5K Technical Services

Corey Kirkendoll, as the President and CEO of 5K Technical Services, leads an acclaimedManaged Service Provider (MSP) dedicated to providing robust IT solutions for small andmedium-sized businesses (SMBs) in North Texas. With an impressive career spanning over 30years in the Information Services and technology sector, Corey has held key roles at industrygiants such as IBM, Cisco Systems, Dell, EMC, and VMware.Recognized as an IT and Cyber Security Expert, Coreys leadership has played a pivotal role inpropelling the rapid growth of his MSP and influencing similar progress among MSPsnationwide. His unwavering commitment to being process-oriented, coupled with a focus onexcellence in security and compliance, has established a benchmark for the industry.Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Corey is a notable professional speaker and publishedauthor in industry magazines. His leadership extends to various roles, including serving as theprevious Chair of the Diversity in Action for the Workforce Council at CompTIA TechnologyWorkforce Solutions and Vice Chair of the CLR Institute and the Strategy Chair for the NationalBlack MBA Association-DFW Chapter. Active in CompTIA, he contributes as a TechTown’s SME,a Member of the CompTIA AI Council, a CompTIA Emergency Response Team Member, and aboard member of the National Society of IT Service Providers and the National ConvergenceTechnology Center’s Business & Industry Leadership Team (The BILT). Corey is also involved inthe MSP Champions Group, the Per Scholas Dallas Advisory Board, and serves as a boardmember for The Channel Company Xchange Advisory Board. His commitment to diversity,equity, and inclusion is evident through his role as a DEI Board member for The ChannelCompany and as a member of the Jarvis Christian University Faculty-Employer AdvisoryCommittee (FEAC).Previously chairing the CompTIA Managed Services Executive Council and participating in theCompTIA Advancing Diversity and Tech Executive Committee, Corey is acknowledged as athought leader in the MSP industry. He actively engages in various Channel Advisory Boards,including those for DataStream, Alternative Payments, Cyber CP, Kamanja, The ChannelProgram, ASCII Advisory Board, and Security Council, as well as the ConnectWise SecurityPartner Advisory Board.Coreys contributions have garnered numerous awards for 5K Technical Services in the ITindustry, such as the CompTIA Community Leadership award in 2022, the ChannelPro 2021Peer of the Year, and recognition in the CRN MSP 500, CRN Tech Elite 250, and CRN Nextgen250. The Dallas Business Journal has also honored the company in its Top North Texas FamilyOwned and Black Business awards list, showcasing the impact of Coreys leadership.A Tech Titan, Corey holds certifications as a Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE),Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP), and Certified Cyber SecurityArchitect (CCSA). He possesses a Bachelor’s Degree and two MBA Degrees in InformationTechnology Management and Conflict and Resolution Management from Jones InternationalUniversity in Colorado. Additionally, Corey has graduated from the SBA Emerging Leaders andGoldman Sachs SB 10K Programs, underscoring his commitment to continuous learning, andstaying abreast of industry trends.

Adaptiv Networks

Bernard Breton, Adaptiv Networks CEO, is an experienced executive in the field oftelecommunication software, with international experience in sales & marketing, productmanagement, research & development, business operations and mergers & acquisitions.Bernard has led start-ups and spin-offs, and held leadership positions in large internationalcompanies including Ericsson and InfoVista. Bernard is an Electrical Engineer by educationand a customer focused business executive by inclination.

Ambertone Solutions

Ivan Reyes is a cybersecurity leader, ethical hacker, and Chief Information Security Officerwith deep hands-on experience securing global enterprises supporting more than 7,000employees. His background blends offensive security, real world threat emulation, andadvanced defense engineering with executive level security strategy.Ivan has led ethical hacking and red team programs while designing enterprise securityarchitectures spanning cloud, identity, network, endpoint, and AI-driven systems. Hebrings specialized expertise in agentic AI, security automation, and AI defense, enablingorganizations to anticipate and counter next generation threats before they materialize.As a strategic CISO, Ivan aligns cybersecurity initiatives with business objectives, risktolerance, and innovation goals. Holding CISSP, CEH, and CISA certifications, he partnersclosely with executive leadership to position cybersecurity as a strategic enabler built onresilience, intelligence, and proactive defense.

Aura Business

Chuck Szymczak is Channel Sales Manager at Aura and a veteran channel sales leader with more than 30 years of experience helping MSPs modernize BYOD security through a people-first approach that delivers strong protection without added complexity or invading privacy.

Bay State Growth Advisors, Focus Technologies

Doug Alexander is a growth-focused advisor and former CEO with a 30-year track record of success in the IT services and managed services industry. A sales leader at his core, Doug began his career in frontline sales and rose through leadership roles, spending over a decade at EMC before joining Focus Technology, an MSP and VAR that had plateaued in growth, as VP of Sales.Drawing on his deep sales expertise and operational leadership, Doug led a company-wide transformation. He rebuilt the sales organization, reignited growth, and implemented scalable processes that repositioned the company as a high- performing, client-centric IT services firm. He was later promoted to CEO, led the company through two strategic acquisitions, bought out the founder to become majority owner, and ultimately guided the company through a private equity recapitalization and successful exit. During his tenure, he transformed the company’s managed services practice from its early stages into a market leading offering, driving extraordinary growth and positioning the firm as a trusted partner across services, technology, and implementation.Today, as founder of Bay State Growth Advisors, Doug partners with founder-led MSPs, technology services firms, and professional services companies that are ready to scale but may be stuck. His approach is hands-on and execution-focused, not distant, high-level consulting. Doug works inside the business alongside leadership and frontline teams, identifying growth barriers, refining go-to-market execution, and implementing strategies that drive measurable improvements in revenue and profitability. His advisory work centers on building or rebuilding the commercial sales engine to maximize performance and consistently hit revenue targets. This includes developing and aligning leadership teams, sharpening sales execution, improving operational discipline, and preparing companies for strategic events such as M&A or recapitalization. Doug brings a practical, founder-minded perspective, having personally led a company through transformation, scale, and a high-multiple exit, and now helps other leaders do the same.

BigPanda

Britton Starr brings over a decade of experience in observability, monitoring, and site reliabilityengineering across enterprise and MSP environments. Hes architected and implementedcomplex end-to-end solutions using tools like Grafana, Datadog, Dynatrace, and BigPanda, witha focus on AIOps, incident management optimization, and observability and monitoringplatforms. His work has spanned financial services, healthcare, MSP and retail sectors, helpingorganizations build robust monitoring infrastructures and improve operational visibility. Currentlyat BigPanda.io, Britton helps enterprise customers blaze a trail in AIOperations and maximizethe value of their observability investments.

Bitdefender

Paul has been in cybersecurity for more than 20 years. He joined Bitdefender in 2012 on the Enterprise Channel team working with end users and channel partners. He joined the MSP team in 2017 to focus on building partnerships with MSPs, RMMs, and Marketplace integrators. His family includes his wife Melissa, 4 children, and their Beagle mix. In his free time, he likes to travel with his family, watch hockey, and anything to do with classic muscle cars.

BizAdvisoryBoard.com

Paul Daigle is a former MSP owner-operator with over 20 years of hands-on experience and more than 15 years advising and serving on boards across the IT channel. He has built and scaled MSPs firsthand, completed his own M&A transactions, and managed more than $2.4 billion in assets. Paul is the Senior Managing Partner of BizAdvisoryBoard and the creator of the MSP Business Evaluator & Accelerator, the MSP Business Growth Marketplace, MSP Strategic Operating Budget Framework, and the $100M MSP Scaling Roadmap. His work helps MSPs move from managing to engineering growth by applying practical AI and automation to drive profitability and valuation.

Black Birch Group

Alberto Francis is the President & CEO of *Black Birch Group, Inc.*, a New York–based IT services and consulting firm dedicated to helping Managed Service Providers scale with confidence. Alberto leads with a people-first, partner-centric philosophy, delivering concierge-level, white-label support that strengthens MSP operations while protecting their brand and client relationships.Black Birch Group specializes in acting as a seamless extension of MSP teams through embedded service desk models, overflow support, and specialized escalation services. Under Alberto’s leadership, the firm enables MSPs to expand capacity, improve service consistency, and elevate client experiences—without adding internal overhead.With over 15 years of IT leadership experience, Alberto brings deep expertise in IT service management, service desk optimization, and infrastructure modernization. He is an ITIL and HDI Help Desk Manager–certified leader recognized for helping MSPs transform service delivery into a strategic, growth-enabling function built on trust, operational excellence, and people-first support.

