Intelisys Alum Brings M&A Integration Chops to Bridgepointe

Carol Beering, a longtime operations leader at Intelisys, is taking her expertise in M&A integration to Bridgepointe Technologies.

San Mateo, California-based Bridgepointe announced the appointment of Beering as vice president of integration. She will prioritize the “proactive assimilation of new partners” in her new role. Namely, she will guide Bridgepointe in the process of integrating businesses it acquires. Bridgepointe is working with a $100 million-plus investment from Charlesbank Capital Partners and is actively targeting other companies in the channel for M&A.

Bridgepointe’s Carol Beering

Beering said Bridgepointe is conducting four different types of M&A. In the first deal, Bridgepointe gives its existing IT strategists equity-holding partner status — moving “from a little p to a big P,” as Beering described it. In other cases, like that of Wave, Bridgepointe invested in a firm that previously had not done much business with it in the past. Third, Bridgepointe bought regional TSB Clover Communications in a deal that grew its geographical footprint on the East Coast and sales partner base. Last, Beering said Bridgepointe is interested in buying companies that would provide additional, complementary services, such as TEM or account management.

“Bridgepointe’s approach to M&A is different than what we typically see in the channel,” Beering said. “The company’s focus on proactive integration is a game-changer, and we are seeing it result in higher levels of partner satisfaction which leads to more productive, more efficient partners.”

Background

Beering spent 17 years at Intelisys. Her roles included senior vice president of sales operations and chief of staff. She oversaw M&A integrations during her tenure at the company. She also dealt with order management, sales administration, supplier onboarding and other areas at Intelisys.

“Carol brings a wealth of channel know-how to our team,” said Scott Evars, co-founder of Bridgepointe. “Her integration and operational expertise will ensure that we start every partnership with the end in mind. We’re not buying companies to roll them up; we’re strategically investing in partnerships. The successful integration of Clover Communications has delivered us a proven blueprint for increased sales and lower administrative costs.”

Bridgepointe’s Scott Evars

Beering said she had already been through acquisitions before joining Intelisys.

“Earlier in my career, the interconnects were all merging. I think in one year I went through three different company names through different acquisitions,” she told Channel Futures.

Beering was working at Intelisys when it merged with Resource Communications in 2006. Then came ScanSource’s landmark acquisition of Intelisys a decade later. Beering functioned as the primary contact on the Intelisys side for the integration, staying at Intelisys through the earn-out.

Intelisys was employing 20 people when Beering started working there in 2003. She said she watched that number grow past 200.

She left her leadership position in 2020 alongside former president Jay Bradley, and moved into an advisory role.

Beering spoke highly of her time at Intelisys. She said Bradley built a team that allowed the company and its sales partners be successful.

“We existed to help our partners grow, and I’m just really grateful that I’ve been part of all of that,” she said. “And I think really being on the acquiring side and being acquired gave me a really good perspective from both sides.”

Eclipse CEO and chief strategist Dave Dyson said Beering is a great addition for Bridgepointe.

Eclipse’s Dave Dyson

“Carol is one of the kindest people in the entire industry and was in a wonderful position to wait to choose a role that would be a good fit for her and where she could have a great impact,” Dyson told Channel Futures. “Carol is a no-nonsense builder of operations and back office excellence and is incredibly well respected by the partner community for her people-centric, partner first approach.”

Choosing Bridgepointe

Beering said she has known Bridgepointe’s co-founders, Brian Miller and Scott Evars, for two decades, and she said she views them positively.

“I love what they stand for,” Beering said.

She also said she appreciated how Bridgepointe has been giving its sales partners equity partner status.

“I love that they’re offering out growth investment opportunities to their IT strategists — those that helped them get to where they are today,” she said.

Beering also pointed to the unique way Bridgepointe does business with its agents and their customers. Most Bridgepointe IT strategists operate under the Bridgepointe brand, which means that end customers are familiar with the brand.

“They’ve always been customer-focused. They’ve always been customer-facing. I think that really does set them apart. Their partners are Bridgepoint card-carrying agents. Their customers know them,” Beering said. “At Intelisys, our customers had no idea who Intelisys was. We had no direct relationship with those customers.”

Beering said Bridgepointe leadership emphasizes both culture and growth. She said both elements remind her of her experiences at Intelisys.

“I’m excited to be able to recreate that and be part of what Bridgepoint is doing. I’m really confident in what they’re doing and am excited and thankful to be part of it.”

Beering is also a fixture at Telecom for Change and has served on its board.