Rick Smith Unplugged: Pivots, Hard Calls & the 2026 MSP Game Plan

From Corporate IT Director to MSP Owner: Ron Cervantes on Building C Solutions IT

Ron Cervantes, Founder and President of C Solutions IT in Orlando, Florida, joins MSP Unplugged to share his journey from corporate IT Director (managing IT for one of the largest transportation companies in the U.S.) to building and scaling a successful managed services provider. In this episode, Ron opens up about: * Transitioning from enterprise IT to running his own MSP * The early struggles and key pivots that helped him grow C Solutions IT * Lessons learned serving small and mid-sized businesses in the Orlando market * Building a strong team and delivering high-touch IT support + cybersecurity * What he's seeing in the industry right now and advice for MSP owners at any stage Whether you're thinking about making the jump from corporate to entrepreneurship, currently in the early or growth stages of your MSP, or just want real-world insights from a fellow practitioner, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and relatable stories. Host: Paco Lebron Podcast: MSP Unplugged – The place to learn how to run your MSP. 🔗 Connect with Ron & C Solutions IT • Website: csolutionsit.com [https://csolutionsit.com] • LinkedIn: Ron Cervantes | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncervantes/] Tune in every week for real talk on running and growing your MSP. Watch the full video on YouTube.com/MSPUnplugged. Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode! Don't forget to grab your tickets for TechCon Unplugged Chicago – Sept 17-19 at https://www.techConUnplugged.com Thank you for listening — we'll see you next time on MSP Unplugged.

Google Gold for MSPs: Nate Freedman on Reviews, Local SEO & Lead Generation in 2026

Nate Freedman of MSP Sites and TechPro Marketing joins MSP Unplugged to share battle-tested Google strategies that are actually generating leads for MSPs right now. In this episode, we break down how to turn Google into a predictable client acquisition engine — from turning Google Reviews into your #1 sales tool to optimizing your Google Business Profile, dominating local search, and adapting to AI-driven changes that are reshaping how prospects find MSPs in 2026. We cover: * Why crossing 100 Google Reviews can boost your visitor-to-booked-call conversion by 40%+ * The biggest mistakes MSPs make with Google tools that kill momentum * Quick wins and playbooks to make your Google Business Profile a consistent lead generator * How to evolve your Google strategy as AI Overviews and zero-click searches change the game * The one Google-focused experiment Nate recommends MSPs run in the next 30-60 days Whether you're struggling with consistent lead flow or want to transform your website and Google presence into a reliable growth machine, this episode delivers practical, data-backed tactics from someone who manages marketing for over 100 MSPs and has helped generate 20,000+ high-quality leads. Host: Paco Lebron Podcast: MSP Unplugged – The place to learn how to run your MSP. 🔗 Resources from Nate Freedman: • MSP Sites: https://mspsites.com [https://mspsites.com] • Tech Pro Marketing: https://www.techpromarketing.com [https://www.techpromarketing.com] • MSP Lead Generation Services: https://www.techpromarketing.com/services/msp-lead-generation-services/ [https://www.techpromarketing.com/services/msp-lead-generation-services/] Tune in every week for real talk on running and growing your MSP. You can watch the full video episode on YouTube.com/MSPUnplugged. Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode! Don't forget to grab your tickets for TechCon Unplugged Chicago – Sept 17-19 at TechConUnplugged.com Thank you for listening — we'll see you next time on MSP Unplugged.

From Chicago to Peoria: Pierre Anyansi on Proactive IT, Security & Building a Local MSP

Pierre Anyansi of Any IT Support sits down with us to talk about his journey from network security engineering to founding a boutique IT company focused on proactive support, secure remote solutions, and helping small businesses grow through technology. We explore the "farming technology" philosophy, balancing home and business clients, turning education into prevention, and fortifying your own operations while supporting others. A raw, relatable conversation full of real-world lessons for MSP owners and IT pros working with smaller or regional clients. Tune in every Week. You can catch us Video podcast on Youtube.com/MSPUnplugged. Like, Subscribe and hit that notification button to be notified whenever a new episode is available. You can also take us on the go with your favorite podcatcher app show notes. Don't forget get your tickets at TechConunplugged.com Thank you for listening and we will see you next time on MSP Unplugged.

Rick Smith Unplugged: Pivots, Hard Calls & the 2026 MSP Game Plan

Co-host Rick Smith drops in for a reflective deep dive: Recent pivots that reshaped his MSP (and why some changes hurt before they helped), key lessons from the past year, and his no-BS predictions/advice for MSPs finishing Q1 strong and crushing the back half of 2026. If you're debating a big shift in your business—pricing, tools, culture, or strategy—this one's loaded with actionable takeaways from the trenches. Tune in weekly on https://youtube.com/mspunplugged for more actionable MSP advice. Like, subscribe, and hit notifications! Also available on your favorite podcast app. Don't forget tickets for TechConUnplugged at https://techconunplugged.com.

Secure Your Own House First: Degly Mendez on MSP Cyber Education

In this insightful episode of MSP Unplugged, host Paco Lebron welcomes Degly Mendez, CEO of Avanzar IT Systems (South Pasadena, CA) and Vice Chair of the GTIA ISAO Advisory Group. Degly shares his journey into MSP leadership, his focus on cybersecurity for small/mid-sized businesses, and practical ways to make education a real defensive layer. Key takeaways include: * Building ongoing cybersecurity awareness for non-tech-savvy SMB clients (beyond one-offs like "Be Cyber Aware" sessions) — challenges, retention tips, and scaling methods (webinars, tools, gamified scenarios) * Metrics and stories showing when education truly reduces incidents * "Secure your own house first": Fortifying Avanzar internally (team training, processes, tough investments) to avoid being the weak link * Common MSP pitfalls on internal security (vendor risks, tool sprawl, early practice drops) and how to fix them * Using the "Run, Protect, Grow" IT budgeting framework to prioritize Protect (including people education) without it feeling like a cost sink * Evolving programs for AI-driven threats/opportunities — recent changes to stay ahead * Best advice for resource-constrained MSPs: Scaling education without burnout or client overload, plus one non-negotiable step to fortify your own business now * Rapid-fire: Underrated resource/habit for scaling efforts, biggest "aha" on internal ops, and the one cyber education practice he'd mandate industry-wide Perfect for MSP owners, cybersecurity pros, and IT leaders focused on proactive defense, people-powered security, and leading by example in a resource-tight world. Tune in weekly on YouTube.com/MSPUnplugged for more actionable MSP advice. Like, subscribe, and hit notifications! Also available on your favorite podcast app. Don't forget tickets for TechConUnplugged at TechConunplugged.com. #MSP #Cybersecurity #CyberEducation #MSPsecurity #RunProtectGrow #SMBcyber #ITLeadership