2022 MSP Summit/Channel Partners Leadership Summit Expo Hall Photos, Part 1 – Exhibitors A-M

There was more than one defining moment at last week’s Channel Partners Leadership Summit that captured the spirit of the event, which was dedicated to advancing the skills of all leaders through peer engagement and sharing of best practices.

Three moments stood out above all others. One was Tim Pabich, CEO of Magnitech, telling the audience that organizations must be “cockroach-like” to survive in the world of managed services. There may have been a little tongue-in-cheek to Pabich’s comments, which got a laugh from the crowd, but everyone understood the serious undertone. In order to survive as an MSP or technology advisor/agent, you must be able to weather any storm or challenge that comes your way. Using the image of an insect that has survived millions of years certainly drove home Pabich’s point. His comments came during a panel moderated by Channel Futures senior news editor Allison Francis on leadership secrets from this year’s MSP 501 CEOs.

The second memorable moment came during a keynote panel featuring four well-known executives. These four shared their personal stories of success, failure and how they have grown as leaders. It was truly amazing to hear stories shared from the heart by consultant Amy Bailey and Sumo Communications founder Bret Hickenlooper. Bailey spoke about what she would tell her 20-something self, striking a chord with everyone assembled. She said, “Stay away from the gossip,” among other distractions. Hickenlooper’s recount of his days of struggle added to that when he said, “I had money come and go quickly.”

Making a Mark

At the event’s close, it was Peter Fidler, president and founding partner of WCA Technologies, who left an indelible mark on the Channel Futures MSP 501 gala awards ceremony. He delivered remarks upon receiving the 2022 MSP 501 Lifetime Achievement Award. As he prepares to turn his business over to the next generation of management, he wants to let everyone know he isn’t prepared to walk away. Not only that, he intends to stick around in a business and industry he loves. Fidler said his partner has exited the business but he has no intention of doing so anytime soon. His comments received applause from the nearly 300 gala attendees.

Those were some of the highlights of the three days of IT professionals at all leadership levels coming together to share how they are changing their styles, building upon success or learning from their failures. With so much uncertainty swirling about the economy, stock market and in the technology industry, leaders are trying to figure out where to invest so they can continue growing or better serve customers. In fact, during a fast-paced session featuring four prominent IT leaders who buy technology and communications services, they said their dependence on channel partners going forward will only increase as they stare down a coming recession or work with senior leaders who want to trim costs. 

Not only did our attendees have an opportunity to rub elbows with peers, but they also spent considerable time with technology and communications services providers who are doing their best to lead when it comes to product innovation. Our exhibit floor, as you will see in the slideshow above, was packed with providers from the entire IT and communications spectrum.

The MSP Summit/Channel Partners Leadership Summit Expo Floor

On the exhibit floor, more than 100 innovators engaged with MSPs, technology advisors/agents, VARs and consultants looking to add new products and services to their portfolios. At times it was difficult to navigate the aisles so deep with attendees engaged in conversations with the typical assortment of tchotchkes, giveaways, booth-based contests and tech demos. The exhibit floor featured a who’s-who list of technology providers that included some of today’s largest companies and up-and-comers with everything from cloud, SaaS, security, mobility, connectivity and infrastructure. 

Click through our slideshow above to see the sponsors and exhibitors from our expo floor.  This gallery features booths from companies A-M.

Go here for companies N-Z.