In this episode of the Channel Futures podcast, we talk to Channel Acuity's Cary Tengler and Onward Communications' Tricia Ward about the ramifications of ScanSource's announcement that it will start a customer-facing agency that works alongside Intelisys, its tech services distributor business.Oleh Channel Futures

The guys welcome esteemed channel analyst, Jay McBain of Canalys, now a colleague of Craig and James, to the podcast. He offers a great take on artificial intelligence in the channel, Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, and previews some of his many sessions at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo.…

The latest Channel Futures podcast takes a deep dive into what you need to know for this year's MSP 501, the largest and most comprehensive survey of managed service providers worldwide.Debbie Kane with the Omdia Channel Research & Consulting Practice joins Craig and James to discuss reasons for applying, as well as changes to the 2024 application …

The Channel Futures podcast welcomes Amy Bailey and Kathryn Rose of the Channel Marketing Association. Plus, the latest editions to the Channel Partners Conference & Expo agenda.And the guys play a game of Family Feud. There's actually a tie-in!Go here to take the Channel Marketing Association's salary survey before it closes!: https://form.jotform…

Craig and James sit down with Opkalla's Keith Hawley to learn more about the channel partner's business model, how to talk with customers about artificial intelligence, and much more.Plus, we preview some big changes to the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo, March 11-14, in Las Vegas.Oleh Channel Futures

The Channel Futures podcast wraps the year with a look back at the biggest stories in 2023 as well as the most memorable moments from Coffee with Craig and James from the past 12 months.The guys also welcome Steven Karachinsky, CEO of Ziro, a company that truly defines "channel convergence" in the way it straddles both sides of the indirect sales c…

Bridgepointe Technologies is doing things a little differently in the channel, the company's co-founders told Channel Futures at this month's Bridgepointe Tech Summit.Bridgepointe has been growing both organically and through acquisition. In fact, at this fall's Bridgepointe Tech Summit, attendance doubled over last year.One of those attendees was …

Parents often are flattered when a child follows in their footsteps. But it doesn't happen very often in the channel. That's why ZLH Enterprises is such an interesting case study.Craig and James caught up with Zina Hassel, CEO of ZLH Enterprises, and daughter Jodi, vice president at the technology advisor company, to learn what it's like to work to…

The most successful partner businesses don't get there by accident. A dedication to proven channel partner strategies helped them become the companies they are today.Channel Futures, its parent company, Informa Tech, and research arm Omdia, have a new, first-of-its-kind service available to the entire channel community that's poised to make a huge …

When software-defined wide area networking broke onto the technology scene in the late 2000s, and a number of years later in the channel, few knew how much it would change the network landscape. It has gone on to become one of the industry's most preeminent technologies and a staple in channel partner portfolios.SD-WAN has only exploded since more …

In this edition of the Coffee with Craig and James podcast, we get the inside scoop from the guys at techology advisor ARG.ARG chief revenue officer Mike Shonholz and chief engagement officer Steve Kopp have seen a lot in their years of experience in the industry. That background has been key to pulling off some very successful acquisitions over th…

Craig Schlagbaum might very well be, as James puts it, the "O.G." of the channel. As senior vice president at Comcast Business/Masergy, he's one of the longest tenured channel executives. You could almost say he "grew up" in the channel.So we thought it would be great to pick his brain on topics ranging from his longevity, to relationships with tec…

The Channel Futures podcast duo is back after a brief hiatus due to travel, and they're welcoming Palo Alto Networks into the coffee house.Channel leader Tom Evans joins the conversation to discuss the latest cybersecurity threats, updates for Palo Alto partners and predictions for the future.Craig and James also get you caught up on final numbers …

MartinWolf M&A Advisors founder Marty Wolf joins Craig and James this week on the popular Channel Futures podcast.Wolf offers an overview of the M&A landscape and delivers practical advice for any partner business considering selling or taking private investment. It also serves as a preview for some keynote and conference sessions that focus on mer…

It's MSP 501 season. The final day to apply for the biggest and best awards program in the channel is April 30. With that rapidly approaching deadline in mind, we decided to dedicate this podcast to the Channel Futures MSP 501.First, we welcome in Ginette Andre, senior marketing associate for Channel Futures and VIP liaison for the MSP 501. Ginette…

The Channel Futures podcast this week welcomes in Phil Soper, North America head of channel sales at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. He gets us caught up on the HPE Partner Ready Vantage program and the company's as-a-service efforts.Craig and James also cover the networking opportunities not to miss at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo. …

The Channel Partners Conference & Expo is less than two months away and Craig and James are all over it. In this episode of the podcast, you'll learn about more incredible keynotes slated for the event. CP Expo is May 1-4, at the Venetian in Las Vegas.And for a guest, we have a special treat. Ronnell Richards, sales consultant extraordinaire to the…

