Coffee with Craig and James: Recent Episodes

Channel Futures

Channel Futures is a leading source of analysis, commentary, research, market insight, information and news in the technology and telecommunications space. The Coffee with Craig and James podcast features interviews with big names in the indirect sales channel, along with a unique brand of humor thrown in.

Unifying Cybersecurity: Combating the $10.5 Trillion Threat with Simplified Platform Solutions by Channel Futures

After 160 episodes, it's the final episode of the popular Channel Futures podcast, Coffee with Craig and James.The guys share their favorite memories from the past nine years of the Coffee cast and welcome in some of their favorite guests and loyal "casties" to share some thoughts about the impact the podcast has had on the channel.You'll laugh, you'll cry ... but you'll mostly laugh. Thank you, channel, for watching and listening since our debut in 2016.

It's the penultimate episode of Coffee with Craig and James before the Channel Futures podcast wraps up its nine-year run next week.In this edition, the guys catch up with IntelePeer's Aqeel Shahid. The channel leader talks about AI, the evolution of communications platform as a service to agentic AI platforms, and how his company's approach to channel routes-to-market is changing.

Host Ken Presti sits down with channel vet and newly appointed Coro CEO Joe Sykora for a frank discussion about elevating the conversation from traditional program-centric thinking to a broader, more strategic ecosystem approach. It's something that resonates with partners who are seeking community, enablement and long-term alignment. It also reinforces Coro’s partner-first identity.

Bana Qashu Young brings a perspective few can, having worked on all sides of the channel triangle: for a vendor, a tech services distributor and a channel partner.Now she is branching off on her own, starting her own consulting business.Qashu Young sat down with Craig and James on the popular Channel Futures podcast to offer what she has learned and how all sides can cohesively work together.

One of the fastest-growing events in the channel, the Telarus Partner Summit has grown from its roots as a small conference at a Utah resort to one that fills convention centers.James was in southern California last week for TPS and caught up with channel veteran Tim Basa, the company's senior VP of sales, for a discussion about the role of today's technology advisor and the various opportunities that await.

Craig and James sit down with the always engaging Dave Dyson, founder of Chicago-based tech advisory firm Eclipse. The conversation revolves around the changing tech landscape, what's top of mind for industry CIOs and Dyson's take on the future of tech services distributors.

AppDirect, the subscription commerce marketplace and tech services distributor, has been busy acquiring companies to create a platform for technology management.Craig and James welcome AppDirect's Emanuel "Bert" Bertolin to the podcast to discuss the company's approach in this area; plus ,why it's targeting energy as the next great opportunity for partners.

Low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity has improved dramatically in just the last nine months since the guys last addressed the topic on this podcast with MetTel.In this episode, Craig and James sit down with the team from tech services distributor Avant Communications to discuss some real-life use cases and the growing opportunity for channel partners; plus, the evolution of wireless security.

Most channel partners at this point have weaved some sort of cybersecurity offering into their portfolios. We caught up with Brian Kane, senior director, MSP and channel, Malwarebytes, to talk about threats to SMBs, AI horror stories, the role of regulatory compliance in today's channel, and more.

Just promoted to executive director of Salesforce AppExchange, the online marketplace, Brian Landsman joins Craig and James to talk about the various partner opportunities with the CRM giant.We get the latest on Agentforce, how Salesforce navigates its hyperscaler relationships and why it significantly values it partnerships with CX vendors.

The guys sit down with customer experience expert Jamaal Savwoir of Nextiva to discuss the state of the unified communications and CX market; plus, we reveal the top 10 IT service providers on this year's Channel Partners MSP 501 a day before you see them on the Channel Futures website.

Craig and James sit down with New Charter Technologies' Peter Melby. Another of our Channel Influencers for 2025, Melby describes what goes into being an MSP "portfolio" company and what he thinks the future holds for the IT service provider community.

D&H Distributing's Marty Bauerlein, one of Channel Futures' Channel Influencers for 2025, discusses the evolution of distribution in his 30 years in the business. Plus, the impact of cloud marketplaces, AI and security and how channel partners are taking advantage.

Our Channel Futures Channel Influencer series continues with Vonage channel leader Kristy Thomas.She talks to Craig and James about the state of CX, the alignment of different sales motions at Vonage and how partners can approach the market as technology and business continue to evolve rapidly.Plus, the importance of a little self-reflection.

ScanSource chairman and CEO Mike Baur, Channel Futures' 2025 Channel Influencer of the Year, joins Coffee with Craig & James, the Channel Futures podcast, to talk about trends in distribution and to update us on the technology advisor business it launched last year when it bought Resourcive.

In this episode of the Channel Futures podcast, Craig and James catch up with a pair of technology advisors (agents) who are breaking the mold. David Goodwin of ATC of Ohio and Keith Hatley of Cloud Communications Group share success stories, dig in on industry trends and offer advice to fellow tech advisors to thrive in an ever-evolving channel.

Coro's Joe Sykora discusses the ways channel partners can tackle the evolving cybersecurity market.

ThreatLocker VP of support Oliver Plante discusses the changes in cybersecurity go-to-market strategies for partners.

Piers Morgan, senior vice president and general manager, EMEA, Coro, describes new growth opportunities and how channel partners can stay ahead of shifts in the cybersecurity market.

Global secure connectivity provider GTT is having a rebirth, if you will, gaining plenty of attention for hiring Lumen alum Sara Seegers and AT&T vet Chris Jones to be two of the most prominent faces of its channel program.The Channel Futures podcast, Coffee with Craig and James, caught up with them to learn about GTT's re-energized dedication to the channel and the opportunities that lie ahead for the company's partners.

The Channel Futures podcast, Coffee with Craig and James, welcomes 8x8 channel leader Michelle Paitich to talk about how the company defines itself in the market, its approach to working with tech services distributors, and more.

We dig into the trends and analysis from the recently released 2024 Channel Futures MSP 501 report with Ingram Micro VP of services Paul Hager and Omdia's Devan Adams, who authored the report.

IBM just rolled out its first partner program specifically designed for managed service providers.That makes it a great time for Craig and James to catch up with IBM Ecosystem GM Kate Woolley to get not only the full scoop on the new program, but also the channel's AI opportunities with the company, its relationship with the hyperscalers, and more.

Low-Earth orbit satellite internet is becoming increasingly popular not only as a backup to fiber and other connectivity technology, but improvements in latency are making it the right option for some businesses, particularly in rural areas. Further consider that the future is bright for LEO satellites.Craig and James wanted to learn more about the technology's upside and how channel partners can add it to their portfolios, so we asked Ed Fox, CTO at MetTel, the aggregator that sources LEO connectivity.

James is back from his trip to the Telarus Partner Summit in Nashville, Tennessee.So it only makes sense that this edition of the Channel Futures podcast, Coffee with Craig and James, features a couple of highlights from the event: James' interviews with Telarus' chief marketing officer and the CEO of Adaptiv Networks, a Telarus partner.(There are some audio difficulties with the first interview. We encourage you to watch this podcast with subtitles at: https://vimeo.com/videos/999672145)

In this episode of the Channel Futures podcast, Craig and James sit down with Fred Voccola, the outspoken CEO of Kaseya, the IT management software giant.The guys learn all about the success of the recently launched Kaseya 365 subscription service for MSPs and get some advice for managed service providers ahead of Voccola's appearance at the MSP Summit, brought to you by the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, Sept. 16-19, in Atlanta. You can register for that event here: https://themspsummit.com.We'll also recognize the top company in this year's MSP 501, and in a turnabout-is-fair-play moment, James challenges Craig to a history lesson vis-à-vis "This Is Your Life."

What does the future hold for channel partners who find themselves in a state of flux following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware? Craig and James welcome industry experts from Telarus and MSP KeyStone Solutions to offer their guidance.Plus, a preview of the 2024 MSP 501 list, some big industry-event content coming to the Channel Futures website, and a litany of seemingly random topics ranging from movies to soda pricing to grocery shopping.

Nerdio CEO Vadim Vladimirskiy joins Craig and James to talk desktop as a service and the direction his company is headed this year.

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.

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 that make it easier to submit.Learn more about the application and apply here: https://www.channelfutures.com/about-msp-501

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.com/233326429723154

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.

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 channel.Plus, Craig offers up a channel take on "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Happy Holidays, everyone!

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 Channel Futures' own James Anderson, who caught up with co-founders Scott Evars and Brian Miller for a wide-ranging interview for the podcast.Of course, the guys will spend part of this podcast episode getting you read for the Channel Futures Leadership Summit, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, in Miami Beach. It's not too late to register!: https://channel.informatech.com/leadershipsummit/2023/registrations/Attendee

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 together at the same company. The mother-daughter team also dish on past experiences in the industry and some of the trends they are watching.Zina Hassel will participate in a session at the Women's Leadership Summit portion of the upcoming Channel Futures Leadership Summit in Miami.And speaking of Leadership Summit, the guys walk you through a few more sessions that they expect will be must-attends at the event, which kicks off Oct. 30 in Miami and runs through Nov. 2. It also features the MSP Summit and the popular MSP 501 gala.All of that, plus Craig and James dish on one of the big headlines of the week -- channel stalwart John DeLozier's new job at ConvergeOne. If none of that floats your boat, we've got fantasy football, a milestone birthday and James' battle with the dreaded COVID.

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 impact on decision-making for companies that choose to take advantage of the offer.

That's why Craig and James invited Debbie Kane and Devan Adams, the team behind the brand-new Channel Futures research and consulting practice, to the podcast. They discuss the goals of the new practice and share some of the information they've already unveiled that might just surprise you. You'll also find out how to take advantage of their research.

Of course, we'll update you on the latest sessions added to the Channel Futures Leadership Summit agenda and talk about the news stories of the week we've found to be most compelling.

Go here for access to Debbie and Devan's work, on the Omdia Channel Partner Strategies Intelligence Service webpage: https://omdia.tech.informa.com/products/channel-partner-strategies-intelligence-service

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 people started working from home at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That was part of the impetus for Expereo, the SD-WAN and cloud connectivity provider, to launch a survey of 650 CIOs. It brought about some compelling results in the company's new Enterprise Horizons report.

