About NOREX

1980
North American Computer Exhange Is Founded

The North American Computer Exchange was founded on October 1, 1980 by Ron & Sandy Haberkorn. The original concept was to help organizations in the US and Canada buy and sell computer hardware without broker interference or fees. The new company was located in the basement of the Haberkorn home in Prior Lake, MN.

1980
IC Systems Is Member #1

The promise was that no money was to be collected until 25 Members joined the group. Member #8, Mayo Clinic, accidentally processed payment right away. Honoring his promise, Ron offered to send the check back. The Mayo contact said to keep it. Mayo is still a NOREX Member today.

1981
1st IT Roundtable Held

Providing the first  opportunity for Members to share best practices regarding equipment exchanges.

1984
Name Shortened To NOREX

In response to Member requests to shorten the name of the group, the NORth American Computer EXchange name is shortened to NOREX.

1991
1st International IT Roundtable Held

The 1st professionally moderated 3-day NOREX International Roundtable is held in Minnetonka, MN. This was the beginning of the evolution from a hardware exchange to the vendor-free exchange of IT peer experiences as the primary focus of the group.

1995
1st To Deliver Services Via “World Wide Web”

NOREX was one of the 1st organizations to deliver services via the new “World Wide Web.” NOREX Members could download documents created by their IT peers directly from the NOREX website.

1998
IT Discussions Held Via Phone-Conferencing

NOREX launches 1-hour IT peer discussions held via phone-conferencing technology to provide shorter, professionally moderated opportunities for detailed discussions on specific topics. Discussion transcripts were distributed to Members.

2008
The Unconventional Manager Is Published

Ron authors The Unconventional Manager to encourage business leaders to avoid “success at any price.” The book shared Ron’s business philosophy which is notable for the emphasis on employment fairness and stability outranking profit as the primary goal. This philosophy continues to guide NOREX today.

2009
NOREX Select Created

In response to requests from Fortune 1000 organizations within the NOREX community, NOREX Select is created to provide additional opportunities for IT professionals from enterprise-level organizations to discuss large-scale IT projects.

2013
NOREX Direct Connect Launched

NOREX Direct Connect is launched to give Members the ability to interact and post questions to each other online while still being supported by Member Success Managers.

2015
Document Resources Grow To 2500+ Contributions

The online NOREX Document Resources area grows to include 2500+ Member-contributed templates, discussion transcripts, Member poll results, and more. The ever-evolving documents available allow Members to jumpstart their initiatives.

2019
Video & Chat Introduced

A year before the COVID pandemic, NOREX introduces video and chat for the 1-hour discussions.

2020
Virtual IT Roundtable Events

In response to the COVID pandemic, NOREX pivots quickly to host 3-hour and multi-day Virtual IT Roundtable events in place of in-person events. Participation is huge (200+ Members) with very active chat discussions. As always, vendors are not allowed to participate or sponsor. Travel budgets are no longer a barrier for participation. The evolution to hosting longer-format virtual discussions begins.

2021
Ownership Transitions

NOREX ownership transitions to Ron & Sandy’s daughters Deb (Haberkorn) Kind, Pam (Haberkorn) Humphrey, and Amy (Haberkorn) Dill. The daughters pledge to continue the NOREX vision to be the leader in facilitating peer-sourced IT experiences and solutions – with no vendor influence.

2021
Executive Summaries Created

Executive Summaries created in response to Member requests for quick overviews of the transcripts.

2022
Roundtable 55s

NOREX shortens and rebrands the 1-hour discussions as Roundtable 55s to emphasize the unique discussion format and avoid confusion with “webinars” that typically feature presentations. The 55-minute length allows for transition time between virtual meetings.

Present
40+ Years Serving The IT Community

The NOREX IT peer community includes thousands of IT professionals representing a wide cross section of industries. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve this amazing community for over 40 years!

1980
The North American Computer Exchange was founded

On October 1, 1980 by Ron & Sandy Haberkorn. The original concept was to help organizations in the US and Canada buy and sell computer hardware without broker interference or fees. The new company was located in the basement of the Haberkorn home in Prior Lake, MN.

1980
IC Systems becomes Member #1

The promise was that no money was to be collected until 25 Members joined the group. Member #8, Mayo Clinic, accidentally processed payment right away. Honoring his promise, Ron offered to send the check back. The Mayo contact said to keep it. Mayo is still a NOREX Member today.

1981
The 1st Roundtable is held in Bloomington, MN

Providing the first  opportunity for Members to share best practices regarding equipment exchanges.

1984
Name shortened to NOREX

In response to Member requests to shorten the name of the group, the NORth American Computer EXchange name is shortened to NOREX.

1991
1st International Roundtable is held

The 1st professionally moderated 3-day NOREX International Roundtable is held. This was the beginning of the evolution from a hardware exchange to the vendor-free exchange of IT peer experiences as the primary focus of the group.

