Recent News & Press Coverage
Stay informed with official news and updates from The ASCII Group. This section features company announcements, strategic initiatives, and industry coverage that reflect our continued commitment to the MSP community and the broader IT channel. Press inquiries: Contact alysia@ascii.com

2025 ASCII Cup Celebrates Innovation and Excellence in the Channel
RYTHMz Named Vendor of the Year by the MSP Community Washington, D.C.
- October 31, 2025 -
Washington, D.C. – October 31, 2025 – The ASCII Group, the original and premier community of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) across North America, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 ASCII Cup. This annual award honors technology companies that have made a lasting impact in the MSP channel through innovation, commitment, and engagement.
The 2025 ASCII Cup was presented in Philadelphia, PA, on October 30, following the final stop of the year for the ASCII Edge conference series. Inspired by Philadelphia’s iconic Rocky legacy, the evening highlighted the strength and perseverance that define the IT channel.
Throughout 2025, ASCII members voted at eight regional ASCII Edge events across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating technology vendors across 12 categories such as innovation, partner program excellence, and overall value. This peer-driven process ensures the companies recognized are those making the greatest impact on MSPs.
The 2025ASCII Cup award recipients are:
- 2025 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year – RYTHMz
- First Runner-Up – Pax8
- Third Place – SonicWall
- Fourth Place – BLOKWORX
- Fifth Place – Microsoft
- Sixth Place – Kaseya
- Seventh Place – Monjur
- Eighth Place – DefensX
- Ninth Place – FutureSafe
- Tenth Place – SuperOps
“The ASCII Cup reflects the voice of MSPs,” said Jerry Koutavas, CEO of The ASCII Group. “Recognizing RYTHMz as Vendor of the Year, along with the other companies honored, underscores the vital role our industry partners play in helping MSPs succeed.”
“It is with sincere gratitude that we accept this recognition from The ASCII Group and its members. As a former member myself, I understand the profound impact this community has on an MSP’s journey,” said Steve Copeland, CEO and Founder, RYTHMz. “Our industry is at a pivotal moment—evolving from ‘Managed Services’ to ‘Managed Solutions.’ Through this shift, one truth remains: connectivity is your brand. RYTHMz is proud to help lead this evolution alongside our partners in the ASCII community, and we’re truly honored by this recognition.”
The celebration also honored the late Alan D. Weinberger, founder of The ASCII Group, whose vision for a vendor-neutral community of IT professionals continues to guide the organization today. For more than 40 years, ASCII has connected IT business owners with resources, programs, and a trusted peer network to help them grow stronger companies. The 2025 ASCII Cup reflects this spirit of collaboration and the vital role technology partners play in MSP success.
For photos and highlights from the 2025 ASCII Cup, please visit The ASCII Group’s Facebook page.
About The ASCII Group, Inc.
The ASCII Group is the premier community of North American MSPs, MSSPs and Solution Providers. The Group has members located throughout the U.S. and Canada, and membership encompasses everyone from credentialed MSPs serving the SMB community to multi-location solution providers with a national and international reach. Founded in 1984, ASCII provides services to members including leveraged purchasing programs, education and training, marketing assistance, extensive peer interaction and more. ASCII works with a vibrant ecosystem of leading and major technology vendors that complement the ASCII community and support the mission of helping MSPs to grow their businesses. For more information, please visit www.ascii.com.
Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Chief Marketing Officer
Tel: 800-394-2724
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
ASCII Members Receive FREE Conference Passes for NexGen Cloud Conference December 4-5
ASCII Members receive free conference passes for the upcoming NexGen Cloud Conference & Expo taking place December 4-5 at the San Diego Marriott & Convention Center.
This event will focus on how cloud computing is changing the way companies conduct business today and in the future. Register today to receive the special link to make your hotel reservation at our negotiated rate of $179.
