In 2001 in a 700 square foot store front on 17th Street Karl Ross and Jim Pagluica brought together two uniquely different and highly skilled capabilities as businessmen. Col. Ross was a private practice dentist for 21 years in Sacramento, CA and was serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserve at Travis Air Force Base and is a Service-Disabled Veteran. Jim Pagluica is an expert at contract management with over 24 years’ experience in managing federal and state procurement contracts. Together they formed All Business Machines, Inc. to support the agencies that serve the people.
The venture started with paper shredders, the partners were convinced this was the direction that would lead ABMI to success and profitability. Jim and Karl purchased two cross-cut high end paper shredders for resale. Unfortunately it became obvious the volume needed to sustain ABMI was not met by the demand for these shredders and Karl and Jim quickly acted to diversify their business model. The big break came in 2002 when California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation had a toner requirement Deuel Vocational Institute. On a Thursday afternoon in late June 2002 Jim answers the phone and finds the Deuel Vocational Institute CDCR facility had run out of toner… ABMI has not looked back!
