News: Pharos Named a Leader in Quocirca’s 2026 ACT Print Industry Ecosystem Leadership Report Learn More
News: Pharos Announces Availability of Pharos Cloud in AWS Marketplace. Learn More
News: Pharos Named a Leader in 2026 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Print Management Solutions Independent Software Learn More
News: Pharos Cloud 4.6 Tackles Print Workflows Across Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Beyond Learn More

A Smarter Way to Print

At Pharos Systems International, we help the world’s largest brands and mission-driven organizations modernize the way they print. As the leader in PrintOps providing innovative cloud-native print management software, we make printing more secure, cost-effective, reliable, user-friendly, and sustainable. The world has changed, but most organizations still manage print with legacy systems rely on on-prem servers, disconnected workflows, and complex infrastructure that creates headaches for IT and hides the true cost of printing. Our software empowers organizations to eliminate unnecessary infrastructure, gain visibility into print data, and meet the needs of today’s hybrid workforce.

Pharos - About Us

Recognized for innovation, growth, and workplace excellence

Our Story

Pioneering the Future of Print

Headquartered in West Henrietta, New York, Pharos Systems International serves clients around the world and is proudly backed by Spotlight Equity Partners. We have a long history of industry firsts. From inventing secure print workflows to pioneering cloud-native solutions and championing PrintOps, Pharos continues to lead the transformation of enterprise print management.

Two men collaborating on documents beside a retro computer

1992

Paul Reddy and Geoff Shaw establish Pharos to develop innovative print-management technology for organizations with complex printing needs.

Vintage gray fax machine with paper on a wooden office desk

1993

Invented secure pull-printing with the launch of Uniprint, the first solution of its kind for higher education.

Hands typing on a laptop with digital icons for data analysis and printing

1994

First to introduce user-level printing analytics to drive cost transparency and accountability.

Hands stacking a large pile of white paper on a print shop machine

1997

Embedded pull-printing technology directly into MFP devices, beginning with Lexmark.

Man walking through an office with printers and digital cloud icons

2000

Kevin Pickhardt serves as CEO for more than two decades until 2023, guiding Pharos through significant product, market, and technology changes, including its expansion into cloud-based print management.

Smiling businessman shaking hands with a colleague in an office.

2009

Expanded enterprise capabilities with the acquisition of PathForward print optimization.

Desktop monitor and smartphone displaying a print management analytics dashboard - Pharos Cloud.

2013

Pioneered cloud-based printer analytics and introduced Pharos Cloud.

Woman collecting a printed document from a multifunction printer in a modern office, with print management and cloud icons overlaid

2016

Delivered the industry’s first true cloud-native enterprise print management solution.

Hands typing on a laptop surrounded by digital security and data icons

2018

Enabled large-scale enterprise deployments with secure, scalable print infrastructure.

Glowing blue cloud icon with a padlock above a digital globe

2019

Became an early supporter of Zero Trust printing architectures to enhance data security.

Businessmen shaking hands in front of a rising growth chart

2021

Spotlight Equity Partners acquires a controlling interest in Pharos and supports the company’s next phase of growth through increased investment in leadership, systems, processes, and operations.

Two businessmen in suits talking while walking in a modern office

2023

  • Achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification for information security.
  • Josh Orum becomes CEO after serving as Pharos’ Chief Marketing Officer. Kevin Pickhardt moves into the role of Executive Chairman, continuing to contribute his industry experience and institutional knowledge to the company’s growth.
Pharos PrintOps

2024

  • Introduced and evangelized PrintOps, a modern, user-centric approach to printing.
  • Named one of The Silicon Review’s 30 Fastest-Growing Private Companies to Watch.
Smiling colleagues reviewing a printed document at an office printer

Today

Under Josh Orum’s leadership, Pharos continues its evolution as a cloud-native print-management and PrintOps company, building on the foundation established by its founders and the long tenure of its previous leadership.

Leading the PrintOps Movement

Pharos introduced the concept of PrintOps as a new approach to enterprise printing. It reflects our belief that print should be cloud-native, people-centered, and integrated into the modern digital workplace.

Emerging PrintOps platforms will leverage:

  • Reliable cloud-native infrastructure that’s agile and scalable
  • Workflow automation and API integrations to streamline, connect, and collaborate
  • Data and AI to deliver actionable insights and reduce and resolve issues before they occur
  • Widely-accepted security frameworks and standards to enhance security and compliance
  • We don’t just talk about modernization—we deliver it.
Pharos leading the PrintOps Movement

Our Core Values

We believe the best ideas come from asking better questions and daring to innovate at Pharos. We see print not as IT infrastructure, but as a SaaS application—flexible, scalable, and built for the cloud. Enterprise print is different and deserves an enterprise solution designed to meet its unique challenges. That means print should be optimized, not just managed, for efficiency and cost savings.

