You may have been to every single Communities & Councils Forum (CCF) to-date. Or maybe, you’ve never had the chance. Regardless, there are a lot of reasons why this is THE year to attend CCF, held March 10-12 in Chicago. Here are 12 of them.
- 1. #WeAreGTIA
In case you missed our big announcement, the community you know and love has a new name. We are now the Global Technology Industry Association, or GTIA. This shift is an opportunity for all of us to reimagine our impact on the IT channel and technology industry. We welcome everyone to engage with us as we start a new chapter for the association as GTIA—and CCF 2025 is the perfect gathering place to learn more.
Read: 5 Things to Know About GTIA
- 2. Stay Ahead of the Curve: 2025 State of the Channel Keynote
Starting with the “big picture” Carolyn April, vice president, industry research, GTIA, will navigate attendees through the channel ecosystem, products and services, business dynamics and touch on topics like growth expectations and drivers, financial literacy, operational efficiency and preparing for the future.
- 3. Get 1:1 Advice from an Industry Expert
The Business Genius Café is a popular member benefit featuring a team of experts in a variety of fields that will answer questions and give advice in 25-minute sessions. GTIA members, once you’ve registered for CCF you can book your appointment for Tuesday, March 11 between 1:30 and 4:00 p.m.
Read: Enhance Your Business: Get 1:1 Advice from an Industry Genius
- 4. Make a New Connection
Discover the transformative power of mentorship by hearing firsthand experiences from our program participants and learn how being a mentor of mentee can enrich your professional journey and personal growth. This isn't just a session—it's a chance to join a thriving community that champions mutual success and support.
Read: From Mentorship to Partnership: Evolving and Challenging the Status Quo
- 5. Start (or Continue) Your Cyber Resilience Journey
Set yourself apart from the competition. We’ll walk you through updates to the GTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark and talk about how they may impact your organization. You can take advantage of new training aligned to the Trustmark safeguards, hear firsthand accounts from members about being assessed in the Trustmark and get tips on how to prepare.
Read: The GTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark is Helping MSPs Prove Their Cyber Prowess
- 6. Get Tips on Expanding Your DEI&B Initiatives
This session will discuss the common trends and challenges that IT providers face when building or expanding their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) initiatives. We’ll identify areas where GTIA can provide support and resources to help overcome these challenges.
- 7. Design Your Growth Blueprint
Looking to grow but don’t know where to start? Hear detailed stories of triumphs and personal anecdotes about failures, offering valuable lessons learned regarding growth strategies, leadership and process adaptation, and technical and strategic focus. You’ll walk away from this Managed Services Interest Group session with actionable insights and growth strategies for your own business.
- 8. Identify MSP Cyber Missteps
Learning from mistakes works. But the best way to learn is learning from other people’s mistakes. In this Cybersecurity Interest Group session you will analyze real-world MSP cybersecurity failures in small groups, identify mistakes and propose better solutions—and hopefully prevent yourself from making similar errors.
- 9. Help Shape the Next Phase of AWIT
The GTIA Advancing Women in Technology (AWIT) Interest Group needs you to help it launch its next phase aligned with its mission to inspire and empower individuals and organizations in the tech industry. Your voice matters. Your feedback will play a critical role in shaping our new initiatives and ensuring that AWIT continues to meet the needs of our community.
- 10. Assess Third Party Vendor Risk Management
Having all your vendors accounted for in your inventory is one thing, but have you classified your service providers? Do your vendor contracts include security requirements? Do you monitor your vendors? When leaving one of your vendors, do you ensure they have been securely decommissioned? Walk away from this session with a template for your vendor management process and some ways to overcome the challenges in managing them.
- 11. Join Us for Conversations and Cocktails
Sip on expertly crafted cocktails and mocktails as you mingle with fellow advocates who share your passion for driving meaningful change. This session offers a supportive environment to network, learn and contribute to a brighter future for women in technology. Let's come together to make a real impact and pave the way for the next generation of women leaders in IT.
- 12. Honor Your Peers at the North America Spotlight Awards Reception & Dinner
Join us for a reception and North America Spotlight Awards Dinner & Ceremony as we recognize individual and company members leading the way and displaying excellence in the technology industry.
Learn more: The GTIA Spotlight Awards Program
