LANSING, MI and RALEIGH, NC – Business Machines Company (BMC), a leading retail and restaurant technology solution provider for over 60 years, is establishing the John B. Lockington Memorial Scholarship to help the families of retail technology resellers. BMC donated $50,000 to the RSPA (Retail Solutions Providers Association) Scholarship Program to create this new scholarship.
Lockington was a 2011 RSPA Hall of Fame inductee and the only Executive Director of the Systems Dealers Association (SDA) which later merged with the ICRDA (Independent Cash Register Dealers Association) to form today’s RSPA. Remembered as a devoted leader in the point-of-sale industry, Lockington was the driving force behind the SDA’s Annual dealer meeting Advantage, a precursor of today’s RetailNOW trade show and conference.
Recipients of the Lockington Scholarship will be associated with an RSPA member that operates as a full-service POS solution provider and will be individuals pursuing an educational curriculum intended to support a career with an RSPA member company.
Since the inception of the RSPA Scholarship Program, the RSPA has awarded nearly $3 million to families of member companies. The children and grandchildren of RSPA members are eligible for merit-based scholarships to help ease the costs associated with post-secondary education. BMC’s donation is one of the largest contributions ever to the RSPA Scholarship Program.
“John B. Lockington was a mentor and dear friend of mine,” said Robert Bauer, BMC President. “I, and many others, have a fond memory of his devotion to this industry, and it is our honor to endow this scholarship in his name.”
The creation of the Lockington Scholarship was first announced Jan. 23 at RSPA Inspire 2023, the retail IT channel’s premier leadership conference, in Maui, HI. The announcement, plus a team of on-site member volunteers, boosted the Scholarship Program significantly. Across three days, Jan. 23-25, Inspire attendees donated nearly $6,000 to the RSPA Scholarship Program.
“Resellers have been the heart of our association since its inception, so it’s fitting during our 75th anniversary year to have a scholarship designed for resellers created by a longtime successful reseller,” said Jim Roddy, RSPA President and CEO. “Bob has led the way as a past Board Chair and as an H.O. Whistler Award winner for his service to our community, and this scholarship continues his legacy while at the same time paying tribute to a great leader like John Lockington. This is for sure a special scholarship named after a special person who led and served a special community.”
For more information on the RSPA Scholarship Program, visit www.GoRSPA.org/Scholarship or email Membership@GoRSPA.org.
About BMC
Business Machines Company, Inc. was founded in 1958. Now, over 60 years later, the company has grown to a nationwide installed base approaching 5,000 locations. BMC has helped customers navigate through changes by migrating from mechanical and electronic cash registers to modern, Windows and Android based POS solutions with today’s latest features, including Software as a Service (SaaS), Contactless Payments, eCommerce, Online Ordering, Loyalty, Self Service Kiosks and Mobility. BMC is an authorized reseller of NCR, PAR, and TGCS. Team professionals are certified on all hardware and software platforms represented. The leadership team participates in various advisory councils, boards, and committees to ensure you are the forefront of emerging technologies. Learn more by visiting www.bmc-pos.com.
About RSPA (Retail Solutions Providers Association)
The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers member-to-member introductions, education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW® and Inspire® which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.
