ChannelPro SMB Forum 2020: September

Sep 3rd, 2020

Online-only event

Originally scheduled as a Boston-area event, Covid travel restrictions require this to now be an online-only event. All are welcome! This will be a full-day event and feature presentations from some of the top SMB resellers and managed service providers in the country, sharing their insights on the hottest tech solutions in the SMB marketplace today. You MUST attend!

Check out our sponsors for this event.

Main Group

Event Details

ChannelPro SMB Forum is designed to be a highly interactive, engagement-rich environment specifically to facilitate peer-to-peer networking.

Join Us At The ChannelPro SMB Forum!

Beyond the numerous educational sessions, the Forum is a unique opportunity for you to strengthen current relationships, or build valuable new ones. Throughout the event, you will have numerous opportunities to interact formally and informally with your peers and make connections with new colleagues.

Sessions & Networking

September 3rd

Session: Weathering the COVID-19 Storm: A Survival Guide

Expert managed services consultants Rayanne Buchianico and Manuel Palachuk outline the financial and operational moves you must make now to preserve cash and maximize profit.

Presenters:

Manuel Palachuk, Rayanne Buchianico

Session: Peer to Peer: Best Practices for Big Challenges

Hiring and retaining good people. Generating sales leads. Adopting a vertical industry specialty. All three are important. All three are incredibly difficult too. Through a panel discussion with MSP owners, you’ll find out exactly how real-world channel pros like you are successfully tackling these common and demanding challenges.

Presenters:

Seana Fippin, Joanna Mirov, Charles Henson

Session: Coronavirus and the Cloud

The business world is taking a crash course in remote productivity, and SMB technology will never be the same. Our panel of leading-edge cloud service providers has insights to share on keeping clients connected from home today and capitalizing on exploding demand for cloud solutions tomorrow.

Presenters:

Eric Long, Ro Kolakowski, Chris Ploessel, Malik Khan

Session: Securing Clients, Securing Your Future

Join our panel of managed security experts for a frank look at best practices for keeping customers safe now and building the security practice SMBs will need when conditions start returning to normal.

Presenters:

Rory Sanchez, Robert Boles, Joshua Liberman, Scott Beck, Angela Hogaboom

ChannelPro SMB Forum 2020: September Sponsor Award Winners

Diamond

Platinum

Sapphire

Premier Gold

Gold

Silver

Cocktail Reception Host

Media Partner

Agenda

Thursday, September 3rd
Time	Activity
12:30pm to 12:35pm	Welcome Remarks
12:35pm to 1:20pm	Session: Weathering the COVID-19 Storm: A Survival Guide
1:20pm to 1:50pm	Gold Sponsor Presentations: Ingram Micro, Webroot, and Cytracom
1:50pm to 2:10pm	Sapphire Sponsor Presentation: Datto
2:10pm to 2:55pm	Session: Peer to Peer: Best Practices for Big Challenges
2:55pm to 3:35pm	Silver Sponsor Panel: Infrastructure Goes Hybrid
3:35pm to 3:50pm	Premier Gold Sponsor Presentation: The 20
3:50pm to 4:15pm	Diamond Sponsor Presentation: SolarWinds
4:15pm to 5:00pm	Session: Coronavirus and the Cloud
5:00pm to 7:00pm	Expo Hall: Sponsor Booth Time, Prizes, Giveaways, and More
7:00pm to 7:30pm	Gold Sponsor Presentations: Trend Micro, ConnectWise, and Tech Data Security Solutions
7:30pm to 7:40pm	Session: Silver Selfie Shout-Out
7:40pm to 8:00pm	Platinum Sponsor Presentation: Dell Expert Network
8:00pm to 8:30pm	Silver Sponsor Panel: Expanding Your Work-From-Home Stack, Part 1
8:30pm to 9:15pm	Session: Securing Clients, Securing Your Future
9:15pm to 9:35pm	Silver Sponsor Panel: Operational Tune-Up Tips for MSPs
9:35pm to 10:05pm	Silver Sponsor Panel: Expanding Your Work-From-Home Stack, Part 2
10:05pm to 10:10pm	Wrap-Up Sponsor: CompTIA
10:10pm to 10:30pm	Sponsor Giveaways from the Main Stage!
10:30pm to 10:35pm	Closing Remarks

