#SMB150 @ArnieBellini @ConnectWise  @DoveHelpDesk  @ChrisChase @TechDoctors4u @chriswiser   Today is Part 3 as I work through the 2012 list of the SMB150, recognizing those who have had an influence on me.

Is there anyone in the SMB space that does not know who Arnie Bellini is?  He is one of the most prominent personalities in our space.  He and David have built an empire… wait, actually, it is a nation, IT Nation.  ConnectWise has become the proving ground for some of the finest people in this business, many of whom are on this list, as well as some of the best ideas in the industry.  Arnie is another one of those guys that just exudes passion!  There is no doubt about what he is thinking or how he feels about something….  Need a little inspiration?  Pull him aside from any of the many events he attends.  As an aside, some of the BEST meals I have ever eaten have been paid for my CW.  On a final note, I think that there should be a “secondary contest” for the best dressed man in the Channel.  Arnie and Vlad would be duking it out! 

Barbara Dove probably has one of the toughest jobs in our industry.  Dove Help Desk provides a service that is nearly essential to every VAR, MSP or Service Provider.  Help desk is often fraught with high turn-over and sometimes insufficient skill levels.  I don’t know any of my peers that LOVE managing their Help Desk.  Barbara and her team provide a valuable service, with domestic resources and a level of integrity unmatched in the SMB space.

Chris Chase and I travel in the same circles.  I have run into him at HTG Events, Robin Robins events and numerous other events.  He is probably best know for his JoomConnect integration with ConnectWise.  Chris is a key contributor to the ConnectWise forums as well as the IT community as a whole.  THAT is what I appreciate most about Chris.  While many of us may be good at “fixing things”, Chris actually takes the time to document what he has done, but most importantly, he SHARES his knowledge.  Thanks Chris.

Chris Smith  is a “Neighbor.”  He operates The Tech Doctors, Inc. about 20 miles from my office.  Back when I ran the Chicago Chapter of SMBTN, Chris was a regular attendee of the meetings.  We first met in Dallas, back in 2008, about 1500 miles from our offices, and have been friends ever since.  I am glad to see him on the list.

Chris Wiser and I met several years ago at a Robin Robins event.  For several years he and I were members of Robin’s Producer’s Club.  Chris was always a favorite “target” of Robin’s, but that was because he was a key contributor with a tremendous sense of humor.  He calls himself a Serial Entrepreneur and I won’t argue with him.  He is getting to be a tough act to follow.

#SMB150 @aaronbooker @chartec_haas @ababinchak @amycluby @AndyTrish Today is Part 2 as I work through the 2012 list of the SMB150, recognizing those who have had an influence on me.

Aaron Booker is the CEO of Varvid, a strategic partner of the HTG Peer Groups.  I recognize Aaron for having the courage to follow his dream.  He too was an MSP/VAR but he had a passion for video production.  He has assembled an awesome team that collectively serves the SMB community by chronicling the significant events and accomplishments of its members.  Aside from all that, Aaron is simply a NICE guy.

Alex Rogers.  Wow!  Where do you start?  Alex is one of those pioneers that I truly appreciate.  Known best for CharTec, he too is an HTG member and the owner of a MSP business.  Seeing Alex present is sort of like attending a Gallagher show… lots of energy and if you are in the front row, watch out!  For as energetic and passionate as he is, Alex is every bit as approachable.  Want to know what motivates him, just ask.

Amy Babinchak is one of many people on this list that you really wonder if they ever sleep…  She is involved in so many things and the amazing thing is that she give 100% to all of them!  The SBS Diva has been a Microsoft MVP forever….  She has served on the SBSC PAC.  Somewhere in all that she runs Harbor Computer Services and  Third Tier.  Despite all of her significant accomplishments, she is about as humble a person as you will ever meet.  A real pleasure to know.

Amy Luby probably doesn’t have a clue who I am, but I met Amy and her team when they doing their Mobilize SMB roadshow back in 2006.  What I learned there shaped my business.  She has done a number of things since then, and I have spoken to her in those various positions, but once again, she would have no reason to recall.  Smart Lady who has contributed for years.

