Best Opkalla Podcasts (2024)

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 138: Broadcom-VMware 1:05:27

20d ago1:05:27

1:05:27

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, an…

1
Navigating Change Management in IT, with Meridith Fix 30:10

20d ago30:10

30:10

In this episode of the IT Matters podcast, host Keith Hawkey delves into the complexities of change management with Meridith Fix, the former CIO of Lendlease. Meridith shares her extensive experience and unique perspectives on how organizations can successfully navigate technology changes from a human-centric approach. Conversation Highlights: [00:…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 137: Nerdio, Desktop-as-a-Service 39:00

1M ago39:00

39:00

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

1
Building Security Compliance Plans for Startups, with Darrell Stinson 30:53

2M ago30:53

30:53

In this episode, Keith is joined by Darrell Stinson, VP of IT & Security at Cohere Health, a software startup in the healthcare space. Darrell and Keith dive into a strategy for building and implementing security compliance plans for startups. Conversation Highlights: [00:39] Introducing our guest, Darrell Stinson [03:37] Darrell's journey with sta…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 136: ScanSource 'NewCo' 48:45

2M ago48:45

48:45

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.By Channel Futures

1
Challenges and Opportunities of the Logistics Industry, with Chintan Patel 40:02

2M ago40:02

40:02

In this episode, Keith is joined by Chintan Patel, Chief Information Officer at National DCP, a supply chain management company serving the franchisees of Dunkin'. Chintan delves into the hurdles and opportunities she encounters in the logistics industry, highlighting the role of technology in overcoming these obstacles. Conversation Highlights: [0…

1
Technology's Impact on the EMC Industry, with Anthony Kent 37:03

3M ago37:03

37:03

In this episode, Keith and special guest Jesse are joined by Anthony Kent, VP of Information Technology at Four County EMC, an electric membership cooperative in North Carolina. Anthony shares insights into the technological advancements and challenges faced by electric cooperatives, particularly focusing on the integration of new technologies and …

1
Implementing Zero Trust Architecture, with William MacMillan 37:59

3M ago37:59

37:59

William MacMillan serves as the Chief Product Officer at Red Cell Partners, an incubation firm building rapidly-scalable technology-led companies. After nearly two decades of military service, he transitioned into the role of Chief Information Security Officer at the CIA, safeguarding our nation against cyber threats. In this episode, we discuss th…

1
Understanding MDR Services, with Brennan Manion 29:57

4M ago29:57

29:57

Brennan Manion serves as a Senior Account Executive at Red Canary, a Managed Detection Response service providing 24/7/365 protection for their customers. Through Red Canary's innovative approach, which integrates AI and human expertise, organizations can effectively mitigate cyber threats while minimizing false positives, providing peace of mind i…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 135: Canalys' Jay McBain 35:13

4M ago35:13

35:13

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.…

1
Navigating IT Challenges in Healthcare, with Todd Capriotti 35:07

4M ago35:07

35:07

Todd Capriotti serves as the Chief Information Officer of Wahiawa General Hospital, a community-owned, non-profit hospital serving Central Oahu and Oahu's North Shore. Hand-picked as the first-ever CIO for Wahiawa, Todd pioneered a comprehensive transformation strategy, reversing a 5+ year negative trend of delivery outages and service interruption…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 134: MSP 501 with Omdia 36:11

4M ago36:11

36:11

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 …

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode No. 133: Channel Marketing Association 42:15

5M ago42:15

42:15

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…

1
Defending Your Valuable Data Assets, with Kristopher Moniz 45:00

5M ago45:00

45:00

Kristopher Moniz serves as the National Data & Analytics Lead for Centric Consulting, an international management consulting firm with unmatched expertise in business transformation, AI strategy, cyber risk management, technology implementation and adoption. Kristopher's focus is helping his clients tackle their Data & Analytics challenges, specifi…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 132: Opkalla 52:08

