The GTIA North America Community & Councils Forum & Spotlight Awards is where IT channel leaders—from ITSPs to vendors to distributors—come together to shape what’s next for the IT channel. Whether you're a current member or exploring GTIA for the first time, this three‑day experience delivers the insights, collaboration and connections that drive real impact. Here are 10 reasons you’ll want to make sure you’re in Chicago, March 9-11.
>>Register for the GTIA North America Community & Councils Form
1. Engage in Peer‑Led Working Sessions
Dig into the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s channel through collaborative, peer‑driven discussions designed to turn insights into action, including:
Growth Exposes Everything: AI Beyond the Pilot in Real MSP Operations
Designed for ITSP owners and executive leaders who have moved past the hype and are focused on real operational leverage, you’ll leave this session with:
- Real examples of AI and automation in action inside growing ITSPs
- Clear insight into common sources of operational drag during scale
- Hard-earned lessons on where AI failed and why
- Practical guardrails for automation
- A clear, realistic next step to apply back in your organization
Succession& Strategy: Planning Exits, Mergers, and Long-Term Value in the IT Channel
Walk through the real-world paths available to ITSP owners, from internal leadership succession to mergers and acquisitions, including:
- What’s driving M&A activity in the IT channel right now, and what it means for you
- Internal succession vs. external sale: Which path aligns with your goals
- The key value drivers that influence valuation, deal structure and outcomes
- Practical steps you can take today, whether your goal is growth, transition or exit
2. Get the First Look at 2026 State of the Channel Research
You’ll be the first to get a pulse check on where the IT channel stands today, how its practitioners view the immediate and short-term future, and what they see as their top opportunities and challenges. GTIA’s flagship 2026 State of the Channel research will cover:
- Revenue and revenue models
- Adoption of AI internally and as a revenue source
- Sentiment on levels of business acumen and where needed, help to position for the future
- Vendor satisfaction and AI's impact on relationships
- Top revenue drivers and declining areas of focus
3. Unlock 1:1 Advice from an Industry Expert
The Business Genius Café is a popular ITSP member benefit featuring a team of experts in a variety of fields that will answer questions and give advice in 35-minutesessions. GTIA members, once you’ve registered for the forum you can book your appointment for Tuesday, March 10 between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Choose from:
- AI with David Tan, Crushbank & Corey Kirkendoll, 5K Technical Services
- Employee Culture with Bob Coppedge, Simplex-IT & Sue Krautbauer, Digitunity
- Financial Literacy with Dan Shapero, TeamLogic IT and Heather Mathis, Start Grow Manage Consulting, Inc.
- Leadership and Strategy Best Practices with Tim Golden, Compliance Scorecard & Tony Francisco, D&H Distributing
- Marketing and Social Media with Frank Raimondi, IGI Cybersecurity & Pete Busam, Equilibrium Consulting LLC
4. Connect With IT Channel Leaders Across the U.S. and Canada
Network with diverse technology leaders committed to advancing the channel through stronger partnerships, shared insights and collaborative problem‑solving, including GTIACEO, Dan Wensley.
Shaping the AI Future the Same Way We’ve Shaped Everything Else: Together
In this Q&A, led by industry veteran & GTIA CEO Dan Wensley, we’ll draw on the collective experience of the IT channel to explore what this moment really demands of us. We’ll unpack the MSP vs. MIP conversation without forcing labels, surface the real challenges underneath the transformation (people, trust, process … not just tools) and do a gut check on where the channel actually stands today.
>>Read: Why You Should Be at the North America Community & Councils Forum
5. Join Community Working Groups
From cyber to women in tech, you’ll find interest group spaces to make your voice heard and help shape GTIA’s direction. You don’t want to miss:
Stuck in the Middle: Why Visibility Matters
Designed for ITSP leaders and decision-makers, we’ll examine how talent actually moves (or doesn’t) inside organizations, pressure-test your current approach and define practical changes that strengthen development, retention and leadership readiness. You’ll walk away with:
- A career progression blueprint you can launch this quarter
- Sponsorship strategies that elevate your top performers into leadership visibility
- Plug-and-play tools and templates your team will actually use
- Hard-won peer insight you won’t get from keynote stages or slide decks
6. Explore New Programs Like the NowGen Interest Group
Be part of GTIA’s newest initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of channel leadership and innovation. The NowGen interest group is designed to engage early, mid-career and seasoned professionals in GTIA membership, providing them with growth opportunities, mentorship and a clear path to developing skills within the channel and a pathway to GTIA leadership. The interest group kicks off with:
Rising Professionals in the Channel: Accelerate Your Development
Through facilitator-led roundtables, you will tackle early-career growth, learn how to quickly build professional credibility, use AI to streamline workflows and boost impact, and navigate events, customers and internal team dynamics with confidence. You’ll walk away with:
- Practical strategies for networking and standing out professionally
- Real-world AI workflow examples that save time, enhance visibility and increase impact
- An understanding of the IT channel
- Tools, tips and frameworks you can apply immediately to accelerate your career
7. Level Up Your Vendor Cyber Risk Strategy
Third-party vendor risk isn’t theoretical—it’s contractual, operational and reputational. Yet many organizations stop at policy documents without building a fully integrated, actionable program. Fix that by attending:
Cybersecurity: TPVM Program Building Workshop
This hands-on, collaborative workshop is designed for cybersecurity and risk professionals who want to design or strengthen a complete TPVM program aligned with GTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark standards. You’ll walk away with:
- A clear blueprint for a comprehensive TPVM program
- Practical experience in vendor risk assessment, compliance mapping and governance design
- Peer-tested strategies for integrating TPVM into your organization’s cybersecurity posture
- Early access to tools and frameworks from the upcoming GTIA TPVM guidebook
8. Celebrate Industry Excellence at the Spotlight Awards
Cap the Forum with a black-tie evening recognizing individuals and member companies making a meaningful impact across GTIA and the IT channel. Renowned sommelier and Chicago icon Alpana Singh will lead a private wine tasting and conversation during the Spotlight Awards reception before she graces the stage to open the ceremony.
And GTIA’s very own Dan Wensley, CEO, MJ Shoer, chief community officer and Adam Proulx, North America community manager will trade the mic back and forth as we announce our 2025 North America Spotlight Award winners! Rub elbows, raise a glass and build relationships that can propel your business forward and expand your leadership footprint.
9. Build Professional Connections That Last
With structured networking and informal conversations throughout the Forum, you’ll leave with new partnerships, collaborators and peers who “get” your challenges. If you’re a new GTIA member or have never attended the North America Community & Councils Forum, plan to participate in the New Member and Attendee Orientation on Monday, March 9 at 5:30 pm. You’ll learn about the latest and greatest community benefits and how to make the most of your membership. You’ll also get tips on maximizing your experience in Chicago—from networking and expanding your industry peer group to joining working groups dedicated to the business topics that matter to you and your company.
10. Members Attend Free—and Non‑Members Get Full Access
GTIA members receive unlimited complimentary registrations. That means you can bring your staff! Non‑members can attend for just $450, which includes a full year of GTIA membership—unlocking research, events and resources long after the Forum ends.
GTIA Is Where Leaders Move the IT Channel Forward
Whether you're a longtime GTIA member or exploring our community for the first time, the North America Community & Councils Forum & Spotlight Awards is your opportunity to learn, collaborate and help shape the future of the IT channel. This is where leaders show up—and where leadership is defined.
See what you missed! >> 10 Things You Missed at the GTIA North America Community & Councils Forum
