The Patriot Pack has been riding together since 2016. Its first ride was in honor of Bobby Shields, a Florida dealer who lost his battle with cancer. In the years that followed, the Pack rode for the Jillian Fund, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for families in need. When the Jillian Fund was later absorbed into a larger organization, the Pack shifted its focus to where it remains today: raising money for scholarships for veterans and their families.

With support from the Business Technology Association (BTA), dealers contribute through a BTA-hosted donation link and the scholarships are awarded directly to recipients. Over the years, the Pack has visited dealers across the country — finishing at Rolling Thunder in Washington, D.C., in the early days, then taking routes through the Midwest, the South, the East Coast, and now, more than 1,500 miles from Arizona to the Pacific Northwest.

Flex Technology Group Kickoff

The 2025 Ride began at Flex Technology Group (FTG) in Mesa, Arizona. CEO Frank Gaspari and Mike Stramaglio addressed the riders at a send-off complete with an ice sculpture to mark the occasion. FTG presented the Pack with a $10,000 donation, keeping their longtime support front and center.

From day one, the Pack was supported by the Mars Rover, the RV sponsored by Mars International. The Rover has been a fixture on these rides from the start, thanks to the generosity of Raj Thadani, who once again joined the ride along with Mike Sadoski. The FP Mailing scout vehicle driven by Jim D'Emidio was also key.

Advanced Office

The first dealer stop once the Pack fully organized in California came at Advanced Office, hosted by Richard Van Dyke. It was here that Jay Bartlett, a veteran from Advanced Office, rode with the Pack and stayed with the group all the way to Sacramento, California. GreatAmerica Group President of Office Technology Jenny Fisher was among several people from the company who was present to show their support at this stop.

Toshiba America Business Solutions

The next stop was Toshiba, where President and CEO Larry White and his team welcomed the Pack with a program that included honoring their own veterans. Toshiba provided food and hydration and presented a $10,000 donation. The Anaheim Ducks’ mascot even joined the festivities.

Konica Minolta

Further up the road was Konica Minolta. Steve Rohrer, Cody Walton and the Konica Minolta team greeted the Pack and presented another $10,000 donation, matching Toshiba’s contribution. Konica Minolta has been a consistent supporter of the Pack since day one and continues to back the ride each year.

The Swenson Group

In northern California, Dean Swenson and his family hosted the Pack with a patriotic welcome, complete with a color guard and a moving rendition of the National Anthem. Great food and refreshments once again greeted riders and, before they left, the Swenson Group donated $5,000.

At this stop, Laura Blackmer, President of Channel Sales at Konica Minolta Business Solutions, was formally inducted into the Pack. She received her kut — her vest — and her new road name, Broadway.

Smile Business Products

The Pack then visited Smile Business Products in Sacramento, California, where Joe Reeves hosted, taking the hungry team out for a fantastic dinner where they were joined by John Sheehan and others from Sharp Electronics. The next morning, they visited Smile headquarters, where Reeves presented the group with a $5,000 donation. Pete Salmon would join the caravan north from here as they headed to Oregon.

Pacific Office Automation

The final stop came at Pacific Office Automation (POA) in Beaverton, Oregon. The evening before, POA hosted a bourbon reception for the riders. This was a fantastic finish to an epic week! The next day, Nick Duyn, who oversees Oregon and Hawaii for POA, welcomed the Pack and presented a $10,000 donation to cap off the ride.

The Results

With the support of its sponsors — Mars International, Flex Technology Group, Konica Minolta, Toshiba, Sharp Electronics, Pacific Office Automation, GreatAmerica, Hytec, Static Control, DLL, FP Mailing Solutions, Smile Business Products, First Citizens Bank and many more — the 2025 Patriot Pack Ride raised more than $50,000 for veterans and their families!

Last year, BTA awarded a $10,000 Patriot Pack scholarship, the largest single scholarship in its history, as well as several other smaller veteran scholarships. With the funds raised this year, the Pack looks forward to awarding more scholarships to veterans and their families.

The Pack has changed its routes over the years, but the mission has remained the same: to ride, to raise money and to support those who have served.

Support the Scholarship Fund

Scholarships for veterans and their families are distributed directly through BTA. Dealers and supporters can contribute through BTA’s donation link, helping continue this mission: https://www.bta.org/patriotpackscholarships