The swell is building. Change is accelerating all around us — from how we harness technology to how we connect with our customers. The Next Wave represents this momentum: a surge of innovation, renewal, and opportunity that’s reshaping our business and our industry. The Next Wave is about embracing new tools like AI, predictive analytics, and automation to work smarter, serve faster, and deliver experiences that truly stand apart.
The future isn’t something approaching from the horizon — it’s something we’re creating, together, right now. #ReadytoRide?
It is an honor and a pleasure to lead this organization into its next chapter. I step into this role with a deep sense of gratitude, excitement, and respect for the people who make Datamax what it is today.
I am especially thankful to Barry Simon, not only for his leadership during this transition, but for his mentorship over the past thirteen years and his continued support moving forward.
President, Datamax Inc.
For Texas service teams, Power BI brings AI automation, immediate visibility via Co-pilot-powered dashboard, and ultimately, more time for managers to be out in the field.
She's integral to the daily operations. She's witnessed the challenges. She sees the opportunity. She's ready to seize the moment that this launch brings.
Ready to tackle personal challenges in the New Year ? Datamax and the EAP can help with that. Click to learn more about how they can help support the "new" you!
In surfing, setting the line is about positioning yourself before the wave ever breaks. You read the water, commit early, and move with purpose.
Driving FTA Business is literally Objective 1 for our Arkansas sales teams. VP of Sales Cody Simon speaks to the variety of ways that he plans to create new waves of Raving Fans via first
time account business.
Lindsey Russett
Texarkana
Can a collections specialist actually Create Raving Fans? Given the job description, it's a hard sell. But not if you've met Lindsey Russett, who pairs receivables with relationships, and knows that patience and respect go much further than pressure.
Jeremy Quinn
Longview
Three Presidents Club earnings in three years: It's a pretty good track record for the Longview Business Process Consultant who thrives in the outdoor sales environment. Out there, he finds his own customers, and shapes his own success.
Brad McClure
Dallas/Fort Worth
Seven years ago, Brad McClure took a Lennox sourcing contact to lunch. There was no contract on the table, no immediate opportunity, just a genuine connection that started with honest conversation. Today, he has a MASSIVE production deal to pair with it.
East Texas Food Bank
Tyler
Datamax reps recently spent a half day at the East Texas Food Bank, where they did more than just hand a donation: They offered their hands in a variety of volunteer efforts to help support ETFB's mission. Click to see more photos!
Better workflows produce better efficiency and better results. Texas Admin Manager Summar Sinclair explains how her teams are going with the flow in 2026, to make EVERYONE'S job a little more productive.
We love welcoming our new employees. That's why we've added the Datamax New Hire Dashboard – so you can get to know a little more about our new hires right off the bat. If you see one of these folks around the office, please say "hello! "
NOTE: For all of our new Wight Office teammates, please click on the Wight at Home article at top of the Rave Review.
Tell us about your family: I am a family guy who just wants to better his life so in return it betters his kid’s life.
Hometown: Hartford, Mich.
Hobbies: I enjoy hunting, fishing, and wrenching on vehicles.
When you're not at Datamax, what are you a Raving Fan of? Hanging out with the family and tending to my yard.
(Years at Datamax)
(Years at Datamax)
(Years at Datamax)
(Years at Datamax)
1. Watch – Spot the Rising Wave
Scan the horizon for emerging opportunities. Acknowledge them early and name them in your 2026 business plan. Recognizing the wave before it reaches you gives you the advantage of timing and preparation.
2. Commit – Go All In
Half-hearted effort guarantees wipeouts. Full commitment—of resources, energy, and focus—is the price of control. Your plan should reflect decisive choices and bold priorities that the team can rally around.
3. Momentum – Paddle Early and Build Speed
Start your initiatives early. Build momentum so that when the wave arrives, you are moving fast enough to ride it confidently. Hesitation only lets challenges grow larger and harder to manage.
4. Nose Down – Drop Your Head and Focus
When the wave is a board’s length away, it’s time to nose down. Put your head down and focus on execution. Precision, discipline, and attention to detail are critical in this phase—this is where results are made.
5. Sink Yourself – Drive Deep for Impact
Push weight into the back of the board. Go deep in the areas that matter most—your highest-leverage initiatives. Depth creates traction, allowing you to navigate the wave instead of being carried by it.
6. Hold On – Trust Your Plan
Grip the board and ride it out. Trust your plan, your team, and the support systems you’ve built. Lean back toward the surface when needed, adjust course, and keep moving forward. The wave will pass, and your preparation will turn turbulence into progress.
For those Datamax veterans, this is taken from a 2016 blog: It's a great methodology for how to ride The Next Wave. It's called The Duck Dive.
It is an honor and a pleasure to lead this organization into the next chapter of what Datamax can be. Together, we will not stand still. Together, we will move forward, grow stronger, and ride the Next Wave successfully." - Steven J. Sumner
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Marketing Communications Manager
Jeff Walker serves as the Marketing Communications Manager at Datamax Inc. Prior to joining Datamax, he worked as a reporter, critic and editor before becoming the Marketing Director at East Texas Copy Systems in Tyler, TX.
DALLAS/FORT WORTH | EL DORADO | FORT SMITH | HOT SPRINGS | JONESBORO | LITTLE ROCK
LONGVIEW | LUFKIN | RUSSELLVILLE | SAINT LOUIS | SULPHUR SPRINGS | TEXARKANA | TYLER