The BMK Vision Podcast

What happens when a high-performing Xerox rep in the late ‘80s turns copier success into a 25-year growth story—and then decides to go all-in on MSP? In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast – From the Trenches, Dan Strull, Founder & CEO of GoodSuite, joins Josh Peterson to unpack his journey from analog copiers to managed IT, the cash-flow scars that shaped him, and why he thinks 10X growth...

Doug Johnston, founder of Stonewall Finance, specializes in financial leadership for MSPs — from bookkeeping cleanup and forecasting to M&A readiness and improving operational decision-making. In this conversation, we dig into what financial maturity looks like, where most MSPs get stuck, and how owners can use their numbers to make smarter, more confident decisions. 🎙 What We Cover in This Ep...

Faith, stewardship, and bold decision-making define this powerful conversation between Josh Peterson and Jason Robinson, Co-Founder of IntegriTech in Northwest Arkansas. Jason shares how he left a successful enterprise IT career at Tyson, stepped into small-business ownership with purpose, and built an MSP rooted in service, intentional growth, and values-driven leadership.   This episode explores...

From Army mechanized infantry to copier sales to a $19M MSP exit, Milton Bartley has lived several careers in one. In this episode, he joins Josh Peterson to unpack how ImageQuest grew from a small copier dealership into a security-focused MSP with fewer than 100 clients, a deep niche in community banks, and a successful sale to Evergreen Services Group / Lyra Technology Group.   Milton explains h...

In this episode, Josh Peterson sits down with Todd Holloway, founder of Custech and one of the earliest ConnectWise adopters in the industry. Todd shares how a firefighting career unexpectedly led him into IT, how he built a 30-year MSP through relationships, and why client expectations are shifting fast in 2025.   Guest Introduction Todd Holloway is the founder of Custech, an Atlanta-based boutiq...

Most MSP owners obsess over net profit and ignore the number that actually determines the health of the business: gross profit. In this Don’t Be That Guy session, Josh Peterson and former MSP owner Ryan Alter unpack why net profit can be completely distorted by G&A decisions, tax strategy, and owner perks—and why disciplined leaders run the company on gross profit, not what’s left at the botto...

For this From the Trenches conversation, Josh Peterson sits down with Karl W. Palachuk — author, speaker, MSP consultant, and founder of Small Biz Thoughts. Together, they unpack how the MSP industry has changed over the past two decades, why foundational blocking-and-tackling still matters, and how private equity and PSA vendors may shape the next wave of disruption.   Guest Introduction Karl W....

In this episode, Josh Peterson speaks with Alan Moon, co-founder of IntegriTech, about his path from Air Force space operations to Fortune 100 IT to building one of the region’s fastest-growing MSPs. Alan opens up about pricing mistakes, financial maturity, hiring, cold-calling success, and the turning points that shaped IntegriTech’s growth. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Air Force → Walmart...

Running an MSP is hard. Running one while you can’t delegate, can’t disconnect, and can’t let go of control is even harder. In this episode, Manny Anguiano of Convergent Networks shares how he built a voice and cabling company, walked away from a third of it, rebuilt around VoIP and managed services, and ultimately handed the reins to his son — without destroying their family in the process.   Gue...

From E-1 seaman to Navy Commander to GovCon cyber CEO. In this episode, Josh Peterson talks with Erica Dobbs, founder and CEO of Dobbs Defense Solutions, about what it really looks like to leave a long military career, enter entrepreneurship, and build a cleared cybersecurity and IT company serving high-stakes federal missions.   Erica is a retired U.S. Navy Commander (O-5) and the founder and CEO...

In this From the Trenches episode, Josh Peterson sits down with Alexis Villamizar and Mariana Arrieta, co-founders of My PC Friends, an MSP serving Central Florida. Their story begins in Venezuela, where they ran a break/fix business before immigrating to the United States in search of stability, opportunity, and a new life for their family.   After years of learning a new culture, navigating immi...

In this episode of From the Trenches, Josh Peterson sits down with Corey Kirkendoll, a seasoned enterprise technologist (IBM, Cisco, Dell, EMC), MSP CEO, CISSP, CCIE, and one of the most well-rounded strategy thinkers in the channel. Corey brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise and strong business acumen—powered by his MBA and decades of real-world leadership.   Josh and Corey explo...

