managed services

Join me as I reconnect with Scott Sanders, founder of the IT Business Owners Group, to explore the thriving community he's built for IT professionals. Since our last conversation in 2019, Scott shares the remarkable organic growth of their Facebook group, which has blossomed into an essential hub for knowledge-sharing and peer support among IT business owners.

Scott shares the history of the group, which started on LinkedIn and later moved to Facebook, where it has grown organically for the past eight years. The group provides a platform for IT business owners to network, share knowledge, and support each other in navigating the challenges of business ownership. 

Scott also talks about the upcoming 2024 IT Bog Member Cruise, which is scheduled for November 8-11 out of Port Canaveral. He emphasizes the importance of creating a unique experience for attendees, focusing on activities and enjoyment rather than traditional conference room sessions. The conversation touches on the challenges of organizing events during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on business operations. 

The episode provides insights into the dynamics of community building in the IT industry and the value of in-person networking events for IT business owners. Scott and Marvin's conversation offers a glimpse into the supportive and collaborative nature of the IT Business Owners Group and its role in fostering a sense of community among its members.

=== Links from the show

ITBOG Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITBusinessOwnersGroup

ITBOG Website & Member Site: https://itbog.org/

Florida Man Runs into Thrift Store Naked: http://tinyurl.com/mswd7sw2

Florda Man Runs Naked Down Highway: http://tinyurl.com/4ee8ehc7

=== Show Information

Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/

Host: Marvin Bee

Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ

Become a monthly supporter: https://www.patreon.com/join/itbusinesspodcast?

One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unclemarv

=== Music: 

Song: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo

Author: AlexanderRufire

License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024

In the 15th episode of SAs and IPAs, hosts Kyle Mullin and Rob Owen are joined by special guest Kyle Wiley for an engaging and lively discussion. The trio explores various topics, showcasing their unique perspectives and experiences in the world of technology and solutions architecture.

The episode kicks off with an entertaining revelation – a customized elf photo of Kyle Mullin that has everyone in stitches. The hosts dive into a beer review of Iron Hill Brewery's Philly Favorite IPA, sharing their thoughts on its taste and design, with witty banter and candid opinions.

As the conversation unfolds, the SAs touch on their diverse career paths, from early experiences in the industry to their current roles. They highlight the collaborative culture at CDI and discuss how individuals with different backgrounds and skills can find their place within the organization. Kyle Mullin and Rob Owen share anecdotes about CDI team members, including a delightful story about a colleague's unexpected journey from Business Development Representative to a Microsoft Licensing Solutions Architect.

The hosts also touch on the importance of adaptability and continuous learning, emphasizing how CDI's culture fosters growth and development. The episode is not just about technology; it delves into the personalities and dynamics that make CDI a unique and supportive workplace.

As the episode concludes, the hosts rate the beer and playfully critique its generic qualities, offering listeners a light-hearted and entertaining perspective on their beverage of choice.

Join Kyle Mullin, Kyle Wiley, and Rob Owen for an insightful and amusing episode that combines technology talk, career anecdotes, and beer reviews in the signature style of SAs and IPAs.

00:00 - Intro and Welcome

02:17 - The Hosts' Journey to CDI

03:06 - Career Progression and Learning Experiences

05:18 - The Value of Diverse Experiences in Pre-Sales

16:54 - Gifts and Beers

21:12 - Conclusion and Cheers

Episode 33 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Zach McNamara; founder and CEO of Charleston SC-based technology company Portside Technology and CEO of Isofy. Zach chronicles his diverse career in technology and shares his thoughts on the Charleston Digital Corridor and how Portside is adapting to the Charleston Tech Center.

This episode is brought to you by Vistio.  Vistio’s unique approach to optimizing contact centers uses proprietary technology and AI to enhance the abilities of each agent instead of replacing them, quickly turning new hires into agents and agents into subject matter experts.

Thanks to the Charleston Digital Corridor, the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities.  Look for episodes every 3 weeks and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat!

Andre started his IT journey at CompUSA, working his way up to become the CEO of a multi-million dollar business. We discuss how he got his start, and his journey from growing up in Miami Gardens to taking jobs setting up computers for high-end clients. 

He shares how he was able to navigate his way through a non-compete agreement and find success in the managed services and cybersecurity space.