*Enter the promo code EX0CON49 when you register and you will receive $100 off either the expo pass (making it free!) or the conference & expo pass*
* The deadline to register online and receive discounted expo and conference passes is Wednesday, November 26.
Ducati Giveaway
We are giving away a Ducati Monster 696 at the NexGen Cloud Conference & Expo! Attending multiple sessions will increase the number of times your name is entered into the drawing. You must be checked in at the conference by 12:00PM on December 5 and you must be present at 3:00PM in the prize giveaway area in order to be eligible to win.
Highlighted Session
Masterminds & Thought Leaders: Acceleration of Technology in the 21st Century: the Impact on Business, the Economy, and Society
Ray Kurzweil, Director of Engineering, Google
What is the Law of Accelerating Returns and how will it transform society? What are the challenges and opportunities of transcending biology: of nanobots, fuel cells, and bioterrorism? How will businesses manage innovation in an era of accelerating technologies? As information technology asymptotes to 100{0227c8b27d3643b319fca80e0d52ece22d029d3e12a11668fde66cd4475dd8cc} of the value of products and services, how will business models and strategies change? When and how will human level AI be developed? How will biotechnology and nanotechnology impact our bodies and brains? When will we see full immersion virtual reality and how will it impact business? Renowned inventor, entrepreneur, best-selling author, widely sought after speaker and futurist, Ray Kurzweil will expand your mind as he shares his vision of the future.
View the full event agenda here.
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Pricing & Passes – Must Register by November 26 To Receive Discounted Rates Using Promo Code
Expo Only Pass: $99 Free Using Promo Code EX0CON49 when registering
Network with your peers and 150 vendors. Attend Expo Hall-only activities, such as general sessions and keynote presentations.
Conference Expo Pass: $149 $49 Using Promo Code EX0CON49 when registering
Full access to the Expo Hall and admission to all conference sessions.
The ASCII Group wins, “Best Partner Community” at ChannelPro-SMB event in Philadelphia
Read the full announcement here:
The ASCII Group Awards Datto the Coveted ASCII Cup 2014
Bethesda, Maryland – October 24, 2014 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, is pleased to announce the winners for its annual ASCII Cup, where awards are given for the ASCII Cup winner, Top Contenders and Esteemed Noble Partners. The awards are presented each fall to technology companies that have showcased channel goodwill and a commitment to helping ASCII members grow their businesses more efficiently. Winners are voted upon by ASCII members at regional events, and the Cup and awards were presented at the ASCII Success Summit on October 23, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The humble beginnings of the ASCII Cup are unknown; some say it was discovered after packing up the last box of the final Comdex show, while others think it was discovered in the secret tunnels under a certain campus in Redmond. Some even believe it has been handed down by the Knights Templar. Regardless of its origins, the ASCII Cup has power. As the legend goes, for those who are bestowed to guard it, they will prosper from its keeping. For those who drink from it, they will flourish from its power.
ASCII Success Summit attendees vote for the vendors in 11 different categories: Best Software Solution; Best Hardware Solution; Best New Product; Best Cloud Solution; Best Revenue Generator; Best Channel Incentive; Best Channel Program; Best Partner Commitment; Best Customer Support; Best Distribution Sales Support; and Best in Show. The winners at each show are selected based on the votes by the solution providers; at the end of the year the winner of the ASCII Cup is determined from the results of all the shows. The 2014 winners of The ASCII Cup, Top Contenders and Esteemed Noble Partners were announced at a private industry gathering at Dusk Night Club.
The ASCII Group is pleased to honor the recipients of this year’s ASCII Cup, for they exemplify the principles on which the Cup was established.
The 2014 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year is Datto.
Knighted as the Top Four Contenders for The ASCII Cup are GFI MAX, HP, Lenovo and LogMeIn.
Knighted as The Distributor of the Year was D&H for getting the most votes throughout the year in this category.
