TBI Talks Tech

Eric and Dave sit down with Chris Donlan, Snr. Manager of Solutions Engineering, to better understand the cybersecurity threat landscape, help to simplify the security conversation for advisors and share best practices for cross-selling.

Eric and Dave sit down with Aaron Lee, Senior Product Specialist, to focus on infrastructure, cloud deployment models, customer motivations and considerations and what the Broadcom acquisition of VMware means for advisors. Listen in for where to start the conversation and which AppDirect provider boasts an 80% close rate.

Eric and Dave catch up with Emanuel Bertolin, Chief Revenue Officer of AppDirect, to recap Thrive, talk about leveraging keys to digital success and how AppDirect is powering business commerce to help companies scale and grow with advisors. If you missed us Sept 17-19 at the Marriott Magnificent Mile or want Bert's debrief, listen now!

Eric and Dave sit down with Mark Palmer, VP of Managed Services at Granite Telecommunications, to talk about smart hardware, improving response time, visibility and automation, all while making sure advisors still get paid. Come out and meet the Granite team at Thrive Sept 17-19 at the Marriott Magnificent Mile! 

Eric and Dave chat with Michael Hamlin, CX Architect, as we consider how customer experience started, where CX is headed and which tools advisors need to leverage to drive engagement and satisfaction.

Eric and Dave sit down with Steve Farmiloe, long time technologist, salesperson and content creator, to talk about his philosophy around channel, sales enablement and what he's seen lead to advisor success.

Dave and Eric grab Elliott Baretz as we consider the way AI is going to change the channel. We'll talk end customer positioning, use cases, why the AI customer conversation is here to stay, market leaders, what MSFT has planned and what channel partners can do to capitalize.

2024 Channel Predictions & a VEEUE into the New Year: Eric and Dave sit down with Rick Duran, AppDirect's VP of Managed Service Sales, to talk 2024 channel predictions and where the channel community can capitalize on customer trends. We'll also explore what the AppDirect VEEUE platform can do for you as an advisor as we head into a brave New Year.

Dave and Eric sit down with AppDirect's Senior Director of Cloud Services, Elliott Baretz, as we explore the SaaS and cloud reseller opportunity, discuss what advisors need to do to take advantage, and share ways AppDirect can help.

Join the AppDirect Talks Tech crew and Dave Landsberger, our Director of Education & Enablement, as we dive into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats and the strategies and technologies businesses can employ to protect their data and system.

Join Bruce Guemmer and the Talks Tech crew as they chat about Academy Live, examine what behaviors help advisors move into new solution categories, and where you should start your customer conversations on cloud.

Join the AppDirect Talks Tech crew as they catch up with Colin Taylor, Manager, Marketplace Operations. Hear from Colin on the end user value proposition of the Marketplace and how to position with your customers!

Join Joel Hoffman, Senior Manager, Cloud Professional Services as he discusses navigating the TBI to AppDirect migration from Microsoft to Google. He'll share nuanced differences between the two providers on collaboration and storage. Plus, now Joel is partner facing! Check it out here.

Join Joe Fizor for a preview on what our combined strength of portfolio means for engineering resources and a sneak peak of what AppDirect will have going on in Vegas May 1–4, 2023!

Join David Bailey Aldrich and the TBI/AppDirect team as we dig into customer experience and total experience as it relates to end users and advisors moving business from TBI to AppDirect.

Partners are getting ahead of the cybersecurity insurance conversation by leveraging TBI to help with controls and check lists for coverage. Join TBI Security Architect, Peter Trinh, as he addresses a rapidly changing marketplace and talks FAQs from end users.Interested in accessing TBI's training resources? Visit https://bit.ly/3EjJ16E.

Special thank you to our sponsor of this episode, Windstream Enterprise In this episode of TBI Talks Tech, Eric and Dave sit down with TBI's Director of Solutions Engineering, Joe Fizor, to discuss SD-WAN. Walking through this solution's emergence in the Channel, how SASE can help complement SD-WAN, future challenges, and more, this is not an episode you are going to want to miss. Listen now!Learn more about Windstream Enterprise by viewing their Solutions Overview page on partneriQ in the OnDemand app. Sign-up or log in by visiting:  https://bit.ly/OnDemandTBI Interested in scheduling a meeting with Joe or another member of TBI's Engineering team? Visit https://bit.ly/3lNcMl8. Interested in accessing TBI's training resources? Visit https://bit.ly/3EjJ16E.

