Justin Harper has certainly been ‘there’ before. 

When the word “acquisition” starts circulating in the workplace, emotions can run high. There’s excitement, yes, but also uncertainty — especially for people who have built a career, a family, and a sense of stability where they are.

In January 2018, Justin Harper felt every one of those emotions. Then a Service Manager at East Texas Copy Systems (ETCS), he sat in the same Tyler training room the morning Datamax moved to the front of the room. ETCS Employees, who had just recently learned of the new ownership, sat in relative silence to see what new world awaited them.

“It’s scary,” he said. “More times than not, acquisitions end up with people leaving or being told ‘we don’t need you.’ It was scary for me because this was the only thing I’d ever known and been a part of professionally.”

He had children, bills, and a career he loved. And like many of his colleagues, he wondered what life after an acquisition might really look like.

But when he found out who the acquiring company was, everything changed.

“When I knew it was Datamax, I was great with it,” Justin said. “I didn’t know Texas President David Rhodes yet, but I knew a lot of their techs. I knew VP of Operations Steve Kennemer. I had met President Barry Simon before. That made it a little more comfortable for me. The reputation that Datamax had — the opportunities, the professionalism, the way they operated — I was excited. Knowing it was Datamax, and the growth they wanted to achieve and provide, I was super excited.”

From Uncertainty to Opportunity.

For Justin, that initial optimism quickly found validation. What stood out wasn’t just the structure or the systems. It was the engagement — real conversations that went deeper than numbers or job titles.

“The comfort that I got through the early visits was the engagement,” he said. “They asked, ‘What do you want to do? Are you happy? How do you want to grow?’ They took interest not just in us as employees, but in our customers too. You could feel that there was true care there — not just for the company’s success, but for people.”

That genuine care became the foundation of his growth. Over time, Justin’s initiative and dedication caught the attention of leadership. He stayed in his Service Manager role for a while, but his work ethic and cross-department support — helping with admin, logistics, and customer solutions — revealed something bigger.

“It became really noticeable that I could be more than just a service guy,” he said. “The thing that was most impactful was that they noticed how much I cared for our customers and our business, and how much it truly means to me as a person. Then, they opened up the gates for me to grow.”

Today, Justin serves as Director of Operations for Datamax Texas, overseeing service operations, process improvement, and customer experience across the state. His professional path is a clear reflection of Datamax’s philosophy: when people are empowered, everyone grows.

The Datamax Way of Growth.

The Growth Plus (+) strategy at Datamax has always been about alignment and opportunity. But Justin’s story shows the deeper layer — it’s about people. It’s about giving team members the tools, trust, and time to thrive.
He credits much of that to leaders like David Rhodes, who helped him realize that growth wasn’t just possible — it was welcomed. “In one of our manager meetings, David said the sky is the limit for any of you; you just have to choose to go get it,” Justin recalled. “When that man said it, he meant it. I’m a walking example of it.”

That sense of belief runs throughout Datamax’s culture. It’s seen in mentorship, in career development, and in the freedom people have to take initiative and make an impact. It’s the side of growth that’s harder to measure, but easier to feel — the side that transforms uncertainty into belonging, and belonging into success.

“Don’t Be Scared.”

Seven years later, Justin knows exactly what it feels like to be on the other side of an acquisition. Which is why his advice to the new team members joining Datamax through the Wight Office Machines acquisition is simple and sincere.

“Don’t be scared. Be open,” he said. “This truly is a family-owned, family-caring company. Our culture is real. We stand by that culture no matter what. Be positive about it. Grow and take anything you can out of it. Any possibility you feel is within your realm — take it and run with it. They’ll empower you to grow. They’ll give you every tool, every training, every bit of support and opportunity you need to excel and grow. And by ‘they,’ I mean ‘we.’”

Then, after a pause, he added what might be the most human truth of all in times of change:

“I had kids. I had bills. I completely get it.”

Growing Together: People to People.

Justin’s story is more than a success story. It’s a reflection of how Datamax approaches growth — not as an equation, but as a commitment to people.

When we say grow, we mean grow together. That’s what happens when leadership believes in you, when culture supports you, and when opportunity meets initiative. Justin Harper is living proof of what can happen when those things align.

And for every new member of the Datamax family in Fort Smith and Russellville, his story offers a message of reassurance, hope, and possibility.

Because growth, when done right, always begins with people.