One way to beat the summer heat in Austin, TX is to read in the shade with a big Southern fan running. That’s what I did with this book and I have a couple observations.

It’s a “random” read because the 37 stories of do gooders isn’t in order. So I started and mid-point and read a few random chapters. Then one I got into the groove, I went to the end of the book and made a “backward pass” and I really enjoyed that “randomness” to keep my interest. I completed the book without any loss of context in this excellent and well-edited tome. I really enjoyed the short length of the chapters as I could finish each one in under 30-mins over morning coffee in my comfy chair. That also played right into my ADHD as I don’t have a long attention span.

2026 GTIA Updates: Local Chapters, UN Initiative and Texas A&M!

One of us. MJ Shoer, the Chief Community Officer with a 6+ year tenure at GTIA. He was there 1+ years ago when GTIA broke out from CompTIA. “I’m a classic recovering MSP and I sold my business eleven years ago.”

Moving forward, a pillar to the 2026 ChannelCon event (recently in San Diego) was its international community expansion.

I recently enjoyed a long overdue rendezvous with MSP attorney Brad Gross. After we got past the lawyer jokes (aka – I’m from a family of attorneys which is why I went into technology), we got down to serious business with a few giggles tossed in. But first a few comments about Brad. He lives in lovely Fort Lauderdale, FL and earned his law degree from Hofstra University a hot minute ago supplemented with a boatload of extras like being Editor in Chief of the Hofstra Property Law Journal. Fun fact about Brad is he is a generous donor to MSP community causes.

Always a pleasure to meet up with Michelle Accardi, CEO of Liongard. Been a hot minute since we spoke and this is an update for the thriving ISV in the Small and Medium Business (SMB) Managed Services Space (MSP). Whole bunches of change goin’ on since we last did a podcast in November 2023 at ConnectWise as she celebrated one year in the CEO role (see the link to this interview in the Resources section at the bottom).

I admit I needed to reconnect with Auvik again. I tracked ‘em closely in the late 2010-teens up to the pandemic and still regret missing its pre-pandemic three-day conference in Santa Barbara, CA (which is even more pleasant then lovely San Diego where I conducted this interview at the recent GTIA ChannelCon event). I had a hot moment with Auvik a couple years ago at Connectwise IT Natiion that you can revisit HERE.   My last two recent interactions with Auvik had my spidey senses got  going that something was up. It’s presence is much more active now than it was for a couple years.

Reporting from the recent GTIA ChannelCon event in San Diego, we caught up with the spirited Coro team of Heather Harlos and Benjamin Morrell and Demetrios Georgiouto to help understand what’s up at Coros. They have been making big moves since friend of the family Joe Sykora arrived as CEO 17+ months ago.

Let’s set the table. We both go back to the good old days. We’ve known each other 15+ years (it goes quick youngins) starting with the Windows Small Business Server era (SBS). Dale got involved with Voice over Internet Protocol ( VoIP) in early 2010. ”The business of being a Managed Services Provider (MSP) in the Small and Medium Business (SMB) space changes constantly so its good to be an entrepreneur.” Cooper shared.

Finding your “WHY” in Business: Microsoft Elevate

At yesterday’s IAMCP (International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners) quarterly lunch (at Microsoft Austin), the Microsoft Elevate program was presented by Justin Sheedy. The net-net is that Microsoft Elevate “...is a global initiative by Microsoft designed to expand access to artificial intelligence (AI) skills, tools, and digital inclusion for the workforce, educators, and nonprofits.” There are several Managed Services Providers (MSPs) in our space that serve nonprofits and do the right thang and make an honest profit.

Two thangs to kick off PC Matic’s MSP Coming Out Party 2.0 at the recent GTIA ChannelCon event in San Diego! You could say the heart grows fonder in an  absence. Or your absence at MSP event is more conspicuous than your presence. Both statements are not un-true as PC Matic took a half step back to reboot is MSP Channel Partner strategy in order to leap frog two steps ahead.