Rick Maier

Rick 2010

Rick 19con, GA

Rick Maier

Macon, GA

Email: Click Here
Birthday: June 16

Rick was originally from Wilmington, Delaware.  He moved to Macon, GA in 1984 to become President of ALCO's IOS Capital.    IOS Capital was formed to provide lease financing primarily for office equipment marketed in U.S. marketplaces. IOS Capital would later become one of the largest captive finance companies in North America. Rick left IOS in 2000.
Click on this link to see the wonderful people who created and ran Alco Capital Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xre4RsHNTJE  

Rick 2012

Rick started writing in 1990 and has published  several books and numerous articles.  To learn more about Ricks books and writing, 

click here:https://www.rickmaier.com

Rick 1993

Rick has three adult children and is a board member of  Martha Bowman Church and serves on several boards including Stratford Academy,  Friends of the Trail,  Rotary, Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, College CFO Groups, Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences and The Chamber of Commerce.

Comments by Rick Maier: "I majored in accounting in college to avoid a lot of reading and writing.  As my career in corporate finance advanced, I realized that writing was the key to getting things done; soon my co-workers were calling me ‘memo man’.  In the mid-nineties, I began writing editorials to our local paper and took a couple creative writing courses at Wesleyan College.  Just as 5K road races lead to 10Ks which lead to marathons, short articles led to longer pieces and I began writing Bone Dust in 1998.  It takes me a few months to write a novel, and years to edit.  I ask friends to read the story along the way and take their comments to heart.  This collaborative style works for me, and I hope my friends realize how much I appreciate their help.  Writing is now a primary hobby for me, although it’s not always easy to find time between the often pressing demands of kids, work and social activities. I’ve also found that reading popular fiction is a great way to improve my own writing skills. The most popular authors (e.g. Dan Brown, John Grisham, J. K. Rowling) took ten years and three books to get noticed.  Orange Terrace represents the first decade and third book of my adventure".

Jim Hovinga

Jim Hovinga ALCO

Hovinga Business Machines Grand Haven, MI
Hovinga Business Machines, Inc. was founded in May 1973 by Jim Hovinga and was purchased by ALCO in 1989.

Jim Hovinga of Hovinga Business Machines, was one of the early companies purchased by ALCO.  Jim was not only a very nice gentleman, he was also an excellent businessman but didn’t stay long with ALCO/IKON.  He left IKON in 1996 and formed JPH Properties,  in 1997 Jim formed JPHP Capital,  in 2006 he founded Mojo Group Too and JPHP Condo in 2007, all in Grand Haven, MI.   JimA became very successful (again) in the property, construction and finance business in Michigan.  

Today, Jim and Debra still live in the Grand Haven area and if you have information or details about Jim Hovinga, please email me at this email address.  

 

Hallie Gibbs

Hallie 1990

Hallie Gibbs 1996

Hallie H. Gibbs  ALCO
Modern Business Systems
Email  (Clidk Here)

Phone (Click Here)
Prior to founding Modern Business Systems in 1965, Hallie was a barber in Central Illinois.  He and Paul Pierce started Modern by selling copy machines out of a garage and grew it to be the largest independent copier dealer in the United States.  Hallie sold Modern Business Systems to AOP and became a partner in 1982.  He retired from AOP in 1996.

Hallie mentioned that his son Bruce, whom many of you know, was co-founded GFI Digital office equipment business in Saint Louis in 1999. "GFI" stands for Gibbs Family Investments.

Hallie 1992

Hallie 1992

Today, Hallie and Karen still reside in Jefferson City, MO but winter in Palm Springs!  As you may remember, Hallie was always big on "motor coaching".  He has recently acquired a Newel Motor Coach, one of the finest available!  He and Karen  travel the country when-ever and where-ever they get the urge.  Hallie served as chairman of the Easter Seals Telethon in 1988 and 1989 and Honorary Chairmanof the Easter Seals "Walk- With-Me" from 2004 through 2007, raising more than $100,000 for Easter Seals in Jefferson City. In 2007 the Missouri House of Representatives honored Hallie and Karen as Exemplary Citizens in local communities and neighborhoods through excellence of their endeavors as entrepreneurs and philanthropists.  It is also obvious that Hallie and Karen are very proud of their children and 12 grandchildren. To say the least, they are really enjoying their retirement!  

