2026 ChannelPro DEFEND: Anaheim

2:15 PM

The Bourbon Icebreaker: How to Choose the Right Security Tools

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Corey Kirkendoll

President/CEO

5K Technical Services

Anjali Fluker

Managing Editor

Law Office of Bradley Gross, PA

Dawn Sizer

CEO

3rd Element Consulting

Bradley Gross

President

Join us for a candid conversation about choosing the right security tools with a twist. Between sips of bourbon, our experts will break down how to choose, stack, and justify the right security tools for your clients. If you want to scale without overspending, this discussion is can't-miss.

2:40 PM

New Realities and Risks: How MSPs Can Protect Their Bottom Line

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Executive Director

Director of Marketing and Growth

Helen Rivers

Let's pull back the curtain on the biggest forces reshaping the MSP business today. In this panel discussion, we're putting vendor experts on the hot seat to discuss the trends that matter most: consolidation, compliance demands, tool sprawl, pricing, and more. Bring your questions and walk away with a sharper understanding of where the IT industry is going and how to stay profitable.

3:20 PM

Breakout Session: Evaluating the Threat Landscape: Actionable Intelligence for IT Providers

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3rd Element Consulting

In this powerful breakout session, our experts dig into new data from the industry's biggest threat reports and translate it into what actually matters for MSPs on the ground. You’ll hear the numbers, the trends, and—most importantly—the real-world impact behind them so you can adjust your defenses, guide clients, and stay ahead of what’s coming next.

3:20 PM

Breakout Session: Sticky by Design: How to Leverage Security to Build Client Loyalty

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Landing security clients is one thing—keeping them is the real game. During this breakout session, we're diving into the habits, communication rhythms, and service touches that install confidence and ensure contract renewals. Walk away with practical ways to grow business relationships without constantly re-proving your value.

3:55 PM

Breakout Session: Rethinking Resilience Against AI-Powered Ransomware: Containment is the New Recovery Strategy

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Omar Hussain

CEO and Co-Founder

QuellSecure

AI has changed the ransomware landscape. Attackers now find vulnerabilities more easily, weaponize them quicker, and move from initial access to encryption faster. The window between exploit and impact is shrinking. Your recovery plan was built for a slower threat.

For your business, the real cost is not the ransom. It is the downtime. Every hour offline means lost revenue, stalled operations, regulatory exposure, and a board asking why the plan didn't hold. Backup and recovery tell you how fast you can get back up. They assume you already went down.

This session makes the case for a different outcome. Containment stops ransomware at the point of attack, before it spreads, before systems go dark, before a security event becomes a business crisis. We'll show how Active Containment® isolates an attack within a handful of files and keeps operations running, validated by independent testing across hundreds of live ransomware samples.

Attendees will leave with:

- A clear view of how AI is compressing attack timelines and why detect-and-restore can't keep pace

- A framework for measuring ransomware risk in hours of uptime, not recovery time objectives

- A practical model for making containment the first line of business continuity

If an hour of downtime is unacceptable, recovery isn't a strategy. Containment is.

6:55 PM

Day 1 Closing Remarks

7:00 PM

Welcome Cocktail Reception in the Exhibit Hall [Sponsored by Ciardi Ciardi Astin]

Sessions for Tuesday, November 10, 2026

7:00 AM

Networking Breakfast

8:00 AM

Opening Remarks

8:15 AM

Adopting a Security Framework: Guarding Against the Most Dangerous Cyberattacks

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Executive Director

Senior Regional Channel Sales Manager

Security frameworks aren’t paperwork. They’re the blueprint that helps you safeguard clients, detect and respond to threats, and recover when the #@$% hits the fan. In this session, we’ll break down how to choose the right framework, map it to real threats MSPs face every day, and translate it into actionable steps you can take as soon as you get home.

8:45 AM

Sponsor presentations, product demos, partner program updates and more!