Blacksmith InfoSec

Michael Zbarsky is a cybersecurity leader and entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience inIT, security, and compliance. He is the cofounder of Blacksmith InfoSec, where he helpsManaged Service Providers (MSPs) and SMBs operationalize security programs that areboth practical and scalable.Michael has served as a virtual Chief Information Security OUicer (vCISO) for organizationsacross healthcare, finance, and professional services, and previously led IT and security fora healthcare company. His approach blends strategic governance with real-worldexecution, enabling businesses to align security with growth and client trust.He holds multiple industry certifications, including CISSP, CISM, and CRISC, and is knownfor simplifying complex frameworks into actionable roadmaps. Michael frequently speakson topics such as security program maturity, compliance-driven growth, and how MSPscan use governance as a sales advantage.

Blacksmith InfoSec

Jared Casner is the cofounder of Blacksmith InfoSec, where he helps MSPs and SMBs buildaudit-ready security programs without enterprise budgets. He has been building securesoftware for more than 25 years. For the past 15 years, he’s led software and cybersecurityat Silicon Valley startups, primarily in govtech, healthtech, and fintech. He earned a BS inComputer Science from the University of Denver and an MBA from the University ofColorado. Jared is the coauthor of Forging Trust, creator of multiple open-sourcecompliance tools, and cohost of the “Get NIST-y” podcast.

Bumblebee

Hexi is the founder and CEO of Bumblebee, an AI Automation platform for Managed IT Services. MSPs leverage Bumblebee to automate repetitive tasks and save time. Prior to Bumblebee, Hexi was a senior software engineer at Amazon Web Services for 6 years.

C3 Complete

Rick Mancinelli, CEO & Founder of C3 Complete, has more than 25 years of experience in all phases of information technology management, including software development, network architecture, and corporate IT management. He held executive positions in finance and telecommunications firms prior to launching his first consulting practice. He has since built several successful businesses, developed and sold a SaaS business focused on the Life Insurance market, and began work on what would become C3 long before the term “Cloud” entered the common lexicon. In 2012, Mr. Mancinelli was named one of the Top 50 Entrepreneurs in South Florida by Business Leader Magazine and, in 2018, was named one of South Florida’s Power Leaders by the South Florida Business Journal. On a personal level, he is the proud father of two young ice hockey players, active within the community and an avid boater. He has previously served on the boards of the YMCAs of South Palm Beach County, the South Florida Digital Alliance, and the American SIDS Institute.

Capstone Partners

Allen Proithis is chief executive officer of GXC, a leading provider of an award-winning, private enterprise 5G networks, and the world’s only provider of private cellular mesh technology. In this capacity, he is responsible for all corporate strategy, product development, go-to-market activities and operations. Before joining GXC, he founded Capstone Partners, a strategic advisory firm for clients interested in Digital Transformation enabled by mobile, IoT, software and managed solutions. Among his successes at Capstone was the creation of 5G optimized applications for one of the first US Department of Defense private 5G network deployments. Prior to Capstone, Allen was president of Sigfox North America, where he formed a high-performance team that built a successful IoT business with top enterprises while providing wireless coverage for over 70M people across the US. In addition, Allen created Convida Wireless, a $155M IoT joint venture with Sony & InterDigital, serving as chairman. Before that, he oversaw the commercialization of IoT, Wi-Fi, shared spectrum and video content management solutions for InterDigital, and led strategy and business development for HP’s global Smartphone & Tablet division, which included the launch of HP’s first mobile app store.

CDR Global

Channel Hunters

Stephen Smith is the Founder, Chief Hunter, and visionary force behind Channel Hunters. Driven by a mission to connect every MSP, MSSP, VAR, and vendor with their ideal clients, Stephen leads with energy, clarity, and unstoppable determination. His leadership transforms bold ideas into real, scalable results- keeping the entire pack moving forward.

Cisco

Anderson Tomaiz is the Director of Solutions Engineering for Cisco’s Midmarket, SMB, andVirtual Sales across the Americas. A transformative leader with over 25 years of experiencein the technology sector, Anderson oversees a high-performance organization of over 120professionals, driving multi-billion dollar revenue and spearheading AI-driven strategies toaccelerate digital transformation.Throughout his career at global giants like Cisco, Ciena, and BT, Anderson has establisheda reputation as a strategic architect of technical sales organizations. He is particularlyrecognized for his expertise in Secure Networking, Cloud Management, and programmaticsales motions. Beyond driving business outcomes, Anderson is a conscious culturebuilder dedicated to talent evolution, having previously led Cisco’s Global TechnologyStrategy and the prestigious Associate Solutions Engineering Program (CSAP).Anderson holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and an MBA, and has completedexecutive education in Adaptive Strategic Leadership at Duke University bringing a blend ofdeep technical insight and strategic business acumen to every stage. Trilingual and a firmbeliever in the philosophy Be Humble & Hungry, he is also a passionate mentor for lowincome university students.

Cisco

Mike Veedock is a trusted advisor specializing in networking and cybersecurity. He partnerswith customers worldwide to modernize and secure enterprise environments, translatingcomplex requirements into clear architectures and practical deployment plans.Mike holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in computer science and has over 20years of experience as a software engineer, security technical lead, and solutions engineer.He is particularly passionate about reducing network complexity while strengtheningsecurity through resilient, manageable designs.

Cisco

Michael Owuor is a senior technology leader, Solutions Engineering Manager, and coach at Cisco, where he leads distributed engineering organisations supporting customer transformation across the Americas. With more than two decades of experience across networking, cloud, collaboration, and secure infrastructure, Michael brings a strong practitioner perspective on how technology, leadership, and culture come together to drive meaningful outcomes.As a leader within Cisco Global Virtual Engineering, Michael has built and scaled high-performance teams supporting complex sales environments. He works closely with customers to modernise infrastructure, adopt secure architectures, and leverage AI to improve speed and decision-making. He is particularly passionate about artificial intelligence, servant leadership, talent development, and building resilient teams that thrive in fast-changing environments.

Clear Path Media

Adam Nelson is a seasoned marketing strategist and the founder of Clear Path Media, a specialized agency focused on scaling local businesses through high-impact automation. With over two decades of experience, Adam has a proven track record of turning complex operational challenges into streamlined growth engines. Under the Clear Path Media umbrella, he operates Local SMB Center and The Local MSP, where he helps service providers bridge the gap between technical capability and market dominance.Previously, Adam served as Director of Special Events at SuperOps.ai, where he revolutionized trade show logistics and ROI across dozens of global events. His career is defined by a unique blend of creative problem-solving and technical grit, spanning roles in digital media production, promotion, and strategic partnerships. Today, he is at the forefront of the AI services movement, helping MSPs transition from proof of concept to sustainable profit by leveraging cutting-edge marketing technology and relationship-driven sales strategies

Cloud IBR

Gregory Tellone is the CEO of Cloud IBR with more than 25 years of experience helpingMSPs and enterprises turn backup and disaster recovery into reliable, recurring revenue.He has guided service providers through ransomware events, compliance audits, and realworld recovery scenarios — giving him a practical view of what customers value andwillingly pay more for. Greg focuses on helping MSPs package recovery readiness as ascalable, margin-friendly service that improves client retention and drives higher-valueexpansions.

Cogent Growth Partners

Bruce Teichman is a Partner and EVP at Cogent Growth Partners, LLC, and an accomplished MBA and IT veteran with more than 35 years of experience in the industry. An M&A advisor focused exclusively on the IT services space, Bruce brings a rare blend of operator and deal expertise. Before joining Cogent in 2013, he worked at Fortune 500 firms, founded and exited an IT services company, and led M&A for a nationwide MSP. He has sourced, negotiated, and closed over 75 transactions with MSPs and IT service providers across the U.S. and Canada.

