarah Henderson, North American regional director for Nexera and MPS Monitor (Valsoft Corp.)
- Bob Goldberg, retired BTA general counsel
- Brent Hoskins, executive director of the Business Technology Association (BTA)
- Chris Johnson, senior sales director for Sharp Business USA’s Central Region, presented an anniversary plaque from the grateful OEM
- Mike Stramaglio, industry consultant and Executive Connection Summit creator, shared a humorous story about Chip’s “Chipisms”
See our LinkedIn page for more event photos.
One person who, regrettably, was not able to make it into the Chicago area for the festivities is John Sheehan, Sharp’s senior VP of channel sales. “It’s truly remarkable that the ‘Godfather’ of the industry has reached the incredible milestone of 70 years,” Sheehan told The Cannata Report. ” I’ve had the privilege of working with Chip through his role on the Sharp Dealer Council, where he continues to be an invaluable contributor. His passion never fades, and anyone who knows him appreciates his honesty—he always speaks his mind,” he notes. “Chip’s insights have made a lasting impact on Sharp, helping to shape many of the programs we now offer to our dealer network.
“Pulse Technology is an outstanding company but, more importantly, Chip is an exceptional person. It’s fair to say he has played a guiding role in my own journey over the years,” Sheehan continued. “Congratulations, Chip and the entire Pulse team, on this impressive achievement!”
Pulse Technology’s 70th Anniversary Party featured luminaries galore.
Distinguished guests of honor on hand last week also included political dignitaries. Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly offered congratulatory comments, as did Illinois State Senator Laura Murphy of Illinois’s 28th District and others. Also present, of course, were other Miceli family members who work in the third-generation business: Paul wears three hats as AV director, project manager, and major account installer; Nicole handles solution sales; Terry is the CEO’s administrative assistant (aka Chip’s right hand); Vince is VP of tech development; and Will is the dealership’s service manager.
Chip, who has become somewhat of an industry legend, concluded the milestone commemoration by thanking friends and visitors who came from all over the United States to attend Pulse Technology’s 70th anniversary celebration. He talked about the dealership’s evolution since his father first started DPOE, adding that working with your dad isn’t always easy. “No kidding [expletive deleted]!” quipped Vince, his own son, who was standing behind Chip, Everyone enjoyed a hearty laugh.
A nod to Vince Miceli, Sr. and Pulse Technology’s roots as Des Plaines Office Equipment.
Photo credits: Pickle Book Designs
The band played on, giving the dealership a classy atmosphere for its 70th Anniversary bash!