In this episode of TBI Talks Tech, Eric and Dave sit down with TBI's Regional Vice President of Channel Sales - West Region, Mark Harris, to discuss everything business strategy. Covering topics such as the shift in sales mentality over the years, the importance of asking the right questions and listening during customer meetings, subscription-based selling, and so much more, this is not an episode you are going to want to miss. Listen now!Interested in learning more about Mark's background? Visit https://bit.ly/3e9JIF1. Interested in accessing TBI's training resources? Visit https://bit.ly/3EjJ16E. 

Welcome back to a new episode of TBI Talks Tech! In this episode, the team sits down with TBI's Sr. Director of Training and Development, Dave Landsberger, to discuss the future of AR/VR. They'll be walking through what these technologies are, where businesses are applying these technologies, the metaverse, and so much more. Tune in!Read TBI's latest blog to learn even more about AR/VR technology: https://bit.ly/3ArIlcT 

For this episode of TBI Talks Tech, Eric and Dave sit down with the recruting firm LaSalle Network's Senior Director of Technology Services, Paul Wallenberg. Discussing the impact that COVID-19 made in the technology industry, listen along as they cover topics like digital transformation, IT staff retention, the shift between remote to hybrid work options, the great resignation, and more! Interested in learning more about LaSalle Network? Visit their website here: https://www.thelasallenetwork.com/ 

Join the TBI Talks Tech team as they sit down with Solutions Engineer, Justin Foxwood, to discuss the intricacies behind the internet of things (IoT). Topics they'll be covering include what this emerging technology is, the key differentiators in IoT devices, security best practices for IoT, and more!Thank you to TBI supplier, NEC, for sponsoring this episode of TBI Talks Tech. Learn more about NEC and their Univerge Blue offering by visiting their supplier profile on partneriQ in TBI's OnDemand app. Sign-up or log in here: https://bit.ly/OnDemandTBI

For this episode of TBI Talks Tech, TBI's Training Manager, Eric Hills, sits down with Nextiva's Partner Enterprise Champion, Tara Koger, and Aircall's Sr. Channel Manager, Madelyn Webster,  to discuss CCaaS for SMBs. Tune in as they discuss the benefits of SMBs partnering with the different suppliers, the challenges that SMBs face in CCaaS vs. what enterprise businesses face, and more!Learn more about Aircall and Nextiva by visiting their supplier profiles available in partneriQ on TBI's OnDemand app. Sign up or log in, here: https://bit.ly/3bOLpTM View more of TBI's CCaaS resources by visiting https://bit.ly/3a8cCzc

The TBI Talks Tech team sits down with Five9's Director of Global Partnerships, Kelli Mcmillan, Genesys' Manager of Solutions Consulting, Taylor Wilkerson, and TBI's Cloud Communications Architect, Thea Rasmussen, and SVP of Strategic Sales, Mike Onystok, to talk about the differences and focuses in an omnichannel and multichannel approach. 

While the telehealth industry has existed for over two decades, it is widely recognized today due to its rapid acceleration and implementation in healthcare as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The TBI Talks Tech team discusses this industry, the hesitation and transformation of telehealth over the past couple of years, and the future of telehealth as a whole with TBI's Business Development Manager, Mark McNeill, in today's episode.   

For this episode, join the TBI Talks Tech team as they discuss the upcoming year with TBI's  Director of Artificial and Business Intelligence, David Cullum, and RVP of Channel Sales, Marco Sanchez. Listen as they go over notable features and upcoming new additions in TBI's OnDemand platform, certain goals that TBI partners should be focusing on over the next couple of months, and also, what solutions and services they can see emerging in 2022. Interested in accessing TBI's OnDemand platform? Sign up for an account here: https://bit.ly/30LddTL

For this episode, the TBI Talks Tech team sits down with TBI's Regional Vice President of Strategic Partner Programs, Bill Vander Vennet. With a focus on mobility, listen as they talk about mobility and why TBI partners need to start having talking with their customers about this complete and holistic solution.  

For this episode, the TBI Talks Tech team sits down with Cloud Infrastructure Architect and TBI Tech Guru, James Demetrius. Listen as they go through the different cloud consumption models, considerations that partners and even end-users should be thinking about for this upcoming new year, and more! Interested in learning more or scheduling a meeting with our Tech Guru team? Visit https://bit.ly/3lNcMl8. 

For this episode, the TBI Talks Tech team sits down with some of the executive leaders from both TBI and Zoom to discuss Zoom's addition in the Channel. Hear about Zoom's experience working with partners in the Technology Services Distributor sector,  what their biggest selling points are for partners looking to sell Zoom's various communication products and services, and more! Interested in learning more about Zoom? Visit https://bit.ly/3ualDS6. 