Every year (for 33 years) Hallie takes a group of friends and associates pheasant hunting which has become a highlight of the year for him!

Hallie and Karen are doing great but both had knee replacement surgery in the fall of 2012 and after recovery they both were as good as new and didn't slow down at all.  Karen recently (Jan. 2014) had back surgery and is recovering at home in Jefferson City. 

Hallie Gibbs

In 2019 The Jefferson City Magazine honored Hallie with the article:  "The American Dream"  click here to read.

John Peters

John Peters (2009)

John Peters  ALCO
Acme
Atlanta, GA
Email (Click Here)

Prior to joining ACME in 1979, as Sales Manager, John was with the Xerox Corporation for a number of years. When ACME became part of AOP in 1983, John quickly assumed more and more responsibilities as the Director of Sales, VP of Sales, Sr VP and ultimately John became the Atlanta Region General Manager.  He retired from AOP in 1997 and shortly thereafter, founded Aqua Koolers (a water purification and cooler company) in Atlanta.  Aqua Koolers became the largest water cooler company in the south and in 2006 the company was merged with Bob Kearns, Ed Kane, Don Dudine, Jim Kincer, Rich Bova and Jon King (all in the water business) to form the largest drinking water-cooler company in America called Quench USA. 

Ann and John 2012

John and Ann 1973

Ann and John have one son, Andy  and    two beautiful grandchildren, John and Ann live near Atlanta and in Vero Beach, Florida.  

They spend as much time as possible with family, friends and grandchildren! Every New Years, John and Ann spend the holiday at Hilton Head with family.  This has been a family tradition for many years, long before AOP had our annual POP club meetings there! John and Ann were married in 1973 and enjoy traveling, music, wind chimes, baseball cards, all sports and teaching sales people how to win success!  

A note that you may not know, John has one of the largest and most valuable baseball-card collections in the country! John has collected every Major Player's Rookie card from 1949 through 1993, except that of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays! 

Andy and John Peters 2013

Click for Phone Number             Click for Email Address

Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson ALCO
Global Imaging Systems
Email (Click Here)

Tom was with ALCO from 1975  until 1989, holding various positions.  However, during the Alco Office Products (AOP) early years he was the Vice President of Operations responsible for acquisitions and assisting under-performing companies. 

From 1989-1990, Tom served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Danka Business Systems and from 1990 until 1994 at which time he did industry consultant, assisting more than 25 independent dealers with growing their businesses through acquisitions.  

In 1994 Tom Johnson founded Global Imaging Systems which became a publicly traded company in 1998, and was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the 400 Best Big Companies in America in 2007. After growing Global to nearly 1.5 billion dollars he sold the company to Xerox Corporation in 2007.

Tom and his wife Jane are major benefactors to the University of Florida, where He is on the Board of the Warrington College of Business and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.  Tom is also the namesake for the Thomas S. Johnson Masters in Entrepreneurship and the Head Coaches Office (Will Muschamp).  In 2007 Tom was named a Distinguished Alumnus, and served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Business School.  He also serves as a Distinguished Director for Gator Boosters, Inc.

Today, he is retired, and reside on their 500 acre ranch in Dade City, just north of Tampa. As one might expect, he stays busy in his retirement developing and growing a few start-up companies (not in the copier industry). 
Tom and Jane  spend time supporting the “Gators” and spending time with friends, four adult children and especially their six grandchildren.  


Click on this paragraph to see what Tom said was the one accomplishment that he is most proud: "The Thomas S. Johnson Master of Science in Entrepreneurship Program (MSE) at the Hough Graduate School of Business at the Warrington College of Business".