A best-kept secret no more, the Alliance of Channel Women (ACW) plays a huge role in our industry. The organization promotes both established and up-and-coming channel sales professionals, including the camaraderie and mentorship to elevate their careers in what's traditionally been a male-dominated field.ACW is kicking off a spring membership driv…

Coffee with Craig and James, the Channel Futures podcast, welcomes Scott Kinka, chief strategy officer with Bridgepointe Technologies. Bridgepointe is truly one of the hottest companies in the channel, growing both organically and inorganically, via acquisition.The guys also give you your first taste of the keynotes and conference sessions at the u…

It only took 117 episodes of the Channel Futures podcast for Craig and James to make their video debut together.In this premiere Channel Futures TV episode of Coffee with Craig and James, we welcome Cato Networks leader Frank Rauch. He was one of the biggest newsmakers of the past week, just joining the SASE provider on Jan. 10.The guys also give y…

Craig and James are back to celebrate the holiday season with you, Nitel and Opex Technologies.First up is Jim Glackin, channel leader with Nitel, the next-gen technology services provider. It's been a big year for the company. The guys dig into the state of aggregation in the channel and have a conversation with Glackin about cost center vs. profi…

Craig and James are here to get you pumped up for this week's MSP Summit and Channel Partners Leadership Summit.The first-of-its-kind of event will bring more than 100 sponsors and exhibitors together with the partner community. The guys will break it all down, from the education to the networking.Speaking of events, it's the return of the popular …

The Coffee with Craig and James podcast is back with a pair of big interviews.First up is Lynn Tinney, SVP of global partners at Zayo. The company has been making big strides in the channel as of late. She tackles industry trends and the company's recent M&A. Zayo has a message to share as it really bounces back in the channel.Then, James details h…

The dog days of summer have arrived. So why not sit back with a cold glass of lemonade, and a Channel Futures podcast? We've got two of the biggest names in the channel -- Telarus and Cisco.Let's start with Telarus, whose summer got off to a hot start with the acquisition of TCG. What does this move hold for the future of tech distribution? James a…

Craig and James beg for your forgiveness as the podcast has been on hiatus for a while. But with guests like Bluewave Technology Group and Vodia, like Die Hard 3, they are back with a vengeance.Well-known channel figures Curt Allen and Eric Brooker are new to Bluewave, but not the channel. These gents talk with the guys about the unique business mo…

The guys are back with their second pre-show edition of the podcast in the past five months. That's because the Channel Partners Conference & Expo is just a week away!Craig and James will break down some of the biggest can't-miss events of the show; plus, speaking of CP Expo, James will present an entertaining review of some beloved channel event s…

It's a "blockbuster" new episode of the Channel Futures podcast in more ways than one.This edition of Coffee with Craig and James focuses on the huge awards programs that Channel Futures offers. For instance, the massive MSP 501, the world's largest and most comprehensive survey of managed service providers worldwide. The application recently opene…

Cable takes center stage in this episode as the guys sit down with the Spectrum Enterprise channel chief.Did you know how core cybersecurity is to Spectrum's business? Michelle Kadlacek, vice president and channel chief at Spectrum, shares a story about bailing out a school that had an issue with an "overachieving" student who decided to challenge …

The podcast is back for a new year! Craig and James are going even bigger with the guests this year.First up is Dave Dyson, CEO of Eclipse Telecom, one of the best-known agent businesses in the channel. Dyson, who never pulls punches, engages with the guys in a wide-ranging conversation. M&A? Check. Customer experience? Check? Even blockchain? You …

We're breaking out the Coffee with Craig and James stockings to celebrate the holidays!It's our final Channel Futures podcast of 2021, but we didn't skimp.James nabbed a big partner interview with Resourcive. This Mt. Vernon, New York-based company is working hard to employ military veterans. They also have a unique business model. While many compa…

Thanksgiving is here and Craig and James have an aural feast for you! Just as good as turkey, am I right?First up is our latest edition of "Where in the World is Edward Gately?" Our intrepid reporter talks with industry analyst Jon Arnold about how rampant copper retirement is impacting the channel.Later in the show, James catches up with Jim Campb…

We're not sure we could've packed any more channel goodness into this episode of the podcast. It's the pre-show edition as we put the final touches on the Channel Partners Conference & Expo.First up, we hear from one of the speakers at the show, John Iannarelli, retired FBI special agent. He's going to take us inside the mind of a cybercriminal. Fu…

It's been a busy few weeks for Craig and James who are prepping for the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. As usual, CP Expo is front and center on their podcast agenda. The guys outline some of the big sessions you won't want to miss.But the guests once again bring the heat. Father and son team Ted and Jake Schuman of PlanetOne describe a new too…

Craig and James are back with a vengeance after a bit of a summer vacation. And they return with some powerhouse guests.First up is Dave Young, new channel chief at Lumen. He talks about how partners might be impacted by the company's huge ILEC sale. It was one of the biggest news stories of the summer. You'll also get insight into new initiatives …