Cogent Growth Partners

Rick Murphy is the founding CEO and Managing Partner of Cogent Growth Partners, LLC. Since the companys inception in 2010, Cogent has closed over 200 acquisition transactions for our firms clients in the Information Technology sector across the USA; and still counting. A long-time entrepreneur with deep merger & acquisition experience in the technology space, he leads the 12-person Cogent team as we work through the transaction life-cycle, from initial candidate recruiting, due diligence, financial modeling, valuation, deal negotiation and transaction structuring, to the creation and completion of all the transaction documentation required; while always providing thoughtful consultation with the parties on both sides of the table, to help everyone make it through to a successful closing.

Company Nurse powered by Lintelio

Henry Svendblad is President and Chief Technology O icer of Company Nurse powered by Lintelio and President of Lintelio, a tech venture focused on modernizing risk communication, incident reporting, and nurse triage. With more than 25 years of technology leadership, he has built and scaled customer-facing platforms across healthcare and other industries, translating business strategy into secure, reliable, and user-friendly digital experiences. Company Nurse and Lintelio were named PropertyCasualty360 2021 Technology Innovation and Customer Experience Innovation honorees. Henry brings a pragmatic perspective on customer interactions, where AI agents can automate routine work and accelerate resolution, and where skilled humans remain essential for trust-building, high-empathy conversations, and complex decision-making.

Crexendo

Jason Byrne brings more than 20+ years of telecom leadership to NetSapiens, where he leads Strategy, Business Development & Marketing teams. Previously, he held various leadership positions spanning wireline & wireless solutions across various companies from startups to S&P 500 companies with half the companies being acquired. Jason has an MBA from the University of San Diego and has a BSEE from Trinity College, Dublin.

Decian

Deep Fathom

As chief executive officer for Deep Fathom, Steven Hess drives the company’s efforts to modernize security and regulatory compliance through Agentic AI for organizations in highly regulated industries. He draws on his deep experience in sales, product management, business development, marketing, and operations to help Deep Fathom apply the most advanced technologies to solving some of the most complex and costly compliance challenges facing enterprises today. Before co-founding Deep Fathom, Hess served as chief executive officer at Cloud Storage Security, which was trusted by federal and private sectors to protect critical data. His career spans 25 years leading businesses and teams across data-intensive, highly regulated industries including healthcare, fintech, cybersecurity and supply chain. Hess resides in Colorado.

EasyDMARC

Mike Anderson is an expert at implementing startup marketing and sales campaigns that generate leads consistently into startup businesses. With expertise across Technology, MSP, SaaS, and Cyber Security outsourcing sectors, he has made a significant impact on companies like EasyDMARC, ITBoost and Fujitsu Consulting. Known for managing complex go to market strategies and fostering collaboration, he delivers successful outcomes resulting in multi-million dollar revenue results.

Entech

Fornix Marketing

Charlene Ignacio is an exceptional leader in the Cybersecurity/IT/MSP Industry and a renowned authority in technology marketing. As a prominent player in the MSP space, Charlenes unrelenting commitment to excellence has solidified her position as a leading expert and a sought-after speaker. Charlene leverages the last 25+ years of experience as a serial entrepreneur, multi-industry CEO, and business results coach to help Business Owners, Global companies, MSPs /MSSPs/Cybersecurity, and MSP channel vendors grow their companies and stay ahead of the competition. She led many SMB and enterprise organizations in developing strategic channel partnerships, sponsors, and vendors throughout the country to create a community that will serve MSPs/MSSPs/Cybersecurity/Vendors.With an illustrious career filled with notable achievements, Charlenes track record of successful road shows, captivating podcasts, and awe-inspiring speaking tours has set her apart as an esteemed figure in the tech marketing realm. Recognized for her ability to transcend boundaries and captivate audiences, Charlenes vision for the future of technology marketing remains unparalleled.

Ghostpoint

Jeffrey Dworkin is a proven B2B marketing executive with a strong track record of delivering growth through multiple environments, including electronic, social, and traditional marketing programs. By combining elements of both content and product marketing, carefully tracked and refined with a deep understanding of analytics, Jeff has created proven marketing initiatives that have driven double digit growth in web traffic, as well as substantially increased prospect acquisition and lead conversion.

Most recently Jeff was the Director of Marketing for Sangoma Technologies where he lead the selection and implementation of a Marketing Automation Platform, and used a variety methods including Content Marketing, SEO and SEM techniques to increase web traffic by over 55% and unique visits by over 70%. Relevancy of the website was increased by over 60%. This resulted in over 100,000 net new prospects, over 100% growth in Visitors, over 85% growth in prospects and 140% growth in Marketing Qualified Leads. Prior to Sangoma, Jeff was enterprise marketing manager with Dialogic. In that role, he was responsible for creating and managing the market strategy for Dialogic’s Open Source, Fax, Fax-Over-IP and IVVR Markets. Prior to Dialogic, Jeff held executive product management and business development positions with a number of technology firms, and was a founder of iFace.com, which was eventual acquired by Rare Medium (Nasdaq:RRRR).

Jeff holds a degree in Industrial Engineering and started in the technology sector nearly 25 years ago as an IVR developer, and has an extensive background in technology, product management and marketing. He is a regular speaker on various communications topics, including TDM-to-IP Migration Strategies, Unified Communications and Microsoft Lync, Open Source Telephony, Business Enabled Communication Process and Interactive Voice Response System Design.

Go Figure Accounting

Rachel Siegel is the author of Profit First for Managed Services Providers (MSPs) and Profit First for Cybersecurity Firms. She’s one of only a handful of professionals globally to earn the designation of Mastery Certified Profit First Professional — the highest level of recognition in the Profit First system.As CEO of Go Figure Accounting, Rachel works directly with a wide range of service-based businesses, including MSPs and Cyber Professionals. She helps them apply Profit First principles in real-world scenarios to build healthier, more sustainable, and more profitable businesses — not just in theory, but in practice.Rachel Siegel and Go Figure Accounting are the embodiment of Profit First at its best, said Mike Michalowicz, author of Profit First and founder of Profit First Professionals.Rachel’s dedication transforms her clients’ confidence, resilience, and long-term success. She doesn’t just use Profit First; she lives it, changing lives and businesses alike. That’s why Go Figure is our 2024 Firm of the Year.

Goodweek

Mike Schwartz is the Chief Revenue Officer of goodweek. Previously Mike was an SVP of Sales at PayPal, UPS and the Chief Revenue Officer of shield.com. Mike has an MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business and is an Oregon Duck.

Goodweek

Michael Lonsinger is the VP of Revenue at goodweek. He previously served as VP of Marketing and Revenue Operations at Happy Returns, supporting the company through its acquisition by PayPal in 2021 and its subsequent $465M acquisition by UPS in 2023. Most recently, Michael led Global Revenue Operations and Strategy at shield.com, where he built agentic AI workflows leveraging LLMs and automation platforms to autonomously execute and coordinate go-to-market processes, improving efficiency, lead quality, and scalability without adding headcount.

Granite

Mark Palmer is the Vice President of Enterprise Relationships at Granite Telecommunications,where he brings more than 20 years of experience driving strategic growth and building longstanding customer partnerships. Previously serving as Vice President of Managed Services, Markwas instrumental in accelerating Granite’s expansion across major national brands.Known for his ability to architect solutions that improve network visibility, control, and operationalefficiency, Mark remains deeply engaged in customer relationships while helping shape Granite’senterprise strategy. Prior to Granite, he held roles at Bell Atlantic (now Verizon) and Network Plus.Outside of work, Mark is an active youth hockey coach and President of the Burrillville JuniorHockey League.

