After broadcasting 170 shows of the RIMproReport, we’re announcing a major change to the format of the show going forward. For the last few years, this has been a weekly show. Going forward, we’ll offer the show as a monthly or even bi-monthly show. I’ll explain more on the show today. And there’s a couple big industry news items to catch you up on…

As web marketing evolves and grows in its importance as a lead generation device for RIM service providers, it is important to know and understand how to improve it in your business. On the show today, I pull the WebVitality team here at Flourish Press into the RIMproReport studio and put them on the spot. I ask them a bunch of questions related to…

The secure information destruction industry continues to grow and change in significant ways. NAID, the industry association, is often at the forefront of the many facets of this growth. 2013 was a big year for NAID and the industry, and by all indications, 2014 is shaping up to be another big year for the industry. Bob Johnson, CEO of NAID, joins …

On the show today, I’m going to review the major industry events of 2013. This can be helpful to you, as it will provide you—in a relatively quick fashion—an overview of what happened in the RIM industry in the past year. When you know the history and context of what happened in our industry, you can be aware of the possible trends and what may hap…

Our guest today is part of the family in one of the most well-known family businesses in the greater RIM and shred services industry. Bowman Richards is Vice President at Richards & Richards of Nashville, TN. Bowman is the eldest son of Steve Richards, an industry icon. Today we talk to Bowman about growing up in a family business. We discuss the b…

This is the fourth and final installment of our RIMproLive Europe event, which was recorded onstage at the European Information Management Conference. NAID-Europe and PRISM International hosted this event in Amsterdam last month. You’ve had a chance to listen to my interviews with Anthony Pearlgood of PHS Data Solutions, Marc Delhaie of Iron Mounta…

This is the third installment of our RIMproLive Europe interviews which were recorded on-stage at the European Information Management Conference. NAID-Europe and PRISM International hosted the event in Amsterdam last month. You’ve had a chance to listen to my interview with Anthony Pearlgood of PHS Data Solutions and Marc Delhaie of Iron Mountain F…

The European Information Management Conference, hosted by NAID-Europe and PRISM International, was held a couple of weeks ago in Amsterdam. I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing three executives of large European RIM companies as part of the conference keynote. The keynote was called RIMproLive Europe. Last week you got to hear the first of t…

The European Information Management Conference, hosted by NAID-Europe and PRISM International, was held last week in Amsterdam. I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing three executives of large European RIM companies as part of the conference keynote. The keynote was called RIMproLive Europe. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to replay the int…

In our industry we talk a lot about disaster recovery. We sell our services as a way to prepare for it. But what if it really happened to you? What if you had a major flood? What about a sprinkler system failure? Are you ready for that? Or what if a client of yours called experiencing the same thing? Do you have an immediate plan of action you coul…

A meeting with his lawyer opened his eyes to a brand-new business opportunity. And after researching it, he launched a RIM service business. Ron Bush started DRD Information Management back in 2004. Based an hour southeast of Chicago, DRD provides a full range of records and information-related service offerings. In the interview today, Ron shares …

This week I am pleased to replay an interview I did with Kristjan Backman and Patti Bowles, who own and operate Phoenix Recycling in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Their story is one of perseverance, love, and cool ways to make decisions. I think their conversation near the end of the interview about their adventure together is wonderful. And in all t…

You might think that being involved in the hit British TV show The X Factor and hanging with Simon Cowell on the set would be quite glamorous. But for Charlotte Williams, it’s all just part of a great story that eventually led her to our industry. Charlotte is the PR and Marketing Manager for Shredall & SDS based in Nottingham, England. Shredall & …

Every business that has created some degree of success in their market has taken specific actions to get them there. If you are willing to look for those clues, you can often leverage them in your own business. Nate Segall of AccuShred, a full service shredding and destruction services company based in Toledo, OH, has led his company to abundant su…

Everyone in the RIM industry has a story and each story is proof that it is possible to become successful in this business. Today, you’ll hear the story of Don Adriaansen of Titan Mobile Shredding. Don and his partner have built a successful shredding and destruction business in the greater Philadelphia area that includes mobile and plant operation…

While he never officially left the industry, many are saying that Ray Barry is officially “back” with the recent announcement that he is joining NAID as their Chief Shreducation & Member Relations Officer. You may remember Ray from Total Training Services, Shred School and more. He was on the board of NAID and served as Board President a few years …

This is a replay of an interview I conducted with Dennis Barnedt, CEO of the Oasis Group headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Dennis is also a Director and the Founder of Access. Dennis has a long and storied career in the RIM world and has become one of the leading movers and shakers in the global RIM services industry. Not only will you get a chance…