He also explains how he applied the 80/20 rule to his business by firing 80% of his clients and shifting his focus to the top 20%. That leads to a quick mention of The Pumpkin Plan and Built to Sell, two books that have helped him with restructuring his business.

We also talk about his passion for giving back to the community. 

=== Links from the show

Reginald Andre | Guest: IT Business Podcast

Website: https://www.arksolvers.com

The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz: https://amzn.to/3rpayja

Built to Sell by John Warrillow: https://amzn.to/46yW2UC

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuck: https://amzn.to/48zelek

=== Upcoming Events

https://www.dattocon.com/: October 2-4, 2023, at the Intercontinental in Miami Florida. DattoCon is an annual educational and networking event for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in North America. The conference provides valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies in the MSP industry, with breakout sessions covering topics ranging from cybersecurity to personnel management. 

https://events.ascii.com/: October 18-19, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency in Reston Virginia. ASCII Edge is an MSP conference that offers business strategy sessions and fresh content for growing Managed Service Providers (MSPs). 

https://www.mspexpo.com/east/: February 13-15, 2024, at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. MSP Expo 2024 is a trade show for companies in the communications and technology industries, including enterprises and SMBs. 

=== Show Information

Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/

Host: Marvin Bee

=== Show Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor: NetAlly: https://www.netally.com/

=== Support the Show

Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ

Become a monthly supporter: https://www.patreon.com/join/itbusinesspodcast?

One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unclemarv

=== Show Information

Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/

Host: Marvin Bee

Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ

Become a monthly supporter: https://www.patreon.com/join/itbusinesspodcast?

One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unclemarv

=== Music: 

Song: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo

Author: AlexanderRufire

License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024

Let’s Talk Business is a weekly B2B radio talk show, audio podcast and a YouTube video series hosted by long-time South Carolina business publisher Rick Jenkins, featuring interviews with high-level South Carolina business executives, community leaders and government dignitaries. Let’s Talk Business airs on 94.5 THE ANSWER in the Upstate of South Carolina, as well as most popular podcast platforms. Video recordings of the full episode, as well as individual interview segments, are also posted on the Let's Talk Business South Carolina YouTube channel.

Guests appearing on Episode 3:
Featured Guest: Curtis Loftis, South Carolina State Treasurer 
Andy Decker, CEO, Hofmann USA Staffing
Jennifer Moorefield, AVP for Economic Development, Greenville Technical College
Reed Wilson, CEO, PTG (Palmetto Technology Group)

Each episode of "Let's Talk Business" also appears on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@letstalkbusiness.rickjenkins

If you know of someone qualified to be a guest on the show, send an email to the show's host, Rick Jenkins: rjenkins@letstalkbusinesssc.com.

Thanks for listening.

Join our resident Business Ninja Kelsey and Robert Praul, Technology Director at DivergeIT. In this episode, Kelsey and Paul talks about, among other things, how DivergeIT is able to minimize downtime and provide reliable support to clients.

DivergeIT is a managed service provider that helps make companies more agile & efficient, and, therefore, more profitable by the way their unique teams design, procure, and support Information Technology (IT) systems.

Learn more about DivergeIT: https://www.divergeit.com/  
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Janie Day interviews Robert Praul, Technology Director at DivergeIT, a high-performance managed IT service provider (MSP) and managed security services provider (MSSP) serving mid-sized businesses and enterprises across America. 

Ranked among the top 1% of Microsoft® Partners in the USA and SOC 2® certified by AICPA, DivergeIT offers a range of services including IT management, consulting, cybersecurity management, and COVID Safe Modern Workplace Access for both business owners and IT teams. 

Learn more at: https://divergeit.com/our-nature/

In this episode, our guest is Tommy Mullins, VP of Operations & Service Delivery. We’ll be discussing InflowCX’s new managed services, which are designed to help you get the most out of your investments and maximize your success. We’ll explore how these services can help you reduce costs, boost efficiency, and quickly scale up operations. Plus, find out why InflowCX is the go-to choice for businesses looking to leverage managed services to improve their CX operations and unlock their full potential. We’ll discuss the team’s expertise in the industry, our commitment to customer service and satisfaction, and our innovative approach to managed services.

