With the Industry’s biggest show taking place Nov 10th to 12th we catch up with Ted Hulsy to see what he is looking forward to. After being away for a year due to the pandemic there are two thing Ted is looking forward to. The first is catching with people and trying to figure out where people are experiencing growth, and having success in sales and marketing.
The second is learning how people are capitalizing on the opportunity of securing the home office environment/work from home, that whole mega trend that is here to stay. Join Ted and Harry as they chat about the upcoming conference, and what you can expect.
Interview Transcription
Harry Brelsford
Hey, nation nation back with Ted Hulsy. How you doing? Ted?
Ted Hulsy
I'm doing well. Harry, how about yourself?
Harry Brelsford
Good. Good. So hey, the topic this time is the upcoming IT Nation. So you you've been involved, I think since the beginning with that, so let's fact check that and but what are you looking forward to this next week? what's your what's your plan? What do you think is?
Ted Hulsy
Yeah, I mean, I've got I've got a couple days with the evolve IT Nation evolve peer groups at the front part of the week, and then IT Nation connect. So I'm just very excited to, you know, be back at the industry's biggest show. And, you know, after last year's hiatus, obviously, because the pandemic, but you know, what I'm looking for? I mean, I think there's two things I'm gonna be talking with people about is I'm trying to figure out, you know, just narrow in on, where are people experiencing growth? Where are MSP business leaders having success with sales and marketing? I think there are a ton of challenges, just because things are still so turbulent. And you know, things are different in different parts of the country in terms of being back to quote unquote, normal. And, and there are challenges, I think, with getting new logo wins on the board. So that's one big area. And then the second big area, I would just say is, how are people capitalizing on the opportunity of securing the home office environment, you know, the, you know, work from home, that whole mega trend is here to stay. But I think it was mostly a triage effort during the pandemic, and now it's a perm a permanent state of affairs. And I don't think we've sorted out as an industry all the different cybersecurity issues that are in play.
Harry Brelsford
Yes, yeah, I would tend to agree. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. For whatever reason, this is the first time in probably a decade that I'm going back IT Nation. And I'm trying to line up interviews with Jason Maggie, the CEO, and I think Scott Marshall, the head of marketing. Because you can imagine if I took a 10 year break, and I for no other reasons, but Arnie's gone. These are people I've not met. How long have these two individuals been in place? Was that a couple years ago that Arnie exited?
Ted Hulsy
Yeah, I mean, I think the the passing of the torch, like there was, you know, literally was, I think in 2019. Oh, yeah. So and Jason Jason has been with ConnectWise for quite a long time. He was actually I was on the vendor peer group with him for several years. So he's been. He's a longtime ConnectWise employee, and then was promoted to CEO back in 19, when Arnie stepped out and Thoma Bravo took the company, or made an investment in the company and that sort of thing. So yeah, I mean, Jason's, you know, he's been in the channel for a very long time, big, you know, had a career at at computer associates, I think before, before connectwise, and he built up a lot of ConnectWise international stuff in kind of like the 14 to 19 period. So that five year period, that was, you know, an area where he cut his teeth inside connectwise and then was tapped as the CEO.
Harry Brelsford
Yeah, yeah, that's my past life. I mean, past past past life, Alaska oil, but that's what you saw at the time was the rising stars of overseas to Venezuela, or Saudi Arabia or whatever, and then come back to Houston. Right, that that was what they did.
Ted Hulsy
Yeah, I didn't want to say it wasn't an easy job. I mean, expanding a software company into Europe. You know, when you're that size is a ton of it's, it's a ton of work, especially when resources are, are tight. And I, I think, you know, ConnectWise always was able to punch above its weight in terms of resources all at all times. And now it's, you know, a massive company, but back then it was you had to be a lot more creative with what you were doing. So
Harry Brelsford
yeah. Hey, final question. Will I still See Arnie will he still come and, you know, walk the hall and shake hands and kiss babies.
Ted Hulsy
I don't know. I hope so. I hope he's there. I mean, I think it probably is exciting for him on a personal level to see how the company is evolving and thriving. I rumor has he still shareholder so he still has skin in the game? And, but probably a lot more time on his hands. So I'm sure he'll be there. And I probably he'll be featured on something on mainstage I'm guessing. Maybe not, though. Who knows? But hopefully we run into him in the halls and hopefully, and I look forward to seeing you as well.
Harry Brelsford
Yeah, exactly. I have a couple updates will do and hallway. 101. So Thanks, Ted.
Ted Hulsy
All right, Harry. Nice catching up. Take care.