Presenters

Session Speakers

Seana Fippin

Seana Fippin is founder and CEO of Red Box Business Solutions, a women-owned business. Red Box Business Solutions is a concierge-level managed service provider, exceeding the technical needs of San Francisco Bay Area businesses. Seana began her career in management at a leading ISP and web hosting company in the Silicon Valley, where she gained... more

Scott Beck

Scott Beck is CEO of the fast-growing cybersecurity and IT services firm BeckTek, based in New Brunswick, Canada. He’s a two-time international best-selling author and award-winning speaker, including appearances at NASDAQ and Harvard Club of Boston. Co-star of the Amazon Prime documentary Cyber Crime, Scott is a frequent celebrity guest expert... more

Rory Sanchez

Rory Sanchez is CEO of Forthright Technology Partners. He was previously President at Cerberus Cyber Sentinel Corp. (NASDAQ: CISO), a managed compliance and cybersecurity provider, and CEO of True Digital Security, which was acquired by CISO in January 2022. Rory was a founding member of the ConnectWise Partner Advisory Board, past president... more

Robert Boles

Robert Boles is the founder and president of BLOKWORX, an organization built on three foundational tenets: security, reliability, and a positive user experience. Robert has designed infrastructure for hundreds of companies ranging from small businesses to large corporations to municipalities. With over 20 years’ experience in cybersecurity and... more

Ro Kolakowski

Ro Kolakowski is the founder of 6th Street Consulting, a management consulting firm focused on providing strategy and technology consulting services. He has more than 25 years of finance and technology experience. He was a senior equity analyst covering telecommunications companies in Latin America, including Telmex and Telebras while at D.A.... more

Rayanne Buchianico

Rayanne Buchianico has devoted her career to the technology industry. With over 25 years of working in and around technology, she built many companies to support IT professionals across the globe.As the owner of ABC Solutions LLC in Clearwater, Florida, she developed processes for MSPs to focus on profitability, automation, and standardization... more

Manuel Palachuk

Manuel brings an infectious energy, inspiring audiences to embrace meaningful change with takeaways for resolute action. Manuel has run several successful companies, mentored many more, and spoken to audiences around the world. He helps organizations pull back the curtain to reveal the potentially toxic, rotting culture they've cultivated, and... more

Malik Khan

Malik Khan, founder and CEO of PointClick Technologies, has over 20 years of experience in the information technologies managed services, cloud, and consulting industry. In 2007, Malik founded PointClick Technologies to focus on end-to-end cloud hosting services that spans beyond infrastructure management. The company offers cloud hosting and web... more

Joshua Liberman

Joshua Liberman is president and founder of Net Sciences. He started PC Services in 1990, providing Novell networking and becoming a Master CNE. Since starting Net Sciences in 1996, Joshua has built and secured hundreds of networks in New Mexico and the area. Joshua has been a rock and ice climber, martial artist, and lifelong... more

Joanna Mirov

Joanna Mirov is an accomplished entrepreneur and businesswoman who has established herself as an active advisor and guest speaker on business and technology. With a proven track record of growing a multi-million-dollar IT company and mentoring MSP leaders and women professionals, Joanna aims to share her knowledge and expertise with others,... more

Eric Long

Eric Long is the President of TeraCloud, a national cloud computing and managed services provider. With over 30 years of experience in the Information Technology sector, Eric has become the go-to resource for large and small companies when it comes to solving complex IT issues that decrease productivity and hurt business operations.