In this edition of the Coffee with Craig and James podcast, Expereo president Scott Zarriello joins the guys to explain some takeaways from the report. He also covers the evolution of SD-WAN technology.

Also on the podcast, Craig and James break down a handful of sessions that have just been added to the Channel Futures Leadership Summit agenda. It's coming up Oct. 30-Nov. 2, in Miami.

All of that plus the return of Movie Night! What would the Craig and James podcast look like if it were a movie? We have the exciting trailer!

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 the years.

Craig and James sat these gents down for an ARG perspective not only on M&A, but also the company's overall inorganic growth strategy, what its "IT Clarity" branding is all about, and to get some general advice for some their peers in the channel.

Moreover, we'll offer up our first official preview of this fall's Channel Futures Leadership Summit, which in addition to being home to the MSP Summit and Women's Leadership Summit, will take an extensive look at marketplaces and how they're impacting the channel.

All that, plus James gets a little revenge on Craig for his little "easter egg" stunt around numbers on the last podcast. It's the return of Channel Mad Libs!

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 technology service providers and much more.

Furthermore, with the next Channel Partners event, the Channel Futures Leadership Summit, still nearly four months away, Craig and James thought it was a perfect time to highlight some of the things you might've missed on our media platform, Channel Futures.

All of that, plus Craig once again tries to prove his manhood by humiliating James in a round of trivia, this time focused on, as an homage to our guest, cable TV.

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 from the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, as well as their trip to London representing Channel Futures at the annual Informa Awards.

Don't forget that you can watch this podcast. The video is here: https://www.channelfutures.com/podcasts/coffee-with-craig-and-james-episode-124-palo-alto-networks

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 mergers and acquisitions at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, May 1-4.Speaking of CP Expo, Craig and James will do a final breakdown to get you ready. It's not too late to register!: https://channel.informatech.com/lv/2023/registrations/Attendee

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 offers up some frequently asked questions for candidates who are applying for the list.Then comes the team from Ingram Micro, sponsor and longtime supporter of the 501. The distributor's execs discuss the value of landing on the list. They also cover some important managed service provider trends for 2023.Also, it wouldn't be an episode of the podcast without talk of the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. James tells us about two of the sessions he'll be hosting and why you should be there.Finally, what's in a name? A common email mistake that flusters some of our colleagues.Apply for the 2023 Channel Futures MSP 501 here: https://channelfutures.tradepub.com/free/w_chag101/prgm.cgi?a=1

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 big show is less than six weeks away — here's where you can register: https://channel.informatech.com/lv/2023/registrations/Attendee

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 channel, joins the guys for a conversation. They touch on sales tips, relationships between partners and TSDs/vendors, and much more.The news discussion of the day will center around a couple of things. First, James talks about an acquisition by HPE that could have significant channel implications. 5G, once overhyped, might be making another run at celebrity status.Also, our Channel Futures' Channel Influencers for 2023. The list is out, and features a lot of names in the channel who are having a big impact. The guys will explain how the team came up with this year's honorees.

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 drive, so it's a great time for Craig and James to learn more about the group. The guys welcome ACW board member Kelly Danziger to the show. (Her day job is Craig and James' boss as general manager of Informa Tech Channels, Channel Futures' parent organization.)The guys also discuss some of the big keynotes at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo.Furthermore, we've got fun with technology trivia and a test of ChatGPT technology.

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 upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo, May 1-4. We told you last time about keynote speaker Capt. Scott Kelly, but that's far from all. From a guy who lived in a van to a NASCAR driver, there's some really cool content on tap. We talk about it in this podcast. And that's just scratching the surface.Craig and James also will discuss the news of the week, including the staggering number of layoffs impacting the channel. Communications platform as a service (CPaaS) is also a topic, as Channel Futures introduces a new video segment.If you want to see us on video, head over to Channel Futures: https://www.channelfutures.com/podcasts/coffee-with-craig-james-episode-118-bridgepointe-technologies

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 you a sneak preview of the keynote retired astronaut Capt. Scott Kelly will deliver at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, May 1-4, at the Venetian in Las Vegas.All that, plus a recap of some of the biggest news so far this month.

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. profit center.Later in the show, we get to know more about Opex Technologies. It's a well-known firm in the agent channel, but there's a whole lot you don't know. For instance, some think of Opex as a research firm of sorts? We'll dig into all of that and get some market insight straight from a partner's mouth.Of course, we would be remiss if we didn't look back on the year that was at Channel Futures. Craig and James will discuss some of the biggest stories of the year. They'll also recap the successful Channel Partners Conference & Expo and this past fall's Leadership Summit. And if you haven't heard the dates for our 2023 shows, we've got 'em.

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 segment, "Where in the World is Edward Gately?" Our intrepid reporter checks in from the road to deliver big cybersecurity interview with Darktrace.

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 his travels to Salt Lake City for the Telarus Partner Summit. He got a chance to sit down with co-founder Patrick Oborn to talk about how the constantly evolving industry is impacting partners.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Channel Futures podcast without a preview of the upcoming MSP Summit. And Craig tortures James with a game of "Which would you rather." Will James choose to teach the channel to kids, or stand on his head? Live on a desert island only with work email? Develop a PowerPoint to convince the brass he's worth his salt?

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 asked Telarus CEO Adam Edwards in a one-on-one interview.

Then, James lands an interview with Cisco VP Alexandra Zagury. She describes how the company is going after the entire channel with a series of programs and new products.

Where was Craig, you ask? On vacation. Or just passing the hard work off to James.

Meantime, the guys will put a bow on the recently concluded Channel Partners Europe, Furthermore, they'll offer up a preview of the upcoming MSP Summit in Orlando. We just happen to be colocating it with the brand-new Channel Partners Leadership Summit. You'll learn about the event that has something for agents, VARs, MSPs and all partner types.

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 model the company offers and the flood of investment money coming into the industry.

Next up is Christian Stredicke, president and CEO of Vodia Networks. You might know him best as the founder of Snom. Stredicke will discuss WebRTC and other technologies impacting the IP PBX market.

And it wouldn't be a podcast without a discussion of Channel Partners events. We'll have a preview of Channel Evolution Europe, less than two weeks away. Moreover, the MSP Summit in September will be here before we know it. And we're introducing the inaugural Channel Partners Leadership Summit that we are co-locating with the event.

All that plus the 2022 MSP 501 reveal is almost here. We'll get you excited for that and tell you about a webinar where you can get a sneak peak of the top winners.

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 stereotypes. The "attender vendor"? The "social butterfly?" The "sponge"?

Then, the lineup of great guests continues. Craig and James talk to Ashley Rowland, founder of partner firm Adaptiv Advisors. She shares some tricks of the trade and explains why she started a second business -- one that trains fellow agents on, well, the tricks of the trade.

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 opened, and we've got everything you need to know to throw your hat into the ring.

Furthermore, to help recognize the MSP 501, we pulled in Eric Kohl, VP of security and networking for Ingram Micro, sponsor of the program. He sits down with MSP 501 lead Allison Francis for an interview.

Moreover, we released the 2022 Channel Futures Channel Influencers list since our last podcast. We'll break it down. Also, last but not least, we introduce you to the CP 101, an award for the agent community.

All that, plus the return of the Coffee with Craig and James "Movie Night." The guys will take part in a movie-like trailer to promote the podcast that you won't want to miss.

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 its security defenses.

We'll also look both backward and forward. Kadlacek describes some successes from last year and what partners can expect in 2022.

Plus, the agenda for the Channel Partners Conference & Expo is taking shape; Craig and James look at the latest hot sessions added to the schedule.

Finally, James takes Craig through a trivia contest involving channel news. (Let's hope he does well since he edits the Channel Futures website, after all.) We bet you'll learn something and be entertained at the same time.

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 know it. He has some ideas on how all of those topics are impacting the channel and will in the years to come.

Then there's Brian Gilman of IntelePeer. The company's chief marketing officer explains the increasing role of artificial intelligence in the contact center. And if you're not that familiar with the CPaaS acronym, he describes how IntelePeer recently landed in our list of "20 Top CPaaS Providers." Gilman also gets us up to speed on the latest happenings in the IntelePeer partner program.

Plus, don't forget. The next Channel Partners Conference & Expo is just two-and-a-half months away. Craig and James tell you about a couple of things that are already on the agenda.

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 companies are taking money from private equity firms, Resourcive actually provides services to them.

But that's far from all. The guys will break down what's been an incredible year in the channel. Furthermore, you'll hear about some of the highlights at Channel Futures over the course of the year.

And we wouldn't let you depart for your eggnog without a little holiday fun. James offers up some coal-based trivia (you read that right). And Craig dedicates a spin on a familiar song to his podcast co-host.

We hope you enjoy and then return for more episodes of Coffee with Craig and James in 2022!

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 Campbell, managing partner at Opkalla, an agent partner. Campbell describes what it was like to set up his business and offers advice to peers.

All that plus Craig and James take a look back at the recently concluded Channel Partners Conference & Expo. Then, a look forward at next year's events.

Finally, Craig challenges James to some channel trivia that goes back to his pre-teen years. Don't worry, he doesn't get embarrassed too badly.

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. Furthermore, he'll offer tips to business and partners on how to protect themselves.

Next, we follow that up with a "lightning round" that runs down every keynote and conference session you won't want to miss.

Then we roll James' interview with Ian Keininger, Avant CEO and co-founder. He talks about numerous trends in the agent channel and offers advice to partners looking to grow their businesses.

The team at Coffee with Craig & James can't wait to see you in Las Vegas, Nov. 1-4.

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 tool for partners that they say is revolutionizing the channel.

Then we'll hear from Mobolaji Sokunbi of Dell Expert Network. He'll dive into trends his partner community is seeing and give us the nitty-gritty of what's happening at the tech giant. The company is also a sponsor of our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Channel Futures. Sokunbi will explain why DE&I is such a priority for Dell.

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 in the Lumen channel program and other aspects of the business he's taking on.