5M ago52:08

52:08

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.By Channel Futures

1
How To Not Make IT Audits a Nightmare, with Matt Huffman 43:21

5M ago43:21

43:21

Matt Huffman serves as the Information Technology Manager for Reinders, Inc, one of the Midwest’s largest full-service distributors of products to the commercial green industry. Matt has both administrated cybersecurity audits during his tenure at Wipfli and navigated them on the customer side. Through the years of seeing both ends, he developed a …

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 131: Ziro, 2023 in Review 51:37

6M ago51:37

51:37

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 c…

1
Finding Value in Technology Advisors, with Becca Black 30:13

6M ago30:13

30:13

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, Keith Hawkey and Becca Black discuss the nuances of Technology Advisory. Becca reflects on her journey into the IT world, the significance of authentic relationships, and the importance of effective communication. Tune in for a candid discussion on building connections and achieving success in the IT realm…

1
Practical AI Application, with Denver Hunter 36:12

8M ago36:12

36:12

Denver Hunter serves as the Director of Information Technology at PenServ Plan Services, a full-service, third-party administrator offering retirement plan recordkeeping and administration services. In addition to his role leading their IT team, he shares perspectives on technology trends, writing for the Forbes Technology Council. Today we discuss…

1
TSDs and the Emergence of the Technology Advisor, with James Anderson 33:54

8M ago33:54

33:54

James Anderson is a Senior News Editor for digital news outlet Channel Futures, which hosts the largest IT Partner Event in North America, Channel Partners. In this episode we dive into the beginnings of the Technology Services Distributer (TSD) Industry and how discontent resellers and customers paved the way for the modern Technology Advisor role…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 130: Bridgepointe Tech Summit 32:35

8M ago32:35

32:35

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 …

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 129: ZLH Enterprises 55:05

9M ago55:05

55:05

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 to…

1
Protecting Against AI Hallucinations, with Matthew Martin 36:59

9M ago36:59

36:59

Matthew Martin is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over a decade of experience in the financial services industry. Matthew is currently focused on advising and consulting as a Fractional CISO. Most recently, he was Deputy CISO at LPL Financial. He holds advisory positions on boards of Ironscales, Trustwise, Stealth and Surge Ventures. Today we …

1
Establishing M&A Strategy, with Ryan Lee 46:57

9M ago46:57

46:57

Today we are joined by Ryan Lee, who is the newly appointed Director of IT at Allegiance Group. He has an extensive background in M&A and is a wealth of knowledge for any IT leader challenged with integrating disperse technologies and IT teams. In this episode, we discuss strategies and tips to streamline this process and the power of the words “Ye…

1
Developing a Diverse IT Force, with Matthew B. Parks, Sr. 46:54

10M ago46:54

46:54

Matthew B. Parks, Sr., is the VP of IT and Security for The Pace Center for Girls and has been involved in IT since 1995. In this episode, we discuss old technologies as well as mindsets and how they trap the modern IT leader into doing things the same way in an evolving environment. Matthew is bullish on flip phones and a diverse workforce, which …

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode No. 128: Channel Partner Strategies Intelligence Service 51:52

10M ago51:52

51:52

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 …

1
Decoding the Differences Between IT and OT, with Jason Christopher 41:56

10M ago41:56

41:56

Operational technology cybersecurity is an emerging industry due to the life-threatening consequences of compromised systems. The biggest question operations managers need to ask themselves is: What does a bad day look like, and how can I detect it coming? On today's podcast, we highlight Dragos and cutting-edge solutions to mitigate the risk of op…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 127: Expereo, Movie Night 28:27

10M ago28:27

28:27

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 …

1
Getting Your Board on Board with the Cloud, with Anthony Darden 44:07

11M ago44:07

44:07

Some say cloud investments are not meeting their promised ROI potential. Today our guest Anthony Darden speaks about how to sell the vision of moving to the cloud to a board by formulating the proposals as initiatives other departments need to perform better. We also discuss how AI is affecting application development teams and what young college s…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 126: ARG 55:01

11M ago55:01

55:01

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 th…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 125: Comcast Business' Craig Schlagbaum 57:24

12M ago57:24

57:24

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 tec…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 124: Palo Alto Networks 24:22