Greenstar Marketing

Stephanie leads a high-performing team dedicated to driving measurable growth for IT and telecom clients. With over a decade of experience bridging the gap between marketing and sales, Stephanie excels at translating complex technologies into compelling messaging that drives results. A frequent industry speaker, Stephanie is passionate about helping MSPs align marketing with business objectives to elevate CX, engagement, and loyalty.Follow her on LinkedIn for marketing tips, business lessons, and the occasional laugh.https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-benzik/

Guardian Cyber

Guardz

Dor Eisner is the CEO and Co-Founder of Guardz, a cybersecurity company working to secure and insure SMEs. With over 20 years of experience in the field of cybersecurity and prior to establishing Guardz, Dor excelled as the VP of Business Development at IntSights (acquired by Rapid7). His journey in cybersecurity began in the IDFs 8200 Unit, where Dor showcased his exceptional leadership skills as a team lead for five years.Dors unwavering passion for cybersecurity and his relentless pursuit of creating a safer digital world for SMEs has driven him to the forefront of the industry. With a deep understanding of the evolving threat landscape and a commitment to empowering MSPs, Dor Eisner continues to spearhead innovative solutions and shape the future of cybersecurity.

IgniteTech

As an accomplished technology executive and AI-thought leader, IgniteTech CEO Eric Vaughan isfrequently called upon as a speaker on GenAI and enterprise software company transformation.Hes built an AI-centric culture, driving teams to continuously up-skill and explore the latest AItechnologies.He is a vocal advocate for AI-first thinking, recognizing this isnt just an exciting development buta necessity for companies to remain relevant. His passion for AI stems from a deep-seated beliefthat if businesses dont adapt, they risk being left behind. His mission is clear: to leadorganizations through the AI revolution, ensuring they dont just survive but thrive in this newera.Eric is committed to sharing his experiences and insights to help other leaders navigate thistransformative period in business history.

IONOS

Isayah Young Burke is an Infrastructure & AI Consultant with over six years of experience helping organizations design and scale modern cloud and AI solutions. He specializes in cloud architecture, AI integration, and GPU-powered infrastructure, supporting teams as they adopt and operationalize emerging technologies.With a strong focus on digital accessibility, Isayah bridges technical innovation with real business impact, sharing hands-on insights into building resilient, future-ready AI and cloud platforms.

James Moore and Co.

A professional technical leader with previous CEO, CIO, CISO, and CTO titles, Tomas has spent nearly 30years working in IT compliance, management and cybersecurity in a wide range of industries andprojects. At James Moore Technology Solutions he leads strategic planning and business developmentoperations and supports his team as they provide more services and grow the company’s customerbase.Tomas has been on both the buying and selling sides of the equation, giving him a keen understandingof the balance between the right level of service and affordability. He measures his most memorableprojects by the results achieved, whether it was untangling failing efforts in service delivery or pushingthrough with new technologies or ways of working.

Kaseya

Meet Brian Doty: A Dynamic Leader in Tech Sales and CybersecurityWith over two decades of experience spanning the Channel, B2B and Retail, Brian Doty is passionate about empowering businesses through technology. At Continuum, Brian played a pivotal role in helping MSPs scale their operations, implement NOC, Helpdesk, and SOC support strategies.Following his success, Brian served as the Director of Sales for a leading Managed Services Provider in Pittsburgh, PA, where he designed comprehensive cybersecurity strategies and MRR growth in monthly recurring revenue.Since 2020, Brian has been a key member of Kaseyas Channel Development Team, collaborating with the MSP community to foster innovation and deliver impactful solutions, delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions to their clients.Connect with Brian on LinkedIn to learn more: linkedin.com/in/briandoty

Kaseya

Brandon Taylor is an award-winning speaker and Channel Development Manager at Kaseya, with over a decade of experience in the IT channel—including 7 years at Kaseya. He works closely with MSP partners to drive business growth through strategic alignment with Datto BCDR and the broader Kaseya platform. With a strong foundation in sales engineering, partner enablement, and technical sales, Brandon brings both strategic acumen and practical expertise to every partner conversation. As a board member and part owner of his family’s MSP, he understands firsthand the challenges service providers face. Named Best Speaker at ChannelPro in 2025, Brandon is committed to helping MSPs not only survive—but scale—by turning technology into a true business advantage.

Kelly Office Solutions

Kyle Shuping is a senior IT and communications leader with over 25 years of experience in the managed services and VoIP space, as well as leadership in cybercrime investigations in the public sector. He currently serves as Sr. Systems Architect, where he leads systems engineering and product stack design, oversees complex client environments, and manages the strategic direction of a growing VoIP practice. Kyle has spent his career bridging the gap between deep technical execution and real-world business outcomes, helping organizations design, implement, and support reliable communication and network systems at scale. Known for his practical, field-tested approach, he brings a unique perspective shaped by decades of hands-on engineering, leadership, and client-facing problem solving. At this conference, Kyle will share insights drawn from both the MSP and vendor sides of the industry, with a focus on solutions that actually work in the real world.Throughout his career, Kyle has held senior engineering and leadership roles within the managed services and telecommunications sectors, including technical and architectural leadership at regional and multi-state service providers where he has overseen VoIP platforms, carrier integrations, unified communications deployments, and secure network infrastructure for organizations ranging from small businesses to complex multi-site enterprises. He has led and mentored engineering teams, guided product stack strategy, and driven operational maturity across service delivery environments while working closely with major industry vendors and channel partners.In parallel with his private-sector career, Kyle served in law enforcement with a focus on cybercrime investigations and digital evidence, providing him with firsthand experience in threat response, forensic process, and the intersection of technology and public safety. This combined background uniquely informs his approach to modern communications architecture—balancing performance, security, compliance, and real-world operational resilience. Today, Kyle remains focused on aligning technology strategy with measurable business value while mentoring the next generation of engineers and helping organizations navigate the rapidly evolving MSP, security, and communications landscape.

LAN Infotech

Michael Goldstein is President and CEO of LAN Infotech LLC, a cybersecurity and professionalinformation technology consulting firm that serves the greater South Florida area. LAN Infotechis an award-winning Microsoft Partner with cloud customers across the United States and theCaribbean legal market. They specialize in the legal, healthcare, property management, and notfor-profit organizations sectors.Michael’s leadership philosophy focuses on fairness, quality service, and communityinvolvement. He believes in treating people fairly and providing good value, guided by thegolden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Michael believes that in IT,“Everything comes down to service.” His leadership approach extends to nurturing talent andfostering a learning culture, ensuring his team is well-equipped to provide excellent service andremain innovative.Michael stresses the importance of personal involvement in community service andenvironmental engagement, often participating in beach cleanups and turtle hatching releaseevents. He believes actively pitching in and helping is more important than “just writing acheck.” Michael takes pride in supporting various charities and educational initiatives on animalwelfare, disaster and humanitarian relief, human rights, and economic empowerment. Michaeldemonstrates his professional commitment and community involvement by serving on theBoard of Directors for CareerSource Broward, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber ofCommerce, and the Greater Pomper Chamber of Commerce. Michael is an Amazon Best SellingAuthor – “Cyber Security -The Silent Battlefield”.

LDK Advisory Services

Anita Nielsen is a sales enablement consultant, performance coach and professional trainer,with 25+ years of experience in B2B sales. She is a recognized thought leader andbestselling author of Beat the Bots: How Your Humanity Can Future-Proof Your Tech SalesCareer.Her proprietary Psyched2Sell Masterclass leverages insights from human psychology to helpsales professionals uncover logical and emotional drivers of buyers’ decisions to create apersonalized value proposition that wins. As the founder of LDK Advisory Services, she hastrained and coached hundreds of sales professionals across industries to win bigger, better,and more while creating customers for life.