Chris Ploessel

Chris Ploessel is president of RedNight Consulting. Chris and his expertise have shaped the company’s purpose and vision. He utilizes his extensive technical and business expertise to benefit clients in a variety of industries. With more than 20 years in the IT industry, Chris’ strengths and experiences include the enhancement of revenue-... more

Charles Henson

Charles Henson is the owner of Nashville Computer, the premier cybersecurity and IT services firm in Music City. He was cast in the Amazon Prime movie Cyber Crime. He is an international best-selling author of MSSP Playbook and is often featured in industry publications as the unofficial spokesman when an industry leader is needed for the story... more

Angela Hogaboom

Angela Hogaboom is a Cybersecurity Professional and Sales Director at SugarShot, a cybersecurity and IT services firm headquartered in Los Angeles. Angela carries multiple certifications in Cybersecurity, IT Operations, Network, and Project Management. Her focus is on building solutions and strategies that increase operational efficiency and... more

Sponsor Speakers

Yj Lin

YJ Lin is the Dell Expert Network program manager assisting 5,000-plus Dell Expert Network MSPs in the United States to partner with Dell Technologies with the resources to scale. He started his Dell career as an IT adviser supporting small businesses and now engages a team of more than 400 representatives aligned with our Dell Experts to support... more

Tracy Holtz

Tracy Holtz is a director of security solutions in Tech Data’s security organization. She joined Tech Data in December 1996 and brings more than 22 years of strategic channel knowledge to the team. Tracy is responsible for Tech Data’s U.S. Security Vendor Management strategy and business. Tracy began her career in the IT industry when she joined... more

Tony Anscombe

Tony Anscombe, chief security evangelist at ESET, has been in the security industry for over 20 years. He is an established author, blogger, and speaker on the current threat landscape, security technologies and products, data protection, privacy and trust, and internet safety. His speaking portfolio includes industry conferences RSA, CTIA, MEF,... more

Tim Conkle

Tim Conkle holds over 30 years of entrepreneurial success in the Information Technology and Services sector. As a leading voice in the Managed IT Service Provider space, Tim is dedicated to developing simple, solid IT solutions for SMB clients and MSPs (Managed Service Providers) across the nation. His notoriously energetic nature, along with his... more

Szilvia Horvath

A seasoned executive with 20 years of leadership experience in both Fortune 500 and privately held companies, Szilvia Horvath is passionate about creating channel organizations that drive business growth. With expertise in international business development, she has built subsidiary organizations from the ground up, empowering local MSPs and IT... more

Shawn Sailer

Shawn Sailer is a business development executive with over 18 years’ experience in solution selling and management, including a heavy focus on improving business processes and leveraging technology.  Shawn is a strategic problem solver, a results-driven business influencer, and an adept team builder who has demonstrated repeat success in... more

Peter Houseman

Pete Houseman is a senior new business development rep with Ingram Micro’s SMB business unit. He has helped countless companies leverage the resources available through Ingram Micro, allowing them to scale and take on opportunities they would have previously passed on. He can help develop a plan tailored to your business that will allow you... more

Mike Ward

Mike Ward has served as director of cloud solutions at Tech Data since February 2016. In this role, he is responsible for channel and partner sales of Tech Data Cloud’s broad portfolio of third-party cloud and hosted services, subscription software, and support services. Ward has over 25 years of IT selling and service delivery experience. ... more

Michael DePalma

Michael DePalma is director of business development at Datto. He joined the business development team in February 2016. As a former Datto channel sales executive, Michael worked with existing Datto partners both on a broader scale, through facilitating marketing plans and webinars, and on a client-specific scale, through vetting individual... more

Lamon Gorman

As the program manager for Trend Micro’s service provider channel, Lamon Gorman helps MSP partners build out successful lines of business focused on managed security services. Through 12 years of industry experience, he is especially keen on business development with both experienced managed service providers or those just making the business... more

Kevin Liesen

Kevin Liesen has been with CompTIA for over 6 years. He started as an account manager for MSP's and has since moved on to work with CompTIA Vendor members in the Eastern half of Canada as well as New England and the Mid Atlantic states.