9:25 AM

Client-Owned, MSP-Scaled: A Better Model for Compliance

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Jared Casner

Co-Founder

Blacksmith Infosec

Small and midsized businesses are increasingly facing enterprise-grade security and compliance expectations, but most lack the expertise, visibility, and resources to manage them alone—so they turn to their MSPs. That creates a new challenge for service providers: how do you help clients own their security and compliance programs without burying your team in spreadsheets, manual evidence collection, and one-off consulting work? In this session, Jared Casner shares lessons learned from both sides of the problem and explores a practical, co-managed model for making compliance simple for clients, comprehensive enough to address real risk, and scalable across an MSP’s client base.

9:35 AM

Power Your Business: Increase Revenue with Power Protection from CyberPower

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Larry Brown

Cyber Power Systems

Jill Young

Senior Channel Sales Manager

CyberPower Systems

In this short 10-minute presentation, you’ll learn how increased IT infrastructure, more frequent severe weather, an aging power grid, and advanced computing applications have propelled the need for reliable power. This need creates an opportunity for your business to supply customers with power protection that keeps them connected, protected, and productive.

Discover how partnering with CyberPower makes it easy to sell professional-grade power protection through its award-winning partner program, the CyberPower Channel Partner Alliance. Packed with benefits including automatic partner discounts, unmatched support, and a lucrative rewards program, the Channel Partner Alliance puts a power partner in your corner and allows you to make excellent margins selling industry-leading power protection solutions.

9:45 AM

Break

9:55 AM

How to Automate Your MSP and Scale with AI

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Head of Global Strategic Partnerships

Dawn Sizer

CEO

3rd Element Consulting

Many MSPs want to hop on the automation hype train, but the biggest gains come from fixing workflows and adopting AI internally first. This session will show how to target the right processes and get quick wins without sacrificing security.

10:25 AM

Sponsor presentations, product demos, partner program updates and more!

10:50 AM

AI Won’t Save Your MSP. It Will Expose It.

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Christopher Marquez

Ironscales

In this 10-minute session, we’ll unpack three brutal truths of adding AI to your MSP: it will expose your effectiveness, highlight your efficiency, and test your attitude. If your processes are messy, your data is unreliable, or your team is buried in manual work, AI will not hide those cracks. It will make them impossible to ignore.

This session will challenge MSP leaders to stop treating AI like a shiny new tool and start treating it like an operational mirror. The MSPs that win will not be the ones with the most AI features. They will be the ones brave enough to fix what AI reveals.

11:00 AM

Sponsor presentations, product demos, partner program updates and more!

11:20 AM

Putting AI to work for Managed Service Providers Today

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John Connolly

Principal Solutions Consultant

GoTo

Manual documentation, repetitive fixes, and time-consuming reporting are wearing down MSP teams. John Connolly explores where AI can realistically help today, from automating session notes and knowledge articles to streamlining routine remediation and client reporting. The session offers practical strategies for resolving issues faster and scaling support without adding headcount.

11:30 AM

Sponsor presentations, product demos, partner program updates and more!

1:05 PM

Product & Services Expo Luncheon

2:55 PM

Channel’s Got Talent: Cybersecurity Pitch Edition

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5K Technical Services

Vistem Solutions, Inc

Want to avoid the after-lunch food coma? In this fast and fun showdown, four brave attendees will pitch their cybersecurity services. After getting honest (and perhaps slightly silly) feedback from our judges, they'll try again with a stronger, sharper pitch. The crowd will vote, one champion will emerge, and the winner earns bragging rights and eternal glory.

3:25 PM

Who Is Liable When AI Fails?

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Bradley Gross

President

Law Office of Bradley Gross, PA

AI and automation tools promise efficiency, but when they misfire, MSPs are left holding the legal bag. In this session, Brad Gross, one of the nation’s leading MSP attorneys, reveals the hidden liabilities of AI adoption, and how to draft protective language into your MSAs and SOWs before disaster strikes.

