Complimentary breakfast & coffee served in the Cira Ballroom

Location: Cira Ballroom

Failing Forward – Turning the Lessons of Failure into Massive Gains

Bruce Wirt, Chief Revenue Officer, Telesystem

Award-winning technology executive Bruce Wirt takes the audience on a journey from the deepest valley to the highest peak as he uncovers the importance of seizing on the moments of failure and learning  from the situations in which everything we thought we knew turned out to be wrong. Come hear how leaders across many industries have created massive and sustainable success from hardships. During more than 15 years of executive leadership, Bruce Wirt has built two nationwide brands, led organizational growth in the $10s of millions, and amassed a coaching tree of technology industry superstars. Bruce’s leadership style is centered on encouraging employees to know their purpose and then applying the passion and perseverance necessary for success.

Location: Cira Ballroom

Eric Carr, President & AI Lead, Compoze Labs

For more than 15 years, Eric has overseen make-or-break technology shifts for companies large and small. He now leads Compoze Labs’ AI practice, turning models into measurable wins. In this session, you’ll gain a clear understanding of enterprise AI, exploring what is working, what is stalling, and the practical steps MSPs and channel partners can take to shape a solid 2026 roadmap.

Location: Aurora A

Whale Watching: How to Play in the Enterprise Space

Small and very small businesses represent 99% of organizations out there, while mid-sized firms lack the internal IT resources that requisite the help from outside advisors. Even so, SMB IT spending is measured in billions of dollars whereas enterprise IT spending is measured in trillions of dollars. This panel will take an honest look at how, why and if channel partners should target enterprise whales or if the upper mid-market is the limit.

Moderator: Peter Radizeski, President, RAD-INFO, Inc. 

Panelists:

Rick Mancinelli, CEO, C3 Complete

Tim Fyke, CEO, Jett Enterprises

Location: Aurora B

Moderator: Charlene Ignacio, CEO, Fornix Marketing 

Panel: 

Check back for details

Location: Aurora C

Accessorize Your Access Sales Part 2 – Monetizing the LAN

As a follow-up to last year’s wildly popular session on adding revenue to connectivity sales, this panel of Starken Technologies channel partners will uncover real-world examples of how revenue – that was right under their noses – was added to traditional voice and data circuit sales. Hear how partners have stacked significant dollars onto existing deals by selling LAN infrastructure services and equipment, often by asking a few simple questions and with no experience in selling “beyond the demarc.”

Presenter: Drew Allgeier, Vice President of Business Development, Starken Technologies

Location: Aurora A

Translating AI Technology into Real CX Results

You don’ t have to be an AI expert to initiate conversations about AI with your contact center customers.  A great place to start is providing real-world use cases where AI-enabled technologies have helped organizations achieve goals and address specific needs. In this session, panelists will discuss real customer examples of how AI has helped contact centers deliver better customer experiences.

Moderator: Aarde Cosseboom, Founder, Palomarr

Location: Aurora B

Expanding Revenue Streams: Strategic Growth Through Partnership

This panel of experts will highlight real-world examples of how partners are working with vendors to build practical, revenue-focused offerings that support the real needs of today’s merchants. Attendees will hear how service portfolios are expanding to include payment processing, equipment, consulting, integration and purpose-built tools. Panelists will provide attendees with tools, examples and contacts, and share what’s working and how these additions lead to stronger client retention and better margins. Come and learn how to expand your offering to meet demand and stand out.

Moderator: Marla Ellerman, Founder, The Side Hustle

Panelists:

Alan V. Forgione, President, Northeast Acquirers Association

Michele Johnson, Channel Partner Director, Sandler Partners

Location: Aurora C

Build Your Partner Ecosystem Pit Crew

A relatively straightforward menu of hardware and software choices has mushroomed into a massive menu of data services, AI, SaaS, cybersecurity and cloud computing. Channel firms can find the capacity to provide services up and down the tech stack overwhelming, if not impossible, leading to a renewed interest in partner ecosystems. Join three-time TEDx speaker Greg Plum for a high-energy session that will change how you think about referral partner ecosystems. Learn how to build a network of partners that pull you into more deals, view your sales process through eyes of your customer, find hidden influencers, and create unstoppable momentum by aligning with the right players around your ICP (ideal customer profile).