Let The Geek Speak

David is a Geek that has been publicly Speaking and teaching for more than 25 years,from London to Los Angeles, Berlin to Beirut, Kingston to Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai toMelbourne, and many more places too! He loves communications technology and is thelongest serving Worldwide Community Director (2012-2019) for Asterisk® – the Daddyof all Open Source communications projects.David has always been grateful to the Geeks that build and support the varioustechnologies he uses, and he wants to give back - by helping Geeks to Speak, Nerds tobe Heard, Engineers to be Engaging and Techies to Talk!He achieves this by delivering conference speeches and masterclasses based on hisGeek Speaker System - 7 Power Presenting Protocols ...for Nerds

MB Systems

Marvin “Uncle Marv” Bee is the owner of an IT services firm and managed serviceprovider based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he helps small and midsize businessesmodernize and secure their technology. With decades of hands-on experience in networkinfrastructure, Microsoft 365, cloud services, and cybersecurity, he focuses on buildingreliable, business-focused IT environments rather than chasing the latest buzzwords.In addition to running his MSP, Marvin is the host of three podcasts: “Uncle Marv’s ITBusiness Podcast” for IT professionals and fellow MSPs, “Uncle Marv’s UnhealthyPodcast,” and “Let’s Talk Lauderdale,” a show dedicated to highlighting local stories andbusinesses in South Florida. Through these platforms, he shares practical advice onrunning an IT services business, interviews industry experts, and amplifies the voices ofentrepreneurs and community leaders.

Metrigy

Research Leader: Customer Experience, Artificial IntelligencePrimary Focus Areas: Artificial intelligence, contact center, customer success analytics, workforce engagement management, CRM, business case development, and cost/ROI modelingOther Areas of Expertise: CPaaS, Unified Communications and Collaboration, digital workplace, custom research projects, and RFP development and analysis.Robin Gareiss is CEO and Principal Analyst at Metrigy, where she oversees research product development, conducts primary research, and advises leading enterprises, vendors, and carriers.For 25+ years, Robin has advised hundreds of senior IT executives, ranging in size from Fortune 100 to Fortune 2000, developing technology strategies and analyzing how they can transform their businesses. She has developed industry-leading, interactive cost models for some of the world’s largest enterprises and vendors.Robin leads Metrigy’s artificial intelligence and customer experience research. She also is a widely recognized expert in the communications field, with specialty areas of contact center, AI-enabled customer engagement, customer success analytics, and employee collaboration. She is a sought-after speaker at conferences and trade shows, presenting at events such as Enterprise Connect, Future of CX/ITExpo, ICMI, IDG’s FutureIT, Interop, Mobile Business Expo, and CeBit. She has authored hundreds of research reports to keep clients updated on technology adoption and associated benefits. She also writes a blog for No Jitter and is a regular contributor to Tech Target.Additional entrepreneurial experience includes co-founding and overseeing marketing and business development for The OnBoard Group, a water-purification and general contracting business in Illinois. She also served as president and treasurer of Living Hope Lutheran Church, led youth mission trips, and ran successful fundraisers for children’s cancer research. She served on the University of Illinois College of Media Advisory Council, as well.Before starting Metrigy, Robin was president and co-founder of Nemertes Research. Prior to that, she shaped technology and business coverage as senior news editor of InformationWeek, a leading business-technology publication with 440,000 readers. She also served in a variety of capacities at Data Communications and CommunicationsWeek magazines, where helped set strategic direction, oversaw reader surveys, and provided quantitative and statistical analysis. In addition to publishing hundreds of research reports, she has won several prestigious awards for her in-depth analyses of business-technology issues. Robin also taught ethics at the Poynter Institute for Advanced Media Studies. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, and American Medical News.She earned a bachelor of science degree in journalism from the University of Illinois and recently left the cold Chicago winters for the warmth of Tampa, FL.

MSP Toolkit

Len DiCostanzo has been a mainstay of the global IT channel and is a sought-after consultant and speaker. For decades, he has been providing thought leadership and best practice guidance for senior leaders who want to understand the channel’s roots and its future. DiCostanzo consults and collaborates with leading and emerging channel vendors, as well as managed service providers (MSPs) and other IT Service Providers who want to accelerate growth and better serve clients and partners. He has worked with thousands of MSPs to build and grow their business with a focus on service catalog development, pricing and bundling, service delivery and go-to-market strategy development and execution.His recent work has focused on consulting with a portfolio of AI and Automation, SaaS and cybersecurity vendors to boost partner sales and retention through strategic programs, sales and resource development, marketing and lead generation, and community building. Len has consulted with and led the buildout and execution of Partner Programs and alternate sales channels for top and emerging channel vendors including ConnectWise, LogMeIn / LastPass, Coro, Valenta, Calero, Formstack and others.DiCostanzo’s deep industry experience includes leadership roles at Accordo, Datto, Autotask, and a leading MSP he founded. He served as Accordo’s SVP of Product Management and Business Development leading the development and launch of Cloud Optimizer, the first SaaS management platforms for MSPs. Prior to that, he was SVP of Channel Development at Datto, joining them after the merger with Autotask.At Autotask, DiCostanzo held key executive leadership and management roles, helping to grow the organization’s global partner community to 9,000+ strong while building strategic alliances and integrations with top and emerging channel vendors. As a multi award winning channel chief, Len built programs establishing the company as a respected thought leader in the global MSP community, contributing to overall growth from an $8 million recurring revenue business to $100+ million, and being acquired twice by Vista Equity Partners. He helped Kaseya build its global MSP community before that.DiCostanzo knows what motivates MSPs, and other channel partners and what makes for good partner-vendor relationships. He was founder and CEO of a business technology consulting firm which delivered custom applications, ERP implementations and business technology infrastructure solutions to SMBs and enterprise customers. DiCostanzo was an early adopter of the managed services business model which attracted a leading publicly held company to acquire his business in 2002.He is a graduate of Brown University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.

MSPAA

Dave is a cybersecurity expert with over 20 years of experience in technology. Originally from South Africa, starting his career in covert operations, he discovered his passion for tech. In 2011, after working for the United Arab Emirates in rescue operations he moved to the United States and quickly learned that his past experiences and certifications were not recognized by United States certification authorities.He started working as a minimum wage part-time cashier, where he learned the hard way what it meant to establish oneself in American society. He decided to accept the unspoken American dream challenge and started his path of reeducation and certification. After one year of arriving in the US, and with an additional medical background, Dave enlisted in the United States Army as a combat medic and currently serves to this day. He also engaged in certifications through the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and civilian institutions. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Security, and South African education in Psychology, Industrial Psychology, and Child Psychology. His certifications include cybersecurity, forensics, networking, web development, cloud administration, business operations, criminal justice systems, ethical hacking, and threat analysis. Through hard work and dedication, Dave has started small businesses, some of which have failed and some that have succeeded. He understands the commitments required to build, market, and run a successful managed service provider company. Dave is the owner of Cyber Tech Connection, a successful MSP based in Boulder, Colorado, and is also the President of the Managed Service Provider Association of America (MSPAA). Throughout his journey across multiple countries and three continents, Dave has gained valuable experience and expertise in technology and business. Dave is driven by seeing his daughters’ love for technology and is committed to giving back to the community so the next generation of tech providers can support our future.

MSPAA

Mike spent the first 6 years of his entrepreneurial journey being a tech guy that hated sales. That led to burning through $4M and hitting rock bottom. Now hes paying back that debt by showing tech entrepreneurs how to sell without feeling salesy. When you have the right tools, sales feels a lot like helping people solve problems. Thats Iceberg Cyber.

MSPAA

Amy Slater serves as the Member Advocate for the Managed ServiceProvider Association of America® (MSPAA), where she is committed toadvancing the success of Managed Service Providers through meaningfulresources, member benefits, and strategic connections that supportscalable, sustainable growth.In her role with MSPAA®, Amy partners closely with MSP owners to reduceisolation, strengthen peer collaboration, and ensure members have accessto the tools, partnerships, and guidance necessary to grow withconfidence. She champions a relationship-driven philosophy of business,grounded in the belief that long-term success in the MSP industry is builtthrough trust, community, and aligned support systems rather thantransactions alone.AMY SLATERAt her core, Amy believes that enduring MSPsuccess is built on trusted relationships, sharedwisdom, and access to the right support at theright time. She remains dedicated to helpingMSPAA members connect, grow, and buildresilient businesses that thrive well into thefuture.Amy’s professional journey began in the medical field before she proudly served in theArmy National Guard—experiences that shaped her discipline, empathy, and enduringcommitment to service. These foundational values ultimately guided her into the MSPindustry, where she discovered a deep passion for supporting the people behind thetechnology and contributing to the strength of this rapidly evolving community.She is recognized for fostering authentic, insight-driven conversations that encourageknowledge sharing, peer learning, and practical action. Through her work, Amy helpscreate environments where MSP leaders can collaborate openly, gain clarity, andmove forward with greater confidence in their strategic direction.

