CENTRIC BUSINESS SYSTEMS ACQUIRES THE COPIER DIVISION OF OFFICE SUPPLIERS, INC

Baltimore, MD, June 15, 2010 – Centric Business Systems has announced its purchase of The Copier Division of Office Suppliers, Inc., in Hagerstown, Maryland. The transaction took place May 2010. The acquisition will enable Centric to expand its services within the Hagerstown and Frederick markets.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to provide our business systems and document management solutions to the Hagerstown and Frederick areas,” said Rick Bastinelli, president, Centric Business Systems. Many of our existing customers have locations throughout Baltimore, Hagerstown, Frederick, and Washington. Now we’re able to provide them with comprehensive service, and at the same time reach out to new customers.”

“By acquiring the Copier Division of OSI, we obtained an excellent group of employees in the sales, administrative and service departments,” says Bastinelli.  The acquisition will push Centric above $22 million in annual revenues and over 115 employees.

“Our strategy all along has been to grow and continually find ways to raise the bar on service,” he continues.  “We are confident that the acquisition will reposition us as one of the leading office technology providers in the Mid-Atlantic region.”

CENTRIC BUSINESS SYSTEMS AWARDED 11TH ELITE DEALER AWARD

Superior Sales, Customer Service and Innovation Earns Firm Distinguished Honor

Owings Mills, MD, February 17, 2010 – The three principles of responsiveness, communication and ownership have earned Centric Business Systems its eleventh honor as an Elite Dealer. The industry award, offered by OfficeDEALER magazine, is presented annually to the leading office equipment, office products and office furniture dealers in the United States.

Centric Business Systems was among 110 other businesses named Elite Dealers, an honor that has Rick Bastinelli, president of Centric, proud of his team. “I'm very pleased that we've been recognized for our commitment to superior products and customer service. Everyone at Centric is focused on raising the bar in our day-to-day operations and it has really paid off.”

Centric's customer-retention program, CustomerFIRST, offers customers similar office equipment guarantees that other dealers provide, however, the CustomerFIRST philosophy pushes the limits of service far beyond the standard. Bastinelli developed the three principles of the CustomerFIRST program using employee feedback, believing employees would be more apt to embrace and implement a program they had the opportunity to help develop. His philosophy has proven true; Centric has enjoyed over 15 years of double-digit growth and continues to be a Maryland leader in office equipment solutions.

CENTRIC'S BASTINELLI NAMED ERNST & YOUNG
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR® 2009 AWARD FINALIST IN MARYLAND

Owings Mills, MD, May 27, 2009 – Centric Business Systems announces that president Rick Bastinelli is a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 Award in the Maryland program.

The Ernst & Young awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Bastinelli is one of 21 finalists, selected from nearly 50 nominations. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 25, 2009, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel.

“I am very proud of the organization for achieving this honor,” said Bastinelli. “It’s a real tribute to Centric and all the employees who make the organization so successful.”

CENTRIC CONTINUES TO SOAR WITH
NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

Owings Mills, MD., September 29, 2008 – Centric Business Systems Inc., a leading provider of office technology in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. marketplace, today announced the appointment of Scott Schnabel as Vice President of Sales. With more than 14 years of experience in leadership and sales roles, Scott is ideally suited to lead Centric's sales force, as well as directly contribute to the company's strategic growth plans.

"In our search for a VP of Sales, we were looking for someone with a deep understanding of our industry who could accelerate the growth of our organization. We are confident that Scott's track record of success in sales and sales management, combined with his experience in motivating and directing sales teams, will be a tremendous asset," said Rick Bastinelli, Centric's President and CEO.

For the past 14 years, Scott has held sales and sales management positions at Connecticut Business Systems (CBS), a core company of Global Imaging Systems, which was purchased by Xerox in 2007. After graduating from Bryant University, Schnabel began his sales career at CBS and quickly transitioned into a sales management role. In 2004, Schnabel was further promoted to VP of Sales, where he managed five different offices throughout the New England marketplace. During his tenure at CBS, Scott won several industry awards and was a key player in growing the company from $5 million in revenue to over $50 million through organic growth and acquisition.

"I'm excited to join the strong management team at Centric and most importantly, help the company position itself as the technology leader in this rapidly emerging marketplace,” states Schnabel. “Centric is a reputable company with an excellent foundation,” says Schnabel. “I'm looking forward to building off of our past successes and raising the bar in our efforts to provide the best technology and customer support in our region.”

CENTRIC BUSINESS SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION

Rick Bastinelli, President of Centric Business Systems, recently announced the company's acquisition of Maryland Copier Company, Inc. As a result, the Owings Mills-based provider of business equipment will take ownership of the sales and service of Maryland Copier Company, Inc.,
a Laurel-based company.

“Our growth is important so we can continually offer our customers outstanding service and our employees with exciting career opportunities,” states Bastinelli.

Acquiring Maryland Copier Company, Inc. allows Centric to increase their capabilities and strengthen their commitment to providing better service to clients with offices in both Baltimore and the nation's capital. Maryland Copier Company, Inc. is authorized to work in the Washington D.C. area, a marketplace that Bastinelli is eager to expand into. Both companies are distributors of Sharp products, which is another key component when merging a client base.

About 25 employees from Maryland Copier Company, Inc., including sales people, technicians and administrative staff, have made the transition to Centric. The company's top executive, Jack Miller, will remain on board for several months as a consultant during the transition.

“We are confident that the acquisition will reposition us as one of the leading office technology providers not only in Baltimore, but in the D.C. area as well,” states Bastinelli.

CENTRIC HONORED WITH SHARP’S HYAKUMAN KAI AWARD

The Hyakuman Kai Dealer Award, presented by the Sharp Corporation, recognizes dealerships that attain an “elite” status in sales and service. Centric was 1 of 19 dealers nationwide to achieve this honor out of hundreds of independent dealers that sell Sharp’s office technology. Sharp is globally recognized for providing the best and most innovative document management products, integrated software and industry-leading security and support programs. Centric is a proud distributor of Sharp’s digital copiers, facsimiles, printers and document management software.

CENTRIC RECEIVES RECOGNITION IN NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS

ImageSource Magazine, December 2006
“What’s in a Name: Rebranding to Get Recentered” by Sand Sinclair

To remain competitive in the office technology industry, Copy World had to evaluate the past and prepare for the future. Sand Sinclair provides an in depth picture of the strategic thinking behind a new name and a new vision.
View article…
http://www.imagesourcemag.com/article.asp?id=1368&type=article

Office Technology Magazine, September 2006
“New Name, New Direction: Baltimore’s Centric Positioned for the Future” by Dustin Phillips

After spending 33 years branding Copy World, changing names was no easy task. Author Dustin Phillips provides a glimpse into some of the challenges President Rick Bastinelli faced along the way and the steps he took to ensure the transition was a success.
View article…
http://devbta.i4a.com/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=1765

Image Magazine, 2006
“Centric’s New Name is Charm City’s Model Marketing Effort”

Why the name Centric? For years, the company was successful under the Copy World name. Why change a good thing? As the industry evolved, the name did not adequately portray the company’s image as a full service provider. The company needed a name that symbolized the wide-range of innovative products they offer and matched the digital evolution of the industry.