St. Charles, IL (March 13, 2014) — American Office Products Distributors, Inc. (AOPD) has just concluded a highly successful 2014 Annual Meeting at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL. Each year the AOPD Annual Meeting gives manufacturers and dealers the opportunity to sit down face to face and discuss sales and marketing strategies for the upcoming year. General sessions on relevant industry topics are also presented throughout the week.
“The AOPD Annual meeting is the forum for dealers, manufacturers, wholesalers and service providers to come together, share ideas, expand our professional network and most importantly learn about new opportunities to grow sales and profits,” stated the President of AOPD’s Board of Directors, Pat Crowley of S&T Office Products. He continued, “We recognize the importance of bringing everyone together to facilitate collaboration, as we are truly inter-dependent on one another. Together we are stronger.”
In the spirit of cooperation and to decrease travel expenses and time for dealer members and business partners, Direct Purchasing Catalog Group (DPCG) held their Annual Catalog Meeting immediately following the conclusion of the AOPD Meeting. Everyone applauded both groups’ efforts to piggy-back meetings, and look forward to a similar schedule in 2015.
Executive Director Bud Mundt reported, “Many business partners and dealers commented that this year’s meeting was the best ever in terms of growth initiatives within our AOPD and dealer contracts. The one-on-one meetings have always been the mainstay of the AOPD meeting and the action plans that were developed this year will provide a solid foundation for increased sales of branded product during 2014.”
As in past years, at the Awards Dinner, Bud Mundt presented The President’s Award to people who have been long time supporters of AOPD and the independent Dealer community. This year AOPD honored Dealer Representative George Wood of Greenwood Office Outfitters and Business Partner Representative Paul Ventimiglia of Navitor, Inc. George and Paul truly exemplify the AOPD spirit and are well deserving of this prestigious award.
Also at the Awards Dinner, Key Note Speaker Marshall Cotta reflected on his time spent as a young patient at City of Hope. The impact they had on saving his life reminded everyone of the important work City of Hope is accomplishing, and the importance of our industry’s contributions to this worthy cause. In addition, AOPD presented City of Hope with a check, as a down payment on what City of Hope will be receiving at the conclusion of the AOPD Business Partner Promotion.
The 2014 AOPD Board of Directors, voted on at the meeting, by the Dealer members
Chairman of the Board – Karen Bogart, Office Edge
Office Edge President – Pat Crowley, S&T Office Products
Vice President – Frank Fera, Bulldog Office Products
Treasurer – Addison Jones, The Supply Room Companies
Secretary – Mike Miller, Preferred Business Solutions
Director – Joe Breczka, Eaton Office Supply, Co.
Director – Bill Jones, The Office City
Director – Mark Leazer, Forms & Supply
Mundt concluded, “A special thank-you goes out to this year’s Corporate Platinum Sponsor S.P. Richards. Other event sponsors that deserve recognition are: Avery Products, BIC USA INC., Business Solutions Association, Fellowes Inc., Smead Manufacturing Co., United Stationers and West Point Products. We look forward to double digit growth again in 2014. We appreciate the support we receive from our business partners throughout the year, as we enthusiastically support their brand name products and initiatives.”
About American Office Products Distributors, Inc.
AOPD is the world’s largest network distributor of office products. AOPD has grown to include 99 Dealers and affiliates with 200 locations throughout the United States, as well as Canada, Europe and Australia. AOPD is focused on the development and implementation of regional, national and international office products distribution programs. For more information, visit www.aopd.com.