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
MSP Live Webinar: The Band of IT Brothers, Growing Your Business Network
Join Jerry Koutavas, President of The ASCII Group on Thursday, April 10 at 11am PST/ 2pm EST as he explains the opportunities and results that we are generating for MSPs and VARs in our community.
Learn more about how The ASCII Group can help grow your business.
Register here: http://bit.ly/1ebMEpl
The ASCII Group Announces 'Best of Show' Award Winners From Austin Success Summit
Bethesda, Maryland – March 27, 2014 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, is pleased to announce the ‘Best of Show’ award winners from its 2014 IT SMB Success Summit in Austin, Texas.
“The ASCII Group is dedicated to exposing our members to the best vendors as part of our mission to help the independent solution provider community expand and thrive,” said Jerry Koutavas. “It is important to acknowledge these companies for their continued support for the channel and their commitment to quality products that allow our members to ably serve their clients.”
The awards are voted on by the attending Solution Providers, and honor the industry sponsors in multiple Best of Show categories.
Best Software Solution: StorageCraft
Best Hardware Solution: Datto
Best New Product: Datto
Best Cloud Solution: JetStream
Best Revenue Generator: GFI Max
Best Channel Incentives: M-Files
Best Channel Programs: HP
Best Partner Commitment: HP
Best Customer Support: APC-Schneider Electric
Best Distribution Sales Support: Pax8
Best of Show: Datto
For 30 years, The ASCII Group has leveraged the power of community to benefit its members. The Austin Success Summit is stop number two on an eight city conference tour drawing solution providers, leading technology vendors and industry experts. Online registration is open for the five remaining 2014 ASCII IT SMB Success Summits at www.asciievents.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
Article: Leverage The Power Of An Interactive Community: Deep In The Heart Of Texas
Learn more about the benefits of being a part of a business community by joining us at our 2014 Success Summits.
To read the article, click here: http://bit.ly/1dMlhVZ
Article: The ASCII Group CEO: Businesses Change … Business Stays The Same
BSM Magazine spoke with The ASCII Group’s Alan Weinberger who reflected on 30 years of business in the Channel.
To read the article, click here: http://bit.ly/1fwf4dq
Podcast: The ASCII Group's Weinberger: For 30 Years, A Front-Row Seat In The Channel
The ASCII Group’s Alan Weinberger is featured in a candid podcast with BSM Magazine – shedding light on the past, present and future of the 30 year community.
To listen, click here: http://bit.ly/Ma9XIb
The ASCII Group Continues to Grow as it Celebrates 30th Anniversary
The largest community of solution providers in the world celebrates 30 years in business
Bethesda, Maryland – January 22, 2014 — The ASCII Group is pleased to announce that 2014 marks thirty years in business for the membership-based community, which has become the oldest and largest group of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers in the world.
As with many businesses, numerous roles and responsibilities fall directly on the backs of the leaders of the company, and the end result is often less production. The ASCII Group helps Solution Providers refocus their efforts back on revenue generating activities while providing support in operations, sales, marketing, purchasing, and vendor management. Additionally, The ASCII Group educates all end-users of IT solutions, services and devices on the value of the Solution Provider and their offering of independent, trusted advice that is not dependent on a particular vendor’s technology.
Alan D. Weinberger founded The ASCII Group in 1984 with 40 computer dealers to become the first industry-neutral “Community Network” of independent resellers. He organized the founding 40 software retailers to join together as a buying group and pay monthly fees to support the organization – and in turn, support each other and their programs for mutual benefit; thus resulting in the industry’s first such network.
Three decades later, the IT industry has shifted towards a service model and the core of local IT services, support and advice is now the independent MSP, VAR and Solution Provider. Going forward in 2014, The ASCII Group continues to have the same focus that it had in 1984 – providing Solution Providers with the tools necessary to survive, learn together and grow in the competitive technology market.
Alan D. Weinberger, Chairman and CEO, recalls, “When I started The ASCII Group in 1984, I had a vision of wanting to help business owners who were instrumental in creating the IT revolution. I’m proud of the fact that so many years later, the 70 programs that we have established for our members have helped to expand their businesses. I believe that our 30th anniversary is a testament to listening to our members and remaining dedicated to their needs.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with our members and employees – many of whom have been with ASCII throughout our 30 years,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group. “Though there are many factors which have attributed to our success, underlying all of them is an unwavering commitment to our members. We are not only celebrating 30 years of ASCII, but 30 years of partnerships, services and collaboration.”
Upcoming plans for 2014 include the eight city ASCII IT SMB Success Summits; online registration for this complementary event is at www.asciievents.com.
To commemorate the company’s anniversary, The ASCII Group has released a celebratory logo which will be used in conjunction with the standard company logo throughout the year.
To learn more about The ASCII Group’s portfolio of resources and turnkey programs, 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 Announces Cities for its 2014 IT SMB Success Summit Series
Bethesda, Maryland – January 16, 2014 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, is pleased to announce the upcoming dates and locations for its 2014 IT SMB Success Summit Series. The eight city conference tour is expected to draw more than 1,600 solution providers, leading technology vendors, and industry experts.