Then we'll stay in the agent channel by talking to a couple of partners to get their perspectives on a number of issues. Want to spin up a contact center practice? Kathleen Waters, founder and CEO of Creekview Group, and David Wright, founder and CEO of Disruptive Innovations, have some advice. We'll also ask them how business has changed for partners in the past year.

Furthermore, it wouldn't be an episode of Coffee with Craig and James without mentioning CP Expo. Co-located with the new MSP Summit, we're announcing a series of celebrity guests at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo who all attendees can see at no additional charge.

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 year and planning the Summit during the pandemic.

Also, we feel better about Mondays now after our interview with Marc Monday! In a fun chat, he covers everything from softball questions about coffee to some hardballs about perceived channel conflict at the software company. We'll also learn about the evolution of the desktop to the workspace.

Craig and James also preview the upcoming MSP Summit, which we are collocating with the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. Moreover, they make a plea to the channel so COVID-19 restrictions at future channel events will remain at a minimum.

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 group's new membership drive and tackle the controversy surrounding the term "master agent."

Also joining the guys is the team from Jenne, the value-added distributor. The company's VP of vendor management and director of cloud solutions talk about Jenne's important Avaya relationship. They also discuss what it's like to serve both the traditional IT and telecom channels.

Furthermore, Craig and James will get you caught up on the latest Channel Partners Conference & Expo prep.

Plus, with a "space" theme, we've got a podcast that's out of this world.

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 partner-first initiative. He also touches on how Fuze goes to battle in the competitive UCaaS industry.

Then, Joyce Mullen, a channel legend from her days with Dell's channel, joins the show. Now president of Insight North America, she reflects on her company landing the top spot on the 2021 MSP 501 list. Mullen also tackles the partner opportunity as "as a service" takes off in the industry.

Speaking of guests, Craig and James have some cameos from the entertainment world wishing them well on their milestone.

All that, plus the latest on the fast-growing agenda for the Channel Partners Conference & Expo and collocated MSP Summit.

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 their next customer conversation.

Then we hear from Jon Groves, CEO of Logicalis, the IT service provider. He offers insight into what it's like to become chief executive of a tech company the same month that a pandemic breaks out. He'll also dive into important industry trends impacting our managed service provider friends.

Speaking of MSPs, Channel Futures released our annual MSP 501 list since we last spoke. We'll break it down. And the agenda is starting to take shape for the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in November. We promise a great lineup for the channel's biggest in-person bash in two years.

Finally, we'll tell you what's coming next time in our 100th episode extravaganza.

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, Vince Menzione, founder of the Ultimate Guide to Partnering, shares his methodologies around good business partnerships. He'll offer some significant takeaways for both the partner and vendor audience.

That, plus the guys dig into what's become an internet phenomenon--the "Florida Man" craze.

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 these ladies who will share their DE&I experiences in technology. They're also supremely qualified to discuss the topic, as they are participating in our June 8 workshop.

The 97th episode of Coffee with Craig and James touches on a topic that's critical to the future success of the channel.

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 differences in marketing for a distribution giant and a traditional hardware behemoth. She also offers advice for partner firms that are struggling with their marketing efforts.

Of course, we wouldn't let her get away without asking her about the company's pending merger with Synnex. She discusses marketing's typical role when two big companies come together.

Then David Nour, CEO of the Nour Group, chats with the guys about business relationships. The author and executive coach explains what partners can do to improve their relationships internally, and with vendors and other partners.

Finally, 2021 seems to be the year of the conspiracy theory. So for a little fun, James will try to pull a fast one over Craig.

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 Channel Futures MSP 501 and of this episode of the podcast.

Also on the show is Paco Lebron, CEO of ProdigyTeks, No. 4 on last year's MSP 501 list. He talks with Channel Futures MSP 501 editor Allison Francis about M&A and other trends impacting MSPs.

Finally, the guys take a creative approach to ranking technologies in the channel. Ever wonder what order they would be selected if part of a sports draft?

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 manager of Channel Futures' new diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) community. Buffy will talk about our DE&I efforts, which include an upcoming channel workshop on June 8 and a DE&I 101 list of influencers in the channel.

All that, plus it's Craig who heads to the game lab this time. He'll challenge James to identify some quirky Guinness Book record setters.

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 diversity, equity and inclusion in business.

Also on the show is Jolene Langford, owner of Athenium Technology Group, a telecom and cloud agency. She gives us some insight into how she and her fellow agents are faring. One question she raised got our interest: "Are channel managers reaching out less than they did before?" We'll explore. Plus, the battles she has faced as a woman in technology.

Beyond our two rockstar guests, it's round three of our generational clash. Can James represent millennials well and tie things up with Craig? Or will a clip from "Murder, She Wrote" be his downfall? The guys tackle TV shows in this edition of their pop culture face-off.

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 channel mergers and acquisitions. He offers some insider knowledge into how the M&A frenzy among master agents is impacting these companies as well as their subagents.

Plus, have you heard? Channel Futures and Channel Partners Online are now one! Craig and James will highlight some of the content you'll want to check out.

And far from done, James wanders into the Coffee with Craig and James "game lab" and convinces Craig to play a game of Channel Mad Libs. Oh yeah, we're going there.

Finally, it's a long-ish edition of the podcast, but you won't want to drop off early. The guys will welcome a special guest to close things out.

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 editor Allison Francis about what goes into the ranking and how you can get your partner business listed.

Also on the show is Karl Fahrbach, chief partner officer with SAP. He'll talk about how the company's channel is evolving. He'll also respond to a recent challenge from Oracle which claims to be stealing its ERP share.

Plus, we're already looking ahead to CP Expo Homecoming, Nov. 1-4, in Las Vegas. And Craig and James celebrate their entry onto a variety of new podcast platforms. That includes one in Sweden. Who knew the guys were big in Scandinavia?

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 Schijns as her new chief revenue officer. The pair will discuss hot business trends, preview CP Virtual and explain how longtime Verizon and AT&T rivals can work together!

In conjunction with Channel Partners Virtual, Craig and James break down a slew of important announcements from Channel Partners/Channel Futures. It's all breaking news around channel convergence, diversity and inclusion and a new live event for MSPs.

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 interview, McBain, the Forrester analyst, talks about his impact helping to guide partners through a difficult year. He also touches on his recently published channel trends for 2021 and the marketplaces debate he will host at Channel Partners Virtual.

Speaking of influence, the team at Telesystem has a whole lot of it in the new year. Bruce Wirt and Mayka Rosales-Peterson join the podcast to talk about their new podcast centered around leadership topics. They're also taking big strides to promote diversity and inclusion at their company, providing an example for other channel businesses.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Channel Partners Virtual is just two weeks away. Craig and James will break down a few more "must-sees" at this mega channel event.

Finally, Craig gives James a chance to bounce back from his loss in their "generational clash." This time, the guys have a "name that movie" face-off.

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 offer up a few tips to get your partner business on the right track.

Also on the show is Matthew Toth, who leads C3 Technology Advisors. Toth has a partner's perspective on some of the hottest technologies, including UCaaS, SD-WAN and security. He'll also get inside the head of the customer and share his experiences from those conversations.

All of that, plus Craig and James engage in a "generational clash" to prove which is stronger -- Gen X or Gen Y.

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 mission to protect telco agents getting shut out of rural health care deals. Now, organizers want it to blossom into a full-blown regulatory watchdog group for the agent community. Bill Power of the Alliance Partners and Darcee Nelan of IQ Wired explain the importance of the new Technology Channel Sales Professionals organization. You'll want to find out how you can get involved in this budding industry association.

All that, plus the guys dig into what they're looking forward in the new year; particularly what's around the corner at Channel Partners Virtual and this fall's live, in-person "Homecoming" channel event.

It's a new era for the Channel Partners podcast.

We just got an infusion of youth, as news editor and resident millennial James Anderson jumps into the co-hosting chair. He replaces Gen X'er Kevin Morris, who recently moved on to start his own partner business.

You get to meet James and learn about his goals for the podcast going forward.

Of course, one thing remains the same -- our affinity for great guests.

In this episode, we welcome Zane Long, channel chief at RingCentral. The cloud-based communication and collaboration provider has been on of the channel's biggest newsmakers in the past year. You'll hear about how RingCentral's bevy of new industry partnerships are paying off big for its channel partners.

The podcast also is committed to bringing more of the partner voice to our loyal "casties." To wit, you'll hear from Ben Niernberg, executive vice president of MNJ Technologies. Niernberg, who has expertise in SD-WAN, shares tips on what customers want--and how you can best approach them about a sale.

Plus, it's our last opportunity to share what we think will be highlights of Channel Evolution Europe, the first week of December.

We used to say Craig and Kevin had a "unique brand of humor." James is all-in with that, so we hope to both inform and entertain you.

Happy Thanksgiving, Channel!

It's the day DigiBot, our podcast's digital services robot mascot, has been waiting years for.

With Kevin dearly departed (to start his own partner business), Digi finally gets his shot co-hosting the podcast. But is everything what it's cracked up to be? We shall see.

More importantly, Craig and the bot welcome Camille Mendler, chief analyst at Omdia. She gives the U.S. partner community a primer on the channel market in the U.K. and throughout Europe. Camille will have tips for partners who want to dip their toes into international waters.

Furthermore, we'll give you a preview of what to expect at Channel Evolution Europe Virtual, Dec. 1-2. While, or should we say, whilst, geared toward the European partner, the agenda is jam-packed with content partners everywhere can appreciate and use to build their businesses.

Also on the show is Scott Barlow, VP, global MSP at Sophos. He talks about the extraordinary growth in the security company's MSP Connect program. You'll learn how it could be a model for other channel vendors and their partners in difficult times.

It's a somewhat melancholy edition of the podcast, as Kevin surrenders his role behind the microphone. He's leaving Informa Tech, Channel Partners' parent company, to follow his dream--to open his own partner business.

We'll count down the top five moments in Coffee with Craig and Kevin podcast history and roll out our final "movie trailer." You'll also hear from some of Kevin's colleagues about how much they will miss him.

But lest you think that this is all about Kevin, we'll also say goodbye to another well-known colleague.

Plus, John Macario, SVP of global channel marketing with Ribbon Communications, shares insights on 5G. He also discusses the areas where Ribbon partners are finding the most success.