She’s one of the most known and loved vendors in the commercial RIM industry. She and the company she represents have been major contributors to the advancement of the industry. Fact is, they’ve been in the industry a very long time. Lori Palmer is the Executive Vice President of REB Storage Systems International, a global racking and storage syste…

With just over five years in the RIM services business, Vince Fuemmeler is doing some really cool things at Information Management & Securities (IMS) located in Mexico, MO. Along with shredding, Vince has added hard copy records, scanning and imaging as well as software and cloud related services to his suite of offerings. As a relatively young RIM…

As mergers and acquisitions continue to transpire in the RIM services industry, the value of a strong advisor and broker becomes more and more important. Bill O’Shields spent many years as the CFO of Recall, driving their initial acquisitions in the US market. He then went on to build a national powersports retailer through acquisitions before movi…

Richard Reese has been one of the most influential people in the entire RIM services industry. From the time he joined Iron Mountain in 1981 until the spring of this year, Richard led a company and an industry to unprecedented heights. His influence is significant in the services we offer, the associations we are a part of, and the amazing business…

Today is a great opportunity for you to get a glimpse into the mind of an IT Director. If you’ve struggled to figure out how to get their attention or sell to them, this show will be very instructive for you. John Gilbert, Director of Information Technology at Sunfood, a San Diego company that sells organic raw foods and super-foods, joins us to sh…

He got his start in his family’s moving business until his Dad showed an interest in records storage in the late 1980’s. After mapping out a detailed business plan and a small $20K loan, William (Bill) Palisano started Lincoln Archives in Buffalo, New York. This year will be Lincoln Archives’ 20th year in business! Since it was founded, Lincoln Arc…

He started out as a teacher until he was laid off and got a job as a temp worker with a record center. Over 20 years later, he now holds a doctorate that deals directly with the RIM industry professionals. Dr. Michael Huff has over 26 years of hands-on operations, management and consulting experience in the records and information management indust…

One of the few entrepreneurs in Kenya, our guest today is Marilyn Kamuru, the founder and managing director of eManage Africa. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, eManage Africa is a leading provider of records and data storage. They use industry-leading records management software and processes to provide an automated, secure environment for your records. Ma…

A veteran data industry service provider, our guest today is Tim Goodwin, the founder and CEO of The Data Center. The Data Center, which is based in Rockford, IL offers a full range of data protection services. Tim made a strategic decision years ago to only service clients with data focused solutions. To this day, that has not changed. The Data Ce…

Our guest today has actually been involved in Watergate, Whitewater, and Worldcom but not in the way you might expect. He’s done detective work with the data. Chris Muller got his start in 1978 when he was in charge of software development for a financial printing company. The things he learned there were the seeds to the birth and growth of his cu…

He’s been part of our RIM world as the owner of a records management business and also a shredding and destruction business in Cincinnati. So, he’s one of us. But while still deeply connected, those businesses are no longer a part of the equation. Now, Will Scott is creating some seriously cool results as the Inventor, Chief Designer and CEO at Ble…

The silver recovery business has often been tarnished with a bad reputation. But there are those who have worked to change the perceptions and deliver a reputable service over the years. Lon Rudnitsky, the Film Wash Partner at Pyromet grew up in the silver business. He knows the silver recovery industry inside out. As someone actively involved in i…

Whack-a-mole. You know the game where the mole pops its head up and you have to hit it as quickly as you can? Do you feel like your business world looks a lot like that? There is a better way! You can systemize your business so it will grow and flourish without sucking up every ounce of energy you have and every minute you possess. Sam Carpenter us…

This show will likely put some serious and well-warranted fear into you. My hope is that the energy of your fear gets quickly translated into preventative actions to ensure you don’t end up in hot water or even on the wall of shame. The topic…protecting the electronic data that you touch in any way, shape or form. Angie Singer Keating, the CEO of R…

If there was ever a place to learn about the importance of records, it’s in a hospital. Our special guest today leveraged her experience as a nurse and then as a medical consultant and educator to then start a record center. You can hear the rest of this story on the show today. Gail Bisbee is the Founder, President and CEO of Confidential Records …

Being “first” at anything is a major accomplishment. Think of the Wright Brothers and the first flight. Then there was John Alcock and Arthur Brown accomplishing the first cross-Atlantic flight. (Sorry Lindbergh fans. He didn’t actually make his crossing till eight years after they had.) And don’t forget Chuck Yeager and the first supersonic flight…