1995
1st organization to deliver services via the new “World Wide Web.”

NOREX was one of the 1st organizations to deliver services via the new “World Wide Web.” NOREX Members could download documents created by their IT peers directly from the NOREX website.

1998
1-hour IT peer phone-conferences introduced

NOREX launches 1-hour IT peer discussions held via phone-conferencing technology to provide shorter, professionally moderated opportunities for detailed discussions on specific topics. Discussion transcripts were distributed to Members.

2008
“Success at Any Price.”

Ron authors The Unconventional Manager book to encourage business leaders to resist the temptations of  “success at any price.” The book shared Ron’s business philosophy which is notable for the emphasis on employment fairness and stability outranking profit as the primary goal.  This philosophy continues to guide NOREX today.

2009
NOREX Select is created

In response to requests from Fortune 1000 organizations within the NOREX community, NOREX Select is created to provide additional opportunities for IT professionals from enterprise-level organizations to discuss large-scale IT projects.

2013
NOREX Direct Connect is launched

NOREX Direct Connect is launched to give Members the ability to interact and post questions to each other online while still being supported by Member Success Managers.

2015
Document Resources Grows to Over 2500+ Contributions

The online NOREX Document Resources area grows to include 2500+ Member-contributed templates, discussion transcripts, Member poll results, and more. The ever-evolving documents available allow Members to jumpstart their initiatives.

2018
New Look

NOREX freshens logo branding.

2019
Video and Chat

NOREX introduces video and chat for the 1-hour discussions.

2020
Virtual Roundtable Events

In response to the COVID pandemic, NOREX pivots quickly to host 3-hour and multi-day Virtual Roundtable events in place of in-person events. Participation is huge (200+ Members) with very active chat discussions. As always, vendors are not allowed to participate or sponsor. Travel budgets are no longer a barrier for participation. The evolution to hosting longer-format virtual discussions begins.

2021
Ownership Transitions

NOREX ownership transitions to Ron & Sandy’s daughters Deb (Haberkorn) Kind, Pam (Haberkorn) Humphrey, and Amy (Haberkorn) Dill. The daughters pledge to continue the NOREX vision to be the leader in facilitating peer-sourced IT experiences and solutions – with no vendor influence.

2021
Executive Summaries

Executive Summaries of the 1-hour discussions are created in response to Member requests for quick overviews of the transcripts.

2022
Roundtable 55s

NOREX shortens and rebrands the 1-hour discussions as Roundtable 55s to emphasize the unique discussion format and avoid confusion with “webinars” that typically feature presentations. Deep Dive 55s also are launched to provide opportunities for small-group, follow-up conversations after virtual events. Both RT55s and DD55s are 55 minutes to address Member requests to have transition time between virtual meetings.

Present
An Amazing 40 Years

The NOREX IT peer community includes thousands of IT professionals representing a wide cross-section of industries. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve this amazing community for over 40 years!

1980
The North American Computer Exchange was founded

On October 1, 1980 by Ron & Sandy Haberkorn. The original concept was to help organizations in the US and Canada buy and sell computer hardware without broker interference or fees. The new company was located in the basement of the Haberkorn home in Prior Lake, MN.

1980
C Systems becomes Member #1

The promise was that no money was to be collected until 25 Members joined the group. Member #8, Mayo Clinic, accidentally processed payment right away. Honoring his promise, Ron offered to send the check back. The Mayo contact said to keep it. Mayo is still a NOREX Member today.

1981
The 1st Roundtable is held in Bloomington, MN

Providing the first  opportunity for Members to share best practices regarding equipment exchanges.

1984
Member requests to shorten the name

In response to Member requests to shorten the name of the group, the NORth American Computer EXchange name is shortened to NOREX.

1987
NOREX Luncheons begin

NOREX Luncheons begin as clusters of Members grow in various cities.

1991
1st International Roundtable is held

The 1st professionally moderated 3-day NOREX International Roundtable is held in Minnetonka, MN. The event includes several sessions to address various areas of IT. As had become the tradition at previous Roundtables and Luncheons, vendors were not allowed to participate or sponsor. This was the beginning of the evolution from a hardware exchange to the vendor-free exchange of IT peer experiences as the primary focus of the group.

1995
1st organization to deliver services via the new “World Wide Web.”

NOREX was one of the 1st organizations to deliver services via the new “World Wide Web.” NOREX Members could download documents created by their IT peers directly from the NOREX website.

1998
1-hour IT peer discussions held via phone-conferencing technology

NOREX launches 1-hour IT peer discussions held via phone-conferencing technology. The goal was to provide shorter, professionally moderated opportunities for detailed discussions on specific topics. Discussion transcripts were distributed to Members, and no vendors were allowed to participate or sponsor.

2000
16 regional locations

1-day Roundtables grow to 16 regional locations.

2008
“Success at Any Price.”

