The acquisition expands GTIA’s footprint in the IT channel, adding programs, resources, and opportunity for both communities
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) announced its acquisition of The ASCII Group, expanding its global member community and increasing investment in the programs, resources and experiences that support IT service providers (ITSPs) around the globe.
This milestone marks the next step in a relationship built over years of shared commitment to the IT Channel and member success. Building on more than four decades of industry leadership, GTIA has evolved from its roots with CompTIA into a global, non-profit trade association with a singular focus on advancing the IT channel and shaping its future.
The acquisition reflects the complementary strengths of both organizations, bringing together GTIA’s leadership in research, education, cybersecurity and industry strategy with The ASCII Group’s proven business tools and peer-driven community model. Together, they deliver a complete approach to the market, connecting strategic insight with real-world execution to better support ITSPs navigating a rapidly evolving IT channel.
With the closing of the acquisition, ASCII will become a GTIA community, with increased investment to expand its reach and impact. What ASCII members value most – peer connection, regional engagement and trusted vendor relationships – remains unchanged, now strengthened by additional resources, enhanced experiences and broader access to GTIA’s global portfolio of insights and capabilities.
“We’ve been in the room at ASCII Edge events, collaborating on world-class, vendor-agnostic research and working side by side with this community because we believe in the same things,” said Dan Wensley, CEO, GTIA. “This is a relationship that’s been building and strengthening for years. This acquisition lets us go further together, and we do it with deep respect for the legacy Alan Weinberger built and the community that legacy created.”
Founded by Alan D. Weinberger in 1984, The ASCII Group has long been a cornerstone of the MSP community, built on the belief that MSPs grow stronger together through peer connection and shared experience. Its model of regional engagement and practical, day-to-day business support has helped thousands of providers grow and thrive.
“Stronger communities create stronger businesses. ASCII and GTIA have built a lasting relationship throughout our shared history in the industry, most recently strengthened through GTIA’s groundbreaking AI research presented at every ASCII Edge event. Bringing our communities together is the natural next step, expanding collaboration, combining complementary strengths and delivering greater value to every member,” said Jerry Koutavas, CEO, The ASCII Group
Immediate and Expanded Member Value
ASCII members will immediately also become GTIA members, gaining access to expanded resources in the GTIA member portal and a broader global channel community through GTIA’s international meetings, forums and ChannelCon events.
GTIA members will have the opportunity to join the highly engaged ASCII community, adding a practical, robust library of business tools and resources and a dimension that drives incremental growth. Together, this enhances the value of participation, connecting insight with action, and strengthening the industry’s ability to adapt, lead and grow.
Rob Rae, CVP of Community and Ecosystems at Pax8, and GTIA Board Director and Chair of the GTIA Managed Intelligence Alliance, said, “We’re excited to see this acquisition come together. In ASCII, we saw what GTIA has always believed: that the strength of the IT channel lies in its people and its communities. By bringing these two organizations together, we are creating a platform powerful enough to meet the ambitions of every MSP, MIP, solution provider and vendor in our ecosystem. We, as the GTIA Board, are confident that this long-term bet on the channel will pay off for the members we serve.”
Channel Leaders Unite at ASCII Edge
Channel leaders will unite at ASCII Edge Chicago on September 23-24, 2026, at the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook. Designed specifically for MSPs looking to scale and strengthen their businesses, ASCII Edge brings together peer insights, industry expertise, emerging technologies, and meaningful networking opportunities in a collaborative environment built for the MSP community.
Registration is open here.
About the Global Technology Industry Association
The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) is the only vendor-neutral, 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership community connecting and representing the worldwide IT channel. We set our members up for success by providing benefits that include trusted resources and networking opportunities. In addition, the association sets industry standards that enable companies to build sustainable, secure, and profitable businesses in an ever-changing technology landscape. Internationally, GTIA represents hundreds of thousands of professionals from nearly 3,000 ITSPs, vendors, distributors and other companies serving the IT channel. For more information, visit gtia.org.
About The ASCII Group, Inc.
The ASCII Group is the premier community of North American MSPs, MSSPs and Solution Providers. The Group has members located throughout the U.S. and Canada, and membership encompasses everyone from credentialed MSPs serving the SMB community to multi-location solution providers with a national and international reach. Founded in 1984, ASCII provides services to members including leveraged purchasing programs, education and training, marketing assistance, extensive peer interaction and more. ASCII works with a vibrant ecosystem of leading and major technology vendors that complement the ASCII community and support the mission of helping MSPs to grow their businesses. For more information, please visit www.ascii.com.
CONTACT: Media contact: Suzanne Collier WhiteFox Marketing for GTIA suzanne@whitefoxpr.com
