If you’ve ever been to an industry event, you understand the benefits. You get to take (some) time away from your daily responsibilities to tap into more thoughtful conversations, like:
- - How to take your business to the next level
- - How to generate more marketing leads
- - How to support your current employees and attract new talent
- - How to improve your company’s information and data security
- - How to build strategic partnerships
- - How to use channel news, trends and research to your benefit
- - How to facilitate process and tech change management
- - How to leverage AI to support any and all of the above
And while these topics will all be addressed at ChannelCon—powered by the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA), July 29-31 in Nashville—you’ll find that ChannelCon isn’t your typical industry conference. It’s the place where your IT channel community gathers.
But don’t take our word for it. Hear from ChannelCon first-time attendees about their own experience and what advice they would give to IT channel professionals thinking about participating in ChannelCon 2025 for the first time.
First-Timers’ Point of View
The IT channel is a community and ChannelCon is where our community gathers. The three days you experience at ChannelCon aren’t about competition or self-promotion, it’s about collaboration and knowledge sharing.
“To say I felt welcomed would be an understatement. Everyone at ChannelCon, from CEOs to engineers, was warm and open to discussions. I immediately felt like part of the community and was comfortable engaging,” said Louisa Bagdonas, senior program manager at Moovila.
There is real power in community. When the IT channel comes together, we can make big things happen.
“The real value of ChannelCon lies in its shared purpose: Creating a safer, more successful environment for MSPs and their clients. By coming together, we strengthen the backbone of industries and communities, helping businesses keep doing the things that make the world run,” said Katie Vreeland, founder of Luminary Creative.
Of course, you’ll only get out as much as you put in, and at ChannelCon that may mean stepping outside your comfort zone.
“Spend some time planning out what sessions you want to go to and build out your agenda in advance. Push yourself to network if it’s not natural to you,” said Mitch Matter, co-founder, integrator, vCISO at LockIT Technologies, LLC.
Vreeland agrees.
“Don’t just attend. Participate. Go to the community sessions. Ask questions in the hallways. Sit at the table with people you don’t know. The magic isn’t just in the keynotes or breakouts. It’s in the serendipitous conversations that happen when you least expect them,” she said.
The best way to participate is to immerse yourself in the ChannelCon experience.
My best piece of advice to first-time ChannelCon attendees this year is to sit down at a table where you don’t know anyone,” Bagdonas said. “That was what I did and there wasn’t a single time where a good conversation didn’t come out of it.”
If you’re planning to attend alone, consider bringing more people from your team. You can divide and conquer sessions, network together and gain new perspectives to take back to the office.
“This was the first time our tech lead has been to a conference like this, and it was a good way to continue to acclimate him to our world as an MSP and open his mind to a bigger way of thinking,” Matter said.
How to Register for ChannelCon 2025
If you are a GTIA member, ChannelCon registration is easy and free for you and everyone in your company. If you’re not yet a member, no worries. Check out non-member pricing and make your business case to attend.
MSPs and Solution Providers: ChannelCon offers a wide range of ways for you to grow and succeed in your business, including educational sessions that provide practical business advice, introductions to new technology solutions to make your business more efficient, plenty of networking opportunities and the chance to collaborate and learn from peers who are working in the technology business every day. See why MSPs attend ChannelCon.
Vendors and Distributors: ChannelCon is a prime venue for technology vendors and distributors to connect with new partners, strengthen existing partner relationships, showcase products and have meaningful conversations with your target audiences. See why vendors and distributors attend ChannelCon.
Associate Companies: ChannelCon benefits companies that provide services to the tech ecosystem, such as financial, legal, sales, marketing, business consulting, academia, training organization, media and other not-for-profit technology organizations. See why associates attend ChannelCon.
“My biggest takeaway? We grow faster when we grow with others,” Vreeland said. “The collective wisdom, the trust built in every conversation and the commitment to learning from one another transform not only how we work, but the impact we have on our communities.”
