Comments on: Top Eight Managed Services Summits for 2009 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/ Managed Services & Cloud Services Blog for VARs & MSPs Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:25:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joe Panettieri http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-36988 Joe Panettieri Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:39:59 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/#comment-36988 Stu: I wonder if any of the MSP software vendors would be interested in a partnership with you regarding financing programs. Think about it: Dell, IBM, Cisco, Ingram Micro and many other "big" IT vendors and distributors are using financing to a competitive advantage right now. I wonder if MSP software providers are considering any special financing partnerships to help their MSPs and VARs move forward? Stu: I wonder if any of the MSP software vendors would be interested in a partnership with you regarding financing programs. Think about it: Dell, IBM, Cisco, Ingram Micro and many other “big” IT vendors and distributors are using financing to a competitive advantage right now.

I wonder if MSP software providers are considering any special financing partnerships to help their MSPs and VARs move forward?

]]> By: StuFinancesTech http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-36975 StuFinancesTech Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:36:21 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/#comment-36975 Joe, thanks for the great feedback. I will check them all out. So far the only vendor whose program I have joined and whose events I go to are MSFT and they are too infrequent for my liking and many of them are completely education driven, which is good for them and the partners but bad for networking opportunities. Stu http://www.southernlendingsolutions.com Joe, thanks for the great feedback. I will check them all out. So far the only vendor whose program I have joined and whose events I go to are MSFT and they are too infrequent for my liking and many of them are completely education driven, which is good for them and the partners but bad for networking opportunities.

Stu
http://www.southernlendingsolutions.com

]]> By: Joe Panettieri http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-36654 Joe Panettieri Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:28:48 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/#comment-36654 Rory: As a general rule, editors are always seeking free food. Looking forward to seeing you at events from time to time. Rory: As a general rule, editors are always seeking free food. Looking forward to seeing you at events from time to time.

]]> By: Rory Sanchez http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-36613 Rory Sanchez Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:16:39 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/#comment-36613 Hey Joe, I was going to suggest that we have a BBQ in my backyard, invite a few dozen MSPs...but I guess 8 or 9 events in one year is plenty. :) Thanks for keeping us informed. - Rory Hey Joe,

I was going to suggest that we have a BBQ in my backyard, invite a few dozen MSPs…but I guess 8 or 9 events in one year is plenty. :)

Thanks for keeping us informed.

- Rory

]]> By: Joe Panettieri http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-36540 Joe Panettieri Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:39:34 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/#comment-36540 Stu: Here's what I know ... and what I think I know... 1. CompTIA Breakaway: I can highly recommend that conference because I attend it annually and there are hundreds of VARs attending. I would anticipate that the attendees be highly interested in leasing programs. But full disclosure: I have a positive bias toward CompTIA since our team has done some work with them over the years. 2. EverythingChannel XChange: On the one hand, I hear good things about this conference and it competes in some ways against CompTIA Breakaway. But I can't give you a true flavor for the event since it's not open to outside media. 3. MSPAlliance Managed Services Summits: Smaller than Breakaway and Xchange, but the events are designed for MSPs. Again, I can't give you a true flavor for the event since it's only open to hand-chosen media. 4. Vendor events: Don't overlook these. Of the 2008 events I attended, these had great interaction with VARs. All the vendor events are listed above in the blog entry. If you're working with any of those vendors, attend the events. And full disclosure: Yes, some of the vendors sponsor this site. So if you're skeptical of my opinion feel free to reach out to MSPs directly. I am confident they will speak very highly of the vendor events. -jp Stu: Here’s what I know … and what I think I know…

1. CompTIA Breakaway: I can highly recommend that conference because I attend it annually and there are hundreds of VARs attending. I would anticipate that the attendees be highly interested in leasing programs. But full disclosure: I have a positive bias toward CompTIA since our team has done some work with them over the years.

2. EverythingChannel XChange: On the one hand, I hear good things about this conference and it competes in some ways against CompTIA Breakaway. But I can’t give you a true flavor for the event since it’s not open to outside media.

