(Vice President of Operations - Dallas/Fort Worth Office) — When you talk to DFW-based Vice President of Operations Steve Kennemer, you won’t hear a lot of the word “me.”

When a new technician comes on board, he tells him or her this: “’ What’s the secret? How do you succeed at Datamax? My simple answer is to be a part of the team. If you do that, you’re going to succeed.’ I’m a true believer in that you’re going to have twice the success if you utilize the knowledge of your team rather than go about this as an individual.”

Kennemer is definitively all about the “we.” It’s a humble approach for a man who started his career in this industry as a high school-aged part-timer cleaning ink tanks, and along the way has literally accomplished everything he set out to do along his career path. He not only fuels innovation and drives his team nimbly in the spirit of camaraderie and togetherness, but also holds close to heart the unique client service experience that only Datamax affords.

He also holds close a lesson his father taught him many years ago when Steve was trying out for the high school football team. You earn the right to play on this team. Be the first one on the field and the last one to leave. Show how hard you’re working, and how much you’re helping, and the team will embrace you.

What led me to Datamax?

Steve began working at Dynasystems in Wichita Falls, TX in 1981, spending afternoons and evenings setting up equipment and cleaning ink tanks, getting things ready so the “real techs could come in and be ready to go the next morning.” He liked the industry already, with its flexibility and the opportunity it offered to avoid the summer heat. He stayed on as a service technician after high school and eventually became a Service Manager and later branch manager for an office in Amarillo.

“A technician working on copiers in the field, you set your own pace and if you know what you are doing, you can come in, get the job done and move on to the next call,” Steve said.

After 20 years with Dynasystems, clutched with a set of goals he yearned to accomplish in his career, Steve decided it was time for a change.

“In the early 2000s, the copier industry was undergoing a huge change. It was more on the printing and technology side of office equipment, and I felt like it was time to look for a company that was doing that. I wanted to work for a Top 10 Dealer that was leading the industry in technology. That was Datamax. When I’d attend classes, I was always hearing about this place that was growing, pushing the technology envelope, and offering room for advancement.”

Though Steve traded in his management cap for a technician belt, he already envisioned his future here – and it was bright. 

My experiences at Datamax:

Steve said he set out to accomplish a number of goals. Among them, be part of a Top 10 Canon Dealer in the United States. The second was to reach the highest-level role afforded within the service department. He’s accomplish both since he arrived 20+ years ago, but within that attainment, he appreciates all the things that make Datamax “different.”

“What I love about Datamax, what sets it apart is that we don’t have customers. We have partners. We’re not just selling you a piece of equipment. And as far as service? I figure we’ve got the leading-edge service department in the entire Metroplex. Two of our executives came from the service side of things. We want to make a difference in this industry and we’re doing just that.”

What makes me want to stay at Datamax?

“I have one goal left, and it’s that I want to leave this industry with a legacy. I want to leave a legacy of, after 40+ years, I made a difference in office technology. And working for a company that gives you the tools and freedom to make decisions to better the company, and support of those decisions, I believe I’ll be able to attain that.”

His approach to obtaining that ultimate final legacy? It hasn’t budged a bit since high school.

“I’m part of the team. I’m not the general manager or the coach. If I push myself to succeed, hopefully the techs and other employees will see that and it will give them the desire to succeed.”

Team first. There is no “me.” It’s all about the “we.”