Fridays with Frank: Special Guest Martin Golobic

Summary

In this engaging interview, Scott Colin speaks with Martin GOC, CEO of Great America Financial, about the company's impressive history and success in the leasing industry. Martin shares his vision for the future, emphasizing the transition from a founder-led to a team-led organization, and the importance of innovation and customer responsiveness. He discusses strategic initiatives, such as promoting Jenny Fiser to Group President of Office Technology, and the challenges faced by the industry with the shift from A3 to A4 emphasis. Martin highlights Great America's adaptability and commitment to supporting dealers in a changing business landscape.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Martin GOC, CEO of Great America Financial, joins the Canada Report to discuss the company's success and future direction.
• 🏆 Great America has consistently been ranked as the top leasing provider by the dealer audience, showcasing their strong market position.
• 🤝 Martin emphasizes the importance of his relationship with his father and the positive family business dynamics within Great America.
• 📈 The company is focused on transitioning from a founder-led to a team-led organization, with Martin playing a key role in this strategic shift.
• 👥 Jenny Fiser's promotion to Group President of Office Technology highlights Great America's commitment to elevating customer voices within the company.
• 🚀 Martin discusses the need for significant investments in technology and innovation to continue meeting customer needs and staying ahead of the competition.
• 🔄 The changing business landscape, particularly the shift from A3 to A4 emphasis, presents new challenges and opportunities for Great America and its dealers.
• 🛠️ Great America is exploring new business concepts and divisions, such as an automotive division focused on repair equipment and electric vehicle chargers.
• 💡 The company is considering leveraging its collective knowledge and data to provide additional value-added services to its customers, such as industry insights and financial modeling.
• 🌐 Martin expresses optimism about the drive and competitiveness of Great America's sales organizations and their ability to adapt and branch out into new areas.

Q & A

Who is the guest featured in the interview?

The guest featured in the interview is Martin GOC, the CEO of Great America Financial.

What is the significance of the company's history and success?

The company's history and success are significant as it has consistently been ranked as the top leasing provider according to surveys, indicating a strong relationship with its customers and a high level of customer satisfaction.

What role does Martin GOC see for himself in the company?

Martin GOC sees his role as transitioning the company from a founder-led organization to a team-led one, promoting internal talent and bringing in new faces to continue driving innovation and customer service.

What was the impact of the pandemic on Great America and its dealers?

During the pandemic, Great America was able to support its dealers effectively, offering help when other leasing companies could not or did not match their level of service, demonstrating their responsiveness and commitment to their customers.

How is the shift from A3 to A4 products affecting the industry?

The shift from A3 to A4 products is changing the industry as it involves a move from more expensive machines to lower value products, impacting MPS (Managed Print Services) contracts which were crucial for dealers.

What steps is Martin GOC considering to address the MPS challenge?

Martin GOC is considering various strategies, including creating a new role of Chief Strategy Officer and exploring new offerings to help dealers adapt to the changing landscape. He emphasizes understanding customer environments and needs to provide tailored solutions.

How does Great America support its dealers in expanding their业务范围?

Great America supports its dealers by exploring various concepts and utilizing their collective knowledge and data to help dealers understand and meet the changing needs of their customers, including entering new areas such as IT services and electric vehicle charging solutions.

What is the role of the Chief Strategy Officer at Great America?

The Chief Strategy Officer at Great America is tasked with developing strategies to help the company understand and adapt to the changing market and customer needs, coming from a consulting background to bring a fresh perspective to the company's approach.

How does Great America plan to use its data and insights?

Great America plans to use its data and insights to improve their customers' businesses by offering industry insights, financial modeling, and potentially exploring new value-added services to enhance the dealers' ability to serve their clients.

What is the significance of the promotion of Jenny Fiser to Group President of Office Technology?

The promotion of Jenny Fiser to Group President of Office Technology signifies the company's commitment to elevating the customer voice within the organization and making enterprise-wide decisions that align with customer needs and preferences.

How does Martin GOC view the future of Great America?

Martin GOC views the future of Great America as one of innovation, team leadership, and customer-centricity. He believes in the power of the collective team and the importance of adapting to changing market demands to continue the company's success.