TBI's Sr. Director of Sales Operations, Bryan Reynolds, joins the TBI Talks Tech team for the second time to discuss how, from a post-COVID perspective, humanizing the customer experience will continue to impact business moving forward. 

A major cause for concern at the beginning of the pandemic was keeping employees, who originally worked full-time in person, safe when working from the comfort of their own homes. Now that things have calmed down and businesses are returning back into the office, have these IT concerns changed? Today, the TBI Talks Tech team sits down with our Sr. Director of IT and Facilities, Joel Hoffman, as he discusses the challenges of transitioning from a fully remote to hybrid work environment and what additional changes needed to be made to keep employees safe throughout this entire process.Interested in learning more about TBI's security resources? Visit http://bit.ly/31meZrC. 

With the continual increase in remote and hybrid work environments, the need for Channel partners and specific solution offerings have never been so necessary to a business's success. Join the TBI Talks Tech team as they sit down with TBI's new VP of Global Sales, Brandon Smith, and Comcast's SVP and Channel Chief, Craig Schlagbaum, as they discuss the need for Channel solutions during the pandemic and the new breed of partners created as a result. Looking to learn more about Comcast and their solution offerings? Visit https://bit.ly/3clnKvl. 

As an influential woman in the Channel, Janet Schijns has made an impactful name for herself in the industry. Working her way up to the executive level at Verizon, moving on to start her own digital consulting practice, JS Group, and also being named 2021's Top 10 Tech Disruptors, Schijns continues to break boundaries as far as success goes for her many efforts. Join the TBI Talks Tech team as they sit down with Schijns and discuss her experience in the Channel, the shift from traditional to digital marketing, and more! 

Learning truly never ends. That is why at TBI, we offer a wide range of resources and trainings to keep our partners as up-to-date as possible in the latest industry trends, solutions, and services being offered by our providers. For this episode of TBI Talks Tech, Eric and Dave further discuss the importance of education in the workplace and how it can lead to the success of a partner’s business with the Senior Director of Development and head of TBI’s Training Department, Dave Landsberger. Interested in accessing TBI’s Training Department’s educational resources? Visit https://bit.ly/3ebUTdw. 

Cybersecurity has continued to be a trending topic in the Channel since the beginning of the pandemic. With heightened risks online from the increase in employee remote work, now more than ever, agents should be talking to customers about investing in security solutions. Join the TBI Talks Tech team as they sit down with Tech Guru and Security Architect, Jim Bowers, to discuss the security concerns that have come about this year and how TBI partners can transition into a conversation about cybersecurity solutions with their customers. Interested in booking a time to talk with Jim Bowers or another Tech Guru? Visit: https://bit.ly/3lNcMl8 

As a longstanding partner with TBI, CMS Communications has grown immensely since its founding in 1985. In the beginning, their focus was on selling standard piece parts, like headsets, desktop phones, and IT hardware, where now they’ve expanded into offering clients cloud-based products and solutions. Join Eric and Dave as they sit down with CMS Communications’ Manager of Cloud Solutions, Dan Bowers, to discuss the development that CMS has undergone the past couple of years, the challenges that they have dealt with on the way, and their focus on social selling to improve their relationships with their clients. To learn more about TBI’s marketing resources, visit: http://bit.ly/2EtXj4Y 

As a result of COVID-19, the world has adjusted its wants and needs for the business place. With the influx of e-commerce, implementation of embedded technology, and the change in companies' business models, it’s easy to see some of the trends that have continued to grow from 2020 into 2021. Join Eric, Dave, and TBI’s Senior VP of Operations, Mike Onystok, as they sit down with the 2021 Channel Influencer of the Year from Channel Partners and Channel Futures and Principal Analyst at Forrester, Jay McBain, in discussion of McBain’s predicted Channel trends for 2021 and beyond. 

Living in the midst of the 4th Industrial Revolution, the modern day consumer has much higher expectations than ever before. This is a result of technological advancements like AI, machine learning, IoT, genetic engineering, and quantum computing to name a few. TBI's Vice President of Emerging Technology, Anish Patel, sits down with Eric and Dave to discuss today's industry trends in conjunction to these technological advancements and how agents can leverage them in their business practices. To learn more about the solutions mentioned in this episode, visit https://bit.ly/3qXRBhq 

How do you keep your target audience engaged when you can no longer count on in-person events or meetings? In this episode, Eric and Dave interview Chris Petlak, Director of Digital Content at Chicago-based radio station The Mix 101.9. Chris shares tactics his team took to essentially re-build their digital structure in response to the impacts of COVID-19. Hear more from Chris at TBI's NexGen Virtual Connect Webinar.

