Now That's IT: Stories of MSP Success
Now that's IT: Stories of MSP Success dives into the journeys of some of the trailblazers in the Managed Service Provider industry to find out how they used their passion for technology to help turn Managed Services into the thriving sector it is today.
Every episode is packed with the valuable insights, practical strategies, and inspiring anecdotes that lead our guests to the transformative moment when they knew, Now, That's IT.
This podcast provides educational information about issues that may be relevant to information technology service providers.
Nothing in the podcast should be construed as any recommendation or endorsement by N-able, or as legal or any other advice.
The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.
Views and opinions expressed by N-able employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of N-able or its officers and directors.
The podcast may also contain forward-looking statements regarding future product plans, functionality, or development efforts that should not be interpreted as a commitment from N-able related to any deliverables or timeframe.
All content is based on information available at the time of recording, and N-able has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Small Changes, Big Impact: How Simon Marcil Uses Continuous Improvement to Scale
What does it take to build a $20M MSP without a traditional sales team? In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, Chris Massey sits down with Simon Marcil, co-founder of S3 Technologies and creator of Propel Your MSP, to explore the power of retention, strategy, and AI-driven innovat...
Passing the Torch: How James Thompson Turned a Family Business into a Thriving MSP
What happens when a family-owned computer repair shop faces the recession, changing technology, and the challenges of scaling? James Thompson of ECS Technology Solutions shares how he transformed his father’s local IT business into a thriving managed service provider (MSP). In this episode of Now Th...
Chasing Cyber Crisis: Bart Lageweg on Thriving in High-Stakes IT
When the stakes are high, and the systems are down, who do governments and enterprises in the Netherlands call? Bart Lageweg, founder of Bizway, has built one of Europe’s most trusted MSPs by running toward the toughest IT challenges—cyberattacks, ransomware recovery, and compliance-critical crises....
From Burnout to Believer: Why Aaron Betts Came Back Stronger
In this episode of Now That’s IT, Aaron Betts shares his remarkable journey—from launching his first MSP in 2005 and losing it all during the financial crisis, to taking a corporate detour, burning out, and ultimately returning to lead Intelesys as President. Aaron opens up about the hard-earned les...
Deepfakes, Disguises, and Deliveries: How Rob Shapland Hacks Human Weakness to Build Stronger Security
Modern cyberattacks aren’t just technical—they’re personal. And Rob Shapland knows how to exploit the human element better than anyone. In this episode, Chris Massey sits down with Rob to unpack the wild world of social engineering—from sneaking into corporate offices disguised as a delivery driver ...
Freelancer to Founder: How Barinder Hans Built Red Rhino
What does it take to grow from a solo IT freelancer to the founder of a thriving Managed Services Provider with a 25-person team and a bold vision for the future? In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, we sit down with Barinder Hans, founder and CEO of Red Rhino, to explore his jo...
From Pentagon to Product Leader: Robert Johnston’s Mission to Transform Cybersecurity
What does it take to go from defending national secrets to defending MSPs? In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, Robert Johnston—former Pentagon cyber operator, DNC breach responder, and co-founder of Adlumin—shares his journey from military red teams to building one of today’s f...
It Takes Two: The Story of Technica’s Transformation
In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, host Chris Massey sits down with Craig Fisher and David Izen of Technica Solutions to uncover how a chance meeting—and a well-timed kebab—sparked a complete transformation of their MSP business. Craig and David share how they moved beyond the...
Why Focus Wins: Vinod Paul on Align’s MSP Success
In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, we sit down with Vinod Paul, President of Managed Services at Align, to explore how a bold decision to focus exclusively on one vertical—financial services—transformed the company from a solid MSP into a global leader. Vinod shares the behind...
Built on Trust: Kevin Stock on Leading a Family-Run MSP That Lasts
What happens when your business partners are also your brothers? For Kevin Stock, CEO of RCR Technology Group, it meant building a managed service provider grounded in trust, clear roles, and shared values. In this episode, Kevin shares how a side hustle fixing computers became a full-scale MSP—powe...
A Mission to Protect: John McCoy’s Path to MSP Ownership
When John McCoy walked away from a high-paying corporate job, he wasn’t chasing freedom—he was answering a calling. In this episode, John shares how his commitment to helping others led him to launch MidSolv, an MSP rooted in community and built on trust. But it wasn’t until he caught a ransomware a...
From Help Desk to Headliner: How Tim Barton-Wines Earned the MSP Spotlight
What happens when the right product meets the right moment—and the right voice? In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, we sit down with Tim Barton-Wines, the dynamic force behind Halo PSA’s meteoric rise. Tim shares his unexpected journey from selling vodka in a wine shop to trans...
Scaling from Setbacks: How Chris Kraiss Built a Thriving MSP
What if getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to your career? In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, host Chris Massey sits down with Chris Kraiss, founder of ClearPath Technology, to discuss his journey from corporate IT to building a thriving MSP—and the setbacks t...
Leaders Helping Leaders: 9 Memorable Stories of MSP Success
In this special recap episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, host Chris Massey and producer Stephen McNulty, are joined by guest John Joyce, revisit nine of the most memorable episodes from the podcast’s 45-episode journey. From navigating the 2008 financial crisis to building thriving MS...
Achieving Rapid Growth with Cybersecurity & Service: Paul Cashmore's IT Evolution
In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, we sit down with Paul Cashmore, co-founder of Solace Global Cyber, to explore his incredible journey of transforming a traditional MSP into a leading MSSP. Paul shares how his passion for cybersecurity and a service-first mindset fueled rapid...
Thinking Bigger: Alex Stanton on Leadership, Innovation, and the Future of IT
In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, we sit down with Alex Stanton, a seasoned entrepreneur and industry innovator, to explore his remarkable journey from a teenage web developer to the founder of one of the largest MSPs in the Inland Northwest. Alex shares candid insights on sc...
Burnout to Balance: Benji Sawyer’s Journey to Sustainable MSP Leadership
In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, we sit down with Benji Sawyer, the high-tech guru behind Sawyer Solutions, to explore his journey from the brink of burnout to building a thriving MSP grounded in balance, compassion, and purpose. Benji opens up about the challenges of workin...
Pivot Points: Dustin Bolander’s Journey from MSP Leadership to Reinventing Cyber Insurance
When Dustin Bolander entered the world of managed services, he never anticipated where his journey would lead. Starting as a helpdesk technician, he worked his way up to co-owning a thriving MSP. But as Dustin shares with host Chris Massey, the transition to becoming an innovator in cyber insurance ...
Unlocking Growth: The Real IT Care Transformation
In this episode of Now That's IT: Stories of MSP Success, we dive deep into the remarkable growth story of Real IT Care, a thriving MSP based in Pennsylvania. Co-owners Zane Patalive and Kenny Steinbacher share how they transformed a nonprofit IT initiative into a flourishing business, navigating pa...
Sales, Service, and Security: How Brandon Layhew Leads ByteTime
In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, we sit down with Brandon Layhew, President and Managing Partner of ByteTime, to explore his incredible journey from sales success to leading a thriving MSP. Brandon shares how he turned a stagnant IT company into a fast-growing MSP by blendin...