Ron authors The Unconventional Manager to encourage students, entrepreneurs, managers, and leaders to resist the temptations of radical self-interest and “success at any price.” The book shared Ron’s business philosophy which is notable for the emphasis on employment fairness and stability outranking profit as the primary goal. Ron believed it is the obligation of management / ownership to “flex” as required to achieve maximum employment security. This philosophy continues to guide NOREX today.

2009
NOREX Select is created

In response to requests from Fortune 1000 organizations within the NOREX community, NOREX Select is created to provide additional opportunities for IT professionals from enterprise-level organizations to discuss large-scale IT projects.

2013
NOREX Direct Connect is launched

NOREX Direct Connect is launched to give Members the ability to interact and post questions to each other online while still being supported by Member Success Managers.

2015
Document Resources Grows to Over 2500+ Contributions

The online NOREX Document Resources area grows to include 2500+ Member-contributed templates, discussion transcripts, Member poll results, and more. The ever-evolving documents available allow Members to jumpstart their initiatives.

2018
New Look

NOREX freshens logo branding.

2019
Video and Chat

NOREX introduces video and chat for the 1-hour discussions.

2020
Virtual Roundtable Events

In response to the COVID pandemic, NOREX pivots quickly to host 3-hour and multi-day Virtual Roundtable events in place of in-person events. Participation is huge (200+ Members) with very active chat discussions. As always, vendors are not allowed to participate or sponsor. Travel budgets are no longer a barrier for participation. The evolution to hosting longer-format virtual discussions begins.

2021
Ownership Transitions

NOREX ownership transitions to Ron & Sandy’s daughters Deb (Haberkorn) Kind, Pam (Haberkorn) Humphrey, and Amy (Haberkorn) Dill. The daughters pledge to continue the NOREX vision to be the leader in facilitating peer-sourced IT experiences and solutions – with no vendor influence.

2021
Executive Summaries are Created

Executive Summaries of the 1-hour discussions are created in response to Member requests for quick overviews of the transcripts.

2022
Roundtable 55s

NOREX shortens and rebrands the 1-hour discussions as Roundtable 55s to emphasize the unique discussion format and avoid confusion with “webinars” that typically feature presentations. Deep Dive 55s also are launched to provide opportunities for small-group, follow-up conversations after virtual events. Both RT55s and DD55s are 55 minutes to address Member requests to have transition time between virtual meetings.

Present
An Amazing 40 Years

The NOREX IT peer community includes thousands of IT professionals representing a wide cross-section of industries. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve this amazing community for over 40 years!

Our History

In 1980, Ron Haberkorn (1938-2021) founded the North American Computer Exchange (NOREX) to help companies purchase and sell used technology hardware. Over the years, NOREX evolved to serve as a key vendor-free information resource for technology leaders. During the rapid adoption of technology in the 1990s, organizations turned to NOREX as the leading source for “real-world” insight when implementing new technology. 40 years after its founding, NOREX ownership transitioned to Ron’s three daughters — Deb (Haberkorn) Kind, Pam (Haberkorn) Humphrey, and Amy (Haberkorn) Dill. We are proud to carry forward NOREX’s mission to be the leader in facilitating peer-sourced IT experiences and solutions – with NO vendor influence.

The NOREX Pledge

Ron Haberkorn - founder of NOREX

To Members:

Total Member (customer) satisfaction is the reason we exist, and we go the “extra mile” on their behalf. All of our energy and enthusiasm is focused on exceeding expectations.

To Our Team:

A stable family-friendly environment is a critical element of our present and future success. Employment fairness and stability outrank profit as our primary goal. Adequate profit (not maximum) will result. Financial performance will vary from quarter to quarter and year to year. It is the obligation of management / ownership to “flex” as required to achieve maximum employment security.

To Suppliers:

Supplier appreciation and fairness is critical to a predictable future for our suppliers and NOREX. We pay invoices before they are due, and we do not switch suppliers for short-term savings. Instead, we value long-term relationships of loyalty and service.

To Country and Community:

We are deeply thankful to our country and community for fostering an environment where NOREX can thrive. We show our appreciation through positive involvement in the community and annual charitable giving of over 5% of profits before tax.

Meet Our Leadership

With decades of experience within the organization, our ownership is dedicated to helping our members thrive.

Deb Kind NOREX

Deb (Haberkorn) Kind

Owner | Board Member | Executive Team
Pam Haberkorn Humphrey NOREX Owner

Pam (Haberkorn) Humphrey

Owner | Board Member | Executive Team
Amy (Haberkorn) Dill

Amy (Haberkorn)
Dill

Owner | Board Member

Meet our Leadership

Deb Kind NOREX

Deb (Haberkorn) Kind

Owner | Board Member | Executive Team
Pam Haberkorn Humphrey NOREX Owner

Pam (Haberkorn) Humphrey

Owner | Board Member | Executive Team
Amy (Haberkorn) Dill

Amy (Haberkorn) Dill

Owner | Board Member