My Own Staff

N-able

Netverge

Hamed Zolghadri, PhD, is the Co-Founder and CTO of Netverge, where he leads the development of an Intelligent Service Operations Platform powered by Agentic AI to enable autonomous, adaptive service management across complex IT environments. A Senior Member of IEEE, Hamed holds a PhD in Computer Science and has authored multiple peer-reviewed scientific publications in IEEE, ACM, and related journals, with research focused on service intelligence, user experience modeling, and data-driven automation. He also holds some of the industry’s most prestigious certifications, including CCDE and multiple CCIE credentials, reflecting deep expertise in large-scale service platforms, cloud infrastructure, and operational automation. Bridging rigorous academic research with real-world engineering, Hamed applies AI-driven decision systems and closed-loop control to transform service operations into resilient, self-optimizing digital services.

Netverge

Jim Gurol is the CEO and Co-Founder of Netverge, an AI-driven operations platform built to help MSPs and IT teams move beyond static monitoring into agentic, workflow-driven support. With more than 25 years of experience in enterprise networking, telecom, and managed services, Jim brings a practitioner’s perspective to building systems that automate triage, diagnostics, and operational decision-making—without taking control away from engineers. Under his leadership, Netverge was recognized as the 2025 Generative AI Product of the Year, reflecting its focus on practical, production-grade AI rather than experimental automation. Netverge combines high-fidelity telemetry, contextual awareness, and agentic workflows to reduce noise, eliminate manual ticket hygiene, and ensure AI does the homework before an issue ever reaches a human. Jim is focused on helping MSPs and IT leaders rethink the future of IT operations—shifting from alert-driven workflows to AI-assisted systems that surface context, coordinate work, and scale support without intrusive remote management or linear headcount growth

NinjaOne

Paul Redding is the Head of MSP Partnerships at NinjaOne, where he works closely with MSPs to scale their revenue, improve operational efficiency, and deliver increased value to their clients with automated endpoint management. He began his career as the CEO of an MSP specializing in clients from highly regulated industries, including healthcare and the U.S. Department of Defense supply chain. He also held multiple senior channel and community leadership roles at cybersecurity companies where he drove revenue growth for the companies and their partners. Most recently, as SVP of Channel Marketing and Community at CyberQP, Redding worked closely with global partners to help MSPs build more profitable client relationships, implement industry-leading security practices, and streamline operations by eliminating repetitive tasks.

NUSO

Anthony Ruano is a seasoned professional with 15 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. As a Sr.Sales Engineer at NUSO, Anthony guides high-performing teams to deliver innovative, customer-focused solutions that drive business growth and operational excellence. Throughout his career, Anthony has cultivated a deep expertise in sales strategy, relationship management, and technological innovation. His customer-centric approach has consistently resulted in enhancing customer satisfaction and fostering long-term partnerships while exceeding sales targets. He is a Maimi Native and loves boating, deep sea fishing and time on the beach.

NUSO

Patrick Foster is the VP of Channel Sales, he is Leading a team of Channel Experts, he is focused on delivering our Partners the right mix of service, support and resources they can leverage to position, deploy and grow with NUSO. Prior to joining NUSO, Patrick spent 13 yrs at Adtran and has been recognized as a CRN Channel Chief for his excellence in leading channel organizations. He started his career in technology and telecommunications at Dell after serving in the US Marine Corps as the Logistics and Embarkation Chief for the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.

One Global

Petrozzi Consulting

Phobio

Missy Taylor is the CEO of Phobio, where she is leading the company into its next chapter of growth by expanding beyond the traditional upgrade-cycle model of device trade-in and into new, partner-driven applications of technology-powered solutions. She oversees company strategy, innovation, and Phobio’s platform-first evolution, while continuing to strengthen the culture and leadership foundation that has defined the company for more than 15 years.With over two decades of experience in operational leadership and organizational scaling, Missy has built her career helping organizations grow with clarity, intention, and customer-first thinking. Prior to Phobio, she spent more than a decade helping build and lead a creative advertising agency into one of the Southeast’s most awarded independents, ultimately serving as President. She led large P&Ls, scaled cross-functional teams, implemented systems that support sustainable growth, and guided major client relationships across financial services, insurance, retail, CPG, entertainment, and technology.Known for her ability to translate vision into systems, align teams around clarity and purpose, and design solutions that reflect each partner’s unique needs, Missy brings a perspective rarely seen in the trade-in and recommerce industry. Her background across technology, agency leadership, and cross-industry brand work gives her a natural ability to “inhabit the customer’s world,” a skill central to Phobio’s strategy as it expands into retail, nonprofits, sports and entertainment, and emerging categories untouched by traditional competitors.At Phobio, Missy focuses on accelerating growth through new technology, services, and programs, developing the company’s leadership team, and preserving the loyalty and culture that have long defined the organization. Outside of work, she is an avid reader, a lover of sunshine, long walks, and travel; and a proud mom to two teenagers and her dog, Ward.

Process Panda

QuestBlue

Kevin Masse, CEO and President of QuestBlue, is a veteran of the IT industry with an illustrious career spanning over 30 years. Kevins journey from humble beginnings, where he founded the first internet company in northern New Hampshire, to his current role as the driving force behind a thriving telecommunications company, is a testament to his exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication. He manages a wide array of key responsibilities, including strategy management, business development, business transformation, employee communications, and guarantees the utmost level of support in all customer interactions. Year after year, he remains steadfast in his commitment to the prosperity of his company, the well-being of his dedicated employees, and the satisfaction of his valued customers.

RAD-INFO, Inc

Peter Radizeski worked as a Novell VAR in 1996, before switching to a career intelecom as an agent in 1999. On top of being an Agent, Radizeski has helped manyservice providers with sales training, markeOng, channel development andbusiness strategy. He is a trusted source of knowledge about the telecom sector.His honest and direct approach make him a refreshing speaker at industry events.

Schellman

Doug Barbin leads Schellman, the largest Top 50 CPA and affiliated compliance firm specializing in attestation, certification, and advisory services. With over 28 years of experience, he guides a team of experts serving clients from startups to Fortune 100 companies, with a growing focus on AI governance, emerging technologies, automation, and regulatory innovation. Doug joined Schellman in 2009 to grow and expand its service offerings in the US, federal, DoD, and global market. Prior to that he oversaw product management for the VeriSign’s industry leading managed security services business, through the sale to SecureWorks (no Sophos). This experience allowed him to support some of the leading MSP and MSSPs in building robust security and compliance programs over the past sixteen years. Doug’s credentials, including multi-state CPA, span Cloud Security, FedRAMP, PCI, ISO, CMMC, Blockchain, and AI. He holds dual bachelors degrees in Accounting and Criminology from Penn State, an MBA from Pepperdine University, and completed MIT’s executive course on AI Leadership, bringing a unique blend of technical, regulatory, and strategic insight to the evolving AI landscape. He is a frequent speaker and published author on cybersecurity and compliance and serves on the boards of several industry organizations.

Secnap

Kevin Antkiewicz is an experienced cybersecurity sales leader with over 20 years of success helping enterprises, public sector organizations, and MSPs adopt modern security solutions. He brings deep expertise across MDR, SIEM, cloud and SaaS security, penetration testing, and identity-driven security strategies, with a strong focus on partner-led growth and executive engagement. Kevin has held senior roles at Bishop Fox, Trustwave, Fortinet, and Verizon. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Public Affairs from the University of Miami, with additional coursework in International Affairs from George Washington University.