Recognized as Esteemed Noble Partners are AVG, HIPAA Secure Now, JetStream Networks, RapidFire Tools, and StorageCraft.
“The ASCII Group and its community wholeheartedly congratulate Datto as this year’s ASCII Cup recipient. We would also like to recognize the Top Contenders, Esteemed Noble Partners, and all of the companies featured at our Success Summits, for remaining committed to delivering value and significance to the channel,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group, Inc.
Photos and video of the celebration will be made available on The ASCII Group and The ASCII Cup Facebook pages.
For more information, please visit www.ascii.com.
About The ASCII Group, Inc:
The ASCII Group is a vibrant reseller community of independent MSPs, VARs, and other solution providers. Formed in 1984, ASCII has more than 70 programs that provide turnkey cost-cutting strategies, innovative business building programs, and extensive peer interaction. ASCII members enjoy benefits such as marketing support; educational information; group purchasing power; increased leverage in the marketplace; and multiple networking opportunities. These programs enable ASCII members to increase revenue, lower operating costs, and grow service opportunities. You can learn more at www.ascii.com or by calling 800-394-2724.
Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Director of Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
The ASCII Group Extends Dedicated Discussion Rooms on Popular Peer to Peer Exchange Forum
Bethesda, Maryland – July 23, 2014 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, is pleased to announce the creation of dedicated rooms available on its ASCII-Link forum.
Having exceeded over 240,000 posts on the listserv, the popular members-only community forum lets users freely discuss technical information, vendor recommendations, and business advice. Over 800 users make more than 3,500 posts per month on average on ASCII-Link, which successfully uses a listserv format to generate quicker responses and more participation than would occur using other available formats.
Because users asked for an additional venue to post more detailed questions about vendor products, The ASCII Group created several additional listserv rooms exclusively dedicated to specific vendors. Rooms are designed to help users share their experiences and solutions with the vendor so that members can help each other maximize the benefits of using the products. Vendors are not permitted access to ASCII-Link and posts are not moderated by The ASCII Group, allowing for a free exchange of information.
“Every vendor has a robust product with an array of features and functions that not all users may be aware of. With the creation of specific vendor rooms on ASCII-Link, members are teaching each other in real time how to best use these products and instantaneously solve issues,” said Doug Young, COO & Senior Vice President, The ASCII Group.
The current dedicated vendor rooms in ASCII-Link include Autotask, Connectwise, Continuum, GFI, Labtech, and Tigerpaw.
For more information on membership, visit www.ascii.com.
About The ASCII Group, Inc:
The ASCII Group is a vibrant reseller community of independent MSPs, VARs, and other solution providers. Formed in 1984, ASCII has more than 70 programs that provide turnkey cost-cutting strategies, innovative business building programs, and extensive peer interaction. ASCII members enjoy benefits such as marketing support; educational information; group purchasing power; increased leverage in the marketplace; and multiple networking opportunities. These programs enable ASCII members to increase revenue, lower operating costs, and grow service opportunities. You can learn more at www.ascii.com or by calling 800-394-2724.
Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Director of Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
ASCII In The News - Member Articles (Summer 2014)
Read the latest articles written by ASCII members for top industry publications.
Tech Target
How to explain managed services pricing to customers by Jeremy Nelson, President, FCS Inc. and member of The ASCII Group since 2013.
Business Solutions
Adding These 3 Services Will Build Sticker Customer Relationships by Larry Nicholson, President, Nicholson Network Services Inc. and member of The ASCII Group (Canada) since 2014.
7 Reasons NOT to Offer Service Package Options by Raffi Jamgotchian, President/CTO, Triada Networks and member of The ASCII Group since 2008.
How To Fire A Client by Andrew Harrover, CEO, Matrix Computer Consulting and a member of The ASCII Group since 2012.
ASCII In The News - ChannelPro
CEO & Founder Alan Weinberger sat down with Michael Siggins from ChannelPro at our IT SMB Columbus Summit to reflect on ASCII and the last 30 years!
