MSPs came to the Global Technology Industry Association’s ChannelCon 2025 looking for clarity, connection, and real-world strategy. They found it, with a side of exciting vibes. GTIA’s three-day conference in Nashville, TN, brought together IT service providers, vendors, and industry leaders to tackle what’s next.
Held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center from July 29–31, this was the first ChannelCon since GTIA’s rebrand. The event underscored its renewed focus on independent education and peer-driven networking. The enthusiasm was palpable.
“I’ve been around the old CompTIA for a long time. To see it come to fruition here, the energy is definitely a different vibe,” said Corey Kirkendoll, president and CEO of 5K Technical Services and an active GTIA member, who was an event speaker. “We’re loving the re-energizing, that new vigor in the channel. Seeing that commitment to doing what we’ve got to get done really stood out.”
A Must-attend for MSPs
For MSPs focused on growth and operational efficiency, ChannelCon offered practical takeaways. Sessions were organized into four tracks: MSP Success, Cybersecurity, Vendor & Distributor, and Community & Workforce. Topics included AI, cybersecurity, hiring, service pricing, and client retention.
Attendee Leslie Chiorazzi, managing partner of CMIT Solutions in New York City, said she would have liked to see more of her fellow franchisees there. “I think this benefits all of us. Hopefully, I can represent the value I got back to them so next year we’ll have a larger showing. That will force more discussion, more change, and more opportunities for growth.”
Key Educational Sessions and Presentations
ChannelCon featured a wide range of breakout sessions tailored to MSPs’ needs. Highlights included:
- What’s Up with Your Customers? Exploring SMB Tech Buying Trends 2025: A look at what small and midsized businesses are prioritizing when it comes to IT investments, presented by GTIA’s Carolyn April.
- Scaling Responsible AI: AI Leadership Institute President and CEO Noelle Russell offered the strategic framework on deploying AI tools with clarity, purpose, and accountability.
- Channel Visionaries Power Panel: Channel leaders dug deep into their perspectives on AI, including how leading with humanity will help MSPs scale with intelligence. The panelists were Cynet Security’s Jason Magee, ScalePad’s Chris Day, Slide’s Austin McChord, and Pax8’s Nick Heddy; moderated by GTIA’s April.
Top women channel leaders shared insights on how women executives offer tangible rewards for MSPs.
- The Smartest Investment Your MSP Should Make to be More Profitable, Successful, and Resilient: Presented by GTIA’s Advancing Women in Technology Interest Group, this panel discussion made a clear business case for increasing diversity. The panelists were Liongard’s Brook Lee, HP Inc.’s Cynthia Mooney, and Pax8’s Renee McCloden; moderated by The 20’s Crystal Conkle. GTIA also made a guidebook available for MSPs seeking tips on hiring, retaining, and/or advancing women.
Other sessions covered cybersecurity frameworks, pricing strategies, compliance issues, and talent retention. All of this gave attendees a broad mix of technical and business-focused takeaways.
Honoring GTIA’s 2025 Member of the Year: Matt Lee
On ChannelCon’s Day 1, Matt Lee, senior director of security and compliance at Pax8, received the GTIA 2025 Member of the Year award. Known for his tireless contributions to cybersecurity education and community leadership, Lee is a familiar face on panels, in webinars, and across GTIA’s initiatives.
Matt Lee (second from left) receives the GTIA 2025 Member of the Year Award.
When accepting his award, Lee shared why he felt compelled to drive positive change in the channel.
“Every one of us in this room will die. But between now and then, I want to do something to change this world in the future. I want to leave a legacy. I’m blessed to be doing [this] with my wife, and I want you all to join me and continue to move forward.”
John Harden, director of strategy and technology evangelism at Auvik and the 2024 award recipient, reflected on the significance of this year’s milestone.
“I really am excited that Matt is the first GTIA Member of the Year [under the new brand],” Harden shared. “Matt is truly just like an embodiment of this community 10 times over. So it was nice to be the end of an era and for Matt to be the start of an era.”
Giving Back, the GTIA Way
GTIA has taken philanthropy, which was foundational when it was CompTIA, to a new level. The proceeds of the sale of CompTIA’s assets created a significant endowment. GTIA is now in a stronger position to support mission-aligned nonprofits at a scale few industry associations can match.
In 2025 alone, GTIA committed $1.5 million to global charitable initiatives. Members directed more than $420,000 to causes they care about, including U.S.-based programs like Girls Who Code to international tech education efforts in Singapore and the Netherlands.
Locally, the GTIA members worked with Black Lemonade, a Nashville-based organization that helps young people “turn lemons into lemonade.” Along with presenting a $50,000 grant to support the group’s internship program, several of its young members were paired with GTIA member mentors during the conference.
“GTIA is the community with the means and the leadership for giving,” said GTIA COO Kelly Ricker during the event’s executive keynote on July 29. “If that’s important to you, you’re in the right place.”
The giving mindset resonated with MSPs like Trevor Hardy, head nerd at Alabama-based NEXTGen IT, who runs a charity of his own.
MSP Trevor Hardy (right) applauded GTIA’s increased philanthropy efforts.
“It hits close to home,” said Hardy, who was also a presenter at ChannelCon. “What GTIA has done at this point, it has narrowed down what the vertical is going to be: It’s going to assist people in this channel and help with the foundation.”
With its focus on member-directed impact and long-term community investment, GTIA plans more giving back efforts going forward.
The ChannelCon 2025 Takeaway
ChannelCon 2025 gave MSPs a chance to reset, reconnect, and refocus. Most walked away with something they could act on right away. For many in the room, that was the true value of the event.
Images: Anjali Fluker/ChannelPro
