Business Speak

Harry Brelsford and Ann Westerheim (https://www.linkedin.com/in/annwesterheim/) discuss their experiences at the Zero Trust World event in Orlando, highlighting the importance of community and networking in the tech industry. Ann, a veteran in the field, emphasizes the value of attending events to stay updated, meet new vendors, and strengthen partnerships. They touch on the stress and burnout in the tech sector, comparing it to high-stress military roles. Ann mentions her upcoming participation in the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) events in Chicago and San Diego, where she will discuss cybersecurity and receive an award for their new trust mark based on CIS controls.

SMB Nation (Austin, TX) has partnered with Technology Reseller (Vancouver, WA) to expand their joint portfolio to offer more solutions for Small and Medium Business (SMB) partners who are Managed Services Providers (MSP).

The partnership effectively doubles the audience with a strategic pen stroke. That consolidation results in more efficient solution delivery for the SMB MSP community sponsors to get better results and greater awareness. This is a new way to reach a qualified audience. 

Mike Hanauer, a consultant specializing in MSPs, discussed his recent activities, including his role as Chief Revenue Officer at Total and the relaunch of his consulting firm, Green Lake. He focuses on interim leadership for MSPs and post-acquisition integration, emphasizing the importance of retention and proper pricing and packaging. Harry Brelsford, a board member of a community private equity group, shared his experiences with post-acquisition integration and the resilience of the MSP sector. They both highlighted the critical role of MSPs in protecting small and medium businesses, especially during economic uncertainties.

During the last major recession (2007-2009 financial crisis) I profiled Regus in Cupertino CA in the Silicon Valley and it's a sweet spot for companies downsizing (and it was also a social gathering for tired old guys that wanted to get away from momma and play business by day). And it was right next to a Indian lunch buffet!!!

In the old days when knights were bold and kings owned all the gold, the co-worker space pitch in my eyes was to avoid the sticky Starbucks table syndrome. 

Harry Brelsford interviews Matt Linn, co-founder and COO of Thread, an AI service desk that automates non-billable resources on the service desk, making them billable and reducing service costs through agentic workflows. Linn shares his background from a 10-year career with an MSP in New York City. Thread is announcing a new round of fundraising at the Series A stage to accelerate R&D and build faster. The company emphasizes its unique brand and customer-centric approach, showcasing this through creative booths at events. For 2026, Thread plans to enhance product offerings with better context for agents, more auto resolutions, and zero-touch tickets.

Dan King, from Clever Path IT in Wyoming, discussed his company's recent acquisition, transforming from K2 Technologies (not the skis lol) to a much broader mission, aiming to establish a platform in the Northwest United States. They focus on a diversified client base, including healthcare, accountants, attorneys, architects, and engineers. King emphasized the importance of adapting to technological changes, such as AI, and the ongoing consolidation in the industry. He also mentioned their participation in IT Nation and the Evolve event, highlighting the significance of these gatherings for MSPs. King plans to attend Channel Con again in July 2026 and the Right of Boom conference in February 2026.