This spirit of curiosity fuels everything we do. It drives us to challenge the status quo and focus on what’s possible to deliver solutions that truly transform how print supports your business.

Acting with Urgency

Our clients move fast, and so do we—delivering results with focus and accountability.

Thinking Rigorously

We challenge assumptions, dig deep into problems, and strive for solutions that last.

Collaborating Openly

We foster teamwork through transparency, honest communication, and shared accountability.

Caring for Others

Empathy, respect, and integrity shape how we serve, support, and show up every day.

Daring to Innovate

We embrace creativity, bold ideas, and fresh thinking to drive meaningful change.

Awards and Recognition

Pharos The Silicon Review Award

30 Fastest-Growing Private Companies to Watch

Pharos Systems International was recognized by The Silicon Review as one of the 30 Fastest-Growing Private Companies to Watch in 2024. This award highlights organizations that demonstrate strong market expansion, a commitment to innovation, and meaningful impact within their industry. This recognition reflects Pharos’ continued investment in modern print technology and its ability to help organizations simplify infrastructure, improve security, and adapt to evolving workplace needs.

Top Workplaces 2026 Award

2026 Top Workplaces Winner

Pharos Systems International was named a 2026 Top Workplaces winner by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. This award is based entirely on employee feedback, measuring key areas such as leadership, culture, alignment, and overall workplace satisfaction. Being recognized as a Top Workplace highlights Pharos’ commitment to fostering an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

2026 Great Employee Benefits Recognition

Great Employee Benefits Recognition

Pharos Systems International has been recognized by Mployer for offering strong employee benefits, reflecting its ongoing commitment to employee wellbeing and long-term support. This recognition evaluates benefits programs based on accessibility, coverage, and overall value to employees. By investing in comprehensive benefits, Pharos supports its team both professionally and personally, helping to create a workplace that attracts and retains top talent.

Quocirca’s 2026 ACT Print Industry Ecosystem Leadership - Pharos Recognition

Leader in Quocirca’s 2026 ACT Print Industry Ecosystem Leadership Report

Pharos Systems International was named a Leader in Quocirca’s 2026 ACT Print Industry Ecosystem Leadership Report, which recognizes vendors driving innovation across automation and AI, cloud infrastructure, and technology ecosystems. The recognition highlights Pharos’ leadership in helping organizations modernize print operations through secure, cloud-native solutions designed for today’s digital workplace environments.

IDC-MarketScape-Pharos-2026-Bagde_2-(White)

Leader in the 2026 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Print Management Solutions Independent Software

Pharos Systems International was named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Print Management Solutions Independent Software 2026 Vendor Assessment (Doc. #US54124826, September 2026). IDC MarketScape scores technology vendors on product capabilities, strategy, and market success using qualitative and quantitative criteria. According to the report, “Pharos should be on the short list of large organizations, particularly those with 10,000+ employees, multiple locations, multivendor fleets, or strict security/compliance needs, evaluating native cloud, SaaS-based print management.” The recognition reflects how Pharos Cloud helps enterprises eliminate print servers, centralize administration, strengthen security, and improve visibility across complex print environments.

The Leaders Behind Pharos

Kevin Pickhardt

Executive Chairman

Kelly Johnson, Pharos CTO

Kelly Johnson

CTO

Chris Honeycutt, Pharos CFO

Chris Honeycutt

CFO

Julian Sharpe, Pharos VP of Engineering

Julian Sharpe

VP of Engineering

Scott Mellet, Pharos VP of Sales

Scott Mellet

VP of Sales

Caitlin Cook, Pharos VP of Customer Experience

Caitlin Cook

VP of Customer Experience

Ivina Acuna, Pharos Head of Operations

Ivina Acuna

Head of Operations

Carrie Anne Harrington, Pharos Director of Human Resources

Carrie Anne Harrington

Director of Human Resources

Jim Lancer, Pharos Head of Product

Jim Lancer

Head of Product

Ready to Rethink Print?

For more than 30 years, Pharos has helped organizations simplify print, save money, and modernize their infrastructure. Whether you’re managing thousands of users or looking to bring visibility and control to a fragmented print environment, we’re here to help.

Let’s make printing smarter—for your people, your IT teams, and your bottom line.

Schedule a Demo
Pharos About Us