3. MSPAlliance Managed Services Summits: Smaller than Breakaway and Xchange, but the events are designed for MSPs. Again, I can’t give you a true flavor for the event since it’s only open to hand-chosen media.

4. Vendor events: Don’t overlook these. Of the 2008 events I attended, these had great interaction with VARs. All the vendor events are listed above in the blog entry. If you’re working with any of those vendors, attend the events. And full disclosure: Yes, some of the vendors sponsor this site. So if you’re skeptical of my opinion feel free to reach out to MSPs directly. I am confident they will speak very highly of the vendor events.

-jp

]]> By: StuFinancesTech http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-36537 StuFinancesTech Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:17:21 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/#comment-36537 Joe and everyone, my question for all of you, especially since you guys know I do leasing and help put HAAS programs together is which one or two are the best for opportunities to network with and meet other partners for that purpose. Just curious..... Stu Stu@southernlendingsolutions.com http://www.southernlendingsolutions.com Joe and everyone, my question for all of you, especially since you guys know I do leasing and help put HAAS programs together is which one or two are the best for opportunities to network with and meet other partners for that purpose.

Just curious…..

Stu
Stu@southernlendingsolutions.com
http://www.southernlendingsolutions.com

]]> By: Joe Panettieri http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-36381 Joe Panettieri Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:56:58 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/#comment-36381 FYI: Novell today <a href="http://www.thevarguy.com/2008/12/17/novell-cancels-brainshare/" rel="nofollow">canceled BrainShare 2009</a> -- the company's annual customer conference. I realize Novell isn't focused heavily on managed services. But the show's cancellation shows just how bad the market for IT travel could be in 2009. I hope to see the MSP industry move forward with educational events, but I will let readers know if we spot any conference cancellations. FYI: Novell today canceled BrainShare 2009 — the company’s annual customer conference.

I realize Novell isn’t focused heavily on managed services. But the show’s cancellation shows just how bad the market for IT travel could be in 2009. I hope to see the MSP industry move forward with educational events, but I will let readers know if we spot any conference cancellations.

]]> By: Joe Panettieri http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-36362 Joe Panettieri Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:25:30 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/#comment-36362 Chad: No need to thank me. Lists like this can be dangerous because I always wind up forgetting at least one great event. In addition to the list above and the Ingram Micro Seismic event, I just realized that I didn't mention the SMB Nation events. I have to be honest: I didn't attend SMB Nation in 2008, but I did hear positive feedback from those who did. Chad: No need to thank me. Lists like this can be dangerous because I always wind up forgetting at least one great event. In addition to the list above and the Ingram Micro Seismic event, I just realized that I didn’t mention the SMB Nation events.

I have to be honest: I didn’t attend SMB Nation in 2008, but I did hear positive feedback from those who did.

]]> By: Chad Gniffke http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-36353 Chad Gniffke Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:41:43 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/#comment-36353 Joe, Thanks as always for keeping Kaseya on the list. This next year is going to be an incredible year for us and the Kaseya Connect conference will launch some incredible enhancements to the application. Joe,

Thanks as always for keeping Kaseya on the list. This next year is going to be an incredible year for us and the Kaseya Connect conference will launch some incredible enhancements to the application.

]]> By: Joe Panettieri http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-36156 Joe Panettieri Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:13:42 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/12/16/top-seven-managed-services-summits-for-2009/#comment-36156 Jason: Thanks for not flaming me. As you know, sometimes we move a little "too fast" with the blog ... which leaves readers to fill in the gaps for us. Yes, the Ingram Micro Seismic Partner conference is great. I was at the 2008 event and there were zero product pitches. It was pure education and learning, on such topics as marketing, branding and PR for MSPs. Refreshing stuff. Sorry I overlooked that one. Great event. Jason: Thanks for not flaming me. As you know, sometimes we move a little “too fast” with the blog … which leaves readers to fill in the gaps for us. Yes, the Ingram Micro Seismic Partner conference is great. I was at the 2008 event and there were zero product pitches. It was pure education and learning, on such topics as marketing, branding and PR for MSPs. Refreshing stuff.

Sorry I overlooked that one. Great event.

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