I’m Fine; And How Are You?
If you check my resume I typically spend two to three years focusing on a specific job. Then I move on. Here at Nine Lives Media, I’ve pushed past the four-year mark and I’m rather enjoying the journey. But a lot of MSPmentor readers have moved onto new jobs — some within the managed services industry, some outside of it. Here’s an open letter to many of those people…
1. Jennifer Anaya: You mastered communications at Ingram, built your own consulting firm, assisted Autotask with strategic messaging, sharpened NetEnrich‘s marketing focus… and now you’ve recently rejoined Ingram Micro as VP of Marketing, North America. Somewhere along the line you had dinner in Miami with a few trusted sources. And come to think of it — was that the Secret Service dining at the table next to us? It has been awhile. I’m fine. How’s your new gig?
2. Gennifer Biggs: You were a constant presence at MSP events while covering managed services for Business Solutions magazine. You made a career change and launched Generate Marketing and Communications. And we trade email about upcoming events but I never took the time to say: Best wishes, I’m fine, I hope all is well with you.
3. Santo Cannone: You worked closely with Arnie and David Bellini to prepare ConnectWise for its next stage of growth. Then you exited, on great terms, to join Open Solutions Inc. to focus on the financial services market. I appreciate the walk and talk we had at ConnectWise Partner Summit 2009. I’m fine. How is the world of finance treating you?
4. Greg Donovan: You built Alpheon — a successful MSP focused on the health care vertical — sold it to mindSHIFT, and then… well… have you disclosed what you’re up to now? I’m fine. And I look forward to the update.
5. Jim Hamilton: You built MSP Partners and led its successful integration with CompTIA. You invited Amy Katz and me onto a golf course… and I promptly became an expert on Water Hazards. You’ve been developing community at CompTIA but we haven’t spoken as much in recent years. Thanks for all the briefings and background. I’m fine and I look forward to seeing you at CompTIA Breakaway.
6. Gerard Kane: We first met when you were at CompTIA. We tried to get into a Dallas night club… but I waited outside when the bouncers claimed my white sneakers clashed with the rest of the crowd. I’ve still got half a $20 bill in my wallet… Yada, yada, yada… you’re now at Insight. I’m fine. How are you?
7. Peter Klanian: You helped to build Silverback, and you helped me to understand some key twists and turns in the managed services market from 2008 through about 2009. Now you’re a sales director for channel services at Dell. I’m fine. How have you been?
8. Rob Leon: You helped to build Spam Soap into a channel brand. You offered me reality checks during MSP industry hype cycles. And you made me laugh. A lot. Now you’re at KnowledgeCentrix. I’m fine. How are you?
9. Amy Luby: You built an MSP, sold it, and helped a distributor and an IT vendor with their respective managed services partner programs. It was good to talk at last year’s IT Nation. But it’s been awhile. I’m fine. I hope all is well with you.
10. Todd McKendrick: You were the first person Amy Katz and I ever met at a managed services trade show. Your guidance and advice were invaluable during MSPmentor’s early years. You had successful tours of duty with Do IT Smarter, Dell and Nimsoft. Last I heard, you’ve been focusing on application sales at Oracle — quite a dramatic shift from the managed services market. I’m fine. How the heck are you?
11. Rob Ross: I know you run a nifty MSP in Sacramento called Think Smart Inc. You helped MSPmentor with a lot of early webcasts. And you knew how to impress a certain media company CEO with a bottle of wine. But the really cool thing is you play Segway polo with Steve Wozniak. I’m fine. How are you? Win any tournaments lately?
12. Dan Shapero: I think you and Dan Wensley (Level Platforms) were the first two people to back MSPmentor with marketing dollars. Sure, I’m an editor who shouldn’t focus on sponsorships. But I also realize without sponsors there is no editorial. I’ll never forget that early vote of confidence. After your time at Kaseya, you’ve launched ClikCloud, a digital marketing company for MSPs and channel partners. I’m fine. How are you enjoying ClikCloud so far?
13. Brian Sherman: You introduced MSP coverage at Business Solutions, you joined Autotask to build industry alliances, then you ultimately launched Tech Success Communications. We run in similar circles but don’t bump into each other often enough. I’m fine. What’s new with you?
14. Lane Smith: Speaking of Do IT Smarter (see Todd McKendrick, #10), you built a respected MSP before selling it. You also provided key insights to MSPmentor, the MSPAlliance and other folks working in this industry. These days, I hear you’re working with 4-Profit, a successful coaching organization serving IT solutions providers. I’m fine. How are you enjoying your new gig?
15. Bob Vogel: You led marketing at Autotask and we had some great debates about the future of the industry. You always answered my questions. These days you’re building B2 Marketing, helping IT service providers to build their sales pipelines. I’m fine. How’s life as an entrepreneur? Side note: For other Autotask veterans like Bob Godgart and Jay McBain: We’re already confirmed to talk. I’m fine, and I look forward to hearing updates from you.
Will I Hear From You — And 250 Other Experts?
For the folks above, I’d love to hear from you. Email me with an update — Joe [at] NineLivesMediaInc [dot] com. Or post a comment.