Sibyl Consulting

Solvo

Sourcepass

Roli is a co-founder of Sourcepass, alongside CEO Chuck Canton and SVP, Operational Excellence BruceSimms, and serves as the companys Chief Strategy Officer. A passionate leader and technologyenthusiast, Roli plays a central role in shaping Sourcepass long-term growth strategy with a strong focuson building trusted client and partner relationships.In her role, Roli oversees the channel partnerships ecosystem, business development initiatives, andM&A activity, while also supporting sales, marketing, and overall go-to-market strategy. She is deeplyengaged in aligning partners and clients around shared outcomes, ensuring collaboration translates intomeasurable value and long-term success.Roli brings extensive leadership experience from enterprise and high-growth environments. Shepreviously led the Enterprise Client Services team at Vonage, delivering the strongest client retentionresults the company achieved in that segment. Prior to that, she managed GoDaddys largestcommercial top-level domain (.COM), along with several other core product lines.With a career rooted in client-facing leadership and high-performing teams, Roli has a deepunderstanding of client needs and partner dynamics, insight she consistently leverages to drive strongerrelationships, better execution, and superior outcomes for Sourcepass clients and partners alike.

Stock in the Channel

Throughout his career leading organizations such as SHI UK, Paragon Micro, PCM, and serving as CRO for Trustmarque, Donavan Hutchinson has had the privilege of working closely with Stock in the Channel at every stage. From the perspective of an MSP, Reseller, and VAR, he has witnessed first-hand how Stock in the Channel’s powerful ecommerce and integrated solutions have transformed the way business is conducted.By streamlining processes and automating client engagement, Stock in the Channel has enabled the businesses Donavan has managed to increase share of wallet, drive higher revenues, and improve overall profitability. The platform not only simplifies procurement but also empowers growth, allowing VARs to focus on delivering value to customers while scaling efficiently.Donavan’s journey has now come full circle, as he works directly with Stock in the Channel to help support and advance the IT industry. He is excited to share practical insights and real-world outcomes from these experiences, and to discuss how embracing integrated ecommerce can unlock new opportunities for MSPs, Resellers, and VARs across the channel.

Summit Holdings

Juan Fernandez is one of the most respected and forward-thinking leaders in the MSP andchannel technology ecosystem. He is known for building leadership-first companies thatscale with purpose, clarity, and culture at the core.As the founder of MSP Owners Group, Juan is reshaping how managed service providersgrow by enabling enterprise-grade maturity while preserving the entrepreneurial DNA thatmakes MSPs great. His work focuses on operational leverage, structured equity models,and shared services that unlock multi-stage growth.Juan is perhaps best known for personally building and architecting a multimillion-dollarMSP, ranked among the fastest-growing IT companies in North America. He pioneered thenow widely adopted Security and Device as a Service (SDaaS) model and won MSP SharkTank for best security and services presentation.Today, Juan is leading the MSP 5.0 mission — redefining the future of the channel throughthe MSP as a Service model. His vision centers on using automation and AI to removeoperational burden, empower people, and refocus MSPs on leadership, outcomes, andcustomer trust. For Juan, MSP 5.0 isn’t about replacing humans with AI — it’s aboutempowering humans through simpler systems and scalable execution.A lifelong contributor to workforce development, Juan has written certification examquestions for CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+, and serves on multiple CompTIAadvisory boards, including the Subject Matter Expert Technical Advisory Board andExecutive Council, helping shape global technology standards and policy.He is also the co-author of The MSP Owners Handbook series and a frequent keynotespeaker at major industry events worldwide.

T3 Tech Partners

Kris has been a “fixer” all her life, spending time in the garage with her father as soon as she could walk. She began the first ten years of her technology career working with 3D building design software, and consulting for an Autodesk software reseller. Eventually, she moved into IT Operations (technology systems, security, support etc.). She then spent ten plus years supporting enterprise organizations and managing teams of IT Administrators and Specialists. Kris holds a Bachelors in Liberal Arts Degree from Harvard University where her focus of study was Computer Science. She loves to teach others the skills needed to understand and diagnose technology issues. Her empathy, and focus on the human experience when it comes to technology set her apart from the crowd.

Team Logic IT

Dr. William Dicker is a cybersecurity executive, governance advisor, and U.S. Army veteran with more than 30 years of leadership experience across national security, healthcare cybersecurity, regulatory enforcement, and enterprise risk management. He brings a rare blend of operational credibility, regulatory authority, and board-level strategic perspective to organizations confronting complex cyber, privacy, and compliance risk.Dr. Dicker is the co-owner and principal of TeamLogic IT, a Managed Services Provider delivering cybersecurity and managed IT services to regulated and risk-sensitive organizations. In this role, he provides executive oversight of security strategy, risk posture assessments, incident response planning, and control implementation across diverse client environments. His work offers continuous, real-world exposure to active threat landscapes, ransomware trends, third-party risk, and the operational realities of cybersecurity execution, ensuring his board guidance is grounded in current, practical risk conditions rather than theory.Prior to TeamLogic IT, and alongside his private-sector leadership, Dr. Dicker served as a HIPAA Subject Matter Expert (SME) and federal investigator, supporting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). He has participated in the investigation of over 150 high-impact healthcare data breaches, advising on forensic findings, executive accountability, and regulatory enforcement under the HIPAA Security Rule. This experience uniquely positions him as a cybersecurity leader who understands both breach response and regulatory scrutiny, including what regulators expect before, during, and after an incident.Dr. Dicker previously served 23 years in the U.S. Army, attaining the highest enlisted rank and maintaining an active government security clearance for more than three decades. His military career instilled disciplined decision-making under pressure, threat assessment rigor, and leadership in mission-critical environments—skills directly transferable to cyber risk governance and executive crisis response.In academia, Dr. Dicker is a Professor of Practice at Georgia State University, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in cybersecurity risk analysis, governance frameworks, and applied defensive technologies. His academic role ensures ongoing engagement with evolving standards, workforce development, and evidence-based security practices.Dr. Dicker holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Georgia State University and a Master of Science in Information Security from the University of Maryland Global Campus. His professional credentials include Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and completion of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Executive Program at Carnegie Mellon University.

Telarus

Tim Basa is the SVP of Sales at Telarus, where he combines strategic vision with a people-first approach to achieve exceptional results in the technology advisory landscape. Starting his career fresh out of college selling long-distance phone service door-to-door on pure commission, Tim built his expertise from the ground up. Over his 31-year journey in the technology industry, he has established himself as a transformative sales leader, steering multiple high-growth companies to repeat appearances on INC Magazines prestigious INC 500 list while consistently exceeding client and investor expectations.Driven by the belief that true success comes from empowering others to realize their full potential, Tim approaches his work with high energy, hands-on leadership, and a commitment to fostering high-performance teams. His unique style and methodology combine battle-tested fundamentals with innovative problem-solving, creating a framework for sustainable success—principles shaped by his own experience starting from the most challenging frontlines of sales.Specializing in sales and marketing, and channel partner distribution, Tim is passionate about equipping technology advisors with the insights and guidance needed to achieve their most ambitious goals. His expertise has been recognized through multiple industry awards, including being named a Telecom Master Mind by PHONE+ magazine, a Power Seller by Crains Detroit Business, and a recurring selection for Channel Executive of the Year by Channel Partners Magazine.Outside of his professional work, Tim enjoys time with his family and friends, and expanding his knowledge so he can share through advisory roles, media appearances, and conducting training sessions on sales, marketing, and personal development. He is committed to mentoring future leaders and exploring innovative ways to drive growth and serve the technology advisor community.

Telecom Reseller

Having recorded over 2,000 podcasts on UC, Doug is one of the most prolific podcasters and content creators in UC and IT. Doug has been reporting, writing, observing and speaking on UC since 1989. Today, Doug is editor and publisher of TR Publications, a family of over ten daily and weekly ebulletins that reach MSPs, channel partners, telecom resellers, and the enterprise end users. For almost a decade, Doug has hosted a breakout event at ITEXO. This has evolved into the popular MSP EXPO. Doug is particularly interested in the way inventions become markets, the nexus between technology and economics, and between the technology of everything and the economics of everything. Doug is an active member of several industry related associations and serves as a telecommunications commissioner in Clark County, Washington, where he and his wife, Barbara Green reside in Vancouver, WA near Portland OR. University of Oregon ’86. Go Ducks! Go Blazers! Go Maple Leaves!