The ASCII Group Reflecting on 30 Years
ASCII In The News - IT SMB Summit | Business Solutions Magazine
Read the full coverage of our IT SMB Columbus Summit, as covered by Business Solutions Magazine. Check out the Inside ASCII web page on BSM for even more community information.
From ASCII Columbus: Creating An Effective Marketing Plan
From ASCII Columbus: MSP Marketing Golden Nuggets
How To Sell Backup? Stop Pitching Fires, Floods, And Famine
MSP Questions For Quantifying Objectives And Risks
From ASCII Columbus: How To Stand Out In A Crowded Market
From ASCII Columbus: Channel Trends — And Anti-Trends — To Watch
From ASCII Columbus: Increase Your Sales Through Neuromarketing
ASCII Announces Columbus Success Summit Awards
Read ChannelPro Networks coverage here:
ASCII Group’s IT SMB Success Summit Hits Columbus, Ohio
ASCII In The News
TechVoice Alliance Partner, ASCII Group, testifies before the U.S. House of Representatives House Committee on Small Business about “The Biggest Tax Problems of Small Businesses”.
Read more http://bit.ly/1iDbtQA
The ASCII Group Announces Members of New Advisory Committee
Bethesda, Maryland – April 10, 2014 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, today announced the formation of a new Advisory Committee. The Committee, comprised of representatives from ten member businesses from across the country and various sectors of technology, will work with ASCII headquarters on a regular basis to discuss new alliances, member programs, peer-to-peer networking opportunities for the members, and overall ways to bring value to the group. These initiatives would add to the more than 70 value-add programs ASCII currently provides to its members.
“Input from ASCII members is crucial. Solution providers are a bedrock of the industry, and we are committed to helping them continue to grow and thrive,” said Doug Young, COO and Senior Vice President of The ASCII Group. “Instead of us solely trying to determine the needs of our members, the Advisory Committee informs us what issues our community faces. We can then create solutions that help our members meet challenges and take advantage of innovative technologies.”
The members of the Advisory Committee are:
Matt Adkins – Vanguard Technologies, Toledo, OH
Joe Balsarotti – Software to Go, St. Peters, MO
Scott Brown – TimbukTech, Canton, IL
Howard Cunningham – Macro LLC, Fairfax, VA
Doug Grabowski – Grabowski Group, Inc., Orange, CT
Raffi Jamgotchian – Triada Networks, Northvale, NJ
Ed Mana – Technology On Demand, Yorktown Heights, NY
Francis Poeta – P&M Computers Inc., Cliffside Park, NJ
Tony Stirk – Iron Horse Computers, Springfield, VA
Vince Tinnirello – Anchor Network Solutions, Lone Tree, CO
Advisory Committee member Joe Balsarotti, President of Software To Go has been an ASCII member for over 20 years and welcomes the interaction between ASCII and its members. “I believe these Advisory Committee meetings will have a substantial impact on the success of ASCII and its members,” said Balsarotti. “ASCII is unique in that its primary constituency is solution providers and so the staff definitely listens to our feedback and considers it crucial to the continued success of the organization. Hopefully ASCII will be able to use our ideas and comments to form better programs for all the members.”
The mission of The ASCII Group is to provide solution providers with the tools necessary to survive and grow in the competitive technology market.
About The ASCII Group, Inc:
The ASCII Group is a vibrant reseller community of independent MSPs, VARs, and other solution providers. Formed in 1984, ASCII has more than 70 programs that provide turnkey cost-cutting strategies, innovative business building programs, and extensive peer interaction. ASCII members enjoy benefits such as marketing support; educational information; group purchasing power; increased leverage in the marketplace; and multiple networking opportunities. These programs enable ASCII members to increase revenue, lower operating costs, and grow service opportunities.
You can learn more at www.ascii.com or by calling 800-394-2724.
Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Director of Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
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