The first ChannelPro LIVE event of 2025 set a high bar as MSPs, IT consultants, and other technology professionals gathered in Tampa, FL. During the event on Feb. 5-6, Florida MSPs gained expert insights, engaged in hands-on learning, and expanded their networks.
With a strong emphasis on AI adoption, revenue-generating services, and cybersecurity best practices, MSPs left with actionable strategies to grow and secure their businesses.
“MSPs have demanding schedules, so if they’re dedicating two days to us, we make every moment count,” said ChannelPro Executive Editor Jonathan Browning. “Whether they want expert advice on growth strategies, time to talk with their peers, or face time with key vendors, our events are designed to deliver maximum value.”
Mind-blowing Moments for Florida MSPs
A Strong Start
To kick off the event, ChannelPro Founder and Publisher Michael Siggins introduced Senior Channel Editor Anjali Fluker, who welcomed the audience and set the stage for the next several hours of activities. Then, panel discussions offered attendees advice and pitfalls on various topics:
- The New Services You Aren’t Offering (But Should!) featured Ronnie Parisella of DataBit and Seana Fippin of Red Box Business Solutions. The pair highlighted high-margin services MSPs often overlook, ranging from AI to automation to compliance-as-a-service to advanced security solutions. They demonstrated how MSPs can diversify their revenue streams in 2025 and beyond.
- Attorney Brad Gross, founding partner of the Law office of Bradley Gross PA, presented Don’t Want to Get Sued? Everything You Need to Know in 20 Minutes. Gross lightened the heavy topic with humor while offering examples of ways MSPs should — and should not — represent themselves to clients.
- Kaseya‘s Brian Doty took to the stage for a “fireside chat-style” discussion on The Key to Unlocking Big Profits: What Vendors Know That MSPs Often Don’t. Doty provided attendees a deeper understanding of how vendors approach product pricing, positioning, and bundling — even offering insights drawn from his own past experience working for an MSP.
Ronnie Parisella and Seana Fippin discuss profitable services MSPs should offer.
“The discussions bring a lot of value to MSPs like us from people who have more time than us to look into these things,” said Duane Coffey, president of Orlando-based NetComplete. “I never looked at AI as a product I should be [selling], but only as a product we should be using in our business. Now, my mind has opened up to some more things. That’s kind of cool.”
Introducing: ChannelPro’s Partner in Excellence Award
New for this year, ChannelPro plans to honor an MSP, peer networking coach, or channel consultant in each city where we host events. The honoree, selected by the ChannelPro Advisory Group. It is someone that has worked tirelessly to build the MSP community, foster growth, and embrace innovation. Winners are selected from more than two dozen truly notable nominees.
This year’s Partner in Excellence Award recipient for the Tampa regional event was Annette Taber, founder and CEO of BoardSWAP, which offers “advisory boards as a service.” From spearheading transformative initiatives at CompTIA and BoardSWAP to mentoring countless professionals and expanding global partnerships, Taber’s impact has been profound and far-reaching.
Annette Taber accepts the ChannelPro Partner in Excellence Award in Tampa, FL, from Michael Siggins.
The award presentation inspired others in attendance, like Jake Spanberger. The CEO of Fort Myers, FL-based IT support and services firm Entech US was intrigued by Taber’s organization, which provides Certified Chairs™ to manage and facilitate boards.
“We’ve been playing with the idea of having an advisory council of our partners,” Spanberger shared. “I just never thought about bringing someone in to help us do that. That was just a great little nugget.”
Afterward, the first day of the event wrapped up with a lively cocktail reception. In the exhibit hall, attendees connected with peers to discuss the day’s takeaways. They also had a chance to visit with vendors offering demonstrations on their products and services.
See more articles for Florida MSPs here >>>
Tackling the Florida MSP Industry’s Biggest Challenges
Day 2 began with a networking breakfast, where MSPs mingled as they geared up for a jam-packed schedule of sessions covering AI, security, and regional challenges facing MSPs. The educational sessions of the day were:
-
Florida MSPs have specific concerns, as discussed by Eric Long and Brad Gross.
The Good, Bad, and Ugly: The Biggest Issues Facing Florida MSPs in 2025: Eric Long of Teracloud and Gross joined forces to provide Sunshine State-specific insights on insurance requirements, cyber liability risks, and the impact of state regulations on MSP operations.
- Building the Perfect AI-Powered MSP: Where to Start: Three separate panelists — Kelly Stone of Ironstone Strategy, Parisella, and Brian Hamilton of New Horizon Data — each walked through practical steps for leveraging the technology to improve MSP operations regarding people, process and technology, respectively.
- Windows 10 EOL: Don’t Squander the Opportunity: Hamilton and Nancy Henriquez of Sibyl Consulting Group explained how to address obstacles and benefit from to upgrading Windows 10 systems for clients, ranging from high-priority risks to client pushback to revenue growth opportunities.
- Bad Blood: How to Turn Client Offboarding into a Win: Henriquez and Stone offered insights on how to avoid a “bad breakup” with a client, and instead, salvage relationships — and MSPs’ reputations.
“If I can pick up just one thing that helps increase my MRR or knowledge, it’s beneficial for me. And I’ve gotten plenty,” said Robert Szanto, owner of TeamWork Systems in Naples, FL.
The final presentation of the day was by Kenneth Stacy, cybersecurity supervisor for Region IV, from CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency). Partnering with CISA to Improve Security and Increase MSP Revenue offered a roadmap on using CISA’s free cybersecurity resources and more.
Recognizing Vendor Excellence
The day concluded with special recognition for the event’s sponsors. During the ChannelPro awards ceremony, as voted by the Tampa audience, the winners were:
- Best Add-on Product: Galactic Advisors
- Best Cloud Solution: Barracuda
- Best Distributor: TD SYNNEX
- Best Expo Hall Presentation (Premium Sponsors): NUSO
- Best Expo Hall Presentation (Silver Sponsors): Channel Hunters
- Best Hardware Solution: Alta Labs
- Best New Solution: Helpt
- Best On-stage Presentation: Kaseya
- Best Product or Platform: Channel Hunters
- Best Revenue Booster: Technology Marketing Toolkit
- ROI Lightning Round Winner: Helpt
- Best Security Solution: ThreatLocker
- Best Software Solution: Huntress
- ChannelPro Community Award: Avast Business
- Editor’s Choice: ContraForce
- Most Exciting Solution: Alta Labs
- Best in Show: Helpt
Sponsors Make It Happen
Many thanks to ChannelPro LIVE: Tampa’s world-class sponsors:
What’s Next for ChannelPro LIVE?
With a strong start in Tampa, ChannelPro LIVE continues nationwide, delivering top-tier education and networking for MSPs in 2025. Next up is ChannelPro DEFEND Central in Dallas on March 11-12. This is an exclusive cybersecurity event designed for MSPs. Register early to secure a free hotel stay and maximize your experience.
Upcoming cities for more ChannelPro LIVE and DEFEND events are Chicago, New Jersey, Boston, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Los Angeles.
Don’t miss out! Join ChannelPro at one of our two-day, in-person conferences. They are the best place for networking, emerging technology showcases, and expert advice from your peers.
Jonathan Browning contributed to this article.