Andy Trish is one of those guys from across the pond. He and I served together as Partner Area Leads for the SBSC global community.  Andy is passionate about his business and the SMB community.  He has been instrumental in influencing Microsoft’s direction in the SMB space.  As a voice for the small Microsoft Partner, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.

There were over 400 nominees for this year’s SMB150 list.  That is a lot of people, every one of them deserving, in their own right.  The selection process, produced, as the name implies 150 people who have had a particularly strong influence within the SMB community.  The list includes Industry Experts, Community Leaders, Media Personalities, Partners/Solution Providers and Vendors who serve the SMB Channel.  I went through the list and highlighted every person who has affected me, one way or the other.  In most case, I know the person and have benefited directly from interacting with them at some level.  In some cases, they would have no idea who I am.  Either we met briefly or perhaps have never met, but they have done something publicly, that I have found particular benefit from.  When I was done, I had marked 59 names!  I will devote the next several posts to recognizing those of have influenced me the most.

There is one person that is head and shoulders above everyone else on this list.  He has had a profound impact on my business and my life.  I am blessed to be able to attribute several roles to this man.  First of all, he is a Friend.  The kind of friend that makes you feel special.  He is a mentor.  He freely shares his considerable experience and wisdom and he challenges me to rise up and face opportunities and difficulties with determination and commitment to success.  He is a coach and accountability partner.  He has the courage to ask the hard questions and the compassion to “call me out” when I get out of line.  He is an advocate.  There is no one that I know of that has done more to advance the lives and businesses of SMB VARS/MSPS than this gentleman!

Arlin Sorensen is the epitome of the “Go Giver” philosophy that he promotes.  He has taught us all the importance of relationships and the Power of Influence.  He is a Servant Leader that sees the potential in every human being he meets.  At the point in his life and career, where most people would be looking to “kick back” and enjoy some of the good life that they have created for themselves, you get the sense that he is just getting started.  His vision and commitment are unmatched.

Arlin is probably best know for his role as the founder and CEO of HTG Peer Groups.  Some of his associates made the list as well.  I want to take this opportunity to recognize them.  Scott Scrogin is the President of HTG.  Scott has had a number of key roles in the industry, prior to his current position.  He is know as the “Process Guy” and his resume reflects that.  This guy understands how to get things done.  He is a great leader, an effective communicator with the capacity to motivate us all to Execute!  As a former facilitator of an HTG Peer Group and a participating member of HTG, I owe a great deal to Scott’s leadership, encouragement and support.

Christy Sacco is Director of Operations for HTG.  She is the friendly face, operating primarily behind the scenes, that really make it happen!  Christy focuses on all the details that are so important to organizations and the events that they support.  She is a good friend and always a source of encouragement when I need one.  Christy is just plain fun to hang out with!

There are many others on “The List” that are HTG members as well.  That in itself should be a testament to the influence that Arlin, Scott and Christy have on the community.  I will try to point them out as I work through each of the names on “my” list.

I am going to spend the next couple of days sharing my insight on the recently released SMB 150 List.  I am deeply honored to be recognized on that list, for the second time.  The selection process for the “winners” on this years list was significantly different this year.  Below is Harry’s explanation:

"This year’s SMB 150 has been an energizing experience, so it’s exciting to be able to finally share the results," said Harry Brelsford, Founder and Chairman of SMB Nation. "What struck me the most about this year’s list is its inclusion of channel members from all over the world; it’s a real reflection of the diversity and strength of our worldwide community."

A three-part process determined this year’s list of SMB 150 influencers. The competition began with an open nominating process, followed by the SMB IT community voting on the nominees at www.smb150.com. In addition to the community vote, a panel of industry experts judged each nominee based on a variety of relevant areas. The community vote accounted for 40% of each nominee’s overall rating, with the expert panel’s decision contributing the remaining 60%.