How do we support customers in a meaningful, empathetic and human way amid a global pandemic? Director of Sales Operations, Bryan Reynolds, discusses the notion that customer experience and human experience should be viewed as the same. Focusing on the customer journey as it pertains to society versus just your business is key to retaining your base. Read the blog for more information on the HX https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/humanizing-customer-experience-bryan-reynolds/

TBI's Cloud Communications Architect, John Romeo, discusses significant opportunity for partners to assist their customers in establishing a business continuity strategy for a remote workforce. It's a strategy business can't afford not to implement, even if/when employees return to the office.This episode is sponsored by 8x8. 8x8 provides cloud communication, collaboration, and contact center applications to keep businesses and people productive no matter where they are in the world. Learn more about 8x8 here: https://www.tbicom.com/providers/tbi-portfolio/8x8/

Catch a replay from TBI's NexGen Virtual Connect. TBI executives from finance, IT, and marketing share how their respective departments have shifted in response to COVID-19. The panelists discuss TBI’s preparedness to deploy a fully functioning remote workforce, the challenges we've faced as well as TBI's renewed focus for the rest of 2020.To watch the full webinar, visit: https://tbicom.wistia.com/projects/xlfmm1e1tw/channel

Catch a replay from TBI's NexGen Virtual Connect featuring end-user customers from CPG, Manufacturing and Construction Industries.Moderated by Larry Walsh of The 2112 Group, hear how these organizations are digitally transforming their businesses due to COVID-19, how customer demands have changed and what’s to come.To watch the full webinar, visit: https://tbicom.wistia.com/projects/xlfmm1e1tw/channel

Catch a replay from TBI's NexGen Virtual Connect featuring end-user customers in the entertainment and food industries. Moderated by Larry Walsh of The 2112 Group, hear how these organizations are digitally transforming their businesses due to COVID-19, how customer demands have changed and what’s to come.To watch the full webinar, visit: https://tbicom.wistia.com/projects/xlfmm1e1tw/channel

Listen to a vendor panel from TBI's NexGen Virtual Connect - Looking Ahead: What’s Next in Tech? Featuring AT&T (Chris Jones), Rapidscale (Bob Buchanan), Verizon (Chris Lewter). These key solution providers discuss how their organizations are adapting to the changes caused by COVID-19. Get multiple perspectives on the current state of business and how to plan for after the pandemic, what solutions to bring to your customers and ways to effectively market this information. To watch the full webinar, visit: https://tbicom.wistia.com/projects/xlfmm1e1tw/channel

Marco Sanchez, TBI's Sr. Director of Sales joins this episode to discuss Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) market opportunity for the indirect channel and, in particular, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations struggling to deploy a remote workforce during COVID-19 are likely lacking in the quality of their customer experience and could benefit tremendously from a CCaaS solution. Having the flexibility to appease all preferred methods of communication is key and CCaaS is the answer. Learn about the value of a CCaaS solution, key verticals and more in this episode.For more information on CCaaS: https://www.tbicom.com/solutions/ccaas/

TBI's Director of IT and Facilities, Joel Hoffman, shares the steps his team took in preparation for COVID-19. The IT team transitioned TBI's more than 230 employees to a fully remote workforce without losing productivity or access to critical tools. Access COVID-19 resources here https://www.tbicom.com/solutions/covid-19/

TBI Founder and President Geoff Shepstone takes us back to 1991, the year TBI was founded, discussing how wireless/mobility sales worked. He highlights the substantial opportunity in front of us today to earn reoccurring revenue on wireless/mobility deals.Learn the ins and outs of successfully selling mobility in the channel, including a breakdown of compensation by provider. Access TBI's mobility training here https://blog.tbicom.com/mobility-training-on-university-of-tbi-Eric and Dave also cover new vendors added to TBI's security portfolio. This episode is sponsored by Verizon. Learn more about TBI's partnership with Verizon here: https://www.tbicom.com/providers/tbi-portfolio/verizon/.

The New IT Buyers are Not in IT. Corey Cohen, VP of Marketing at TBI discusses her process for evaluating technologies and what goes into making a final decision to purchase a new technology. Eric and Dave introduce TBI's newest SME John Romeo who specializes in CCaaS and UCaaS. John weighs in on common misconceptions of Contact Center sales It's imperative to understand the motives of every C-level in the room to ensure the technology meetings the business needs across all departments. Download our guide: The Mindset of the New IT Buyer https://blog.tbicom.com/the-mindset-of-the-new-it-buyer.