A couple of more great guests as Telarus CEO Adam Edwards and Marc Monday of Citrix join the show.First up is Edwards. Craig was on the road at the Telarus Partner Summit last week, catching up with him at one of the channel's biggest live events since the pandemic began. We discuss the growth of the service distributor's partners over the past yea…

Channel Futures is getting ready to release its first-ever DE&I 101 list. So it seemed like a great time to catch up with two people who are driving diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the channel.Kelli McMillan of Five9 and Jamaal Savwoir of 8x8, founding members of the Xposure Diversity & Inclusion Council join the show. They discuss the g…

We couldn't be more excited for this edition of the Coffee with Craig and James podcast. We're celebrating our 100th episode!We're notching episode No. 100 with a pair of huge channel guests. First up is Chris Jones, chief revenue officer at Fuze, the enterprise cloud communications and collaboration provider. Jones discusses his company's new part…

Craig got a little summer R&R, meaning a bit longer of a break than usual between podcasts. But we think it'll be worth the wait.First up is Ken Presti, the stats guru at Avant Analytics. He's out with a new report that takes a deep dive into contact center as a service. Presti uncovered some interesting trends that partners should know before thei…

Craig and James return with another podcast for the ages!It all starts with some "cloudification" featuring Tony Safoian of SADA. The company's president and CEO talks about the cloud wars and what it's like to be exclusive to Google. Furthermore, he explains why Google's third-place position among hyperscalers is nothing to shake a stick at.Later,…

Gavriella Schuster of Microsoft. Michelle McBain of JS Group. Need we say more?These two powerhouses join Craig and James to preview the upcoming Channel Futures workshop on DE&I. We're hosting the event in coordination with the Alliance of Channel Women and the Allies of the Channel Council.Diversity, equity and inclusion are hugely important to t…

The number of powerhouse guests wanting time with Craig and James on their podcast is growing rapidly. We're almost as surprised as you are!In this episode, the guys welcome Tech Data SVP of marketing Catherine Solazzo to the show. Just a little more than a month on the job, this is the IBM vet's first big channel interview.Solazzo talks about the …

The Channel Futures MSP 501 application deadline is just days away, so we've dedicated this podcast to our prestigious awards.First, the guys welcome Craig Weir, director, global cybersecurity, Ingram Micro Cloud. He'll get Craig and James caught up on the latest security trends and what's new with Ingram's channel. Ingram is a proud sponsor of the…

The guys are breaking news on this week's podcast.Nadir Merchant, general manager of IT Glue, joins the fray to discuss the Kaseya company's just-announced acquisition of TruMethods. Merchant will explain how the tie-up will make MSPs more effective and efficient.Also on the show is Buffy Naylor, managing editor of Channel Futures. She's also the m…

Craig and James welcome well-known industry insider Tiffani Bova of Salesforce to the podcast.Bova, the global growth and innovation evangelist for the company, predicts what the "new normal" will look like for channel partners. She also discusses important business trends for the near future. Furthermore, Bova offers an interesting take on diversi…

The guys are psyched for another pair of great guests.First up is Rick Ribas, new channel chief at Fusion Connect. He tells our Edward Gately about his plans for Fusion's channel and where his company's fits with both UCaaS and SD-WAN.Then, M&A expert Seth Penland of Evergreen Technology Partners takes Craig and James on a deep dive into recent cha…

The guys are feeling the love as the Channel Futures and Channel Partners Online websites prepare to come together. Convergence, y'all!The 91st episode of the podcast is dedicated to the 2021 Channel Futures MSP 501. We're now taking applications for this prestigious list of managed service providers from around the world. We'll hear from MSP 501 e…

Craig and James are here just in the nick of time to get you fired up for Channel Partners Virtual 2021!As day one of the event gets underway, the guys welcome Janet Schijns and Meredith Caram into the coffeehouse. Schijns, CEO of channel consultancy JS Group, was instrumental in helping with the content lineup at CPV. Caram just signed on with Sch…

In this edition of the podcast, the guys recognize Channel Partners/Channel Futures Influencer of the Year, Jay McBain.The CP/CF editorial team named McBain its Influencer of the Year in their annual digital issue, released this week. Alongside McBain are nine more channel influencers who had a big 2020, and are poised for greatness in 2021.In the …

With Channel Partners Virtual just a month away, the guys are gearing up for an event packed with great speakers.One of those speakers is Erick Simpson, founder and chief strategist at ErickSimpson.com. Simpson will preview his presentation on setting up a business plan, which is even more critical as we start to emerge from the pandemic. He'll off…

It's 2021, and the podcast is back with a couple of powerhouse guests.First up is Bob DeMarzo, new content lead for events and media at Channel Partners and Channel Futures. He talks with the guys about some of his goals in his new gig; plus, all three gents discuss what they think is coming for the channel in the new year.Then, it spawned from a m…