Gil Exler

Gil 1994

Gil Exler  ALCO

Gil and Stella Exler 2006

XTEC Office Systems
Email:  (Click Here)
In 1989, Gil and ETEC Joined AOP in 1989 and Gil continued to operate XTEC until he retired in 1996 at which time he and Stella moved to Scottsdale, AZ.  Gil is a stand-up guy liked by everyone that he meets!

Gil spent 16 years as a executive with Xerox in several east coast cities and XEROX relocated him to Philadelphia to head the company's local office. After six years of successfully managing the Xerox operation, he felt by being more flexible and more responsive to the business needs of the customers, he could provide a higher level of service.  In 1983, with two Xerox sales managers, Ed Sasinowski and Al Nahmias, and two technical representatives, Gil founded XTEC Office Systems. Today, Gil and Stella live in Scottsdale, AZ

Stella and Gil Exler 1991

Steve Fedell

Steve Fedell 2009

Steve  Fedell ALCO 

Allegheny Business Machines

Email (Click Here)

Phone (Click Here)

Where do we start…..Good Guy, Good Family Man, Good Salesman, Good Manager, Good Football Player….We could start with any one of the above and write a book!  One of the nicest gentlemen you will meet (he should have been from the south)!

1989

Early 1980 Football Picture

After an exciting but short football career (Pittsburg Steelers, 1981–1982) cut short because of an injury, Steve joined another very nice gentleman, Guy Mattola at Allegheny Business Machines. Steve began his business career as a sales representative in 1982 and became the General Sales Manager in 1984 until Allegheny became an AOP partner in 1989 at which time Steve was promoted to Vice President of Sales and then to Area Vice President in 1996.

Mel Blount and Steve Fedell 

Today, Steve still resides in the Pittsburg, PA area and is Northeast Regional Vice President for Ricoh Corporation, responsible for $1.5 billion dollars of sales and service business.  He is a member of Football Team Honor Society and very involved in the Homeless Children’s Education Fund.

Jack Hendrickson

Jack Hendrickson 2004

Jack Hendrickson 1988

Jack Hendrickson 
Copy-Line
San Diego, CA
Email (CLICK HERE)

Jack Founded Copy-Line in 1962, selling the early "diffusion transfer" copy machines and became an SCM dealer in 1964. As the copier market grew and Savin came to the United Staes, Jack became the second Savin dealer in the country in 1965 (behind Hallie Gibbs, who was the the first).  Copy-Line was one of Savin's strongest and largest dealers throughout the late 60's and 70's and continued to be one of the largest and strongest Savin (and later Ricoh) dealers in America.  

Jack sold Copy-Line to ALCO in 1988 and became an AOP Partner.  He continuing his leadership of Copy-Line until his retirement from AOP in 1990.  After retirement from AOP, he founded HFP Investments, LLC, which provides funding, advice and consulting, to a select number of builders and developers in the San Diago, California area.

Jack and JoAnn 2004

Jack and JoAnn 1988

Today, Jack and his wife JoAnn have good health and still reside in the San Diego area, and spend many summer weeks on their "Fleming 55 Yacht" in Canada.  They are very involved in their community and enjoy boating, "squash", family and friends.  Jack continues to be an avid "squash" player and is a member of the San Diego Racquet Club .  Jo Ann and Jack have been married 57 years (as of this writing 3/21/13) and have 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

*Note from Jim Kincer:  I would like to thank Gary Martin providing information for Jack's page on "AOP Today"!  I had a very nice conversation with Jack on 3/26/13 and again in July 2021.  

Mike Koether

Mike Koether 2005

Mike Koether   ALCO
Infincom                  (Home of Dudley Do Right)
Email (Click Here)
Phone (Click Here)

Mike in 1991

Mike founded Infincom in Pheonix, Arizona in 1982, Infincom was acquired by AOP in 1987.  In the early days Mike spearheaded the AOP Facilities Management program which contributed hundreds of million dollars in new revenue to the companies bottom line.  In July of 1994 Mike was named"Executive Vice President of Marketing" and he retired from 

AOP in 1997.

Mike is a native of Chicago, and currently resides with his wife Ginnie, in Marco  Island Florida and  Paradise Valley, Arizona.He is involved in various community organizations, including the Economic Club of Phoenix, and is a Director of the Turquoise Samaritan LPGA Golf Classic. Today, he spends his retirement days fishing and playing golf! 

