The 2019 Difference Makers of the Office Technology Universe

On Par with Excellence

A wise man once asked, “What have you done lately to make the world a better place?” Clearly, few people have the capacity to wield a positive influence on a grand scale. But when we endeavor to make our little corner of the planet a little easier to navigate then we have truly made a difference.

From the standpoint of the office technology universe, determining what entails a difference maker is nebulous and somewhat tough to articulate; it defies definition and is strictly in the eyes of the beholder. That’s why we lean on you, our gentle readers, to champion the cause of individuals in your neck of the woods. In the age of number crunching and analytic metrics to measure everything under the sun, what defines a “difference maker” is wholly unscientific and subjective. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

For your consideration, we have 68 profiles of individuals who have made bona fide impacts on their customers, companies, vendors, suppliers, partners, co-workers and other associates. Many of them have impressive tales of starting from scratch and building an empire from the ground up (and sometimes, literally beginning in the basement of their house). And while we do have a strong showing this year from the corner executive office, there are also plenty of individuals who have embraced mid-level roles, who have nonetheless played an integral role in the growth of their own companies and those of their customers.

Regardless of their rank, the common denominator linking all of our honorees is their penchant for going about and beyond their title’s job description to ensure they are doing anything and everything possible to make your experience with them memorable, profitable and satisfactory. And knowing they have touched your world, we would like to invite you to take a glimpse into their world.

On behalf of ENX Magazine, I would like to thank all of our readers who took the time to nominate this year’s Difference Makers class. We also tip our caps to this year’s honorees. Read on!

Tim Ward
CEO and Founder

Why Tim Ward is a difference maker:

The creation of Total Technology Solutions Group (TTSG) arose from Ward’s desire to provide a better choice for customers in the face of market consolidation. In his previous role, he had become a successful district sales manager for a large, multinational document management company, with oversight of more than 20 sales reps. Then, at the age of 29, the Western Illinois University graduate “started from a cardboard box” with TTSG in the teeth of the nation’s biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression. Ward endeavored to address the needs of clients and help them leverage the growing technology advancements the industry had to offer, while providing an advanced level of customer service. TTSG enjoyed rapid growth and landed on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies. TTSG’s double-digit growth has accelerated the company’s infrastructure greatly and paved the way toward Ward’s goal of reaching $50 million in revenue by 2021.

Tim Ward

TTSG Logo

“The driving force behind Tim’s personal and professional life is his genuine concern for people. He knows he has been gifted with a brilliant business mind and it is his deepest desire to use it for the betterment of others. People are his passion. He often finds himself helping other financial officers and business owners assess and manage difficult business situations they have unwittingly fallen into through contracts with the larger corporations against which he competes.

Yes, of course he wants to transact business with them and make a sale, but many times he finds the larger part of what he is doing to be helping them out of bad financial situations or improving how their workplaces operate. His primary mission is to help business owners and managers understand their current state of affairs both financially and legally, so that they can make informed, intelligent decisions, and take action toward stabilizing and building their companies. Some clients have been saved from letting people go, downsizing or even closing their doors.

Tim often hires people in whom he sees potential, even if at first they do not seem to be strictly suited for the position being filled or created. He has an ability to look past shortcomings and draw out strengths in those who come under his leadership and guidance. He helps his employees grow both professionally and personally, which contributes to the strength of the community fabric.”

POWERFUL INNOVATION.™

It’s in our DNA.