Lastly, we'll let you know who will be stepping into Kevin's shoes to co-host the next episode.

This podcast has gotten so big, we had to make room for three guests. And they're not just ordinary guests.

First up, Rick Chapes of AT&T Partner Solutions, the title sponsor of the upcoming Channel Partners Virtual event, talks 5G, channel program updates and more.

Looking for another business communications giant? We've got CenturyLink. New vice presidents Greg Fry and Craig Patterson discuss how a new channel management structure will impact its partners for the better.

Last but not least, KORE VP of channel sales Genesis Lee explains how IoT is starting to make real inroads among the partner community.

All three companies are sponsoring and/or exhibiting virtually at our first-ever virtual channel event, Sept. 8-10. And if you want a rundown of what's on tap for CP Virtual, Craig and Kevin highlight some of what they think are can't-miss sessions.

Craig and Kevin truly have the "eye of the tiger," as they are pumped up for Channel Partners Virtual! The first-of-its kind virtual channel event is scheduled for Sept. 8-10.

Joining the guys to talk about Channel Partners Virtual is Vonage channel chief Curt Allen. The experienced veteran also offers an update on his company's channel program and explains how Vonage's product set has evolved. Furthermore, Allen offers a business perspective on the pandemic and what Vonage is doing to support its partners.

Then you'll hear from Will Harris, sales consultant and esteemed industry speaker. The founder of Willpower Consultation will preview his upcoming keynote on social selling at Channel Partners Virtual. He also weighs in on racism, diversity and inclusion in the channel; plus, he explains how his humanitarian work has helped thousands of women and children around the world.

Finally, Craig and Kevin will break down what they see as highlights from days two and three of the upcoming channel event.

The guys once again packed a lot of great business news, channel updates and their usual shenanigans into another powerhouse podcast.

First up is Olen Scott, channel chief at Aryaka. He'll get into the debate surrounding SD-WAN and MPLS, plus what Aryaka's new partnership with 8x8 means to the channel. What makes SD-WAN and UCaaS like chocolate and peanut butter together? He'll dive into that too.

Our second guest is Janet Schijns, CEO of the JS Group. She will have her hands full at the upcoming Channel Partners Virtual event, Sept. 8-10. Slated to moderate and sit on panels discussing convergence, 5G and more, she'll break down what to expect.

But that's far from all. Craig and Kevin will preview day one of Channel Partners Virtual and pump up the just-released MSP 501 list.

Here we go again with another edition of the Channel Partners podcast, Coffee with Craig and Kevin.

It's a jam-packed episode starting with some breaking news! (Well, at least Kevin thought it was.) The guys will break down what's on tap for the newly announced Channel Partners Virtual show, Sept. 8-10. You'll learn how you can take advantage of much of the same content and networking you would expect from a live Channel Partners event, only online from the comfort of your own home or business.

Then Robert Cooper, general manager at Wildix, the UC provider, enters the coffeehouse to see if he will double down on come controversial comments from earlier in the year. He dubbed some of Wildix's bigger rivals "vampire vendors" and "walking dead."

Finally, an insightful conversation with Telarus' Brandon Knight, who introduces us to the Xposure Diversity and Inclusion Council. The Council's goal is to be a "beacon in the tech services industry, where individuals from all different backgrounds can collaborate." You'll be surprised -- or unfortunately, not surprised -- to hear some of the stories of bias and stereotyping Knight has himself experienced right here in the channel.

All of that, plus the usual shenanigans that you would expect from Craig and Kevin.

With the dawn of summer upon us, Craig and Kevin are back with a red hot podcast!

Intrepid Channel Partners reporter Edward Gately sits down with new Fusion Connect CEO Brian Crotty. There's a lot to talk about as the company recently emerged from bankruptcy. Crotty is tasked with leading the company's transition post-Chapter 11, a discussion that will have a big impact on the partner community.

And it might only take two to "Tango," but Craig and Kevin both lined up some questions for Pamela Strong, vice president of global sales at Tango Networks. She talks about the big year for the company and it's Mobile-X product.

Meantime, the guys share thoughts on the global push for social and criminal justice reform. The conversation turns to a group in the channel that is pushing for inclusion and diversity.

But lest you think this podcast is turning a new leaf and losing it's more humorous side, Craig and Kevin break out their latest CwCK movie trailer. This week's theme?: time travel.

The guys are ready to "tel" you a little about the channel.

MetTel and GigTel are a couple of players making waves this spring with SD-WAN and UCaaS, respectively.

Up first is MetTel CTO Ed Fox, who discusses how artificial intelligence and SD-WAN are making enterprise networks more efficient. And he ought to know. MetTel just took home a couple of awards for SD-WAN.

Then it's Jim Rotondi, national channel manager with GigTel, which you might know better as Endeavor Communications. He talks about how being part of such a well-established organization has helped Gigtel maintain momentum in the market, particularly in UCaaS.

And both guests have some great advice on how to work through uncertain times.

And that's not all. With the theme of "know-how," Craig and Kevin talk about the many resources online, and in particular, on Channel Partners Online and Channel Futures, that can keep you in the know this summer as you continue to spend more time at home.

After what we'll call a "COVID hiatus," Craig and Kevin are back with some important messages for these trying times.

First up, the guys welcome Mike Schmidtmann, business coach and owner of Trans4mers, into the coffeehouse. Mike talks about the current climate for recruiting and hiring talent. He also offers up one big piece of advice for pushing through difficult economic times and coming through stronger than before.

Also on the show is Channel Partners' Kris Blackmon. The editor extraordinaire updates us on the 2020 MSP 501, which ranks the world's top managed service providers. MSPs, Kris has all the facts about applying and getting recognized for your outstanding businesses.

Furthermore, Kris and Craig will discuss all of the new digital and virtual opportunities available on Channel Partners Online and Channel Futures. With so many events canceled this sprint, we're helping to keep you up to speed on the industry.

All that, plus Digi, the podcast's digital services robot mascot, tells us about his stand-up comedy tour. Also, the guys lament the loss of sports, and Kevin introduces the podcast's first sponsor -- much to Craig's chagrin.

It's another pair of blockbuster guests on the latest episode of the Channel Partners podcast, Coffee with Craig and Kevin.

First up is 8x8 channel chief John Delozier, the Channel Partners/Channel Futures Influencer of the Year. He's the first-ever three-time guest on the show. "JD" fills us in on what 8x8 is doing to help its partners and customers through the COVID-19 crisis. He also shares advice on what he thinks it means to be an "influencer." And last but not least, we get an update on how 8x8 is making its Elevate channel program accessible to more partners.

But that's not all. The "initial" party continues! J.P. Dundas is someone the channel knows from his days at Fuze, EarthLink and Cbeyond. Now he's taken the reins of the Edify.cx channel. You might not know about Edify yet. So Dundas will talk about the company's cloud-native contact software and how Edify is helping people suddenly working at home.

Looking for more? Craig and Kevin will give you a breakdown of the changes to this year's prestigious MSP 501 awards. They include an accompanying awards program--the Next Gen 101! You will learn how to apply and qualify.

And to get you out of the stay-at-home blues, Craig and Kevin offer the Binge-Worthy Awards! They give you their picks for TV, movies and music while you are shut in.

It's a bombastic new Coffee with Craig and Kevin, the 75th edition of the podcast!

The guys are celebrating with Dan Saks, co-CEO of AppDirect, who discusses the origin of the company and how the acquisitions of a number of big master agents in the channel furthered his mission to develop AppSmart, the technology-services marketplace.

Renee Bergeron, new SVP and GM of AppSmart, also takes part in the conversation, to talk about what drew her to AppSmart from a decade at Ingram Micro and what she has for goals in her first year at the company.

Then, one of the hottest companies in all of tech, let alone the channel, drops in for a chat. Kevin Thomsen with Zoom Video Communications tells us why his company's platform is catching on like wildfire. He also offers up some interesting thoughts on the work-from-home phenomenon created by coronavirus concerns nationwide.

All that, plus Craig and Kevin break news-- sort of -- on the rescheduling of the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. Plus, they unveil their latest "movie trailer" for those who need a pick-me-up during these difficult times.

The interviews for this episode of Coffee with Craig and Kevin were done prior to the difficult decision that was made to officially postpone the event. Stay tuned to this podcast stream for updates on when it will be rescheduled.

Craig and Kevin offer their famous pre-show edition of the podcast, where they break down some of their favorite things to come at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, March 9-12, in Las Vegas.

The guys interview two companies that will make big waves at the event.

First up is Pilot Fiber's Mike Egbert, the company's director of sales. He gets us up to speed on the competitive market for fiber and internet services.

Then comes Jasmina Muller, the 8x8 and CenturyLink channel vet who just took on a big new role with Everbridge, the critical event management provider for the channel. She explains how partners can get a conversation around CEM started with their customers.

With just a week and a half before the BIG SHOW, the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, Craig and Kevin are hard at work not only prepping for the event but also garnering interviews with some of the big players who will be in the expo hall and beyond.

First up is Rob Messmer, channel chief with CBTS, who strolls into the coffeehouse to update us on the company's foray into SD-WAN and unique efforts to build its channel community.

Then it's Jed Kenzy, managing partner with Innovative Business Solutions, who talks about the master agent's relationships with the big cable companies and its Cablefinder.net service.

And of course, both companies can be found all over the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, March 9-12, whether it be in the expo hall, in meeting rooms, on the keynote stage and more.

Finally, Craig and Kevin will give you a top-three countdown of tips for attending the show.

Craig and Kevin packed a lot into this episode with just a little more than three weeks to go before the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.

First up is the channel team from Oracle. They get into the nitty gritty of SD-WAN and security. You might be surprised at the strides that this networking, cloud and enterprise software company is making in the channel.

Also, our Edward Gately scored an interview Avaya's channel chief to learn more about Avaya Cloud Office, which the company is betting on as a huge success when it debuts this spring. He also learned how Avaya plans to turn around four years of declining channel revenue.

And just when you thought that awards season was over, the guys discuss the many honors that will be doled out at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, March 9-12, in Las Vegas. Among them: the Excellence in Digital Services Awards, the Channel Influencer Awards and the Channel Partners Circle of Excellence.