Fishing Pictures posted are from a 2005 fishing trip with brother Bob at Cody, Wyoming

Tom Deverell

Tom 1992

Tom Deverell ALCO
Kex Copy Source
San Sierra Business Systems
Copyline
San Diego, CA
Phone (Click Here)

Tom 2012

Tom began his AOP career in 1977 with Kex Copy Source in upstate New York, where he served as sales manager and chief financial officer. In 1989, he became president of struggling, San Sierra Business Systems in Northern California, and the following year he became AOP Vice President, (focused on individual AOP company performance improvement).  In 1992 he was named president of the San Diego Marketplace, and from that position, moved to president of the Northern California District, (succeeding, retiring Barry Taylor).  The Northern California District included all of the marketplaces in California from the Oregon border in the north to Bakersfield in the south.  Tom managed the annual AOP revenues of more than $260 million.

In 2001, Tom Deverell retired after nearly 25 years with AOP and founded a software company, designing and marketing real estate software until he re-entered the document services business in 2003.

In 2003 Tom became CEO of Officia Imaging, Inc  in San Diego and over the next 10 years grew the company into one of the largest document imaging solutions companies in California.  He sold Officia Imaging, Inc in 2013 and in November of that year founded SAGE Executive Group.

Tom Deverell Family 2014

Today, Tom is chair of SAGE, an advisory group for like-minded business leaders from diverse industries, driven to become better companies and leaders and improve the bottom line!

Tom married Tamara in 2001 and they reside in the Carmel Valley area just east of Del Mar.  He has two adult sons, both working at Officia and two young children ages 7 and 9 (at this writing). Tom spends time with family and friends and is very involved in his sons Boy Scout experience!

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Jan. 2022:  Email from Tom:  "Tamara and I recently returned for a week in Portugal & Spain. (Pictures below) I am extremely active in my CEO coaching business, currently coaching over 30 companies in SD. 

 

Mike Dudek

Mike Dudek
ALCO
Downingtown, PA
Email:  (Click Here)
Phone: (Click Here)


Mike was Vice President of Acquisitions for AOP in the mid '90's (1993-1998) and in 1998 became the VP Finance.  He retired from AOP in 2001 and entered his Private Law Practice.


Currently in addition to his law practice in Downingtown, PA, he owns and operates "The Zygoquest Group", providing custom mergers and acquisitions to clients all over the world.  Mike provides his clients (buyers and sellers) with financial and legal services.  Zygoquest is the number one merger and acquisition authority in the office products industry.

Bob O'Brien

1991

Beth and Bob 1992

Bob O'Brien       ALCO
O'Brien Business Equipment
Email

Prior to founding O'Brien Business Equipment, Bob was with the Xerox Corporation for many years and was Secretary of the Columbus, Ohio Chamber of Commerce during the late '70s. He founded O'Brien Business Equipment, Columbus, Ohio in 1981.  AOP purchased the company in 1988 and Bob became a member of the AOP Team.  Bob continued as President of O'Brien Business Equipment as well as The Greater Columbus Region CEO, until being promoted to AOP Senior Vice President of vendor relations for AOP worldwide. 

Bob, Brooke, Beth 2011

Bob and Beth 2011

On 9/9/16 Beth sold her dental practice and retired.  Their daughter Brooke, after graduating from Georgetown is working in sales for Bloomberg in New York City and enjoying living and partying in the Big Apple.  

Bob and Beth 1991

In 2016 they sold their Ohio home and have purchased a home at Kensington in Naples. Bob is on the board of the country club and plays over 200 rounds a year. They would love to hear from any of our alumni who visit or live in SW Florida. 

Beth, Brooke, Bob, 2017

(Click here to see more of Bob and Beth's pictures from Austria, Montreal and Quebec City, Nevus, Rome and Florence, Barcelona, Hong Kong, Hawaii, France and Paris)

Beth, Brooke, Bob
June 2019