👉 Key Topics Covered:

(00:00:20) Juan introduces the mission of MSP Owners Group—a self-funded MSP rollup designed to empower both MSP business owners and employees, bridging the gap to the next era of the managed services industry Juan calls MSP 5.0.

(00:04:07) Recent acquisitions, including ProdigyTeks and Cool Technology Group, and how leaders like Paco Lebron are shaping MSP OG’s culture-first approach.

(00:09:33) Why culture matters: Juan explains how MSP OG is different from typical rollups, offering owners a soft landing while preserving company identity and providing equity opportunities for employees.

(00:13:18) Employee equity and leadership development as differentiators in MSP OG’s rollup strategy.

(00:23:04) Juan’s concept of MSP 5.0—business operations as a service, fast-moving tech shifts like AI, and how MSPs must evolve in the next five years.

(00:30:03) How MSPs should approach AI, avoid shiny-object syndrome, and ensure technology investments align with real customer demand.

(00:37:12) What’s next for MSP Owners Group in 2025—including more acquisitions and plans for a financing arm to support MSP partners.

Juan shares personal motivations for creating MSP OG, aiming to protect the MSP community’s legacy while helping business owners find better ways to exit or grow—without sacrificing culture.

If you’re an MSP owner considering your next move, curious about the future of the industry, or passionate about building sustainable businesses that empower people, this conversation is a must-listen.

A new episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV is released every other Thursday.

Watch the interview on YouTube @ChannelInsider_NewsAndTrends

If you have questions for a featured solution provider or want to be a guest on the show, reach out to us at partnerpov@channelinsider.com

For more episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV as well as written content on the IT channel, go to channelinsider.com

Connect with Channel Insider on LinkedIn.

Episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV are hosted and produced by Katie Bavoso with help from Dana Sell, and edited by Ayen Alvarez and Katie Bavoso.

The cover art for Channel Insider: Partner POV was created by Aubri Ziegler. The opening and closing animations were made by Mackenzie Burke. The thumbnails for each episode are made by Brandon Cornwell.

Channel Insider: Partner POV is an asset of Channel Insider, which is a brand under TechnologyAdvice.

Guest Rishi Bhargava, Co-Founder of Descope, is joined by Katherine Walther, Vice President of Innovation at MSP and Descope channel partner Trace3, who details her company's experience partnering with Descope to meet emerging customer demands. Walther explained how the partnership kicked off with a huge success when Trace3 needed to find a vendor that could solve a very specific and urgent problem for a customer.

Together, they discuss:

⏱ 1:02 Why traditional CIAM tools fall short in today’s AI-driven landscape

⏱ 2:53 How Descope’s visual “Flows” simplify user journeys while preventing security mistakes

⏱ 6:17 Trace3’s firsthand experience deploying Descope for urgent client challenges

⏱ 8:11 How Descope helps secure AI agents and manage dynamic identity scenarios

⏱ 12:28 The importance of strong channel partnerships for delivering identity solutions

⏱ 15:55 How AWS powers Descope’s flexible, cloud-native CIAM platform

If you’re exploring modern identity security, or looking for ways to integrate AI safely into customer experiences, this conversation is a must-listen.

A new episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV is released every other Thursday.

Watch the interview on YouTube @ChannelInsider_NewsAndTrends

If you have questions for a featured solution provider or want to be a guest on the show, reach out to us at partnerpov@channelinsider.com

For more episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV as well as written content on the IT channel, go to channelinsider.com

Connect with Channel Insider on LinkedIn.

Episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV are hosted and produced by Katie Bavoso with help from Dana Sell, and edited by Ayen Alvarez and Katie Bavoso.

The cover art for Channel Insider: Partner POV was created by Aubri Ziegler. The opening and closing animations were made by Mackenzie Burke. The thumbnails for each episode are made by Brandon Cornwell.

Channel Insider: Partner POV is an asset of Channel Insider, which is a brand under TechnologyAdvice.

In this Channel Insider: Partner POV episode, host Katie Bavoso interviews Nathan Davidson, Vice President of Partnerships at Five Star Technology Solutions, a solutions and services provider dedicated to K-12 education support. They explore how Five Star helps schools navigate tight budgets, evolving EdTech needs, AI adoption, and the complexities of CTO roles in education. Learn how Five Star partners with schools to provide trusted advisory services, efficient technology solutions, and support for long-term digital transformation.