Speaking of awards, did you know that this podcast was up for a very prestigious honor? This is the one time we're not being facetious.

We're just one month away from the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, so the guys lined up an interview with Nerdio, which is poised to help drive even more managed service providers to the event.

Also on the show, intrepid Channel Partners editor Edward Gately files a report from the Check Point Software CPX 360 event, where he caught up with the company's channel chief, Frank Rauch. Check Point is making some significant changes to its channel program.

What's more, we'll break down the upcoming Business Success Workshop preconference ahead of the Channel Partners show and fill you in some of the networking opportunities available at this year's BIG SHOW.

Finally, Craig and Kevin get their Super Bowl predictions in--yes, we recorded this before the big game--and let's just say the result was better for Craig than it was Kevin.

Craig and Kevin are back with their first episode of the new year, the new decade!

You might say they've got 2020 vision in great new interviews with Poly and Webroot.

Poly channel chief Nick Tidd, one of our Channel Partners Top Gun 51 award winners from 2019, tells us how partners have reacted to the changes at the company -- namely the merger of Plantronics and Polycom, followed by the rebrand to Poly. He also touches on new products and services rolling out at the company over the past few months and the exciting things coming down the road.

The guys also up their security game by welcoming George Anderson of Webroot to the show. He gets us caught up on advice for partners approaching their customers about security spending and the urgency for SMBs to stop thinking they're immune from cyberattacks.

And it wouldn't be a new year without one of Kevin's whimsical industry metaphors. We've also got a preview of the hot keynotes and conference education tracks on tap for the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo in March.

The guys return with their final podcast of the year, celebrating the holidays and thanking listeners for their devotion to Coffee with Craig and Kevin throughout 2019.

And a classic Craig & Kevin tradition returns -- a special CwCK movie trailer celebrating the "space" everyone in the channel loves to occupy.

They've also lined up a pair of great guests. First up is Andrew Pryfogle, chief market development officer at cloud distributor Pax8. He'll be on a panel debating IT and telecom convergence at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo in March. You'll want to hear what he has to say.

Also, Vonage channel chief Mario DeRiggi talks to Craig and Kevin about the company's new channel program in the U.K. -- perfect timing coming off our inaugural Channel Evolution Europe show -- as well as Vonage's revitalized branding as a B2B SaaS company. What's it all mean to partners? Listen and find out.

The push is on to Channel Evolution Europe, less than three weeks away in London. It's our inaugural European show, where we'll welcome top vendors and partners to Park Plaza Victoria, Dec. 2-3.

A key player in the event will be Dave Sobel, IT industry and MSP expert, most recently at SolarWinds, who is doing a couple of his own podcasts to evangelize for the channel. We sat down with him to hear what he's been up to, what he has planned for Channel Evolution Europe, and how he'll be working with Channel Partners and Channel Futures over the next few months -- not to mention pick his brain for channel-related advice.

Oh, and get this: Sobel says the "trusted adviser" is dead. That ought to perk up some ears.

The guys also welcome the team from Vade Secure, the email security company, to learn about new technology they're offering and get the inside scoop on the latest in phishing attacks.

All that, plus we take our first look at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, slated for March 2020, and Kevin explains why he loves the three "F's" of fall so much.

Welcome to November!

Craig and Kevin welcome Lisa Citron, vice president of America channel sales at F5 Networks, to the coffeehouse. She talks about F5's recent acquisition of NGINX and what that's doing for the company's partner community. Beyond that, we learn about growth in F5's Unity+ Partner Program.

We also catch up with roving reporter Edward Gately, who just returned from Las Vegas and Splunk .conf, where he caught up with channel leader Brooke Cunningham to talk about the company's message to partners and the new products Splunk is rolling out for partners to sell.

Plus, Channel Evolution Europe, our inaugural event in the U.K., is just a month away. We offer a preview. And in an edition dedicated to rock 'n' roll, Kevin breaks out another one of his whimsical industry metaphors to compare the channel to the history of rock.

After their post-Evolution layoff, the guys are back with a new podcast that packs in three interviews from some of the biggest names in the business.

While Channel Partners Evolution is the fall's biggest independent channel event--and we'll recap it here--it's not the only event with a channel focus happening this fall.

Channel Partners editor Edward Gately caught up with McAfee's channel chief at the company's MPower event in Las Vegas, and learned about some big changes coming to McAfee's partner program.

Then editor James Anderson gives us a two-fer from his trips to Florida for Tech Data's TechSelect conference and Intelisys Channel Connect in Monterey, California.

Hope ya missed us a little bit. We're back with regularly scheduled podcasts for the rest of the year.

Dude, we're getting Dell!

That's right, Dell Expert Network, the tech giant's business unit dedicated to serving MSPs and the SMB community, will be on hand at Channel Partners Evolution. They're setting up shop in the expo hall, meeting with prospective partners and sponsoring the Robin Robins sales and marketing preconference workshop. But we got them first on Coffee with Craig and Kevin to discuss the need for something like Dell Expert Network in the market and more about what they have planned for next week's show in Washington, D.C.

TBI's Bryan Reynolds also joins for his third in a series of appearances to tell us what he's doing to get "pumped up" for moderating the "Thunderdomes" at Channel Partners Evolution and what the master agent is doing to help partners sell SD-WAN.

Noticing a theme here? It's the Evolution pre-show edition! We'll cover the can't-miss highlights of the event and get you stoked for what will be four days of top-notch education and networking.

The unofficial end of summer is almost here with Labor Day just around the corner. For the Channel Partners team, that means putting the finishing touches on preps for Channel Partners Evolution.

One of the vendors pitching a tent in the expo hall will be Bigleaf, which will espouse the virtues of its "cloud-first SD-WAN to partners. Jeff Burchett, co-founder and VP of sales and marketing at Bigleaf, gives Craig and Kevin a preview:

"It is definitely a crowded space right now. One of the biggest challenges we have as a company ... it really comes down to differentiation, helping partners understand where we fit uniquely relative to the rest of the market ..., said Burchett. "We got started with a very specific problem in mind that we wanted to address ... the unique needs of SaaS and cloud and UCaaS applications when you're accessing them over the public internet."

Also on the show, T.C. Doyle, senior director of content for Channel Partners and Channel Futures, interviews Josh Wilhelm, the new president of IT solutions provider Right Hand Technology Group, which specializes in vertical industries, most notably, manufacturing. Wilhelm offers a partner perspective of managed services, security, M&A activity and more.

All that, plus a preview of the MSP 501 Awards dinner at Channel Partners Evolution, and Craig reminds Kevin about his domination in their fantasy football league.

The arrival of Channel Partners Evolution is imminent, with just 26 days, as of this recording, Aug. 14, of kicking off in Washington, D.C. So we're upping the frequency of our podcasts!

That's right, Craig and Kevin are back just nine days after their last effort to bring you updates from last week's Telarus Partner Summit in Aurora, Colorado, and the Black Hat USA event in Las Vegas.

Craig sits down with Adam Edwards, CEO of Telarus, to talk about the remarkable sales growth of the master agent's partners, what Telarus is doing internationally, and how Partner Summit itself has grown so rapidly.

Also, our road warrior and intrepid security reporter Edward Gately chats with leaders from Cisco and Duo Security to get an update on how the former's acquisition of the latter is impacting the partner community.

And that's not all for our "On the Road" segment--Kevin talks about his visit to CompTIA's ChannelCon in Vegas.

All that, plus the guys discuss what they are looking forward to most at the upcoming Channel Partners Evolution, and Kevin goes on the hot seat for this week's "Random Personal Question," which takes him back to high school.

We're into the home stretch.

We're just five weeks away from Channel Partners Evolution, where more than 3,200 channel professionals will gather for education, networking and more.

In this week's edition of Coffee with Craig and Kevin, we catch up with Lorna Garey, Channel Partners' editor-in-chief, the driving force between Channel Partners' new Alliance Makers program, which will give supplier reps at Evolution a chance to increase their sales and marketing knowledge, plus a chance to get on the line cards of some of the biggest master agents and distributors in the business.

Janet Schijns, former Verizon channel chief, will be a big part of that program, hosting our Shark Stage on Thursday, Sept. 12. She, too, joins the podcast to explain why she thinks Alliance Makers is so important and offers some tips on channel vendors can develop that "it" factor.

Of course, all of this supplier education is on top of Channel Partners Evolution's great history of conference tracks for our partner audience.

Think we're done? No way. Also on the show is Jonathan DuFault, channel relations manager with Nova Soluções, the Brazil-based network provider. He'll discuss the growing opportunity partners have with his company and the plans Nova has for Channel Partners Evolution.

"We hold one of the largest privately owned fiber wireless networks in the region, with an extended footprint in Colombia and Argentina as well as other parts of Latin America. We're a full-on telecom company; we're the go-to source for everything telecom-related in Brazil," DuFault said.

And our summer game show, "Random Personal Question," continues, with another less-than-great vocal performance from Kevin and a question to our guest about who's the greatest hoops legend of all time.

It's master mania on this episode of Coffee with Craig and Kevin!

First, Bryan Reynolds of TBI is back with the second in a series of appearances on the podcast, leading up to his emcee duties as moderator of our 5G, RMM and UCaaS "Thunderdome" panels.

We also get to know about a lesser-known master agent, iTelecom, which will be setting up shop on the Channel Partners Evolution show floor as a new exhibitor just a few weeks from now.

Speaking of Evolution, we'll have a rundown of some of the great education conference tracks at the event, and a discussion about our expanded focus on education for our supplier audience.

All that, plus Kevin "channels" Queen with another edition of our summer game show, "Random Personal Question." Bring your earplugs!

The heat of summer is here, so Craig and Kevin are bringing you a red-hot version of the Channel Partners podcast!

The guys are excited to welcome to the show Robin Robins, the well-known IT marketing and sales consultant, who is getting ready for her four-hour preconference workshop at the upcoming Channel Partners Evolution, the channel's biggest fall event. Robin explains why you should attend the event and drops a number of important sales and marketing tips that you can apply to your business before you even get to Washington, D.C.

