Gary Pica (pictured), a veteran of mindSHIFT Technologies, is making the leap from managed service provider to industry educator. And he’s not alone. As more executives successfully embrace managed services, they’re finding time to launch businesses or consulting gigs that educate the MSP masses.
The latest example: Pica has launched TruMethods LLC. He plans to use his new company and a training methodology — which he’s branded as FormulaWon — to help resellers accelerate their move to managed services.
Pica will share his personal MSP success story during an upcoming road show hosted by Kaseya. He’s also confirmed to speak at an event hosted by ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini. (Stay tuned for details on that one, and stay tuned for Pica’s TruMethods Website to launch soon.)
The Gurus Gather
Pica isn’t the first managed services veteran to educate and consult with peer MSPs. A few other examples include:
- Erick Simpson (of MSP University), who is hosting an MSP sales and marketing boot camp this February.
- Mike Cooch and Josh Clifford of Everon Technology Services LLC. In addition to maintaining their MSP business, Cooch and Clifford have launched MSP Coach, a fee-based Web site that hosts educational content for MSPs.
- Amy Luby of MSP Services Network. In addition to running a Master MSP business, Luby maintains a community portal and also hosted the MSP Revolution event in the fall of 2008.
- Len DiCostanzo, a former MSP and solutions provider, joined Autotask last year as senior VP of professional services and business optimization. His mandate: Help educate Autotask customers.
- And in Australia, Mathew Dickerson– the guy who literally wrote the book on Service Level Agreement Models–has been on the MSP speaking circuit for several years.
I know I’ve skipped/overlooked a few dozen pundits here. But if you can put up with a shameless plug, you can find more pundits in our MSPmentor 250 list — which identifies the top experts, executives and entrepreneurs across the MSP space.
Back on the topic of MSP education, I’m curious to see how the market evolves this year. Will resellers keep turning out for educational events amid the recession? And which speakers will capture our collective attention? I’ll be watching — and listening — for clues.
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Posted In: Finance | HR | Marketing | Master MSPs | Sales | Service Level Agreements
Tags: Amy Luby | Autotask | ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini | Erick Simpson | Everon Technology Services LLC | FormulaWon | Gary Pica | Josh Clifford | Len DiCostanzo | Mathew Dickerson | Mike Cooch | mindSHIFT Technologies | MSP Coach | MSP Services Network | MSP University | MSPSN | Service Level Agreement Models | TruMethods
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We’re so excited to host Gary in our Tampa Learning Center – as a former ConnectWise partner, we’re also very excited about his new venture. We saw a preview of his “selling MSP” best practices at our Northeast User group meeting, and it was very impressive. Can’t wait to see what sort of wisdom he shares with partners on March 10th! j.
I suspect I’m going to take a few lumps today over the executive-turned-professor list above. Some readers are already weighing in with more names. Among them: Do IT Smarter’s Lane Smith, a VAR-turned-MSP that also does considerable education in the market.
Since this is a blog — where the reader comments often fill in gaps left by the author, hint, hint — I invite readers to weigh in with other MSPs-turned-educators they’re tracking. No need to email me with pundit names. Just list ‘em here.
All the best,
-jp
And so the voicemails continue. A few fans of David S. Schafran (Transformation Strategies) phoned and emailed me to say “how’d you leave David off the list?”
I goofed on that one… and plenty more. Proving we’re human at MSPmentor. But, unlike a magazine, we get multiple tries to get it right each day.
But on the other hand: This site is designed for open dialog. You’re permitted to flame the author (that’s me). Instead of flooding my voicemail with your industry favorites, feel free to post them here.
Paul Dippell, CEO of Service Leadership, Inc. is a managed service consulting pioneer and still one of the best in the business.
I agree with Justin and Joe on the last two posts both Dave and Paul are excellent resources for VARs and MSPs.
Please keep THINKstrategies and the Managed Services Showplace in mind as well.