50 - Independent Dealer

If you have news to share - email it to Simon@IDealerCentral.comIS president and CEO Mike Gentile (left) and TriMega chairman Ian Wist greeteach other at the opening general session.Dealer groups Independent Stationers and TriMega promised bigthings would happen at their first joint convention effort and theydelivered on that promise handsomely last month in San Antonio,where the two groups hosted their EPIC 2013 event.From the opening reception through to the last convention workshop,the energy level was high as dealers and their businesspartners gave an overwhelmingly positive response to whatmany attendees saw as a first step towards closer collaborationand an eventual merger.The event drew over 1,300 attendees, including nearly 1,000from some 450 dealer firms and featured close to 150 exhibitors,numbers that in themselves testified to the event’s success.Members of the Enterprise Group team in San Antonio celebrate their selection as EPICPartner of the Year. The award was presented by Independent Stationers’ Charles Forman(far left) and TriMega’s Michael Morris (far right).IS and TriMega Make Big Things Happen at First Joint ConventionAnd while leaders of both groups consigned forecasts of an upcomingmerger to the “rumors-only” column at this time, they leftlittle doubt that further collaboration would be coming and soon.“There is no big announcement here at EPIC about TriMega andIndependent Stationers merging,” TriMega board chairman IanWist told members of both groups at the opening session. “Butwhat is big,” he continued, “is the lines of communication arewide open, we are genuinely engaging in productive dialog andefforts to ultimately make the right, big decision for our groupsand our dealers.”Independent Stationers president and CEO Mike Gentile pointed tonational accounts as another area where the two groups are alreadystarting to work together.Industry Raises Record $11.7 Millionin Support of City of HopeCONTINUED ON PAGE 20A spectacular fireworks display provided a fitting conclusion to the Cityof Hope’s Spirit of Life Gala in Chicago last month as members of theCity of Hope’s National Office Products Council honored Spirit of LifeAward honoree Bob Keller of ACCO Brands and celebrated a remarkablecampaign that raised a record $11.7 million.Adding an extra dimension to the festivities, this year also marksthe100th anniversary of City of Hope, which since its founding in 1913has been a pioneer in the research and treatment of cancer and otherlife-threatening diseases.OCTOBER 2013 INDEPENDENT DEALER PAGE 18