By Dave Raffo | November 21, 2024
Stop me if you’ve heard this before (although I’m sure you haven’t). A former real-life spy, six CEOs, two of the most respected channel analysts and two trusted advisor founders walk into a Las Vegas convention center.
If you’re waiting for a punchline, there is none. This is no joke. It’s part of the keynote speaker lineup for the Channel Partners Conference & Expo and MSP Summt set for March 24-27 at the Venetian Las Vegas.
As a member of the team working to stage the event, these speakers are what makes me thankful for this Thanksgiving. And the best thing is, the lineup isn’t even completely set. We’ll have more announcements soon.
Shawnee Delaney, Vaillance Group CEO
Every tech conference these days includes sessions on AI and cybersecurity. What’s unique about Channel Partners Conference 2025 is we have a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) spy who served four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and helped track Osama bin Laden. Now that’s a speaker with cybersecurity chops. After leaving DIA, Delaney supported the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the protection of U.S. critical infrastructure.No matter how much you know about AI and cybersecurity, you are bound to learn something new if you attend this March 26 session.
Manny Rivelo, ConnectWise CEO
Manny Rivelo, who became ConnectWise boss in September when he replaced Jason McGee as CEO, will sit for an editorial interview at the March 24 MSP Summit. Attendees can hear his views on the state of the IT Nation and his plans for following a new path for one of the leading MSP software vendors. Rivelo told Channel Futures he isn’t planning huge changes, maybe because the vendor altered the look of the ConnectWise Marketplace and acquired data protection companies Axcient and SkyKick weeks before the CEO change. Those changes will keep the former Forcepoint, Arista Networks, AppViewX, F5 Networks, and Cisco Systems exec busy.
John Pagliuca, N-able CEO
John Pagliuca has been N-able’s CEO since its 2021 spinout from SolarWinds, and led SolarWinds MSP before that. He took N-able public in 2021, and the MSP vendor grew revenue to $349 million and profit to $132 million through the first three quarters of 2024. This editorial interview at the March 24 MSP Summit will explore with Pagliuca how the MSP landscape is changing as partners increasingly look to gain share in the Fortune 1000 and other large customers, and how they can capitalize on the scarcity of IT talent inside their clients’ organizations.
Jay McBain, Canalys Chief Analyst – Channels, Partnerships & Ecosystems
Everyone wants Jay McBain at their channel-related conferences, and we’re fortunate to have him at our events. He always shows up with insights and data that you can’t find anywhere else. McBain will do a Hot Data keynote at the March 24 MSP Summit, highlighting the major MSP trends and helping attendees make sense of a $5.4 trillion IT market.
Anurag Agrawa, TechAisle Founder and Chief Global Analyst
Anurag Agrawa is another well-respected channel analyst who will bring his insights to our conference. The former Gartner and IDC analyst known as the “SMB Guru,” he specializes in the SMB and channel partner domains. Senior executives turn to him for strategic counsel on technologies, routes-to-market and industry changes. At Channel Partners Conference, he will speak on March 25 on achieving AI market leadership by scaling success.
Quy Nguyen, Allyance CEO
Known simply as “Q,” the CEO of a self-described “badass global IT consulting and advisory firm” will moderate a March 26 panel on The Top Challenges Facing Today’s Leading CIOs. The panel will include CIOs from well-known companies, brought together by the charismatic Quy Nguyen. Not only does he have a James Bond-like nickname, but Q was also an early investor in Liquid Death – the water that all the cool kids drink.
Matthew Toth, C3 Technology Advisors Founder
Give Matthew Toth five minutes at Channel Partners Conference, and he’ll give you the secrets of his decades of experience and success. Toth will deliver the five most important, compelling and relevant pieces of advice you are going to hear about selling your brand, services, products and solutions to customers. His talk, The Five Best Sales Tips You’ll Ever Hear, will open the March 26 session. The only catch is you’ll have to get up early in Las Vegas for it, but it will be well worth your time.
Pam Diaz, Entara CEO
Pam Diaz, who embarked on an unconventional journey to CEO, will talk exactly about that on March 24. And this isn’t just any CEO talking: Diaz has been Channel Futures Executive of the Year, a Channel Influencer and part of the Inclusive Channel Leaders list. The CEO of MSP 501 winner Entara will offer insights about how leaders can take control of their career path, no matter how far down their journey they may be. She will provide tips about how leaders can capitalize on their strengths to grow successful teams and companies.
Lucas Salvage, Kairos Data Communications Partner
Lucas Salvage was one of three founders of Kairos Data Communications, a trusted advisor that delivers cloud, collaboration, connectivity and security to clients. He has seen it all in the telecom world, holding executive positions at OnCall Telecom, KMC Telecom and Goodman Consulting and Technology. At Channel Partners Conference, he will join Channel Futures James Anderson to moderate a panel with select members of the publication’s prestigious TA 101 list.
Adam Edwards, Telarus CEO
The Telarus leader will be part of a tag-team panel of leading technology services distributors (TSDs) who help technology advisors meet the growing demand for their customers. Adam Edwards helped found Telarus and as CEO he helps define its identity and makes sure it remains dedicated to helping TAs succeed. And it’s working – Edwards says a record number of Telarus technology advisors booked more than six-figures of business last year with some approaching the seven-figure mark.
Ken Mills, Intelisys President
Intelisys is another fast-growing TSD and Ken Mills took over as president of the ScanSource-owned company in June. The former Epic iO Technologies CEO has also held leadership positions with organizations including Dell, Cisco and the U.S Dept. of State in a 25-plus year career. Mills can shed light on how Intelisys grew its net sales to $84.7 million in the last fiscal year, up 6.6% year-over-year and doubling its numbers since 2018.
