Texas MSPs, MSSPs, and IT consultants went from business operations to learning mode at ChannelPro LIVE: Dallas on Oct. 9-10. This in-person gathering was focused on building knowledge, skills, and connections that modern tech organizations need to thrive.
In addition to providing a blueprint for greater efficiency and profitability, Dallas was special. Due to audience demand, it featured ChannelPro’s first ever AI Insights Workshop. The focus on AI included both the strategic and the tactical, with deep conversations around AI tooling, sales techniques, and common pitfalls.
Attendees praised the conference, highlighting the educational sessions, vendor demonstrations, and valuable networking opportunities. Though the conference catered specifically to managed services providers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it drew participants from across the region.
The event sponsors, including both new and well-beloved channel partners, found the event extremely useful as well. “ChannelPro events are the best way to meet face to face with folks,” said Joe Alapat, founder and chief product officer, Liongard. “You could try to visit one customer at a time, but it’s much more efficient to come to an event and meet with hundreds of MSPs and other vendors. You’ll learn more in two or three days than you would in months sitting at home, thanks to subject matter experts and peer-based learning.”
Day 1: AI Insights Workshop
The conference’s first day began with an engaging presentation by Corey Kirkendoll, president/CEO of 5K Technical Services. His opening keynote, Selling AI as a Service – A Blueprint for MSPs, provided a comprehensive guide on how IT professionals can capitalize on artificial intelligence.
Attendee Kyle Wentworth, CEO of Austin, TX-based Wentworth Consulting Group, described Kirkendoll’s presentation as “incredible.” “It’s a great way for us to see how a technology that we’re all trying to get involved in is actually being implemented by another managed services provider. That helps us jump over that barrier of fear and start selling.”
The next presentation, Brand New Ways to Use AI to Improve Your MSP, explored innovative ways to use AI to streamline operations, automate mundane tasks, and improve customer experiences, enabling IT professionals stay competitive.
Additionally, the day’s activities featured Strategic Networking exclusively for IT Pros: MSP Matchmaker. This highly interactive session allowed MSPs to connect with their peers, share experiences, and build valuable referral relationships.
The day concluded with a welcome reception in the exhibit hall, where audience members relaxed, enjoyed refreshments, visited with vendors, and continued networking in a more informal setting.
Day 2: Growth Strategies
Dallas MSPs started day two with a networking breakfast, setting the stage for a day filled with impactful content.
After a series of engaging vendor presentations, educational sessions kicked off with Selling Up! Top Strategies for Winning Bigger Accounts. This focused on practical approaches to securing larger clients and expanding co-managed sales.
Following a collaborative networking lunch, ChannelPro Tech Editor Matt Whitlock led AI Movie Trivia: The Game, where two contestants battled to see who could guess AI-related movies based on unusual DALLE-3 generated images.
The trivia game dialed up the energy and excitement before AI: A Love/Hate Story, a panel discussion on the benefits and challenges of AI on a national scale.
Then, a solo presentation, Bouncing Back from Evil, featured James Wroten, CEO of Intelos. He shared his MSP’s personal experience recovering from a significant cyberattack.
Educational content wrapped up a closing keynote from IT industry icon Mike Semel, Selling Lucrative, Compliant Services Isn’t Hard — If You Know How. Semel provided tactics for selling high-value, compliance services. He also detailed specific Texas regulations that presented financial opportunities for managed services providers.
The event concluded with an awards and giveaway ceremony celebrating both attendees and event sponsors.
Sponsors Make It Happen
ChannelPro LIVE: Dallas provided MSPs with valuable tools and perspectives to help them grow and thrive in the booming tech services industry. This was made possible by the support of our world-class sponsors.
The ChannelPro awards, voted on by the Dallas audience, highlighted standout vendors and sessions, recognizing the contributions that made the event a success.
Here’s a look at the sponsor awards winners:
- Best Add-on Product: (tie) Barracuda and NUSO
- Best Cloud Solution: Liongard
- Best Distributor: TD SYNNEX
- Best Expo Hall Presentation (Premium Sponsors): Galactic Advisors
- Best Expo Hall Presentation (Silver Sponsors): Liongard
- Best Hardware Solution: Island by PerfTech
- Best New Solution: Alta Labs
- Best On-stage Presentation: (tie) SonicWall and US Signal
- Best Product or Platform: Liongard
- Best Revenue Booster: (tie) Avast Business and Kaseya
- Best Security Solution: ThreatLocker
- Best Software Solution: ConnectWise
- Most Exciting Solution: Alta Labs
- Best in Show: Galactic Advisors
- ROI Lightning Round Winner: Alta Labs
- Editor’s Choice: StorOne
Primed for Future Success
Attendees left feeling energized, with a toolkit full of new ideas and strategies to propel their businesses forward.
Due to the extreme interest in harnessing machine learning, ChannelPro has an online-only showcase planned called Doubling MRR With Artificial Intelligence. That event will be held on December 11th. Additionally, two LIVE events in 2025 will feature AI Insights Workshops: New Jersey and Atlanta. All MSPs are urged to register early now to secure a spot for those events.
