Channel Partners Online

Craig and Kevin celebrate a very "special" 38th edition of the Channel Partners podcast by welcoming Geeman Yip, CEO of BitTitan, who was named one of our inaugural Channel Influencers for 2018. You'll learn about how his company has been helping MSPs for the past 10 years. He'll also talk trends, including why we shouldn't fear automation; in fact, it might even help Kevin keep his job. We'll explain. Also on the podcast is Derek Brown of Pronto Marketing. Derek is a marketing expert who works with partners, most notably MSPs, to boost their business. A lot of partners are great at sales, but marketing is a black hole. He'll help calm those marketing fears. All that, plus a super-early sneak preview of Channel Partners Evolution. And yanny or laurel? It's the CCwK breaking news alert you won't want to miss.

After a hiatus to catch their breath from the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, the boys return to talk with two of the biggest headliners from the event. First, David Beagle of Office Depot talks about catching some of the audience off guard with the retail giant's big booth at the show. Just what were they doing there? He'll explain. And many were surprised to see such a large presence from EnergyWare. Michael Bertamini, the company's CEO, lights up the Channel Partners airwaves to discuss the growing interest in LED lighting solutions and why partners won't want to drop this profitable opportunity. All that, plus Craig and Kevin discuss some of their favorite moments from the show and the business transformation that will continue through 2018 and beyond.

The Channel Partners Conference & Expo is upon us, and to celebrate, Craig and Kevin welcome their old colleague, Rick Reed, now heading up sales for Avant in the master agent's South Central region. Also on the show is Skyler Ditchfield, CEO of GeoLinks, a first-time Channel Partners exhibitor, who talks about the huge strides his company is making and what they have planned for #CPExpo. All that, plus the guys break down a few of the highlights of the upcoming conference and share some deep thoughts--metaphors that tie rap music into the Channel Partners show. Yes, rap.

Coffee with Craig & Kevin celebrates its 35th episode by welcoming Dina Moskowitz and Clinton Gatewood of SaaSMax to the show. They discuss the state of SaaS in the channel and their plans for the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. (Warning: Many SaaS puns await you.) Also, Craig talks about his latest obsession--which is truly an old obsession--game shows.

In the latest edition of Coffee with Craig & Kevin, the guys sit down with Michelle Chiantera, vice president of Global Partner Marketing with Cisco. Chiantera talks about the upcoming Cisco Marketing Velocity event in Barcelona and offers some tips to partners trying to market their businesses in this digital age. Also on the podcast is Adam Nygard of D&H Distributing, who talks about his company's presence at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, as well as what D&H is doing in the SMB space to differentiate itself from its competitors. All that, plus a little March Madness talk -- and the feud between Kevin and Digi starts to grow.

Craig, Kevin and Digi, the digital-services robot mascot, welcome Anthony Cavotta, director of the agent partner program at Carousel Industries. Cavotta talks about the wide range of IT services that his company has to offer, as well as the impact that Carousel's new Cisco Master Security specialization is having on its partner community. Also, Julie Dzubay, director of sales operations at WTG, previews the master agent's Tee & Sea event, discusses the "adaptive channel," and reminisces about Kevin's less-than-great golf game. All of that, plus Kevin gets jealous and Digi nearly blows a gasket.

Sit back and pour yourself another cup of java, because it's time for another episode of Coffee with Craig & Kevin. The guys are pleased to welcome Bruce Wirt, vice president of channel sales at Telesystem, to the show. Bruce discusses the different ways partners can work with Telesystem, as well as his company's recent master-agent relationship announcements. But that's not all. Channel Futures and Channel Partners sales leaders -- Kelly Danziger and Brian Snortheim, Kevin's bosses who greatly intimidate him -- join the podcast to discuss more of the exciting changes coming to the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in April and Channel Partners Evolution in October. Think we're done? Nope. You'll also get to meet Digi, our new digital-services mascot, who proves to be another thorn in Kevin's side.

Craig & Kevin didn't see their shadows, so they've emerged for another Channel Partners podcast. In this edition, the guys welcome Tina Gravel, channel chief at Cyxtera, the secure infrastructure provider, to discuss not only data centers and security, but also how her company's channel program is progressing just a few months after introducing it at Channel Partners Evolution. And in a new segment, "Personal Deep Dive," Craig and Kevin try to answer the age-old question, "Who let the dogs out?"

Channel Partners executive editor Craig Galbraith and business development lead Kevin Morris kick off the new year with a podcast featuring Carmen Sorice, longtime channel leader at Sungard Availability Services, who has started a new business that's dedicated to helping vendors build successful channel programs. Also on the show is Chris Whitaker, director of national indirect sales at Sierra Wireless, who dives into the state of connectivity and IoT in the channel. All of that, plus Kevin introduces you to a new acronym-based theme song for the podcast.