 Join our resident Business Ninja Kelsey together with Stuart Cooper, Client Development Director at Provisions Group, an IT Staffing and Consulting firm, as they talk about consulting and concierge services across multiple industries and verticals. Provisions Group is a strategic and tactical IT consulting and staffing solutions provider that puts the client’s needs first by providing flexible, on-demand IT solutions for business. The company offers flexible, scalable IT strategy consulting, development and implementation powered by a comprehensive staffing and recruitment practice that delivers fully vetted, hard to find technology talent. They serves business of all sizes, but with specialization on growth oriented and mid-sized organizations.

Provisions Group uses a client-centered approach to help clients find and retain top IT talent, as well as provide consulting and concierge services across multiple industries and verticals. They understand the demands on IT and business leaders and partner to find solutions that are scalable and flexible to fit the needs of businesses of any size. They specialize in meeting the needs of growth-oriented companies who want the same access to IT talent and technology as the larger players in their field. While their clients reflect a diverse collection of industries, Provisions Group has exceptional industry experience in healthcare IT, education, distribution and logistics, software, and financial and wealth management industries. Their IT consulting practice delivers a full range of technology consulting services, including data and reporting, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) assessment and deployment, infrastructure, networking and cloud solutions, application development, security, architecture, IT strategy, and CTO/CIO/CISO/CMO advisory services. As a Microsoft Gold Partner, and others, they can deliver solutions that meet the demands of the business. Learn more about them and visit their website today at https://provisionsgroup.com/

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Want to be interviewed on our Business Ninjas podcast? Schedule time with us now, and we'll make it happen right away!

Check out WriteForMe, more than just a Content Agency!

See the Faces Behind The Voices on our YouTube Channel!

Great explorers through history defined the theme of Adam Selipsky's re:Invent Keynote this morning. But what caught Rahul and Hilary’s attention wasn’t what was being said, but what didn’t get explored on stage. Along with special guests J.R. Storment and Joe Daly from FinOps Foundation, they unpack Selipsky's announcements, and dive into what they wish they’d also heard. Let us know what you think at podcast@cloudfix.com.

If you’d like to join or find out more information about mySchneider IT Solutions Partner Program, please visit https://www.apc.com/uk/en/partners-alliances/partners/

• LinkedIn
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• APC by Schneider Electric YouTube
• Schneider Electric YouTube

 In some cases, it means a great deal how you word your proposal to a client. Calling your proposal an estimate, job quote or statement of work (SOW) can mean different things to the client, and to the law. 

• As estimate is a "guestimate" or an approximation. Estimates are flexible and in most cases, negotiable.
• A quote provides your client with an exact price for the job or project. Quotes are exact, and in some cases, more legally binding than an estimate.
• A Statement of Work seeks to define liabilities, responsibilities and work agreements between two parties. It allows you to manage expectations and add a layer of detail about what the project will and will not cover.

Freshbooks - Quote vs Estimate 

Your Traderbase - Estimate vs Quote

Bradley Gross does a much better job of explaining these than I do. Check out two of his podcasts on this topic.

Technology Bradcast 41 - Quotes: How Long? How Detailed? How Terrifying!

Technology Bradcast 21 - Quote vs Proposal vs SOW: A Primer

Law Office of Bradley Gross – Business Technology Law

=== Other links for items mentioned in this show

Techcon Unplugged: Use discount code ITBP75OFF and save $75 off the ticket price.

=== Show Information

Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/

Host: Marvin Bee

Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ

Become a monthly supporter: https://www.patreon.com/join/itbusinesspodcast?

One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unclemarv

=== Music: 

Song: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo

Author: AlexanderRufire

License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024

I recently gave a client their second strike. One more and we are done. Here's a short list of my customer red flags: 

• The client is rude and abusive
• The client doesn't support your worth: always tries to talk me down on price or doesn't have time to meet with me regarding big decisions. If they don't have time for me, I don't have time for them.
• The client slow pays.
• The percentages are off. A client that pays 10% of my revenue but demands more than 50% of my time. It's time to go

Law Office of Bradley Gross – Business Technology Law

The Technology Bradcast (podbean.com)

Jacksonville man arrested after police say he killed neighbor’s pet rooster – Action News Jax

=== Other links for items mentioned in this show

Techcon Unplugged: Use discount code ITBP75OFF and save $75 off the ticket price.

=== Show Information

Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/

Host: Marvin Bee

Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ

Become a monthly supporter: https://www.patreon.com/join/itbusinesspodcast?

