BTA member Gordon Flesch Company (GFC) will celebrate its 70th anniversary the week of Aug. 17, marking seven decades of innovation, uncompromising service and enduring customer relationships.

In addition, weeklong events and photo memories will be shared with GFC staff at their local branch locations.

Founded in 1956 by entrepreneur Gordon Flesch, the company began with a small but transformative idea. After leaving a typewriter company, Flesch began selling the Thermo-Fax copier, the first dry copier on the market. At a time when document duplication was costly and complex, the Thermo-Fax made fast, affordable copying accessible to businesses of all sizes.

In those early days, Gordon Flesch wore many hats. He not only sold the machines, but also served as the company's sole repair technician, responding personally to customer needs. Along with cutting-edge technology, he built the business on a core principle that still defines GFC today: a do-whatever-it-takes commitment to service and long-term customer relationships.

"From the very beginning, our grandfather believed that technology mattered, but relationships mattered more," said Patrick Flesch, president and CEO, GFC. "That belief shaped who we are as a company and it continues to guide our decisions 70 years later."

What began as a one-man business has grown into a Midwestern powerhouse with connections across all 50 states. Today, GFC operates a network of 29 offices across six states, employing more than 640 associates. The company remains proudly family-owned, now led by the second and third generations of the Flesch family.

"Our responsibility as the third generation is to protect the spirit our grandfather built, while continuing to evolve for the future," says Mark Flesch, COO, GFC. "Technology, the workplace and customer expectations have all changed, but our purpose has not."

As business needs have evolved, so has GFC's portfolio. In addition to its longstanding leadership in print technology, the company now delivers a range of office technology solutions, including managed print services and managed voice services — as well as managed IT services through its Elevity division.

GFC is also the largest independent dealer of Canon equipment in the United States and a leading provider of Ricoh and Lexmark printers, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner for organizations seeking reliable, scalable workplace technology.

"Over the years, GFC has grown because we've never stood still," said Patrick Flesch. "As office technology evolved from standalone equipment to fully connected workplace solutions, we evolved with it. Our expansion into managed services and integrated technology was driven by listening to our customers and staying committed to helping them work smarter, no matter how the tools changed."

"Seventy years is an incredible milestone," said Mark Flesch. "It's a testament to our people, our customers and a founder who believed that 'doing the right thing, every time,' was the best business strategy there is."

The company's 70th anniversary celebration will recognize not only its growth and innovation, but also the customers, associates and communities that have been part of its journey since 1956.