3:55 PM

Your First Call in an Emergency: Dissecting Your Incident Response Plan

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Executive Director

Vistem Solutions, Inc

When something goes sideways in IT, every second counts. This dynamic breakout session highlights the elements that go into a stellar incident response plan. You'll learn exactly what should happen in the first hour, who owns which decisions, and how to keep a small emergency from turning into a full-blown disaster.

4:25 PM

Sponsor Awards Voting

4:35 PM

The 4th Quarter Speech: Adjustments You Need to Make to Win the Game

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Corey Kirkendoll

President/CEO

5K Technical Services

This is the locker-room talk every MSP needs before heading back onto the field. In this inspirational featured session, we'll tie the lessons you've learned at ChannelPro DEFEND to practical next steps. We'll deliver a concrete plan to confront the challenges in your business, implement the right strategies, and coach your employees to success.

5:05 PM

Partner in Excellence Award

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Help us celebrate greatness at our Partner in Excellence Award Ceremony. We'll recognize a local IT channel legend for their leadership, innovation, camaraderie, and commitment to building the industry.

5:20 PM

Sponsor Awards & Attendee Giveaways

5:40 PM

Closing Remarks

Speakers

Larry Brown

Senior Regional Channel Sales Manager

Cyber Power Systems

Power Your Business: Increase Revenue with Power Protection from CyberPower

Nov 10, 2026 9:35am

Executive Director

The ChannelPro Network

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Jonathan Browning joined ChannelPro as the executive editor in 2023. His goal is to serve the channel community by covering the issues that matter most to MSPs, VARs, technology integrators, and IT consultants. He has successfully served in marketing, sales, and IT leadership positions throughout his career, including roughly six years in marketing director roles for Massachusetts-based managed services providers.

New Realities and Risks: How MSPs Can Protect Their Bottom Line

Nov 9, 2026 2:40pm

Adopting a Security Framework: Guarding Against the Most Dangerous Cyberattacks

Nov 10, 2026 8:15am

Your First Call in an Emergency: Dissecting Your Incident Response Plan

Nov 10, 2026 3:55pm

Jared Casner

Co-Founder

Blacksmith Infosec

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Jared Casner is the cofounder of Blacksmith InfoSec, on a mission to help MSPs deliver compliance services to their clients at scale. He spent 15+ years leading security and engineering teams in startups across finance, healthcare, and edtech — all the fun, heavily regulated industries. Before that, he held a top secret clearance and built software for the U.S. intelligence community. He has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Denver, an MBA from the University of Colorado, and more opinions on compliance than most people care to hear.

Client-Owned, MSP-Scaled: A Better Model for Compliance

Nov 10, 2026 9:25am

John Connolly

Principal Solutions Consultant

GoTo

Putting AI to work for Managed Service Providers Today

Nov 10, 2026 11:20am

Philip de Souza

President

Aurora

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Philip de Souza is a serial entrepreneur and cybersecurity pioneer with a passion for turning bold ideas into multimillion-dollar success stories. He founded Aurora IT, scaling it into a $30M powerhouse protecting government, financial, and enterprise clients before its acquisition by Plurilock. He also launched HotLunch.com, a disruptive SaaS platform that revolutionized school and corporate lunch programs, now serving more than 200,000 customers across North America. With three decades of experience across technology, finance, and compliance, Philip thrives on building, scaling, and advising companies at every stage of growth. He is a sought-after growth strategist, helping startups and midsize firms expand market share, accelerate revenue, and outpace the competition. Driven by impact as much as innovation, Philip co-founded Ainiti, a nonprofit that empowers underserved young women through technology and education. He also hosts the Let’s Talk About (Secur)IT podcast, where he brings industry leaders together to share insights on cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and the future of digital trust.

