The expert panel discussed the 2025 forecast, focusing on key topics including DMARC, Microsoft Action Pack deadlines, and sustainable technology. Andre Leroux emphasized the importance of DMARC for email deliverability, highlighting the need for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. Alex Fields and Nakia Carter explained the transition from Microsoft Action Pack to new partner benefits, including cloud and on-prem software licenses, CRM, and marketing tools. They also discussed the challenges and benefits of AI, particularly Co-Pilot, in enterprise and SMB environments, stressing the need for proper training and data protection.

Howard Cohen discussed the importance of understanding costs in MSPs, emphasizing that many fail to accurately compute their costs, which impacts profitability. He highlighted the shift towards specialization in MSP services, similar to the medical field, and the need for MSPs to partner with specialists for non-core services. Cohen also stressed the importance of effective marketing, advocating for networking and community building over traditional methods like email blasts. He advised MSPs to focus on their core strengths, often their own expertise, and to consider themselves as professional practices rather than just businesses.

Before we get into the good stuff this holiday season and hear from Parker McCloud at the Back Country Cannabis in the ski town of Crested Butte has shared an interesting factoids:

State of Colorado cannabis sales are down 40%. One reason for this is that there are many more options with more state now recreational leisure such as New Mexico.

Nationally McCloud asserts the industry is healthy in the new legal states such as Michigan.

Awright – fasten your seatbelt and let’s get started.

Harry Brelsford, in Crested Butte, Colorado, visits Back Country Cannabis https://backcountrycannabis.com/crested-butte/ , owned by Parker McCloud. Parker shares his journey from general manager since 2012 to now being the fifth owner. They discuss the local tourism ebb and flow, noting a decline in winter visitors and increased summer tourism. Parker highlights the impact of altitude on cannabis consumption and the national cannabis industry's growth, citing states like Michigan and Missouri. They also touch on the potential for widespread cannabis availability, akin to gambling's expansion. The conversation ends on a light note with a reference to the TV show "Cheers."

Time keeps marching onward and speaking only for myself, I have a sense of urgency to get more sh*t done sooner rather than later.

In October 2024, well-known community leader Chris Wiser hosted a three day quarterly conference in San Antonio, TX. Living nearby in the Austin-area, I attended to gathering and was impressed with ‘dat thang.

On the second day, the mid-day keynote speaker was entrepreneur and author Dan Martell featuring his book “Buy Back Your Time” and heck, afterwards we all received a signed copy and a grip-and-greet pic with Martell.

I dove into this book head first and got myself headstrong to make changes for 2025.

With 2025 in full swing, take a deep breath, assess and appreciate the gifts you have. It’s also an opportunity to appreciate others (even if they are different from you).

Case in point is my life-long friendship starting in Alaska with award winning and accomplished writer Charles Wohlforth. Who woulda thunk it that we’d both grow up and dance with wolves in Alaska and words. But we took two different pathways. Charles has made a career of non-fiction writing books for major publishers on a range of topics from outer space destinations that mankind could some day colonize to a book on whales and super computers. Words flow easily for this chap and his services are in-demand such as collaboration and coaching. You should track him via his site and sign-up for his newsletter at

Welcome to 2025! I'm in more conversations with our ecosystem about what's ahead is nearly everyone is talking about future plans. Fellow SMB SBS geek shares what he as done to invoke personal and professioal change over the past decade. And there it a wee bit of humor tossed in to looks at vendor swag from yesteryear. Let's get started!

Richard Kenyon

Harry Brelsford catches up with Richard Kenyon in Albuquerque, New Mexico, discussing Richard's move from Michigan 10 years ago for a better climate and to be closer to family. Richard's wife, also a tech enthusiast, works as a project manager at Meta's data warehouse in Las Lunas.

Ever wondered what to do with all those Amazon boxes you receive with consumable product goods (CPG) that nearly (ok all) readers receive. Sure the easy answer is to trot them thar boxes to the green recycling receptacle, flat ‘em and toss ‘em in without a second thought. 

But there is another way and I learned it from the smarty PhD pants in Los Alamos, NM (home to the National Labs). Instead of recycling the cardboard boxes, how about reuse? 

Welcome to the Maker Movement 2.0

It’s very simple and I don’t need 800+ words to lay it out. But seeing that a lot of my audience is in Texas and surrounding southern states, I’m going to go REAL SLOW. 

Just in time for the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays, the SS SMB Nation has arrived at the island of misfit tech toys. Here is the exclusive scoop.

Using the holiday break to reflect, recharge and renew, I gathered up all my misfit tech toys that are consigned to a shelf in my home office LOL. Then I placed them on the SMB Nation sailing vessel for arrival just in time for Santa to distribute to up-and-coming geeks world wide.

A quick peek of the snap show a few highlights.

Harry Brelsford and David Tulip discuss their professional history and experiences in the IT industry. David shares his journey from joining Newman Business Solutions in 1995 to growing their IT department into a £1.5 million MSP by 2009. He now leads the Network Group, which supports around 100 technology service providers in the UK. They reflect on the IT Nation 2024 conference, highlighting its educational focus and high attendance of 4,500 people. David mentions upcoming events for the Network Group in 2025, including celebrating their 30th anniversary at Wembley Stadium and expanding their reach to 250 organizations over the next three years.