Continuum, the channel-exclusive provider of fully integrated managed IT services solutions, wraps up its second annual user conference today at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Navigate 2015, the sold-out, three-day educational and training event, is hosting more than 600 attendees, including hundreds of managed services providers supporting 50,000 small and-medium-size businesses across the country. Navigate 2015 features more than 60 speakers as well as more than 30 sponsors and exhibitors, both returning and new.
This year’s theme is “taking your MSP business to the next level” with advanced sales and marketing skills.
The conference pre-day events included Continuum U technical training sessions, CompTIA executive certification sessions, and an HTG Peer Group workshop, followed by a welcome reception and tech showcase.
On Day One, Continuum’s Vice President of Sales Mark Connolly gave the opening remarks. He stressed that the number one issue MSPs and IT resellers are facing is a lack of sales and marketing.†Connolly said they cannot rely solely on word of mouth or referrals, but rather “they need to build a sales and marketing engine for their business.” To address this need specifically, Continuum planned five sessions at the conference surrounding sales and marketing, as well as engaged keynote speaker Robin Robins, the IT industry’s most sought after marketing consultant, sales trainer, and author.
Continuum CEO Michael George followed with the Continuum keynote, “The Value of Exploration,” drawing parallels from world-changing explorations and discoveries from the past 500 years to the opportunities and future business success of the company’s MSP partners. Today, he said, with smart sourcing Continuum partners are “bringing innovators into small town America by leveraging the global workforce,”†citing the company’s †offices in Mumbai and Pennsylvania.†He stressed that the number one challenge small businesses face today is labor and finding qualified techs.†
He noted to attendees that Continuum doubled its help desk in the last year and has a Tier 2 and 3 tech on each call to quickly resolve issues. In addition, Continuum acquired R1Soft, creator of the R1Soft Server Backup Manager (SBM) product line, from Idera last year to to provide BDR/continuity 24/7.
George harkened both NFL coach George Allen, Sr., who said “Winning is the science of being totally prepared”†and Albert Einstein, who said “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
Dee Zepf, vice president of products and technical service, then presented the Continuum Product Roadmap to attendees.
Continuum also recognized and honored partners on opening day with the following awards”
- All-in All Star – Gordon Flesch Company
- Excellence in Business Continuity – WAMS
- Help Desk MVP – CMIT Solutions of Cambridge
- Innovator of the Year – ImageQuest
- Partner of the Year – Vertical Solutions
- Revenue Growth Rock Star – Securus Corporation
- Rookie of the Year – Meridian Imaging Systems
- Continuum Community Champion – Charles Love, Big Sur Technologies; Bryan Sullo, Clocktower; Jeff Delmar, Garner IT Consulting and Mark Wadnizak, VoiceSmart Networks
A networking reception and tech showcase ended the day, followed by an evening event.
Today, day two, the morning keynote addresses are being delivered by Robin Robins, who specializes in highly effective marketing strategies for VARs, MSPs, solution providers, and IT consulting firms. She is speaking on “How To Build the Ultimate Sales and Marketing Machine for Your IT Services Business.”
The afternoon keynote is being presented by Verne Harnish, the founder of the world-renowned Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO).†He is speaking on “Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It and Why the Rest Don’t.”
The event will wrap up with closing remarks from Continuum’s George and Connolly.