In their final podcast of 2017, the guys welcome Hartland Ross, founder and president of eBridge Marketing Solutions and The Host Broker, for some insight on the greatest marketing challenges facing IT businesses today. He also offers tips on building a recurring revenue stream. But that's not all. Kevin is visited by the Ghosts of Channel Past, Present and Yet to Come in what turns out to be an entertaining lesson for partners, much like how Scrooge learned in the old Dickens tale. Think we're through? No way. The guys offer up the top five channel buzzwords of 2017.

In the latest version of the popular Channel Partners podcast, Craig and Kevin welcome MetTel's Max Silber to talk about the future of mobility and IoT in the channel -- including his company's role in it. The guys also break down a successful 2017 at Channel Partners and get you pumped up for their final podcast of the year in mid-December that will feature a special celebrity guest. And of course, the usual hilarity ensues.

In their latest podcast, the guys get you ready for Thanksgiving and beyond at Channel Partners. And as usual, they offer up a couple of great guests. First, Nitel's Jason Dishon talks about the company's new Elite Partner Program and the latest strides it's making in SD-WAN. Then, venturing out of the telecom and IT box for a bit, Craig sits down with Chris Berman to talk sports, his career at ESPN--and yes, some business advice for our listeners.

This edition of the wildly popular Channel Partners podcast focuses on superteams and supergroups! Take the new combination of Channel Partners and Channel Futures--a supergroup if we've ever heard one. T.C. Doyle, editorial director for Channel Futures, talks to the guys about some of the exciting plans ahead for two giants in the channel coming together. Also, the superteam at TBI visits the program to talk about a number of topics, including their new inbound referral program and what the master agent is doing to help its partners help their customers make the leap to SD-WAN.

The boys are back from Channel Partners Evolution! Craig and Kevin provide a recap of everything you saw and missed at the show in Austin; plus, Craig sits down with Buck Baker, president, worldwide communications and services, ScanSource, and Jay Bradley, president of Intelisys, at the master agent's Channel Connect event. They go over highlights of the three days of festivities and talk about how the companies are working together one year after ScanSource closed its acquisition of Intelisys.

This is your 15-minute guide to Channel Partners Evolution! In the latest episode of the podcast, Craig and Kevin break down everything you won't want to miss at Channel Partners Evolution, from the education and keynotes, to what's new in the expo hall, a golf tournament and the best networking opportunities in the channel! It's all happening in Austin, Texas, next week. Oh, and did we mention food trucks? And dancing?

Craig and Kevin celebrate the beginning of football season with a pair of juggernaut guests. First, Hillary Gadda, who was just promoted in TPx Communications' partner channel, updates the guys on what's happening not only at the managed-services carrier, but also what's in store for Women in the Channel--of which she is president--at the upcoming Channel Partners Evolution in Austin, Texas. But that's not all. Lauren Robinette of Intel, a first-time Channel Partners event exhibitor, breaks down how you can work with the IT giant to make a ton of money. All that, plus the Kevin Morris Summer Concert Series continues!

It's a super-sized edition of the popular Channel Partners podcast. CompTIA's Carolyn April and Seth Robinson chat with Craig and Kevin about a number of industry trends with huge impacts on the channel -- most notably SaaS and IoT. And the guys get into a cloud and data-center groove with Colotraq's Dany Bouchedid. And, as usual, if you're a music fan, Craig and Kevin serve up a variety along with their take on Monday's eclipse.

In the latest edition of Coffee with Craig & Kevin, the guys welcome Comcast channel chief Craig Schlagbaum to catch up on everything cable, from the latest new technology--notably SD-WAN--and what the cabelcos have planned for Channel Partners Evolution, Sept. 25-28, in Austin, Texas. Speaking of Evolution, you need to hear about Channel Partners' effort to help worthy United States veterans land jobs after their service is done. We've partnered with a veterans group in Austin on a very worthy cause. All that, plus Craig and Kevin once again embarrass themselves with a series of one-liners and self-deprecating jokes sure to make you at least chuckle.

Craig and Kevin welcome Pax8's Ryan Walsh to the podcast to get the lowdown on what the cloud distributor has in store for Channel Partners Evolution. Also, new Rackspace channel chief Lisa McLin explains what her company's partners can expect from the managed cloud provider's channel program in the next few months. And somehow it all ties in to Top Gun -- hopefully the millennials know what that is.

The guys catch up with Avant's Drew Lydecker to talk about the master agent's big plans for Channel Partners Evolution, the latest and greatest news at Avant, and his prediction for more channel consolidation in the next year or two. Also, the team from GSA discusses the growing importance of regulation and compliance as they pertain to taxation in the channel. If you simply tune in for some of Craig and Kevin's offbeat humor, there's plenty of that too, as they tackle the topic of the many buzzwords floating around the channel these days.