The 150 winners will also be invited to join SMB Nation and SMBTN at a gala event in Los Angeles on May 16 at the Westin Bonaventure. In addition to complimentary dinner tickets, media coverage, personalized awards plaques, and recognition in the SMB Nation magazine, each honoree will also receive a complimentary 64 GB PlayBook, courtesy of BlackBerry, the title sponsor of the event. The live event will also be sponsored by Oki Data Americas and Quest Software.

"I encourage everyone in the SMB channel community to join me in celebrating the accomplishments of the men and women who made the SMB 150 list," said Brelsford. "Each and every one of them has spent countless hours growing our community and deserves every accolade we can give them. I can’t wait to toast them in Los Angeles."

The original post can be found at, http://smbnation.com/index.php?option=com_easyblog&view=entry&id=402&Itemid=124

The list is out, 2012 SMB 150 Channel Influencers includes a long list of good friends and awesome associates.  This years list represents the champions of the SMB space even better than the prior list.  Experts, Leaders, Media, Partners and Vendors, there is some truly fantastic people from each of those groups, all of them deserving of the honor.

This week I’ll spend a little time and recognize those who have influenced me the most.  Tune in later.

For now, I am Honored to be recognized for the second time as an SMB150 award recipient.

The polls close this Friday, April 6^th for the SMB 150 voting. My friend, Karl Palachuk posted this to his blog over the weekend, http://blog.smallbizthoughts.com/2012/03/taking-smb-150-too-seriously.html and I felt it was appropriate to share it with you.

He and I were among those listed on the inaugural SMB150 list released in late 2010. There was NO public voting for that list. To be honest, I’m not sure how the recipients were selected. I believe that there was some sort of nomination process and a selection panel.

Karl notes that the VOTING is all for fun. It only accounts for 40% of the selection criteria. The remaining 60% is trusted to an esteemed panel, familiar with our industry.

If you look at the ballot counts for the nearly 400 nominees, clearly some folks have really “gotten behind” the voting process and have employed who knows what methods for racking up some pretty substantial numbers. On the other hand, there are some real Pillars in the community, folks with Substantial Influence, which have less than 100 votes. I am sure that the Panel will discern the true leaders in the community.

Below is a list of folks that I view as the thought leaders, worthy of your vote. There are many, but for the purpose of this post, I will limit the list to 10. I extend my apologies to worthy nominees that don’t appear.

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=arlin-sorensen

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=christy-sacco

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=scott-scrogin

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=eric-ligman

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=jan-spring

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=paul-dippell

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=aaron-booker

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=dave-seibert

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=karl-palachuk

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=stuart-crawford

Of course, I would appreciate your vote!

http://smb150.com/story.php?title=rick-bahl-1

Rick Bahl, President Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. has been nominated for the 2012 SMB 150 awards. The SMB 150, a collaboration between SMB Nation and SMB Technology Network, recognizes the top 150 influencers within the worldwide SMB IT channel.

Rick Bahl expressed his excitement at being in the running for this year’s awards: "I’m both flattered and humbled by my nomination in the 2^nd SMB 150. Last year, I was shocked to be selected to the inaugural SMB150. Some of the channel’s most prominent figures are on this year’s list, so I look forward to seeing how I measure up against them. Whatever happens, I’m grateful to all the associates and clients who have shown their support for me."

The first phase of the award’s selection process has already begun and consists of online community voting, open to anyone at smb150.com. Visitors may vote for candidates up to once per day. Open voting lasts until April 6, 2012, at which point a panel of industry experts will certify the online ballots and cast their own votes for nominees. Community voting counts for 40% of each nominee’s score, with the remainder determined by the expert panel’s votes.

Harry Brelsford, founder and chairman of SMB Nation, congratulated Rick Bahl, along with every other SMB 150 nominee. "I’m excited for all of our SMB 150 nominees. Each and every one of them has worked tirelessly to improve the SMB IT channel—and, by extension, the small business sector as a whole. I hope that everyone who has benefited from our nominees’ expertise will show their support and appreciation at smb150.com."