📌 Topics & Time Codes:

00:00 – Introduction to Nathan Davidson and Five Star Technology Solutions

01:57 – Nathan’s career journey from aspiring teacher to EdTech leader

05:45 – Five Star’s services for K-12: infrastructure, analytics, professional development

09:02 – The evolving role of CTOs in schools and their critical responsibilities

13:33 – How school IT leaders turn to Five Star for support

17:15 – Tackling tight school budgets with smart technology investments

23:27 – AI in education: trends, challenges, and professional development

26:30 – The pandemic’s impact on K-12 technology adoption

30:14 – Success stories: Supporting schools through the shift to remote learning

A new episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV is released every other Thursday.

Watch the interview on YouTube @ChannelInsider_NewsAndTrends

If you have questions for a featured solution provider or want to be a guest on the show, reach out to us at partnerpov@channelinsider.com

For more episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV as well as written content on the IT channel, go to channelinsider.com

Connect with Channel Insider on LinkedIn.

Episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV are hosted and produced by Katie Bavoso with help from Dana Sell, and edited by Ayen Alvarez and Katie Bavoso.

The cover art for Channel Insider: Partner POV was created by Aubri Ziegler. The opening and closing animations were made by Mackenzie Burke. The thumbnails for each episode are made by Brandon Cornwell.

Channel Insider: Partner POV is an asset of Channel Insider, which is a brand under TechnologyAdvice.

💡 Whether you’re AI-curious or hesitant, Adolfo shares practical insights on:

What AI opportunities actually look like for SMBs

How Eaton’s “stack the rack” approach supports scalable AI

Tools and resources available through the PowerAdvantage partner program

👉 Learn how Eaton makes AI approachable, profitable, and partner-ready.

🔗 Learn more: https://poweradvantage.eaton.com/

00:00 – Intro: Why AI is closer to your customers than you think
00:35 – Meet Adolfo Morales and his role at Eaton
01:14 – Helping partners combine Eaton solutions with AI use cases
02:00 – The biggest misconception about AI in the channel
03:14 – How SMBs are already using AI today
03:43 – Identifying AI opportunities using keywords & verticals
05:09 – “We are the body that protects the brain”: Eaton’s AI-ready infrastructure
05:31 – Stack the Rack: Eaton's AI-capable hardware portfolio
06:37 – Cybersecurity-certified power solutions and data cabling
07:49 – Supporting partners new to selling both AI and power solutions
08:39 – Why Eaton’s support extends beyond the sale
09:24 – Final message to future partners: “You are not alone”

A new episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV is released every other Thursday.

Watch the interview on YouTube @ChannelInsider_NewsAndTrends

If you have questions for a featured solution provider or want to be a guest on the show, reach out to us at partnerpov@channelinsider.com

For more episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV as well as written content on the IT channel, go to channelinsider.com

Connect with Channel Insider on LinkedIn.

Episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV are hosted and produced by Katie Bavoso with help from Dana Sell, and edited by Ayen Alvarez and Katie Bavoso.

The cover art for Channel Insider: Partner POV was created by Aubri Ziegler. The opening and closing animations were made by Mackenzie Burke. The thumbnails for each episode are made by Brandon Cornwell.

Channel Insider: Partner POV is an asset of Channel Insider, which is a brand under TechnologyAdvice.

In this episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV, host Katie Bavoso sits down with Federico Charosky, Founder and CEO of Quorum Cyber, a fast-growing MSSP that’s gone all-in on Microsoft. Learn how this Scotland-born company scaled to over 400 employees, why it built its award-winning Clarity platform, and how it’s approaching AI across customer protection, internal services, and Microsoft Copilot tools. Federico also shares insights on Quorum Cyber's U.S. expansion strategy, vertical market wins in housing associations and higher education, the importance of growing talent in-house, and how a focus on outcomes—not just technology—sets Quorum Cyber apart. If you’re a cybersecurity professional, MSP, or Microsoft partner, this episode is packed with real strategies and inspiration.

🕓 Time Stamped Topics:

00:00 – Introduction to Federico Charosky and Quorum Cyber

00:42 – Quorum’s founding story and Microsoft-centric mission

04:30 – What is the Clarity platform and why it matters

09:33 – Winning Microsoft’s MSSP of the Year Award

12:22 – Expansion strategy into the U.S. and North America

16:01 – How AI is being integrated into Quorum’s services

22:03 – Microsoft partnership insights and transparency

25:02 – Unique vertical success in housing associations and higher education

29:00 – Real-world incident response: automotive espionage case

33:01 – Why Quorum grows talent internally instead of hiring it externally

36:00 – Philosophy on customer-first outcomes and responsible upselling

40:00 – What’s next for Quorum Cyber: growth, OT, and identity security

41:48 – Learn more at QuorumCyber.com and HelpFightBullies.com

A new episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV is released every other Thursday.