Presenter: Greg Plum, Director – Strategist Recruiting, Bridgepointe Technologies

Location: Aurora A

How Advisors & MSPs Can Leverage AI

Most channel partners know they must be ready to discuss AI with customers and prospects, but only a minority are confident when it comes to starting a conversation about AI solutions and value propositions. One of the best ways for advisors and MSPS to build confidence and fluency around AI is to use AI-enabled tools within their own internal operations and processes. From marketing automation and quoting tools to basic office productivity and organization, this panel will discuss the AI tools agencies can utilize to get a better understanding of the outcomes AI can deliver and credibility when leading conversations with clients.

Moderator: Peter Radizeski, President, RAD-INFO, Inc.  

Location: Aurora B

Telecommunication Tax Optimization Gets Results

Our expert panel will discuss how service providers can benefit from tax optimization through:

• Subscriber  Stickiness – Customers are less likely to leave when they feel they are paying a fair price. Your invoice is how you communicate with them each month. If the taxes on your invoice are higher than a competitor’s, they’ll question your credibility. Attendees will learn how to optimize their taxes so that their clients’ tax liability is lower.  
• Increased Profitability – Adopt a regulatory recovery fee to help offset your costs for billing and compliance. We’ll focus on best practices for truth-in-billing compliance. 
• Compliance – Taking compliance helps you avoid being an “audit target” and, when sold, adds to the value of your company. 

Moderator: Phil Josephson, Managing Partner, Sterling Business Law

Panelists:

Jeff Lytle, Founder & President, Sandy Beaches Software 

Michael Gallucci, President, TelServe Communications Services

Kevin Reno, President, Southern California Telephone Company

Complimentary lunch buffet & refreshments served in Cira Ballroom

Location: Cira Ballroom

All-Star Keynote Panel: ‘TSD Directions’

As an independent event, we bring you an independent perspective like no other. This one-of-a-kind panel of executives from the channels’ most important and influential technology solutions distributors (TSDs) will dive into the key topics impacting your business strategies as we head into 2026. Join NHC’s Glen Nelson as he leads our All-Star panel through discussions on the evolving role of TSDs, how TSDs can best enable partners now and moving forward, as well as how TSDs can help partners move ‘up the stack’ to stickier services.

Moderator: Glen Nelson, Co-Founder, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development, New Horizon Communications

Panelists:

Tim Basa, Senior Vice President of Sales, Telarus

Tim Allen, Executive Vice President of Sales, Bridgepointe Technologies

Ryan Yakos, Senior Vice President, Central, Mountain and PNW Regions, Sandler Partners

Chris Shubert, Vice President of Channel Sales, AppDirect

Location: Cira Ballroom

Sal Gonzalez, Wounded Warrior Project

Born and raised in East Los Angeles, where he kept himself out of trouble by playing music and working at his family’s restaurant, Sal Gonzalez was inspired by the events of 9/11 to enlist in the U.S. Marines infantry out of high school. While serving as a machine gunner in Iraq in 2004, Gonzalez’s truck was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED). The blast left him with a traumatic brain injury, PTSD and ultimately cost him his left leg below the knee.

When Gonzalez returned to the U.S., Wounded Warrior Project met him at his hospital bedside with a care package and a promise that if he needed anything the organization would be there to help him. Once he was released from the hospital, Gonzalez immersed himself in WPP, which he says gave him new perspective and purpose. Gonzalez has turned that motivation into a career that spans his two greatest passions: music and helping other service members. Today, he lives in Nashville,  where he writes and performs music as well as helps other wounded warriors by showing them that they too can still achieve their dreams. Gonzalez has appeared on television shows “America’s Got Talent” and “Nashville,” and he released his first EP, “Heroes,” in 2020.

“Wounded Warrior Project helped me realize anything was possible,” Gonzalez said. “My injury didn’t define me; it was up to me to decide what the rest of my life would be like.”

CVxEXPO25 is honored to host Sal Gonzalez, who will share his story of courage, perseverance, recovery and growth, including how WWP has aided his recovery and transition back to civilian life.