Thiel Talent Strategy

Julie Thiel is the Founder and CEO of Thiel Talent Strategy LLC, where she helps growing businesses address people decisions before they turn into costly distractions. Her work is grounded in a reality many leaders know well: when they’re awake at 3 a.m., it’s rarely a technology problem—it’s an unresolved people issue, a difficult conversation, or a manager unsure how to proceed. As organizations grow, these challenges reflect increasing complexity, not failure, and Julie helps leaders navigate this stage with clarity and confidence.Through her HR Essentials and People Strategy services, Julie provides right-sized guidance for small businesses and MSPs—offering experienced judgment without unnecessary bureaucracy or premature HR hires. Her approach helps issues surface earlier, managers stop guessing, and owners regain time and mental space to focus on growth. Informed by the Prepared Mind Project, her work emphasizes sound decision-making in nuanced, high-stakes people situations.

Thread

Bobby Jacobs is an experienced entrepreneur and growth leader who currently serves as the Head of Growth at Thread. With a background spanning multiple industries, Bobby has co-founded companies like REEcycle and Logo Clothing Co. before joining Thread.At Thread, Bobby is focused on helping managed service providers (MSPs) deliver exceptional customer experiences through the companys innovative chat support solution. By integrating seamless chat channels with PSA ticketing systems, Thread enables MSPs to meet customers where they live while streamlining processes and reducing resolution times.Bobby is passionate about leveraging technology, including AI and automation, to empower technicians, dispatchers, and support teams to work more efficiently and provide better service. His entrepreneurial mindset and growth expertise make him a valuable asset to Thread as the company continues to revolutionize the way MSPs engage with their customers.Outside of work, Bobby enjoys outdoor adventures, reading, and spending time with his family. He is excited to share his insights and experiences on the IT Business Podcast.

Threatlocker

With over 20 years of experience in technology consulting, Bruce brings deep expertise in Cybersecurity, Cloud, Data Protection, Storage management solutions, and Business Continuity best practices, helping organizations design resilient, scalable, and effective IT environments.

Threatlocker

Rob Allen is a highly regarded IT expert with over 20 years of experience in the field. Throughout his career, he has shaped the narrative on how businesses can embrace technology to drive innovation while mitigating cyber risks. With experiences rooted in the technical field as a system administrator, technician, and engineer, Rob’s hands-on background uniquely positions him to bridge the gap between technical execution and business strategy. Rob has been a trusted advisor to small and medium-sized businesses while also supporting large enterprises, gaining invaluable insights into their distinct security and operational challenges. This extensive experience has cemented his reputation as a leading expert in cybersecurity and endpoint resilience. Since joining ThreatLocker in 2021 as VP of Operations for EMEA, Rob played a pivotal role in driving the company’s regional growth through his deep technical acumen and focus on customer success. Now serving as the Chief Product Officer for ThreatLocker, Rob is at the forefront of developing groundbreaking Zero Trust security solutions that empower businesses to operate confidently in an increasingly hostile cyber environment. Recognized as a trailblazer in Zero Trust endpoint protection, Rob has been instrumental in championing a “deny-by-default, allow-by-exception” philosophy to harden endpoints and networks. Rob’s thought leadership and practical insights have made him one of the most sought-after voices in the field of Zero Trust endpoint protection.

TMC

Rich Tehrani is the CEO and group Editor-In-Chief of TMC, as well as the Founder and Conference Chairman of ITEXPO, a leading technology trade show held twice each year. Rich oversees a diverse portfolio of successful technology magazines, web sites and trade events at TMC, which recently celebrated its 44th anniversary. Rich has guided TMC’s ascension and evolution from a print publishing and trade show company focused exclusively on voice/data convergence and computer telephony integration (CTI) markets, into a media powerhouse covering all of today’s most important technologies – Wireless/Mobile, Cloud Computing, IP Communications, IoT, and more. Rich is TMC’s driving force in the creation and implementation of pioneering publications and events. Since launching TMCnet in 1995, Rich has pioneered the development of more than 300 online communities of interest, revolutionizing the online world and changing the way companies leverage their brands online. Rich is a media icon, maintaining an active role as an Editor-In-Chief and a very prominent technology blogger/social media participant. TMC’s event and online platforms serve as an incubator for new concepts from the leading minds in the technology space. Rich launched and oversees the ITEXPO Franchise (which is in its 34th installment) – and is constantly adding collocated events by using his creativity and ability to launch synergistic conferences. Various collocated events include: CVx (ChannelVision Expo), IoT Evolution Conference & Expo, IDEA Showcase, and MSP Expo. Aside from his contributions to the online media world, Rich is an active and engaged philanthropist. He a member of the local JCC, a Board Member of the UCONN Engineering Department, and the engineer behind the future TMC Technology Center at a local Boys & Girls Club. This is all in addition to being an active and involved father and member of the community in Fairfield County, Connecticut where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

Trustifi

Unified Office

Tom has nearly 24 years experience developing embedded systemsand network management products for the data andtelecommunications industries. He has held leadership roles in severalcompanies, including VP of Engineering, CTO, VP of Marketing andVP of Advanced Development. Tom has also held leadership positionsin the general industry, including co-chair of the DCCP working groupat the IETF, the lead developer of Proxy Admission Control at theMPLS Forum, and has made significant contributions to securitystandards for VoIP networks and emergency telecommunications forATIS. For the past 10 years Tom has been Principal Architect at SonusNetworks, working in the Office of the CTO and other groups toarchitect VoIP products for the telecommunications carriers.

Uptime Global

Jason Kemsley, Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder of Uptime, has led its growth from a two-person startup to a 180-employee global leader in MSP outsourcing, partnering with 200+ MSPs. A Helpdesk thought leader and Jason is also a passionate pilot in his free time.

Valenta

I’m the CEO & Co-Founder of Valenta, a global automationand AI services firm built to make enterprise-grade capabilitiesaccessible to small and mid-sized businesses.I lead a globalnetwork of Franchise Partners and other Channel Partners includingMSPs, Technology Advisors and System Integrators, operating in20+ countries—combining local market expertise with centralizeddelivery and global scale. Together, we help organizations eliminatemanual work, modernize operations, and improve visibility throughAI-powered Intelligent Automation.Our approach starts with thebusiness problem, not the technology. From Digital Assistants,delivered as a service, to data and AI integration, we help leadersreplace manual, error-prone processes with scalable solutions thatdeliver measurable outcomes—faster execution, better decisions,and less operational friction.I’m focused on building scalablesystems, practical AI-powered solutions, and a global partnerecosystem that helps leaders spend less time managing complexityand more time driving growth.

Vida

Lyle Pratt is Founder & CEO of Vida, a leading provider of enterprise-grade AI voice solutions, transforming the way telecom service providers and small to medium-sized businesses operate.With over 15 years of leadership experience and product strategy expertise in the telecom space, Pratt has a proven track record in leading startups from formation to acquisition. Prior to Vida, he founded BetterVoice.com in 2010, which was acquired by Inteliquent (prev NASDAQ: IQNT) in 2016. Pratt has also held various leadership positions at Inteliquent, which was acquired by Sinch.Pratt is an investor, programmer, entrepreneur and economics geek. He holds an MBA in Finance, M.S. in Engineering & Technology Management and B.S. in Business Economics from Louisiana Tech University. Pratt also serves as a Limited Partner and Advisor at Trammell Venture Partners.He has been featured in media outlets like Forbes, and frequently advises startups on AI adoption, go-to-market strategy, and voice technology innovation. Under his leadership, Vida continues to pioneer AI-powered voice solutions that help businesses grow without growing headcount.

Weave

Tyler Newbold is a Channel Partner Manager at Weave Communications, where he’s spent over six years helping MSPs grow by getting really good at serving specific verticals—especially healthcare. He works closely with partners to build niche-focused service strategies, align the right technology with regulated industries, and create go-to-market motions that actually resonate with decision-makers.Tyler believes the days of the “do-everything-for-everyone” MSP are numbered, and that real, scalable growth comes from repeatable solutions built on trust, compliance, and clear outcomes.Outside of work, Tyler is a proud dad of five beautiful children and has been married to his wife Jennie for 15 years. He’s a former collegiate basketball player at Utah State University and a lifelong college sports fan and loves to golf.

Zaun.ai