Watch the interview on YouTube @ChannelInsider_NewsAndTrends

If you have questions for a featured solution provider or want to be a guest on the show, reach out to us at partnerpov@channelinsider.com

For more episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV as well as written content on the IT channel, go to channelinsider.com

Connect with Channel Insider on LinkedIn.

Episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV are hosted and produced by Katie Bavoso with help from Dana Sell, and edited by Ayen Alvarez and Katie Bavoso.

The cover art for Channel Insider: Partner POV was created by Aubri Ziegler. The opening and closing animations were made by Mackenzie Burke. The thumbnails for each episode are made by Brandon Cornwell.

Channel Insider: Partner POV is an asset of Channel Insider, which is a brand under TechnologyAdvice.

In this episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV, host Katie Bavoso sits down once again with returning guest Terry Richardson, CRO of Blue Mantis , to unpack the company’s rapid expansion through strategic MSP acquisitions and its evolving business strategy. Richardson explains what impact he believes economic uncertainty in the U.S. will have on M&A through the rest of the year and into 2026

Richardson also shares insights into Blue Mantis' recent flurry of acquisitions in Q1 2025, and how the company is enhancing its cybersecurity, networking, and telecommunications offerings amid a distributed workforce - especially in some key "underserved markets."

🔹 Timestamps & Key Topics:

00:00 – Intro: Blue Mantis’ explosive M&A momentum

01:33 – Recent acquisitions: Why Vermont MSPs?

02:20 – M&A strategy post-recapitalization

03:36 – Integration playbook: Tech stack & onboarding success

06:09 – Investments in networking & telecom: What’s driving it?

08:30 – What customers can expect from Blue Mantis

10:45 – Serving underserved markets in New England & New York

12:30 – Industry verticals showing growth (finance, healthcare, manufacturing)

13:41 – Is Blue Mantis a platform MSP?

16:35 – Advice for MSPs preparing for acquisition

19:00 – How Blue Mantis chooses who and when to acquire

21:35 – Top tech trends for 2025: Zero trust, hybrid cloud, AI, and resilience

25:00 – Long-term impact of COVID-19 on IT strategy

27:35 – Leading in times of uncertainty: Tariffs, market fluctuation, and customer trust 3

0:14 – M&A trends in the channel: What’s next?

31:48 – Cloud success stories: Helping clients optimize cloud spend

35:18 – Pitfalls of ungoverned cloud deployments

36:35 – What’s next for Blue Mantis in 2025?

🎧 Available on YouTube, ChannelInsider.com, and podcast platforms. 👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow for more expert insights from the IT channel world.

#MSP #ChannelInsider #BlueMantis #MergersAndAcquisitions #Cybersecurity #Telecom #CloudSpend #PartnerPOV #TechStrategy #KatieBavoso #PlatformMSP #ITChannel #Networking #ManagedServices #digitaltransformation

A new episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV is released every other Thursday.

Watch the interview on YouTube @ChannelInsider_NewsAndTrends

If you have questions for a featured solution provider or want to be a guest on the show, reach out to us at partnerpov@channelinsider.com

For more episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV as well as written content on the IT channel, go to channelinsider.com

Connect with Channel Insider on LinkedIn.

Episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV are hosted and produced by Katie Bavoso with help from Dana Sell, and edited by Ayen Alvarez and Katie Bavoso.

The cover art for Channel Insider: Partner POV was created by Aubri Ziegler. The opening and closing animations were made by Mackenzie Burke. The thumbnails for each episode are made by Brandon Cornwell.

Channel Insider: Partner POV is an asset of Channel Insider, which is a brand under TechnologyAdvice.

This collaboration brings edge computing into OTAVA’s portfolio of offerings for the first time—positioning the company to lead in cloud-to-edge transformation.

Watch as TJ shares how OTAVA identified the growing demand for edge solutions, how cultural alignment with Scale Computing helped seal the deal, and how it led to an exclusive three-way partnership with data protection giant Veeam.