Breakout Session: Sticky by Design: How to Leverage Security to Build Client Loyalty

Nov 9, 2026 3:20pm

Adopting a Security Framework: Guarding Against the Most Dangerous Cyberattacks

Nov 10, 2026 8:15am

Ben Edelstein

Director of Sales

Red Sentry

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With a strong background in helping organizations navigate security challenges and compliance requirements, Ben focuses on connecting businesses with practical, effective security solutions. At Red Sentry, he leads sales initiatives, builds strategic relationships, and helps organizations strengthen their security posture through expert-led penetration testing. Passionate about bridging the gap between technical security and business priorities, Ben brings a practical, business-focused perspective to conversations around cybersecurity, risk management, and the evolving needs of MSPs and their clients.

New Realities and Risks: How MSPs Can Protect Their Bottom Line

Nov 9, 2026 2:40pm

Seana Fippin

CEO

Red Box + STORM AI

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As co-founder of Red Box Business Solutions, a women-owned business, Seana is passionate about leading people around a mission and leveraging innovative technologies to grow, scale and secure businesses. Red Box is an AI-Focused, concierge-level managed service provider and cyber security firm, exceeding the technology needs of businesses, nationwide. Their team of award-winning experts deliver the highest level of service in the industry.

Breakout Session: Sticky by Design: How to Leverage Security to Build Client Loyalty

Nov 9, 2026 3:20pm

How to Automate Your MSP and Scale with AI

Nov 10, 2026 9:55am

Anjali Fluker

Managing Editor

The ChannelPro Network

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Anjali Fluker is Senior Channel Editor at The ChannelPro Network. She is an award-winning reporter and editor in the news industry for 25 years, specializing in topics including sports, local government, real estate and development, restaurants, and transportation for publications in Detroit, MI, and Orlando, FL.

The Bourbon Icebreaker: How to Choose the Right Security Tools

Nov 9, 2026 2:15pm

How to Automate Your MSP and Scale with AI

Nov 10, 2026 9:55am

Bradley Gross

President

Law Office of Bradley Gross, PA

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Brad Gross is the founding partner of the Law Office of Bradley Gross, P.A., a law firm that specializes in transactions involving technology service providers, solution resellers, IT professionals and technology companies worldwide. Brad is one of the leading international legal authorities in cloud transactions, having counseled thousands of MSPs nationwide for over 23 years. He has been listed on fifteen occasions to the national list of Super Lawyers in IT & Technology Law. Brad has his own podcast, TechnologyBradcast.com, that covers security, licensing, and contract issues for MSPs, and sits on the Board of Digitunity, a non-profit organization that helps close the digital divide. He is also the founding partner of MSPTerms, a cloud-based document management platform engineered for MSPs.

The Bourbon Icebreaker: How to Choose the Right Security Tools

Nov 9, 2026 2:15pm

Who Is Liable When AI Fails?

Nov 10, 2026 3:25pm

Omar Hussain

CEO and Co-Founder

QuellSecure

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Omar Hussain, CEO and Co-Founder of QuellSecure, was previously CEO at Imprivata, where he designed and built its product and go-to-market strategy, making Imprivata a household name in healthcare in North America and EMEA. Omar joined Imprivata pre-product and pre-revenue in 2002 and grew the company to over $160M in revenue, leading it through a successful IPO (NYSE) in 2014 and an eventual sale to private equity firm Thoma Bravo in 2016. He was named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2013.

Breakout Session: Rethinking Resilience Against AI-Powered Ransomware: Containment is the New Recovery Strategy

Nov 9, 2026 3:55pm

Jim Jessup

Co-Founder & COO

CyberQP

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Jim Jessup is Co-Founder and COO of CyberQP. He brings 27 years of IT experience, including 8 years owning and running an MSP and 10 years as an IT Manager for multinational enterprises. CyberQP builds AI-native Privileged Access Management for MSPs, designed to bring every environment to zero standing privilege.

