Pictured above: The Cannatas (Carol C. Cannata center, CJ Cannata and Frank Cannata, far right) welcome elite office technology partners (from left) Josh Braendle, Static Control; Raj Thadani, MARS International; Josh Lane and Mark Hart, ACDI; and Jerry Blaine, LDI Connect.
Thirty-six special guests of The Cannata Report gathered on May 14 in New York City at Tiro A Segno, a private club and the oldest Italian heritage organization in the United States. Founder Frank G. Cannata, CEO CJ Cannata, Senior VP of Client Services Carol Cannata, and Editor-in-Chief Mark Vruno each hosted a table consisting of nine office technology partners at the company’s annual Elite Partner Dinner.
In his welcoming remarks, CJ Cannata referenced the evening’s spirit of “coop-etition” and recognized three decades of partnership with OEM Toshiba and leasing partner U.S. Bank. Next up, Frank G. Cannata announced the charity for the 41st Anniversary Awards & Charities Gala. This year, The Cannata Report will help to raise money for the Precision Medicine for Combat Veterans Initiative, which supports Special Operations Forces veterans fighting cancer. The initiative is a partnership between City of Hope, its Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), and Soteria Precision Medicine Foundation. Partners Distribution Management, HP, and TD SYNNEX also directly support City of Hope’s efforts. The Cannata Gala will take place on Thursday evening, November 19, in Morristown, New Jersey.
CJ Cannata welcomes Phil Buysse and Paul Meyer, U.S Bank, a three-decade advertising partner of The Cannata Report.
On the business side, Vruno discussed new editorial initiatives launched in 2026, including the recently launched “Office Tech & AI” column by industry notable Greg Walters, the new In Focus video interviews, and a series of human-interest feature stories under the theme of “high tech, high touch.” Earlier this month, the first such dealer profile celebrated Tom McMahon, president of Milner, Inc. During a special presentation, Carol Cannata recognized GreatAmerica Finanical Services Senior VP & GM Jennie Fisher, who is retiring on June 30th.
Nestled in the heart of Greenwich Village in Manhattan, the club offers a unique blend of Italian cultural heritage, culinary delight, and a one-of-a-kind shooting experience (the venue has a shooting range, thus the club’s name, Tiro A Segno, that translates to ‘Fire at the target.’) “It is always a tremendous honor to be invited to the Elite Partner Dinner. The Cannatas truly know how to bring people together,” said Josh Lane, president and CEO of ACDI. “The event is a unique blend of personal sharing and professional camaraderie. We don’t see industry representation like this anywhere else. Plus, having a gun range in the basement adds an element of competition that takes the night to the next level. Call me deadeye!”
CJ Cannata welcomes Oscar Sanchez of Kyocera Document Solutions America and Larry White of Toshiba America Business Solutions.
Key partner leaders from Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America and TD Synnex agree that the event is much more than a fine-dining experience:
- “The Cannata Elite Partner Dinner is one of the office technology industry’s most unique traditions, bringing together leaders from across the channel in a genuinely relaxed setting,” described Bob Madaio, Sharp’s VP of marketing. “Only the Cannatas could create an atmosphere where the uniquely New York institution we gather at almost fades into the background as competitors, partners, and longtime colleagues let their guard down to share conversation, perspective, commiseration, and great company. In an industry that moves as quickly as ours, that kind of candid connection still matters.”
- “The Cannata Elite Dinner continues to be one of the most valuable gatherings in our industry,” added Desiree Cruz, VP of product management for TD Synnex’s Print, Visual, UC & Physical Security business. “It’s a rare opportunity to connect with leaders across the channel in a setting that fosters genuine conversation, collaboration, and new ideas.”
Making office technology connections
Larry White, president and CEO of Toshiba America Business Solutions, said the Elite Partner Dinner is something that he genuinely looks forward to each year. “The Cannatas’ generosity in opening their club to business partners creates a rare setting where industry leaders enjoy great food, friendly banter, and truly connect. The Elite Partner Dinner epitomizes the values of our incredible industry, where relationships are forged and fostered in pursuit of a shared vision for the future of our profession.”
Offering a dealer’s perspective is Jerry Blaine, CEO of LDI Connect in Long Island, New York. “It is an honor for me to be a part of the Elite Partner Dinner,” Blaine noted. “The intimate setting and the caliber of the people not only strengthens existing partnerships, but it also creates an environment where competitors, both manufacturers and dealers, can openly share ideas and discuss the future of our business. New relationships are made that always seem to have lasting impact, and old ones are always invigorated.”
Frank Cannata with Hytec Dealer Services’s Eric Auman and Jennifer Amatucci. Hytec is a long-standing platinum partner of The Cannata Report’s Annual Awards & Charities Gala.
Jennifer Healy, VP of Channel and SMB Marketing for Ricoh in North America, summed up the sentiment: “The Elite Partner event is a great opportunity to step outside our day-to-day and come together in a more relaxed setting. We really value the chance to catch up with peers across the industry, strengthen relationships, and simply enjoy some time together outside of our own organizations.”
About Tiro A Segno
Following an open bar and hors d’oeuvres, attendees enjoyed a five-course meal. Tiro A Segno was founded in 1888 as a sportsmen’s club where members indulged in their hunting hobby at a private preserve on Staten Island. Members turned over the preserve during World War I and relocated to its current MacDougal Street outpost in the 1920s.
PHOTO GALLERY
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- Megan Stathakis and Desiree Cruz of TD SYNNEX with Frank.
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- Mary Hart and John Whidden of HP with CJ.
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- Dino Pagliarello of Sharp Imaging and Information Company with Carol.
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- Jennifer Healy and Steven Burger of Ricoh USA with CJ.
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- Mark Vruno with Jason Dizzine of Konica Minolta Business Solutions.
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- Jennie Fisher of GreatAmerica with Carol.
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- Monte White and Ted Gruener of Distribution Management (far L and far R) with CJ, and Adam Weiss, Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office.
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- Don Duvall and Oscar Sanchez of Kyocera with CJ.
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- Kimberlie Sutterfield, Brother USA with CJ.
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- Tom McMahon and Anthony DelGrosso of Milner, Inc. with Carol.
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- Mark Vruno and Mark Hart.
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- Jennie Fisher, Bob Madaio, Sharp; and Jenna Miner, ConnectWise.
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- Jennie Fisher with CJ.
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- Andrew Ritschel, Electronic Office Systems with Carol.
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- Raj Thadani with Frank.
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- Frank and Jerry Blaine.
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- Jennie Fisher, Carol, Mike Sadoski, and Jason Dizzine.
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- Jennifer Healy, Kimberlie Sutterfield,and Desiree Cruz.
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- Dino Pagliarello, CJ, and Jason Dizzine.
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- John Whidden and Frank.
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- Mike Sadoski and Ted Gruener,
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- Steven Burger, Jason Dizzine, and Josh Lane.
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- Frank with Ed Carroll, TGI Office Automation.
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- 2025 Women Influencers Jennifer Healy and Mary Hart reunite with Carol.
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- Jennie Fisher and Jenna Miner.
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- Bob Madaio with CJ.
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- Frank with Paul Meyer.