"I think this is what gets many small business owners in trouble. They don't really understand marketing, so they think it's branding, a beautiful logo and a dynamic website. It's really none of those things. I'm a salesperson. A salesperson thinks differently about marketing. ... People are going to buy from us because we provide real value, we can solve a problem for them and we are positioned properly."

Speaking of Evolution, to be held Sept. 9-12, we'll explore some of the great networking opportunities on tap for the show. You'll also hear about a new partnership Channel Partners and Channel Futures have with Auvik, the RMM provider, which gives you the chance to take home some really "cool" prizes during the heat of summer.

The prizes don't stop there. A number of channel executives will be taking home honors at Channel Partners Evolution, part of our new "Top Gun 51" program that recognizes some of the biggest players in the biz, as well as some names you might be less familiar with. We'll announce a date for the big "reveal."

The podcast wraps with another great "Random Personal Question." But instead of putting our guest on the spot, Craig is forced to face the whammy.

The long-awaited MSP 501 rankings are out. Did your company make the list? That's the focus of this episode of Coffee with Craig and Kevin.

The guys welcome Kris Blackmon, senior editor of the MSP 501, to talk about how MSPs were chosen for the list and the remarkable effort it took to increase the number of applications we received this year by a big number.

"Our community profile has just grown and grown," said Blackmon. "Last year was a record number for applications, and this year we saw 35% year-over-year growth. So it seems to be one of those programs that's really resonating and taking off."

Also on the show is Bryan Reynolds, director of sales operations for master agent TBI. In the first of a series of appearances on Coffee with Craig and Kevin, Reynolds talks about the popularity of online video content his company is producing and previews the upcoming "Thunderdome" series that he hosts at Channel Partners Evolution in Washington, D.C.

"It's kind of like a live buyer's guide and you hear it directly from the vendors themselves. If you're in a competitive sales situation and there are competitors bidding against each other, you don't necessarily hear them say exactly what they're saying to the customer. This was a way to get them all in the same room at the same time and ask them pointed questions that customers might ask or partners might ask, and then hold them accountable for what they're saying."

Reynolds also bravely participates in our summer series, "Random Personal Question," where we spin the wheel--round and round she goes, where she stops, nobody knows..

Don't "press your luck" with this episode of the podcast!

Craig and Kevin welcome in Max Silber, vice president of mobility with MetTel, who steps into the coffeehouse to explain why 5G is exciting, but we should temper our expectations about how readily available it will be right off the bat.

"5G is coming. It will be available in several U.S. cities by the end of the year. And we'll all be able to enjoy it under one condition -- that we all live in our cars," jokes Silber. "The issue isn't just the deployment of 5G, it's really, how do you get that signal inside a building? The narrow band and high frequency that 5G requires in order to give us those ultra fast speeds, don't really like to penetrate buildings and energy efficient windows the same way that 4G LTE does."

Thus creates a challenge for wireless suppliers and channel partners.

Silber also touches on the connections between 5G and the internet of things, and how IoT has become an essential part of the MetTel portfolio.

We'll also bring you some "breaking news" around a special guest, well-known in the IT industry, that will lead the preconference at the upcoming Channel Partners Evolution.

And summer game shows are back! Kevin plays the role of the "channel whammy" as we kick off our new segment, "Random Personal Questions," which our guests will most likely learn to fear.

Did you think we were gone for good? No way -- sorry!

The guys are back with their first show since the Channel Partners Conference & Expo wrapped last month with a recap of the event and a trio of interviews with some big players in the industry.

First up is Danny Obaseki, VP of sales with GMS Live Expert, who shares how MSPs and their end customers are benefiting by working with his company.

Then, Channel Partners/Channel Futures news editor Edward Gately talks with channel leaders from KnowBe4 at their KB4-CON user conference, where dozens of partners were in attendance. They get us caught up on the latest trends in cybersecurity and how the KnowBe4 partner program is helping partners improve their security chops.

And fellow news editor James Anderson files a live report from master agent TBI's Big Event at Soldier Field in Chicago.

All that, plus Kevin tries to slow Digi's momentum and the guys reveal a big name that will be taking the stage at this fall's Channel Partners Evolution.

Be sure to check out the following links mentioned in the podcast: Live video podcast on Channel Evolution Europe: https://www.channelpartnersonline.com/videos/coffee-with-craig-and-kevin-get-ready-for-channel-evolution-europe/ MSP 501 application page: https://informa.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Xmxv9gFsMHSgVT?track=Website_Announcement

The Channel Partners Conference & Expo is almost here, so the guys are celebrating with a trio of first-time exhibitors at the show.

First up is Richard Stevens of Channel Assist, who talks about how his company helps businesses increase partner engagement.

Then comes Rachael Wright of Upcurve Cloud, a Google Cloud premier partner. She shares how Upcurve offers partners the opportunity to engage their clients from top to bottom of the technology stack.

Last but not least is Jennifer Kula of Wasabi, who explains Wasabi's "hot" storage and how partners can be "hot" by association.

And of course, with this being the last podcast before the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas kicks off on April 9, Craig and Kevin offer tips to make the best of your event-going experience. Oh, and Kevin raps … and goes off on a rant to get us all pumped up … the usual stuff.

March Madness is in full swing, not only on the basketball court, but with our podcast and the just-around-the-corner Channel Partners Conference & Expo.

Oracle, fresh off its purchase of SD-WAN provider Talari, is poised to make a big splash at our show. Nate Grinnell, senior director of the company's worldwide alliances and channels, strolls into the coffeehouse to talk about: how the acquisition will benefit partners of both companies; the new master-agent relationships he's setting up; the year's hottest SD-WAN trends; and the message he and his team hope to get across to prospective partners at CP Expo.

We'll also get an on-the-scene report from Ingram Micro's Cloud Summit X, where the distribution giant just launched a new IoT Marketplace.

All of that, plus a rundown of the Channel Partners agenda that only a millennial could appreciate.

With the Channel Partners Conference & Expo now just a little over a month away, the guys are getting serious. (Well, kind of. Their guests certainly are.)

First up is Tim Cook, founder and chief revenue officer of Blulogix, the B2B monetization specialists. Cook explains how partners can take advantage of what he calls the "monetization moment" and discusses the on-demand Channel Partners webinar that can help our audience make a giant leap toward getting there.

Next up is Andy Ory, co-founder and CEO of 128 Technology, a company that takes a unique look at networking. Ory tells us how the surge in the use of multiple clouds is impacting the industry and how his company's Session Smart SD-WAN is changing the game for its partner community.

All that, plus--are you ready to par-tay? The revamped Digi Awards at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas now features a party where we're welcoming a few hundred guests to put their hands up and raise a glass. We break it all down.

Craig and Kevin are coming down off the high from Valentine's Day in their latest podcast.

Love is in the air when Jim Vicatos, national director of sales at Choice Business Connections, joins the show. In addition to telling us where to find the best bagels and pizza on Long Island, Jim talks about his company's important relationship with T-Mobile, partner opportunities in IoT and how Choice's CAMP program is saving customers money.

The guys also feel the love from Rick Beckers, who's not only a member of the Channel Partners Advisory Board, but also the head of a new company that's bringing a new approach in digital distribution to the channel.

"It's an evolution and a collision of everything that's going on in the world as it pertains to what everyone has hung "industry 4.0" on ... our channel vendors and agents and partners are selling technology things. ... The digital transformation has turned everything from what used to be an on-premises world to a hybrid world, and you'd now be hard-pressed to find a technology offering that, if it already isn't subscription-based, the vendors selling those things are already working on how to make their wares subscription-based. XaaS1 ... is evolving the channel ... [creating] a digital distribution layer ... making the channel easier in general with a single-sign-on platform."

All that and more, including a preview of the Business Success Symposium at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo and all of the "great ideas" that haven't quite made the cut for our shows over the past several years.

The groundhog didn't see his shadow, so that means at least six more episodes of Craig and Kevin.

The guys are pleased to welcome RingCentral channel chief Zane Long to the show. He talks about the latest cutting-edge research around unified communications a service and how his company's recent purchase of a pair of customer-engagement platforms is bound to benefit partners.

"This bolsters our customer-engagement portfolio .... without question our primary focus has been addressing the needs of businesses as they look to enable their mobile and distributed workforces all across the world," Long says.

We also get an on-the-scene report from our own Edward Gately, who spent the week in Las Vegas at the Check Point CPX360 event. He caught up with new Check Point channel leader Frank Rauch to learn about the direction the cybersecurity provider is taking with its partner program.

All that, plus Kevin introduces a sketchy new acronym--KWIM--that we doubt is going to catch on. He tries hard nonetheless. And we'll offer an update on this spring's upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo, whose pieces are really starting to come together.

It goes without saying that we've been away for too long. Coffee with Craig and Kevin returns for its first episode of the new year.

The guys tell you more about the partner opportunity to go home with a first-ever Digi Award at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo--an homage of course to our own digital services robot mascot. We'll also offer up our first preview of some of the hottest attractions coming to CP Expo in Vegas in April.

We also welcome in Channel Partners/Channel Futures editor Edward Gately, who this week was live on the scene at Avaya's Engage event, where he caught up with Dino DiPalma, president, strategic partners and global accounts at the company. DiPalma talks about the biggest trends in unified communications and contact centers, sharing the goals he has for Avaya's partners this year.

Craig and Kevin are celebrating their milestone 50th podcast, which doubles as their holiday edition!

Joining them in the revelry are David Vance, chief business development officer at 888VoIP, who talks about five considerations to make when switching to a cloud PBX, as well as the company's new distribution facility in Reno, Nevada.

Not to be outdone is Art Wittmann, senior vice president of Channel Partners and Channel Futures, who talks about the successes from the past year and the excitement planned for 2019.

And it wouldn't be an episode of Coffee with Craig and Kevin without some traditional wackiness. You'll get their channel spin on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas; plus, a dedication to holiday movies with some trailers -- also with a channel spin.

Craig and Kevin are back from fattening their bellies on Thanksgiving with a brand-new podcast.

John Cunningham, CEO of BCM One, joins the fray to talk about the exciting things happening at his company and how partners are benefiting from some of its key relationships in the channel.