New Realities and Risks: How MSPs Can Protect Their Bottom Line

Nov 9, 2026 2:40pm

Corey Kirkendoll

President/CEO

5K Technical Services

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Corey Kirkendoll, President and CEO of 5K Technical Services, heads a leading Managed Service Provider (MSP) serving SMBs in North Texas. With over 30 years of experience in Information Services and technology, Corey held pivotal roles at IBM, Cisco Systems, Dell, EMC, and VMware. Recognized for expertise in IT and Cyber Security, Corey's leadership drives rapid growth and industry benchmarks for MSPs nationwide. Corey prioritizes process-oriented excellence in security and compliance, setting industry standards. Beyond corporate duties, he is a prominent speaker and author, contributing to CompTIA and serving on various boards promoting diversity and inclusion. As former chair of CompTIA Managed Services Executive Council, his influence extends to Channel Advisory Boards and garnered accolades like the CompTIA Community Leadership award and ChannelPro Peer of the Year. Corey, a Tech Titan, holds certifications including CCIE, CISSP, and CCSA, and multiple degrees from Jones International University. Engaged in continuous learning, he graduated from SBA Emerging Leaders and Goldman Sachs SB 10K Programs.

The Bourbon Icebreaker: How to Choose the Right Security Tools

Nov 9, 2026 2:15pm

Channel’s Got Talent: Cybersecurity Pitch Edition

Nov 10, 2026 2:55pm

The 4th Quarter Speech: Adjustments You Need to Make to Win the Game

Nov 10, 2026 4:35pm

Christopher Marquez

Head of Global Strategic Partnerships

Ironscales

AI Won’t Save Your MSP. It Will Expose It.

Nov 10, 2026 10:50am

Keith Nelson

CEO

Vistem Solutions, Inc

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Keith J. Nelson, Ph.D., is CEO and CISO of Vistem Solutions, Inc., a technology and cybersecurity firm he founded in 1999. With decades of experience in cybersecurity, managed services, and technology leadership, Keith focuses on helping organizations turn security strategy into measurable operational resilience.

Channel’s Got Talent: Cybersecurity Pitch Edition

Nov 10, 2026 2:55pm

Your First Call in an Emergency: Dissecting Your Incident Response Plan

Nov 10, 2026 3:55pm

John-Luke Peck

Founder

The Stillwater Group

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John Luke helps organizations contain and recover from an incident, conduct investigations, find and close security gaps, and conduct incident preparedness work through IR plans, tabletop exercises (TTEs), and assessments. Formerly an information security program manager, information technology manager, and supercomputing/HPC engineer for high-profile multinational startups with high value intellectual property and physical assets. Then became Director of Incident Response for Critical Insight (formerly Critical Informatics, CI Security, and MK Hamilton & Assoc., now Lumifi Cyber). His passion is helping companies build and grow security programs, handle and recover from incidents, assess and manage risk, and navigate security and compliance.

Adopting a Security Framework: Guarding Against the Most Dangerous Cyberattacks

Nov 10, 2026 8:15am

Your First Call in an Emergency: Dissecting Your Incident Response Plan

Nov 10, 2026 3:55pm

Helen Rivers

Director of Marketing and Growth

Channel Hunters

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Helen is a USF Alumni -- Go Bulls! She is an experienced Sales Representative and Account Manager, adept in marketing and lead generation for the IT industry. For the last 5 years, she has been focused on creating customized marketing campaigns to help drive business growth (both tele- campaigns and digital). She is a Maryland native who has come back here, part time, to be with her daughter while she attends college. She also has proud dog-grandmom to Ember.

New Realities and Risks: How MSPs Can Protect Their Bottom Line

Nov 9, 2026 2:40pm

Dawn Sizer

CEO

3rd Element Consulting

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Dawn Sizer is a CEO and technologist with security, training, and policy specializations. She can make complex technical information relatable for any audience. This is showcased in her writings, speaking engagements, her MSP (3rd Element), and podcast (Rebel Executives). 3rd Element incorporated in 2005 and has made CRN’s MSP 500 list for the last four years. Dawn has been nominated as one of the top women in the channel for the last three years, holds an MBA in IT, as well as industry standard certifications. She sits on Partner Advisory councils of five of the top distributors, security, and cyber insurance companies in the space, as well as The Channel Company for XChange and Women of the Channel. Dawn has been married for more than 25 years to her husband and partner in everything. They have two boys and two goofy dogs, Pilot and Odin.