1y ago24:22

24:22

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 …

1
Adopting AI, ChatGPT, and Other New Technologies in Your Organization, with John Rouda 38:27

1y ago38:27

38:27

Join the conversation with John Rouda as he shares his thoughts on bringing AI and ChatGPT into the workplace and schools. We also cover the importance of learning the basics before using AI, how John approaches adopting other new technologies in his role managing an IT department, the impact of streaming services on content ownership and more. Joh…

1
How to Advance Your IT Career, with Scott Finkhouse 47:21

1y ago47:21

47:21

Advancing in the field of information technology requires a combination of technical knowledge, problem-solving skills and an understanding of the future of technology. IT professionals must stay up-to-date on new technologies and trends as the world rapidly evolves. Join the conversation with Scott Finkhouse as he shares more about how he got to b…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 123: MartinWolf M&A Advisors, CP Expo Preview 33:43

1y ago33:43

33:43

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 mer…

1
Building Collaboration Between IT and the Rest of the Business, with Kevin Hughes 40:58

1y ago40:58

40:58

In preparing our teams for the next step in digital transformation, how do we map the best path? Without understanding each person’s needs and challenges, we cannot use technology effectively to assist them and move our business forward. Throwing technology at problems without understanding team needs is a Recipe For Disaster. On the flip side of t…

1
Coffee with Craig & James Episode 122: Ingram Micro, MSP 501 Special Edition 44:24

1y ago44:24

44:24

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…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 121: Hewlett Packard Enterprise 32:52

1+ y ago32:52

32:52

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. …

1
Coffee with Craig & James Episode 120: Ronnell Richards 57:04

1+ y ago57:04

57:04

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…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 119: Alliance of Channel Women 49:49

1+ y ago49:49

49:49

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 driv…

1
Coffee with Craig & James Episode 118: Bridgepointe Technologies 40:18

1+ y ago40:18

40:18

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 u…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 117: Cato Networks, Video Killed the Podcast Star 40:23

1+ y ago40:23

40:23

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 y…

1
Jeremy Campbell + Reinsurance Technology 40:56

1+ y ago40:56

40:56

The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. In this episode of IT Matters, host Aaron Bock interviews Jeremy Campbell, VP of Technology at Velogica US, a SCOR Global Life Americas company. Conversation Highlights: The challenges of working in IT at a local county government (4:57) How Jeremy went from programming as a y…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode 116: Nitel, Opex Technologies 56:47

1+ y ago56:47

56:47

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. profi…

1
Jim Marascio + Salesforce CRM 44:35

1+ y ago44:35

44:35

The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. In this episode of IT Matters, host Aaron Bock interviews Jim Marascio, Principal & Chief Executive Officer of Equals 11. Conversation Highlights: How attending a coding camp in fourth grade led Jim to a career in IT (0:43) What the organizational structure of a company reveal…

1
Will Friedrich + Cloud Fin Ops Technology 51:39

1+ y ago51:39

51:39

The IT Matters Podcast is about IT matters and matters pertaining to IT. In this episode of IT Matters, host Aaron Bock interviews Will Friedrich, Director of Strategy and Consulting at Experis. Conversation Highlights: Will explains how he began working with the cloud and how the cloud has evolved over the past two decades (4:08) Why companies sho…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode No. 115: Darktrace, MSP Summit Preview Edition 23:03

2y ago23:03

23:03

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 …

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode No. 114: Zayo Group, Telarus Partner Summit 1:05:20

2y ago1:05:20

1:05:20

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 h…

1
Coffee with Craig and James Episode No. 113: Telarus, Cisco 44:05

2y ago44:05

44:05

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 a…

1
Curtis Hughes + IT in the Manufacturing Industry 42:42

2y ago42:42

42:42

In this episode of IT Matters, host Aaron Bock interviews Curtis Hughes, CIO of steel manufacturing company Midrex Technologies. Conversation Highlights: Curtis’s journey to becoming a CIO (2:29) How Curtis’s consulting background has guided his leadership at Midrex (4:20) What IT means to an organization in 2022 (6:17) The importance of a people-c…

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