One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unclemarv

=== Music: 

Song: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo

Author: AlexanderRufire

License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024

In response to the show title being terrible advice. Here is some real things to put on your backup checklist. 

• Get Email Notifications: Whether you get them or your clients get them, you should choose to get documentation where a backup is successful or fails. 
• Check the Email: If you get the emails, someone should read them. Or at the very least, make Sure it doesn't go to the spam folder. 
• Test the backups: Just because you can see the file doesn't mean you can recover the file.
• Don't ignore warnings: If you've read this far... send me an email and let me know what we left out. 

Magnus Box Website

Florida Man Robs Victim Who Wouldn't Buy Him Wendy's Chicken Nuggets

=== Other links for items mentioned in this show

Techcon Unplugged: Use discount code ITBP75OFF and save $75 off the ticket price.

=== Show Information

Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/

Host: Marvin Bee

Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ

Become a monthly supporter: https://www.patreon.com/join/itbusinesspodcast?

One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unclemarv

=== Music: 

Song: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo

Author: AlexanderRufire

License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024

When Jay McBain speaks, people listen!  As Chief Analyst at Canalys, Jay continues his  legendary thought leadership at the world's leading analyst firm with a true focus on channels, partnerships, alliances and ecosystems.

We only touched on a few of his predictions:

• 76% of CEOs think current business model will be unrecognizable
• The world shifts to subscription and consumption models
• Distributor disruption continues
• 72% of US tech workers are considering quitting

Listen to the full list of Jay's Channel Predictions For 2022 on the Channel Journeys Podcast with Rob Spee

Follow Jay on Linkedin

Check out A Few thoughts on Jay's personal website. 

=== Other links for items mentioned in this show

Techcon Unplugged: Use discount code ITBP75OFF and save $75 off the ticket price.

=== Show Information

Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/

Host: Marvin Bee

Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ

Become a monthly supporter: https://www.patreon.com/join/itbusinesspodcast?

One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unclemarv

=== Music: 

Song: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo

Author: AlexanderRufire

License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024

 Begin mei waren we aanwezig op Dell Technologies World, hier hoorden we alles over de nieuwste APEX-diensten, Project Alpine en de strategie van Dell Technologies voor de komende jaren. Dell Technologies zit in transitie richting een service model, waarbij managed oplossingen gecombineerd worden met simpliciteit en multi-cloud en allemaal vanuit één portal.

Dell Technologies is een bedrijf in transitie. Wat Michael Dell jaren geleden goed gezien heeft is dat bedrijven niet enkel meer voor on-premises infrastructuur zouden kiezen, maar dat het een mix van hybrid cloud en multi-cloud zou worden. Hier voegt Dell Technologies ook nog een stukje ontzorging aan toe via verschillende managed oplossingen. Bij Dell Technologies zijn ze overigens nog lang niet zover. Het bedrijf is nog volop bezig met het ontwikkelen van de nieuwe oplossingen, waardoor ook nog niet alles duidelijk is. Wat wel duidelijk is, is dat Dell niet langer enkel met dozen wil schuiven richting je kantoor of datacenter. Ze willen een compleet aanbod realiseren van oplossingen die zowel on-premises als in de cloud draaien en uiteindelijk gemanaged worden door Dell Technologies. Ze willen het werk van je IT-afdeling tot op zekere hoogte uit handen nemen. Hoe dit allemaal precies in elkaar zit hoor je in deze Techzine Talks.

Stu Siegal from VideoLink returns to The Collaboration Space to chat about how high-impact digital signage can entice workers back to the office.

Stu mentions some world-class video wall examples, like this amazing waterfall in Salesforce's lobby. Check out the Salesforce waterfall video wall here.

• Learn more about VideoLink and VLCreative content creation and management.
• Learn more about AVI-SPL digital signage solutions.

Watch the video podcast.

VideoLink is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AVI-SPL.

Get AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.

Follow AVI-SPL: Linkedin Twitter YouTube

Check out LoadSpring here: https://www.loadspring.com/

Follow Eric Leighton here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericleighton/

The pandemic triggered a tidal wave of new digital needs for businesses. There’s never been a better time for partnerships as we know the world belongs to the Data Driven. Hitachi Vantara is here to make that opportunity even more profitable for you.