And since it's December, it's time to look back at some of the highlights or 2018 and offer up some industry predictions for 2019 -- Craig and Kevin style, of course -- which means these "top five" lists could be pretty unorthodox.

Thanksgiving is almost here, so the guys give thanks to you, their loyal listeners, with some more great channel content.

First up, Mike Kerr of SUSE strolls into the coffeehouse for some chatter about open source and the growing importance it plays in the channel.

Then, Rosanna Pellegrino takes some time away from her day job at Digital Defense to share the latest about her company and offer tips to both partners and customers about preparing for today's cybersecurity challenges.

Finally, Channel Partners/Channel Futures news editor James Anderson shares his story about the latest technology he's encountered -- a transcription app to help him process his interviews more quickly. Let's just say it quickly devolved into what we're calling "transcription mad libs."

With Channel Partners Evolution in the rearview mirror, Craig and Kevin have their bearings back.

After a brief hiatus, they return with a podcast featuring one of the biggest names in channel analysis--Forrester's Jay McBain. McBain talks about how vendors can build the best channel programs and what partners can anticipate from what's likely to be another crazy year of M&A in 2019.

Also on the show is Josh Hutchison, director of sales - channel enablement, with Mindmatrix, the provider of PRM, sales-enablement and marketing-automation software. You'll learn about his company and what it's doing in the channel.

And then there's #snubbed. That's right. Craig and Kevin tell their sob story about a canceled comedy routine at the MSP 501 awards, which no doubt turned out for the best.

Craig and Kevin are pumped up about Channel Partners Evolution!

In this edition of the podcast, the guys offer five tips for attendees who won't want to miss out on all of the business and networking opportunities awaiting them in Philadelphia.

Also on the show is Carlos Lahrssen, president of Nexogy, the cloud-based business phone system provider. He'll be talking about Nexogy's presence at Evolution and what makes the company's partner program stand out.

All that, plus we recognize the winner of our summer-long "The Channel's Got Talent" competition. Let's just say Craig thinks it was rigged; he's not too impressed with the result.

In this latest edition of the wildly popular Channel Partners podcast, the guys sit down with 4Voice founder Amruth Laxman, for a deep dive into business VoIP. And what 4Voice has in store for partners who drop by the company's booth at Channel Partners Evolution.

You'll also get the lowdown on the brand-new Business Transformation Station inside the Channel Partners Evolution expo hall. Leaders from Sandy Beaches Software and Inteserra share their thoughts on the significant steps needed to transform all aspects of your business--expertise you'll be able to tap from multiple vendors in one stop on the show floor.

Oh, but that's not all. In honor of telecom agents and MSPs working together, the guys talk about some of their favorite "duos" of all time!

It's that time of the year again. As the kids and college students go back to school, so do Craig and Kevin.

The guys welcome Melissa McCoy, vice president of channel sales at Flexential, to the show. She talks about her new position and the combination of the former ViaWest and Peak 10 channel programs into one.

Also on this week is Ben Edmond, founder and CEO of Connected2Fiber. While fiber is a hot topic, Edmond explains why you should also consider getting "SaaS-y" with his company and what you can expect from his team at Channel Partners Evolution.

Oh, and we mentioned "back to school," right? We have fun with all of the education you'll be able to get in Philadelphia in October.

Big M&A news in the channel broke this week and Craig and Kevin were all over it.

In this edition of the Channel Partners podcast, the guys welcome in Brian Leonard, the new vice president of marketing at RapidScale, to talk about his company's acquisition by Cox Business. They'll also talk about his new role and the stakes RapidScale is claiming in desktop as a service.

Also on the show is Melinda Templeman, head of VIP relations for Channel Partners and its sister brands, to discuss what we'll be doing for our partners and customers at Channel Partners Evolution, as well as the burgeoning IoT opportunity.

And all of the big summer blockbusters on theater screens around the country have Craig and Kevin wondering, "What if this podcast were a movie?"

It's podcast time again!

In their latest episode, Craig and Kevin welcome the team from Sprint Business to talk about the exciting changes to their partner program and the slew of products and services they're hitting the channel with this year.

Also on the show is Holly Garcia of ATEN Technology, a distributor that is making waves and becoming a bigger player in the industry.

And to commemorate their 42nd episode, the guys remember Jackie Robinson (who wore No. 42) and talk a little baseball with the All-Star Game just around the corner.

In this edition of the Channel Partners podcast, Craig and Kevin welcome Rob Rae, vice president of business development at Datto.

Rae breaks down his company's recently completed DattoCon event, answers partners' questions about Datto's merger with Autotask and talks about the growing importance of cybersecurity for MSP businesses.

Also on the show is Ed Basart, chief strategist for InSpeed Networks. Basart takes us on a ride through telecom history, describing how he came to found ShoreTel and, more recently, InSpeed. You'll learn about the unique opportunities you'll have at the company's booth at the upcoming Channel Partners Evolution.

All that, plus Kevin lives out his dream of anchoring the evening news!

The Channel Partners podcast is turning the big 4-0 (as in our 40th episode), and the guys are celebrating with a pair of great guests.

First, just a week into his new gig as global channel chief at 8x8, John DeLozier, formerly channel leader at CenturyLink, talks about why he took on this new challenge and what he hopes to bring to the table at his new company.

Then, Tracy Kersting, director of channel marketing at Vivial, discusses her company's relationship with partners and what it has in store for Channel Partners Evolution this fall.

But as we all know, turning 40 poses some challenges as well. Craig and Kevin both find reasons to go off on a rant and share some of their favorite rants from the world of sports and entertainment.

And of course, The Channel's Got Talent continues! We'll find out what sets our guests apart from the rest.

It's channel podcast time again!

This week, Jennifer Anaya, VP of marketing with Ingram Micro, explains why MSPs are the distribution giant's fastest-growing partner group. She also tells us why her company was so quick to sponsor the upcoming MSP 501 gala at Channel Partners Evolution.

Then, pick up your smartphone and your fidget spinner (only joking, millennials)! The guys welcome James Anderson, news editor with Channel Partners/Channel Futures, and Aaron Leveston, national account manager with RingCentral, to learn about a new group that's not only offering millennials a place to grow and learn but is also bridging the gap between the channel's older and younger generations.

All that, plus introducing the channel's version of America's Got Talent!

Craig and Kevin celebrate a very "special" 38th edition of the Channel Partners podcast by welcoming Geeman Yip, CEO of BitTitan, who was named one of our inaugural Channel Influencers for 2018. You'll learn about how his company has been helping MSPs for the past 10 years.

He'll also talk trends, including why we shouldn't fear automation; in fact, it might even help Kevin keep his job. We'll explain.

Also on the podcast is Derek Brown of Pronto Marketing. Derek is a marketing expert who works with partners, most notably MSPs, to boost their business. A lot of partners are great at sales, but marketing is a black hole. He'll help calm those marketing fears.

All that, plus a super-early sneak preview of Channel Partners Evolution. And yanny or laurel? It's the CCwK breaking news alert you won't want to miss.

After a hiatus to catch their breath from the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, the boys return to talk with two of the biggest headliners from the event.

First, David Beagle of Office Depot talks about catching some of the audience off guard with the retail giant's big booth at the show. Just what were they doing there? He'll explain.

And many were surprised to see such a large presence from EnergyWare. Michael Bertamini, the company's CEO, lights up the Channel Partners airwaves to discuss the growing interest in LED lighting solutions and why partners won't want to drop this profitable opportunity.

All that, plus Craig and Kevin discuss some of their favorite moments from the show and the business transformation that will continue through 2018 and beyond.

The Channel Partners Conference & Expo is upon us, and to celebrate, Craig and Kevin welcome their old colleague, Rick Reed, now heading up sales for Avant in the master agent's South Central region.

Also on the show is Skyler Ditchfield, CEO of GeoLinks, a first-time Channel Partners exhibitor, who talks about the huge strides his company is making and what they have planned for #CPExpo.

All that, plus the guys break down a few of the highlights of the upcoming conference and share some deep thoughts--metaphors that tie rap music into the Channel Partners show. Yes, rap.

Coffee with Craig & Kevin celebrates its 35th episode by welcoming Dina Moskowitz and Clinton Gatewood of SaaSMax to the show. They discuss the state of SaaS in the channel and their plans for the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.

(Warning: Many SaaS puns await you.)

Also, Craig talks about his latest obsession--which is truly an old obsession--game shows.

In the latest edition of Coffee with Craig & Kevin, the guys sit down with Michelle Chiantera, vice president of Global Partner Marketing with Cisco.

Chiantera talks about the upcoming Cisco Marketing Velocity event in Barcelona and offers some tips to partners trying to market their businesses in this digital age.

Also on the podcast is Adam Nygard of D&H Distributing, who talks about his company's presence at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, as well as what D&H is doing in the SMB space to differentiate itself from its competitors.

All that, plus a little March Madness talk -- and the feud between Kevin and Digi starts to grow.

Craig, Kevin and Digi, the digital-services robot mascot, welcome Anthony Cavotta, director of the agent partner program at Carousel Industries.

Cavotta talks about the wide range of IT services that his company has to offer, as well as the impact that Carousel's new Cisco Master Security specialization is having on its partner community.

Also, Julie Dzubay, director of sales operations at WTG, previews the master agent's Tee & Sea event, discusses the "adaptive channel," and reminisces about Kevin's less-than-great golf game.

All of that, plus Kevin gets jealous and Digi nearly blows a gasket.

Sit back and pour yourself another cup of java, because it's time for another episode of Coffee with Craig & Kevin.

The guys are pleased to welcome Bruce Wirt, vice president of channel sales at Telesystem, to the show. Bruce discusses the different ways partners can work with Telesystem, as well as his company's recent master-agent relationship announcements.

But that's not all. Channel Futures and Channel Partners sales leaders -- Kelly Danziger and Brian Snortheim, Kevin's bosses who greatly intimidate him -- join the podcast to discuss more of the exciting changes coming to the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in April and Channel Partners Evolution in October.

Think we're done? Nope. You'll also get to meet Digi, our new digital-services mascot, who proves to be another thorn in Kevin's side.