The Bourbon Icebreaker: How to Choose the Right Security Tools

Nov 9, 2026 2:15pm

Breakout Session: Evaluating the Threat Landscape: Actionable Intelligence for IT Providers

Nov 9, 2026 3:20pm

How to Automate Your MSP and Scale with AI

Nov 10, 2026 9:55am

Chuck Storms

VP of Sales

Cylerian

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ChuckStorms is a cybersecurity sales and strategy leader with an MBA in Finance & Strategy from Rutgers University. He has helped build several channel-focused go-to-market programs tailored toward helping MSPs and MSSPs adopt portfolio enhancing services that are built on cybersecurity frameworks. Chuck brings deep expertise in aligning compliance, technology, and growth — and a unique perspective on how AI is transforming the cybersecurity landscape.

New Realities and Risks: How MSPs Can Protect Their Bottom Line

Nov 9, 2026 2:40pm

Henry Timm

Cofounder

Rocket Fuel Factory

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Henry Timm is a technology executive, cybersecurity advocate, and community builder focused on one clear mission: build stronger businesses, stronger communities, and a stronger IT industry. As CEO of Phantom Technology Solutions, Henry leads a performance-driven Managed IT Services Provider supporting compliance-focused SMBs across the Midwest. His firm partners with manufacturing, healthcare, and other regulated organizations to modernize, stabilize, and secure their technology environments with solutions designed for long-term reliability and accountability. He is also the cofounder of Rocket Fuel Factory, a business accelerator and incubator built to help MSPs, vendors, and IT consultants scale through community, coaching, and disciplined execution. Through education, strategic partnership, and practical enablement, Rocket Fuel Factory equips leaders to grow with intention rather than drift with the market. Henry is one of the original cofounders of The Tech Degenerates, a global community of MSPs, IT operators, and technology leaders committed to honest conversations, peer accountability, and raising operational standards across the channel. The community is known for cutting through noise, rejecting hype, and creating a space where experienced professionals can challenge each other, share lessons learned, and strengthen the industry from the inside out. With more than two decades of experience spanning IT leadership, cybersecurity, support, and software development, Henry operates at the intersection of technology strategy, operational discipline, and community engagement. He is known for addressing hard truths, guiding teams through meaningful change, and helping organizations build resilience that holds up under pressure. Henry serves in leadership on the GTIA Cybersecurity Executive Council and on the GTIA Global Leadership Committee. He is also an active member of FBI InfraGard. He advises vendors, nonprofits, peer groups, and event organizers committed to raising the bar for professionalism and security across the IT channel. He regularly cohosts MSP Community Live, a livestream series dedicated to elevating the broader IT community, and is a frequent podcast guest and industry contributor sharing insights on leadership, cybersecurity, compliance, and channel trends. His recognitions include CRN MSP 500 and Pioneer 250, Michiana Forty Under 40, the GTIA Community Leadership Award, a nomination for the GTIA Cybersecurity Leadership Award, and nominations for both the CompTIA Community Leadership Award and the Ernestine M. Raclin Community Leadership Award. Outside of his professional work, Henry remains active in initiatives supporting economic development, veterans, disaster relief, and civil rights advocacy. He welcomes opportunities to collaborate with leaders who are serious about building well, serving others, and moving the industry forward with integrity.

Breakout Session: Evaluating the Threat Landscape: Actionable Intelligence for IT Providers

Nov 9, 2026 3:20pm

Channel’s Got Talent: Cybersecurity Pitch Edition

Nov 10, 2026 2:55pm