Meet Nic Ferraro from PIA (Thread AI Unleased Conference)
Harry Brelsford and Nick Ferraro discuss the growth and impact of Pia, an Intelligent Automation Company for MSPs, which originated from the Virtual IT Group in Australia. Pia's AI-led automation platform, developed in-house over seven years, was released in 2022 and has since attracted over 400 partners, with 80% now based in the US and North America. They highlight the benefits of smaller shows for networking and will be at upcoming events like
Datto Kickoff in Miami and ConnectWise in Orlando. Harry shares his practice of donating trade show socks to first responders post-disaster, and Nick acknowledges similar challenges in Australia with bushfires.
Introduction and Background of Pia
- Harry Brelsford introduces himself and Nick Ferraro, mentioning their location at the Johnson Space Center in South Houston.
- Harry reminisces about Australia's significant market for Small Business Server and its role in SMBs.
- Nick explains that Pia is an Intelligent Automation Company for MSPs, originally born from the Virtual IT Group in Australia.
- Nick details the growth of the MSP through acquisitions and the development of an AI-led automation platform, which was later released to the market in 2022.
Challenges of Large Shows
- Harry Brelsford discusses the challenges of connecting with people at large shows, mentioning his experience with SMB Nation and Small Business Server.
- Nick agrees, noting the difficulty of connecting at large events with thousands of attendees.
- Harry shares his preference for smaller shows, which allow for more personal interactions and connections.
- Nick mentions their upcoming integration and strategic partnership with Thread, which will go live in November.
Travel Challenges and Show Participation
- Harry and Nick discuss the challenges of traveling long distances, with Harry mentioning his experience flying from LA and San Francisco to Australia.
- Nick shares the grueling nature of flights to the East Coast of the US, highlighting the long travel times.
- Harry talks about his strategy of visiting New Zealand and then heading to Sydney, which he found more manageable.
- Nick mentions their upcoming participation in shows like Datokun in Miami and ConnectWise in Orlando, emphasizing their commitment to being on the road.
Community Involvement and Personal Anecdotes
- Harry shares a personal story about stealing socks from trade shows to donate to first responders in Texas, which was affected by floods.
- He explains the ongoing need for donations and practical items like socks, even after the media coverage has ended.
- Nick responds by acknowledging the similar challenges faced in Australia with bushfires and the long-term recovery efforts.
- Harry mentions his connection with Wayne Small, who runs a community of SMB IT pros in Australia, and offers to connect Nick with him on LinkedIn.