Craig & Kevin didn't see their shadows, so they've emerged for another Channel Partners podcast.

In this edition, the guys welcome Tina Gravel, channel chief at Cyxtera, the secure infrastructure provider, to discuss not only data centers and security, but also how her company's channel program is progressing just a few months after introducing it at Channel Partners Evolution.

And in a new segment, "Personal Deep Dive," Craig and Kevin try to answer the age-old question, "Who let the dogs out?"

Channel Partners executive editor Craig Galbraith and business development lead Kevin Morris kick off the new year with a podcast featuring Carmen Sorice, longtime channel leader at Sungard Availability Services, who has started a new business that's dedicated to helping vendors build successful channel programs.

Also on the show is Chris Whitaker, director of national indirect sales at Sierra Wireless, who dives into the state of connectivity and IoT in the channel.

All of that, plus Kevin introduces you to a new acronym-based theme song for the podcast.

In their final podcast of 2017, the guys welcome Hartland Ross, founder and president of eBridge Marketing Solutions and The Host Broker, for some insight on the greatest marketing challenges facing IT businesses today. He also offers tips on building a recurring revenue stream.

But that's not all. Kevin is visited by the Ghosts of Channel Past, Present and Yet to Come in what turns out to be an entertaining lesson for partners, much like how Scrooge learned in the old Dickens tale.

Think we're through? No way. The guys offer up the top five channel buzzwords of 2017.

In the latest version of the popular Channel Partners podcast, Craig and Kevin welcome MetTel's Max Silber to talk about the future of mobility and IoT in the channel -- including his company's role in it.

The guys also break down a successful 2017 at Channel Partners and get you pumped up for their final podcast of the year in mid-December that will feature a special celebrity guest.

And of course, the usual hilarity ensues.

In their latest podcast, the guys get you ready for Thanksgiving and beyond at Channel Partners. And as usual, they offer up a couple of great guests.

First, Nitel's Jason Dishon talks about the company's new Elite Partner Program and the latest strides it's making in SD-WAN.

Then, venturing out of the telecom and IT box for a bit, Craig sits down with Chris Berman to talk sports, his career at ESPN--and yes, some business advice for our listeners.

This edition of the wildly popular Channel Partners podcast focuses on superteams and supergroups!

Take the new combination of Channel Partners and Channel Futures--a supergroup if we've ever heard one. T.C. Doyle, editorial director for Channel Futures, talks to the guys about some of the exciting plans ahead for two giants in the channel coming together.

Also, the superteam at TBI visits the program to talk about a number of topics, including their new inbound referral program and what the master agent is doing to help its partners help their customers make the leap to SD-WAN.

The boys are back from Channel Partners Evolution!

Craig and Kevin provide a recap of everything you saw and missed at the show in Austin; plus, Craig sits down with Buck Baker, president, worldwide communications and services, ScanSource, and Jay Bradley, president of Intelisys, at the master agent's Channel Connect event.

They go over highlights of the three days of festivities and talk about how the companies are working together one year after ScanSource closed its acquisition of Intelisys.

This is your 15-minute guide to Channel Partners Evolution!

In the latest episode of the podcast, Craig and Kevin break down everything you won't want to miss at Channel Partners Evolution, from the education and keynotes, to what's new in the expo hall, a golf tournament and the best networking opportunities in the channel! It's all happening in Austin, Texas, next week.

Oh, and did we mention food trucks? And dancing?

Craig and Kevin celebrate the beginning of football season with a pair of juggernaut guests.

First, Hillary Gadda, who was just promoted in TPx Communications' partner channel, updates the guys on what's happening not only at the managed-services carrier, but also what's in store for Women in the Channel--of which she is president--at the upcoming Channel Partners Evolution in Austin, Texas.

But that's not all. Lauren Robinette of Intel, a first-time Channel Partners event exhibitor, breaks down how you can work with the IT giant to make a ton of money.

All that, plus the Kevin Morris Summer Concert Series continues!

It's a super-sized edition of the popular Channel Partners podcast.

CompTIA's Carolyn April and Seth Robinson chat with Craig and Kevin about a number of industry trends with huge impacts on the channel -- most notably SaaS and IoT.

And the guys get into a cloud and data-center groove with Colotraq's Dany Bouchedid.

And, as usual, if you're a music fan, Craig and Kevin serve up a variety along with their take on Monday's eclipse.

In the latest edition of Coffee with Craig & Kevin, the guys welcome Comcast channel chief Craig Schlagbaum to catch up on everything cable, from the latest new technology--notably SD-WAN--and what the cabelcos have planned for Channel Partners Evolution, Sept. 25-28, in Austin, Texas.

Speaking of Evolution, you need to hear about Channel Partners' effort to help worthy United States veterans land jobs after their service is done. We've partnered with a veterans group in Austin on a very worthy cause.

All that, plus Craig and Kevin once again embarrass themselves with a series of one-liners and self-deprecating jokes sure to make you at least chuckle.

Craig and Kevin welcome Pax8's Ryan Walsh to the podcast to get the lowdown on what the cloud distributor has in store for Channel Partners Evolution.

Also, new Rackspace channel chief Lisa McLin explains what her company's partners can expect from the managed cloud provider's channel program in the next few months.

And somehow it all ties in to Top Gun -- hopefully the millennials know what that is.

The guys catch up with Avant's Drew Lydecker to talk about the master agent's big plans for Channel Partners Evolution, the latest and greatest news at Avant, and his prediction for more channel consolidation in the next year or two.

Also, the team from GSA discusses the growing importance of regulation and compliance as they pertain to taxation in the channel.

If you simply tune in for some of Craig and Kevin's offbeat humor, there's plenty of that too, as they tackle the topic of the many buzzwords floating around the channel these days.

In the latest edition of the popular Channel Partners podcast, the guys catch up with Alex Brisbourne, CEO, of KORE, who talks about the IoT revolution and what partners need to do to get in on the ground floor.

Also, Beachhead Solutions channel leader Cam Roberson chats about the latest in security and the challenging regulation and compliance issues facing partners -- and particularly MSPs -- today.

Want more? Craig talks about the exciting new Evolution Hub at the upcoming Channel Partners Evolution in Austin, and Kevin explains his love of U2.

Great information, sales tips and fun ... it's all here.

Craig and Kevin are back after a short hiatus, firing up an in-depth interview with Telarus CEO and co-founder Adam Edwards.

Edwards talks about the growing importance of partner tools in today's channel, as well as the tremendous impact that M&A activity is having -- and will continue to have -- on the industry as more traditional tech distributors are poised to gobble up master agents.

The guys also catch up with Ankur Srivastava, CEO of Swarmsales, to discuss the interesting value proposition that his company is offering the market.

Of course, it wouldn't be "Coffee" without a few jokes and insight into Craig and Kevin's personal lives. Enjoy.

In the latest installment of Channel Partners' Coffee with Craig & Kevin podcast, the guys catch up with a couple of CP360 Award winners to talk about the digital future and what partners can do to get recognized through the Business Value Awards.

Craig and Kevin offer up a recap of this month's Channel Partners Conference & Expo, and welcome several guests to talk about the brand-new SDxE (Software-Defined Everything Enterprise) show to be collocated with Channel Partners Evolution this fall in Austin. Meantime, editor in chief Lorna Garey catches up with Wendy Bahr, SVP, Cisco Global Partner Organization.

Channel Partners' Craig Galbraith and Kevin Morris welcome their first international guest--HPE's Xavier Poisson, and sit down for a chat with CBB about their rebrand.

Of course, we'll also talk about the imminent Channel Partners Conference & Expo, and Craig and Kevin will include what they consider to be hilarity.

It could be the biggest edition of Coffee with Craig & Kevin to date.

The guys interview David DeCamillis of Platte River Networks to preview his session at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo. Topic?: Crisis prevention. And does he have a doozy of a story to tell about his company's involvement in the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server.

But that's far from all. Craig files a report from the PlanetOne Communications Tech Tour in Newport Beach, California, where he caught up with Verizon channel chief Janet Schijns. She outlines what people can expect from her keynote at the show -- including a special celebrity guest who will join her on stage.

In this jam-packed edition of Channel Partners' Coffee with Craig & Kevin, the guys talk about the "experience areas" at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo. Also, you'll hear Craig's interviews with CenturyLink channel chief John DeLozier and Intelisys co-founder Rick Dellar. But that's not all; we welcome The 2112 Group's Larry Walsh to the show. And expect a few Academy Awards jokes along the way in a podcast with an underlying theme of rock 'n' roll.

In this edition of Channel Partners' "Coffee With Craig & Kevin," the guys welcome to the show Brian Babich, the new channel chief at BullsEye Telecom. He shares his goals for his company's channel program and what he has in store for the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo. Also, David Walter, the boss at MSP SEO Factory, joins the podcast, with some tips for partners to get their marketing houses in order.

Craig Galbraith and Kevin Morris welcome Channel Partners editor-in-chief Lorna Garey and former editor-in-chief, BuzzTheory Strategies' Khali Henderson, to talk about concurrent education at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo. At the heart of the conversation is the "business of the channel," which promises to deliver topics and speakers dedicated to helping partners improve their businesses. Plus, Khali shares some memories of previous Channel Partners shows, with a promise not to embarrass the hosts of this podcast!

Channel Partners' Craig Galbraith and Kevin Morris return for the new year. Joined by special guests Brian Snortheim, new Channel Partners VP of sales, and Angela Leavitt, chief mojo-making officer at Mojo Marketing, they discuss the benefits of attending the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo as well as some marketing tips for partners to use in their businesses.

Channel Partners' Craig Galbraith and Kevin Morris talk about the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo, a new addition to the team and exciting things on tap for 2017.

Craig and Kevin finish off a busy day two at the show with none other then Michael Bremmer! Join us as they talk about what happened today in Washington DC at Channel Partners Evolution.

Enjoy a podcast recorded live from the Channel Partners Evolution show in Washington DC as Kevin and Craig welcome guest David DeCamillis of Platte River Networks. Find out what has happened so far at the show as they discuss the First Time Attendees Reception, Keynote panel discussions, after work parties and more!

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