John Phillips

John Phillips is vice president of SMB and MSP sales at SYNNEX. His sales team knows him as a problem-solving leader who wants them to succeed. His fellow channel executives would tell you that he’s probably going to outwork them. And his customers know him as a friend and an advocate. To John, a driving work ethic, robust business intelligence,... more

Jerry Clark

Jerry Clark started his career after college repairing the first IBM PC/AT circuit boards. In 1989, he started a computer service/sales business, and in 2004, merged with a copier company. Today, Jerry is the director of cloud sales development for US Signal and helps IT consulting firms, managed service providers, VARs, and integrators nationwide... more

Jeannine Edwards

Jeannine Edwards is the senior director of channel marketing at StorageCraft. In this role, Jeannine is responsible for the strategy and execution for channel engagement and enablement in North America. She's passionate about representing the channel's interest in all things StorageCraft. This includes collaborative efforts around channel... more

Jay Ryerse

Jay Ryerse, CISSP, has over 20 years of experience providing Information Technology and security solutions to businesses of all sizes as the former owner of an Atlanta-based MSP and through CARVIR, his recently acquired cyber security company. Jay has been named on multiple top MSP lists and earned notable industry awards and recognition... more

Greg Luebke

Greg Luebke, MSP channel account manager, has been with Webroot for three years helping managed service providers grow their businesses with solutions that allow them to have the peace of mind that their customers are protected. Prior to Webroot, he was on the network side selling for Juniper Networks. A native of Colorado, he loves to spend time... more

George Bardissi

George Bardissi is CEO of two companies, an MSP based out of Philadelphia, Pa., and the channel-only firm that work with other MSPs around the world in the cloud communications space. Having started his MSP in 2000, George matured through the IT and managed services business from break/fix to project to multitier to pure-play MSP. That 17-year... more

David Beagle

David Beagle is the head of channels at Ooma, with the unique opportunity to develop a go-to-market program that can fit with any type of partner.  Previously, he was a leader in building out a channel at Office Depot with a managed services offering. Recognized as a three-time Channel Chief by CRN at two other companies, he is an established... more

Dave Goldie

Dave Goldie (Goldie) is vice president of channel for Gradient MSP and channel champion for the MSP world. He’s worked in the channel for six years, valiantly helping MSPs scale their businesses and improve their practices.   Dave lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his family. When he’s not working in the channel, he enjoys spending... more

Curtiz Gangi

Curtiz Gangi, Eaton's vice president of U.S. channel sales, has over 25 years of experience in the power quality, technology, and data center business. He’s held positions in product management, business development, marketing, and executive management. In his current role, he manages a national sales team within Eaton’s data center sales segment... more

Chris Groot

Chris has worked with SolarWinds Backup since 2010, from its early launch into the North American MSP market. Chris has 16 years of SaaS-based business experience, focused on bringing innovative products to market. His familiarity with MSPs provides valuable expertise in helping end customers understand the importance of MSP-provided... more

Chip Bieler

Chip Bieler is a channel veteran who has spent the better part of the last two decades helping MSPs in one form or another. Long before his current tenure at Egnyte, he helped grow GFI Max until it was acquired by SolarWinds, and then he spent another 10 years helping SolarWinds expand through the channel. Currently, he is serving as the channel... more

Bill Rhodes

Bill has been in the IT industry for 20 years initially working for a Compaq/HP reseller in Houston for the first 10 years after college before starting at Buffalo in 2006. His desire to create an easy and proactive channel based program and sales team is rooted in his years as a VAR. As a result, Bill requires a high level of customer support and... more

You are here

ChannelPro SMB Forum 2020: September

Check out our sponsors for this event.

Main Group

Join Us At The ChannelPro SMB Forum!

Sessions & Networking

September 3rd

Session: Weathering the COVID-19 Storm: A Survival Guide

Session: Peer to Peer: Best Practices for Big Challenges

Session: Coronavirus and the Cloud

Session: Securing Clients, Securing Your Future

ChannelPro SMB Forum 2020: September Sponsor Award Winners

Diamond

Platinum

Sapphire

Premier Gold

Gold

Silver

Cocktail Reception Host

Media Partner

Session Speakers

Sponsor Speakers