In addition to inclusion on the SMB 150 list in SMB Nation magazine, each SMB 150 winner will receive a free BlackBerry PlayBook (64GB) and an invitation to the SMB 150 Awards Gala in Los Angeles, CA, on May 16, 2012. The 2012 SMB 150 has been made possible by Research In Motion, the platinum sponsor for this year’s event.

Contact:

Derik (Rick) Bahl
Quality Systems Solutions, Inc.
154 S. Washington St. STE B

Carpentersville, IL  60110
(847)426-9548
rick@qualitysystemssolutions.com
http://www.qualitysystemssolutions.com

SMB 150 Nominations OPEN!

It’s that time again, folks! SMB Nation has teamed with the SMB Technology Network trade group to undertake the well-received SMB 150 list project. I was honored to be on the list last year.

This year the SMB 150 program has some exciting improvements:

•    Nominations accepted! Click HERE to nominate yourself or a like-minded accomplished SMB IT leader. You know how you are; you know who they are! Just do it!

•    Voting. In early 2012, a ballot will be presented with all of the nominations. Each candidate will have a photo and a biography/sales pitch/statement seeking your vote!

•    Judges. We have recruited a panel of esteemed industry judges we’ll announce soon to oversee the election. The judges input will be weighted along with the voted. This validation step insure that truly the Top 150 are selected!

•    Awards dinner! Awardees and members of the public will be invited to attend an awards ceremony and dinner in Los Angles in late April 2012. It will truly be a magical evening!

•    Sponsorships! Allowing us to the take the SMB 150 to the next level is the platinum sponsor from BlackBerry! Contact me for additional sponsorship opportunities.

So click here and letting the SMB 150 voting process commence!!!! Its election season, folks!!!

The Chicago stop of the SMB MVP Community Roadshow will include Jeff Middleton and other MVPs presenting the Small Business Server 2011 family of products. This full day presentation has been created by the MVPs for the community and is based on their experiences with these products.
The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL on Saturday, August 27, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The registration fee of $40.00 will include lunch and a discount on parking. Discounted rooms are available by contacting the hotel via their website and entering G-CYPR into CORPORATE/GROUP # box or by calling and mentioning the SMB MVP Roadshow or Cypress Consulting to the reservation agent.
The SMB MVP Community Roadshow is sponsored internationally by Microsoft, HP and SBS Migration. The Chicago stop is also sponsored by CRU Dataport, a pioneer in data security and data mobility devices.

Venue Information

Event Venue:  Hyatt Regency O’Hare

Venue Directions:  Directions to the hotel can be found on the hotel website, http://ohare.hyatt.com. There is a 24-hour shuttle to O’Hare Field to and from the airport.

Address:  9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue

City:  Rosemont, IL 60018

State:  Illinois

Venue Description  Hyatt Regency O’Hare

Contact Name: Ted Giesler

Contact Email:  tgiesler@cypgrp.com

Contact Phone:  847-509-0522

View other events

As systems and market demands continue to require better productivity and efficiency, it only follows that the software that businesses use also needs to upgrade sooner or later. Such is the case with Windows XP, which Microsoft will stop issuing support for in 2014.

Part of using any sort of software is the inevitable need to upgrade. Most if not all software needs to either be replaced and upgraded as the demands of the market entail more efficient processing of the various data and information a business handles.

Such is the case with Windows XP. While many continue to use this proven straightforward operating system, Microsoft has decided to stop support by the year 2014. Microsoft further recommends upgrading to its latest OS, Windows 7, in order for users to continue to receive OS support.

While there are some lines of business applications that have not been upgraded to work with Windows 7, most have — and there are alternative approaches. Also, your business needs the security and protection that only a current, up-to-date operating system can provide.

We understand that changing your OS will entail some expense, including new licenses, hardware, and some training. Fortunately, these things are designed to help you operate more efficiently and increase your productivity in the long run. But such change will take time, and if you are interested in starting to plan for an upgrade now, we’ll be happy to sit down with you and develop an upgrade process that meets your specific needs.