Industry News CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
Betsy Hughes joins AOPD Well-known OP executive Betsy Hughes, who left her role as FriendsOffice president of sales and marketing in October, is set to join the team at AOPD as national director of healthcare sales. Hughes spent 24 years at FriendsOffice and is credited with driving multimillion-dollar sales growth at the Findlay, Ohio-based dealership. She was also seen as instrumental in helping the reseller win a place on the key Premier Healthcare group purchasing contract back in 2013. In addition, this year, she worked with AOPD to help renegotiate the Premier contract on behalf of a joint AOPD/ FriendsOffice bid, and assisted in the launch that started on August 1. In her role with AOPD, Hughes will assist AOPD and FriendsOffice dealers in soliciting and landing new healthcare business, while helping them maintain strong relationships
with current customers. AOPD said her contacts within this market will be invaluable to growing the organization’s healthcare segment. “We are confident that Betsy’s expertise and contacts in healthcare will drive growth in this critical vertical for AOPD and the FriendsOffice dealer group for years to come,” said AOPD Executive Director Mark Leazer. “We are looking forward to working with her now on a more formal basis.” Commenting on her appointment, Hughes said: “My passion has been, and always will be, mentoring individuals to become the best they possibly can be and to achieve the highest success. As I looked for a new position, I was hoping to find something that would allow me to bring that passion and purpose. I have found that position with AOPD and I look forward to growing healthcare sales for our dealers.”
One testimonial came from Tonya Horn, CEO of independent dealer Rogards. “Betsy was a major help to my company as we rolled out a national account healthcare contract that [her] company had won,” she said, adding: “She was always available to answer any questions and did a great job of translating a fairly complex agreement into terms that our sales team could take to the street and sell!”
ISG reports on virtual presentations Hundreds of members participated in Independent Suppliers Group’s (ISG) SMART supplier presentations in September and October, the buying group reports. ISG held 17 virtual SMART (which stands for sell, market, attract, retrain and train) meetings. The sessions covered different categories, including facilities supplies, office furniture and traditional office products—with a focus on the current trends of back to business, work from home, healthcare, back to school/ learn from home and other topics relevant to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The SMART Series is one of several virtual events that ISG has organized to connect with its members following the cancellation of Industry Week ’20, powered by ISG.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
Lincoln Dix, VP Supplies Division for independent dealer Storey Kenworthy, said: “The SMART series was a valuable resource for our dealership. We had numerous team members attend. The series was professionally presented, was ‘just right’ for length of time and had great content. Not only did we learn more about existing suppliers, but we were introduced to new potential partners and had an invaluable opportunity to experience how a video conference should happen.” Terri Freeman, national account manager, ACCO Brands, commented: “We are grateful for the opportunity to present to ISG members through the SMART Series. Our session was well attended, and the members were very engaged with follow-up questions. Our sales strategies have changed due to COVID-19 and the SMART INDEPENDENT DEALER
Series gave us a valuable venue to communicate our new strategies, product launches and the directions we are taking in this challenging environment.” Industry Week ’21, powered by ISG, is scheduled to take place from 22-26 March 2021 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, bringing together the group’s members, suppliers and industry partners for a week-long agenda featuring one-on-one meetings, seminars, networking and a trade show. PAGE 20
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