🔸 00:00 – Intro & announcement of OTAVA’s new partnership with Scale Computing

🔸 01:13 – Why Scale Computing? Culture fit and aligning on innovation

🔸 03:29 – The growing demand for edge computing

🔸 07:06 – Market growth: Edge computing and data protection valuation

🔸 09:22 – Scale vs Broadcom/VMware: Strategy, cost & customer value

🔸 13:15 – OTAVA’s exclusive edge-focused partnership with Scale Computing

🔸 15:39 – The Veeam connection: Exclusive distribution partnership explained

🔸 18:18 – OTAVA becomes a Platinum Veeam partner

🔸 20:00 – OTAVA’s expanded role at Scale Computing Platform//2025

🔸 22:00 – Edge computing verticals: Retail, healthcare, finance & even the NFL

🔸 24:20 – Cost uncertainty, tariffs & helping customers budget smarter

🔸 28:00 – OTAVA’s Secure Framework & Secure Score explained

🔸 32:00 – How security conversations have matured in 2025

🔸 34:00 – What’s next for OTAVA + how customers can get involved

Whether you're an MSP, channel partner, or enterprise IT leader, this episode delivers actionable insights on adapting to shifting technology demands with agility, security, and smarter strategy.

A new episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV is released every other Thursday.

Watch the interview on YouTube @ChannelInsider_NewsAndTrends

If you have questions for a featured solution provider or want to be a guest on the show, reach out to us at partnerpov@channelinsider.com

For more episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV as well as written content on the IT channel, go to channelinsider.com

Connect with Channel Insider on LinkedIn.

Episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV are hosted and produced by Katie Bavoso with help from Dana Sell, and edited by Ayen Alvarez and Katie Bavoso.

The cover art for Channel Insider: Partner POV was created by Aubri Ziegler. The opening and closing animations were made by Mackenzie Burke. The thumbnails for each episode are made by Brandon Cornwell.

Channel Insider: Partner POV is an asset of Channel Insider, which is a brand under TechnologyAdvice.

Belinda previously spent three years at an MSP, and while she felt supported and seen there, she noticed this was not the norm in the greater partner ecosystem. Belinda dives into the real reasons women exit tech—career pauses, lack of flexibility, outdated job postings, and underrepresentation. She also introduces BouncePoint’s initiatives, including a training platform for upskilling women during career gaps and a certification program for companies striving to become welcoming and empowering workplaces for women.

If you're a woman in tech, a channel leader, or passionate about workforce diversity, this conversation is packed with valuable insight, resources, and inspiration.

🎯 Topics & Timecodes:
00:00 – Introduction to Belinda Yax and Bounce Point

02:01 – Why Belinda launched Bounce Point in 2025

03:52 – The declining number of women earning tech degrees

04:44 – Why women are leaving the tech industry at higher rates than men

06:14 – Challenges for women in the channel and MSP space

07:51 – The importance of women’s voices in shaping future tech

08:46 – How job descriptions may unintentionally deter women

10:30 – Resume gaps and hiring bias

12:13 – BouncePoint’s training platform to help women stay updated during leave

14:30 – Why non-technical roles still belong in tech

16:09 – Making the leap from a stable job to founding a nonprofit

18:10 – How to support BouncePoint (partners, funding, feedback)

20:42 – What women considering a return to tech need to hear

22:32 – Why gender diversity still matters in a “genderless” industry

24:50 – Women in leadership: why we need more and how to foster it

28:29 – How women in tech can mentor and lift others up

31:03 – Making channel events more inclusive (puppies included!)

35:09 – How to connect with BouncePoint and Belinda Yax

📌 Learn more at: https://bouncepoint.org

🔗 Connect with Belinda Yax: LinkedIn

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts

📺 Subscribe to Channel Insider for more interviews like this

A new episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV is released every other Thursday.

Watch the interview on YouTube @ChannelInsider_NewsAndTrends

If you have questions for a featured solution provider or want to be a guest on the show, reach out to us at partnerpov@channelinsider.com

For more episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV as well as written content on the IT channel, go to channelinsider.com

Connect with Channel Insider on LinkedIn.

Episodes of Channel Insider: Partner POV are hosted and produced by Katie Bavoso with help from Dana Sell, and edited by Ayen Alvarez and Katie Bavoso.

The cover art for Channel Insider: Partner POV was created by Aubri Ziegler. The opening and closing animations were made by Mackenzie Burke. The thumbnails for each episode are made by Brandon Cornwell.

Channel Insider: Partner POV is an asset of Channel Insider, which is a brand under TechnologyAdvice.