This is a shred industry start-up story beginning more than 25 years ago. Long-time destruction industry veterans, Tim and Paula Oberst of Ohio Mobile Shredding join us on the show today. You’ll learn how Tim and Paula got started with an incredible marketing campaign, how Tim built his first shred truck and what it takes to get through the tough t…

Jim Booth revisits the show after a year to update us on his new role as the Records and Information Management Practice Group Leader at Brightstone Consulting and Brightstone Insurance. You’ll recall that Jim was the long-time Executive Director at PRISM International until last May. On the show today we’ll learn more about his transition and the …

Craig Busch has had a significant influence in the shredding, RIM and recycling world with his line of products and consistent innovation. This includes various types of recycling containers and secure shred collection devices. An entrepreneur at heart, Craig is the CEO and President of Busch Systems as well as a partner and founder of a number of …

On last week’s show we learned the Richard Reese story. We discovered what he did before Iron Mountain, how he got to Iron Mountain and then the incredible success he experienced while at Iron Mountain as it’s President, CEO and Chairman. In this, the second half of my interview with Richard, I ask him about his perspectives on the RIM industry, hi…

In 1981, Richard Reese was recruited by Vin Ryan to be the President of Iron Mountain, a small, regional underground records and data storage business. At the time Richard took the helm, it was a $3 million-a-year company. Today, he retires from leading this $3 billion-a-year-plus global conglomerate. Not only did Richard lead his company to incred…

The Turtle Case brand is a well-known and highly respected product used throughout the data vault and RIM service industry. Given the unique reach of the Turtle Case product into our world, its manufacturer’s perspective of our industry would be meaningful to hear and understand. Ken Schneider, President of Perm-A-Store, joins us today on the show …

If you are headed to Nashville next week for the NAID 2013 Annual Conference, you’ll want to listen to this show. Steve Richards is Conference Chair for the March 22-24 event and is joining me on the show today to give you big ole “get ready to come to Nashville” overview. From the event itself to the venue, Steve covers it all. He even gives you s…

If you have ever wondered what your prospect might actually think, here is an opportunity to get into her head. On the show today, we’re going to dig into what makes an office manager tick. We’re going to learn what she does with her day. You’re going to hear what she thinks about you, your sales techniques and your approach. Sitting in the hot-sea…

An interesting ownership structure, a small marketplace, a diverse RIM service business, recent acquisitions and evident success. Today we learn about the unique story of Kent Record Management in Grand Rapids, MI. Our special guest today is Greg George, the CEO and one of the co-owners of Kent Record Management. We learn from Greg how this small m…

On today’s show we talk about the care and feeding of shred trucks. It’s important because when your shred trucks are not working, there is no money coming in. Randy Rauenzahn, Equipment Trainer and Field Service Expert with Shredfast talks about the critical things that all shred truck operators should do to keep their machines humming and produci…

Disaster recovery, business continuity and emergency preparedness are some of the important reasons clients use RIM related services. And the better their planning and preparation for the unthinkable, the more likely they are to use even more of those services. On today’s show, Michael Smith, the President and Founder of Readysmith Advisers joins u…

For the first time in RIMproReport history, we have an industry investor on the show. John Balzer is a Director with the Special Situations Group at Goldman Sachs. John has been involved in working with many of the larger companies as they experience significant growth either through expansion or acquisition. He’s been intimately involved in a lot …

A consummate industry professional, Richard Steed joins us on the show today. Richard is the Vice President of Pacific Records Management with operations in Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno and Modesto. Richard has been in the industry for 27 years and as a result brings a unique perspective to his role. He has also served PRISM International as a boar…

The FileMan, Cary McGovern needs no introduction. A long-time industry sales consultant and start-up advisor, Cary is now “officially” retired. But that doesn’t quench his passion for the industry and his desire to know what is happening. Today on the show, Cary and I discuss the impact of the acquisitions that continue to transpire in the RIM serv…

Nate Campbell will exert significant influence on the RIM services industry this year. As the Chief Operating Officer at Access and the new President of the PRISM International Board of Directors, I wanted the chance to speak to him about both roles. Nate has been in the business a long time. We spend some time learning his story and then dig into …

As you start your year, one of the most critical aspects of your RIM business relates to compliance. It is important for your company and non-negotiable when it comes to serving your clients. On this weeks show, the “HIPAA Man” Tom Dumez, President of Prime Compliance, joins us to discuss the important compliance issues emerging in the RIM service …

Happy New Year! I wish for you incredible success in 2013. As we begin 2013 it is fitting we spend some time with Joe Malerba, VP of Sales for the Russ Bassett Corporation. Joe is a long time data protection industry vendor and has unique insights on the vault and offsite media storage areas of the RIM industry. Officially this week, Joe is now the…