Debuting in 2000, the Success Summits have become the premier event for IT Solution Providers because The ASCII Group has successfully created a model that balances education and industry presentations with fruitful networking opportunities. For 30 years, The ASCII Group has leveraged the power of community to benefit its members.
A major highlight of the 2014 series is the list of contemporary speakers that are scheduled for the educational sessions, including CEO’s Anurag Agrawal and Gordon Tan, and Forbes Contributor Roger Dooley. Full session descriptions can be found on the 2014 ASCII IT SMB Success Summit website.
“We have an exciting year ahead planned for the ASCII IT SMB Success Summits,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group. “With new cities, research and content, the 2014 series features fresh, modern Keynote presentations and education, an energized solutions pavilion and extensive networking opportunities.”
“The ASCII Success Summits are a great opportunity for peer networking as well as learning about the latest industry trends and cutting-edge technology,” said Matt Adkins, Vanguard Technologies, ASCII member since 2009. “More than just a regional event, the Summits provide real education and partnership building that I can take back to my office – and start utilizing immediately.”
Designed for qualified industry IT professionals, this complimentary event is targeted towards those looking to enhance their current business model. ASCII members receive free admission and qualify for a free hotel room.
ASCII Success Summit 2014 Cities:
Newport Beach February 19-20 Newport Beach Marriott
Austin March 19-20 DoubleTree by Hilton Austin
Chicago April 16-17 Chicago Marriott O’Hare
Columbus May 28-29 Renaissance Columbus Downtown
Atlanta June 18-19 The Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens
Providence July 30-31 Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick
Phoenix September 17-18 Sheraton Crescent Hotel
Atlantic City October 22-23 Bally’s Atlantic City
To learn more about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jessica Schroder, Director of Marketing and Events, at jessica@ascii.com.
Online registration is now open for the eight 2014 ASCII Success Summits at www.asciievents.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
ASCII Announces Specialized Tech Rooms for MSP Community
In order to further enhance knowledge-sharing between its members, The ASCII Group has created several list serv rooms for its members dedicated to specific technologies, including Autotask, ConnectWise, Labtech, Tigerpaw, and Zenith. These list servs are a complement to ASCII’s popular ASCII-Link list serv, where 700 ASCII members currently post over 25,000 emails each year to help each other with technical questions, vendor recommendations, business questions, and much more.
The list serv embodies the concept of the ASCII community, with members sharing information and building long-lasting partnerships. ASCII members are already raving about these dedicated rooms. In a recent survey of the ASCII-LabTech list serv users, an overwhelming percentage of them said ASCII’s list serv was more valuable than any other Labtech resource available.
“There’s an incredible amount of information ASCII members share with each other on our list servs,” said Doug Young, Senior Vice President and COO of ASCII. “Members who would otherwise spend hours researching an issue normally get answers within a few minutes when they post on our list serv, and many often learn about great product features they were unaware of.”
ASCII members can participate in these list servs as part of their ASCI membership.
Passportal Offers Password Management and Protection to The ASCII Group Members
Bethesda, Maryland and Calgary, Alberta – November 20, 2013 — The ASCII Group, a membership-based community of independent MSPs, VARs and Solution Providers, announced today that Passportal, an online password management system designed specifically for MSPs, will be providing a free user license to ASCII Group members.
Passportal is a robust online password management system designed specifically for Managed Service Providers responsible for maintaining the passwords and credentials required to support and manage their clients IT systems. Passportal was built by an MSP for MSPs, and is a SaaS product featuring 4 tiers of protection and encryption for passwords.
“Security is a major concern for solution providers. With the increased offerings of cloud applications, managing client passwords can be a daunting, yet critical task,” said Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group. “The program that Passportal is offering the ASCII membership allows MSPs to accurately track and report on this vital service.”
“We are pleased to be working with The ASCII Group and offering their members one free user license so they can be properly positioned when it comes to security for client passwords. Passportal understands the pains and struggles that solution providers have when trying to manage and audit access to hundreds or thousands of passwords,” said Colin Knox, CEO, Passportal.
For more details on how The ASCII Group members can get started with their free user license on Passportal, information is available within the ASCII Group Partner Portal.
The ASCII Group’s portfolio of resources includes turnkey programs in operations, sales and marketing, and vendor management. To learn more about the 70+ membership programs, 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.
About Passportal:
Passportal has become the industry standard password management system for Managed Service Providers and IT consulting firms. Built by an MSP for MSPs, Passportal is among the growing number of companies who have built industrial strength tools to use in-house and then commercialized them for other MSPs. The cloud based product features 4 tiers of protection and encryption for passwords and is hosted in SSAE 16 Type II certified data centers in Canada and the United States. Passportal is also the first in a family of password management tools that the company is developing. If you are an MSP that is serious about the management and protection of your client passwords, go to www.passportalmsp.com and sign up today.
The ASCII Group Press Contact:
Alysia Vetter
Director of Communications
Tel: 800-394-2724 x 131
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
Passportal Press Contact:
Colin Knox
CEO
Tel: 888-870-7840
Email: cknox@passportalmsp.com
Web: www.passportalmsp.com
Want to Stay in the Know?
Sign up to receive the latest ASCII news, announcements, and industry coverage.
.svg)