In this episode of From the Trenches, Josh Peterson sits down with Cass Cooper, an organizational development expert, speaker, and founder of Know Better, Do Better Consulting. Cass sits at the intersection of leadership development, technology, culture, AI, and human behavior—bringing a unique perspective on how people learn, communicate, trust themselves, and navigate an increasingly complex wor...

In this episode of From the Trenches, Josh Peterson sits down with 30-year MSP veteran Tom McIntyre, founder of YourTech, serving the Niagara region of Ontario. Tom shares his remarkable journey from the hardware-heavy 1990s to the modern reality of cybersecurity, AI adoption, and the changing economics of managed services.   This conversation dives deep into the mindset shifts required to run an...

In this episode, Josh Peterson sits down with Trever Jennings of Summit Technology Group for a candid conversation about modern MSP sales, client account management, and what it truly means to build relationships that drive long-term growth. Trever shares how he moved from help desk technician to leading sales and account management — and why empathy, consistency, and listening skills outperform s...

In this episode of From the Trenches, MSP expert Josh Peterson interviews David Prince — longtime MSP owner, former CEO of Databranch, and one of the few MSP leaders to navigate both a major lawsuit and a highly successful copier-dealer MSP exit. David shares hard-earned lessons about MSP lawsuits, arbitration clauses, risk management, distressed-business acquisitions, and how he built Databranch...

In this From the Trenches episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson sits down with Nelson Archila — a driven young MSP founder whose journey from Inglewood to entrepreneurship is built on resilience, persistence, family support, and a determination to build something of his own.   Nelson shares how growing up in a challenging part of Los Angeles shaped him early, forcing him to choose who h...

This episode brings together policy, intelligence, technology, and lived experience. Josh Peterson sits down with Erica L. Shoemate, MPA, a national security and AI policy strategist whose work spans the FBI, the U.S. Intelligence Community, Big Tech, and frontline maternal health advocacy. Erica offers a rare look at how systems are built — and rebuilt — to protect people, strengthen trust, and e...

In this episode of the From the Trenches series, Josh Peterson sits down with Tim Taylor — a 40-year IT veteran, early MSP pioneer, author, and founder of Tim Taylor Consulting.   Tim shares what the industry looked like before the term “MSP” even existed, including mainframe programming, Novell networks, pagers, handwritten timesheets, and selling hardware before managed services became the stand...

In this episode of the From the Trenches series, Josh Peterson sits down with Michael Milhouse, President and Co-Founder of Bridgepoint Technologies, for a candid look at what it really takes to build, stabilize, and scale a $3–$5M MSP.   Michael shares his journey from old-school COBOL programming in the 1980s to leading a 32-person organization with multiple service lines—including managed servi...

Independent assessor Dan Collins breaks down how SMBs should think about compliance (PCI, SOC, HIPAA), where MSPs fit, and why the vCISO lane is the biggest growth play. You’ll leave with a clear map of assessor vs. MSP roles, policy realities, insurance pressure, and sales metrics that drive enterprise value. ✅ Enjoyed this episode? Like, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway below. https:/...

Douglas Grosfield shares his winding path from law enforcement and personal protection to founding Five Nines IT—leading with cybersecurity and a lean, partner-first model. MSP leaders will learn how clear goals, 90-day planning, and right-fit partnerships create profit and lifestyle freedom. ✅ Enjoyed this episode? Like, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway below. https://beringmckinley.co...

Josh Peterson and Ryan Alters dive deep into one of MSPs’ longest-standing challenges — billable utilization — and the misconceptions that keep teams from mastering it. This episode breaks down how to calculate it correctly, why it matters more than ever in 2025, and how dispatchers, not just techs, drive the results. ✅ Enjoyed this episode? Like, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway below....

  Josh sits down with Bill Haber to demystify cyber risk for small and midsize businesses—what it really is, why insurers care, and how MSPs can guide clients without the fear-mongering. You’ll learn a practical path: assess, remediate, insure—minus the jargon and overpriced “gold/silver/bronze” bundles. ✅ Enjoyed this episode? Like, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway below. https://berin...

🎙️ Backups, Ransomware & Service that Answers – Ep. 0 A 30-year backup veteran, William Oppenheimer, joins Josh to unpack what really matters in modern backup strategy—beyond buzzwords. MSPs get a practical perspective on configuration, testing, ransomware readiness, and why responsive support beats “big-box” scale. ✅ Enjoyed this episode? Like, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway belo...