The idea for this blog entry popped into my head because we’re just about ready to launch our Fifth Annual MSPmentor 250 survey, tracking the top executives, entrepreneurs and experts in the managed services market. Details soon…
JP
Awesome post. I’d like to know how you are doing with all of your changes.
Stu
Stu,
Life is good. The biggest change for me (personally) continues to be life-work balance. I’m trying harder than ever to achieve it. And recent MSPmentor team additions like Jessica Davis certainly help in a huge way.
The other change is the continued need to augment our established coverage with “what’s next” coverage. Still trying to sort out all the mobile device management hype, for instance…
But the more things change, the more they remain the same. We gained a new owner in August 2011, but I’m still enjoying keeping my head down, blogging and listening closely to our readers across MSPmentor, The VAR Guy and Talkin’ Cloud.
-jp
Great subject, Joe. Even better is how in this “Where are they now” article, you have taken the time and exhibited your trademark sense of decency to honor their contributions to the channel. This is why you are and will always be the top guy in my reading list.
Rich Forsen
CEO
Network Depot, LLC
Rich,
Hey, thanks. I just enjoy what I do. That’s it. It’s amazing what you can learn about a person during a simple conversation (with 100 degree heat at a minor league baseball game outside of Las Vegas thrown into the mix).
Best
-jp
Response to #3 – Rich, you nailed it!
The blog is a conspiracy to get invited to a Segway polo match featuring Rob Ross (#11) and a friend of his named Woz…
I agree with Dan in promoting #3…Rich, I couldn’t have said it better!
Joe, looking forward to our chat tomorrow. Now I don’t need to ask how you are doing because it was answered 15 times above.
Hi Joe,
Thinks are clicking right along! We have a great group of clients.
It has been fun (and hard work) building a new business. It has also been rewarding helping so many MSPs grow their business through our pay-as-you-go digital marketing programs.
It I am hopefull all is well with you, Amy and the MSP Mentor team. I hope our paths cross soon.
Thanks for reaching out!
Dan
Dan: I’ll be sure to track you down at Breakaway or an upcoming destination. In the meantime, thanks.
Jay: I’ll be dialing in soon.
-jp
Joe,
Thanks for the shout out. Doing great here at 4-Profit. Larry and Chris have built up an incredible team of industry experts. Working with resellers and MSPs to help them grow their businesses. Also doing some work with some vendors in our market, you’ll be hearing more about those in the months to come. Glad to see you still typing away for MSPMentor and your other great sites..
Lane
JP, no need to ask brother…I am awesome and Ulistic is rocking. Too much time sitting in a tube in the sky,
See you at AT community live?
Stuart Crawford
Toronto
Joe,
Thanks for the mention among this rarefied group. You mentioned that I always answered your questions in my 7 years as CMO of Autotask, and I’m always happy to keep you (and your readers) in-the-know.
So, to answer your latest question to me about how life is as an entrepreneur, the answer is, same as it’s always been — amazing! I’ve been starting and growing businesses for 30 years (yikes)!
Right now, four great little companies in the Channel count on me as their Chief Marketing Officer, and are relying on me to take them to the next level. What fun!
Lane@10: Funny you should mention “typing.” My kids say I “type” for a living. Perhaps they are right. Keep me posted and best wishes re: 4-Profit.
Stuart@11: Yes, I will be at Community Live. Looking forward to it.
Bob@12: Virtual CMO… Very cool career path indeed.
-jp
Joe, not to undermine your previous work, this has been your best post ever.
Best luck,
Prakash
Prakash,
Thanks. Really appreciate it. Trying to remind folks just how much the names and faces in this market have changed over the years. Lots of great talent coming and going. And more to be profiled as we prep our next MSPmentor 250…
-jp
Hi Joe, Hi Amy!
I am doing great. Congratulations to you both. I knew I should have bought the MSPmentor stock back on that fateful day in Kinko’s.
Miss the MSPMentor Army!
As Dr, Seuss says, “I am off to great places”…and running the sales effort for Oracle Primavera here on the west coast. I have found a lot of exciting and interesting similarities in the needs of my customers and partners today as compared to the many MSP I have worked with in the past.
Those companies that have the best portfolio wide visibility of IT assests/processes or the status on projects/resources will almost always be more profittable and provide the customer with a higher level of care.
My shameless plug will be simple:
If your delivery of service and/or implementation of new technologies is not going smoothly….If you don’t have the right resources at the right place at the right time….If you can’t check status on project timeline and cost in real-time than you need better project management. I can help.
All the best.
Todd McKendrick
Hey Todd,
Great to hear from you. Thanks for that update on the project management stuff. Ironically, I spent most of last night speaking with an MSP that has a software development team of about four people. It’s a strategic team that does some custom CRM work and will soon do some custom cloud integration work… a big differentiator for the company.
But while the MSP practice runs well, the software team’s project management is hit and miss. Most of it is people related and they’re working thru the issues. But certainly, MSPs are going to need that project management component as they begin to introduce cloud integration services…
Keep us posted and let’s catch up at Oracle OpenWorld. I’ll be there.
Best
-jp