What to Expect at IT Nation Connect This Year
September 26, 2019
Hear from industry veterans and IT experts at the biggest event in the channel – plus attendees receive a limited-time offer.
By Pete Sorensen, vice president of The IT Nation, ConnectWise
IT Nation Connect has always been the must-attend event for IT professionals who sell, service, or support technology. This year, IT Nation Connect offers even more ways attendees can maximize the value they get out of the event – both during the three days in Orlando and before the conference begins.
For the first time, all full-conference IT Nation Connect attendees who register by Sept. 30 will receive access to a Confidential Service Leadership Index® Fundamentals Diagnostic Report™ (FDR™) Benchmark – a $2,190 value – for free. This private benchmark helps companies identify areas of attainment and improvement, and provides succinct next steps for how to match the best-in-class for their business model. The FDR delivers actionable analysis, including:
• Financial Performance Benchmark: Compares a company to the Best-in-Class (top quartile EBITDA %) in the company’s Predominant Business Model™ (PBM™) and to the industry average by examining 17 critical profitability metrics, including gross margin by line of business, sales, marketing, general and administrative costs, and EBITDA % adjusted for fair market owner compensation.
• Operational Maturity Level™ Analysis and Recommendations: These recommendations include a path for evolving seven key operational methods from how they’re done currently to the way the top-quartile companies do them, enabling companies to drive financial performance to the top quartile level and higher.
Learn more about the benefits of the report and what other business owners have to say about how it’s helped them.
By having that data before the conference begins, attendees can determine which sessions to attend at IT Nation Connect based on areas the FDR identified as needing improvement.
During the event, attendees will have several opportunities to hear from leaders within the channel. IT Nation Connect is bringing a one-of-its-kind session called Torch Talk – The Trailblazers to the mainstage this year. This hour-long panel features industry veterans such as Laurie Benson, Gerald Blackie, and Arnie Bellini who helped shape the industry into what it is today.
Another exciting event at IT Nation Connect is the M&A Deal Crawl, which was first introduced at IT Nation Connect 2018 and was also held at IT Nation Connect’s inaugural Australia conference earlier this year.
The Deal Crawl, which is facilitated by M&A veteran Arlin Sorensen, pairs buyers and sellers who are actively looking to make a deal. Companies are vetted before IT Nation Connect begins, and only the most qualified businesses are asked to participate.
Buyers and sellers are brought together in a fashion similar to speed dating, matched based on their conversations before they move on to other participants in the room. At last year’s Deal Crawl in October, more than 25% of businesses actively entered negotiations with another participating company.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Deal Crawl, click here.
IT Nation Connect also will have the great thought-leadership content and networking events people have come to expect from ConnectWise. The session topics this year will range from security to mergers, from acquisitions to attracting top talent, and more. In addition, more than 100 vendors in the Solutions Pavilion will give attendees a first-hand look at their wares.
IT Nation Connect is taking place in Orlando, Florida, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. Tickets are still available.
For the first time, all full-conference IT Nation Connect attendees who register by Sept. 30 will receive access to a Confidential Service Leadership Index® Fundamentals Diagnostic Report™ (FDR™) Benchmark – a $2,190 value – for free. This private benchmark helps companies identify areas of attainment and improvement, and provides succinct next steps for how to match the best-in-class for their business model. The FDR delivers actionable analysis, including:
• Financial Performance Benchmark: Compares a company to the Best-in-Class (top quartile EBITDA %) in the company’s Predominant Business Model™ (PBM™) and to the industry average by examining 17 critical profitability metrics, including gross margin by line of business, sales, marketing, general and administrative costs, and EBITDA % adjusted for fair market owner compensation.
• Operational Maturity Level™ Analysis and Recommendations: These recommendations include a path for evolving seven key operational methods from how they’re done currently to the way the top-quartile companies do them, enabling companies to drive financial performance to the top quartile level and higher.
Learn more about the benefits of the report and what other business owners have to say about how it’s helped them.
By having that data before the conference begins, attendees can determine which sessions to attend at IT Nation Connect based on areas the FDR identified as needing improvement.
During the event, attendees will have several opportunities to hear from leaders within the channel. IT Nation Connect is bringing a one-of-its-kind session called Torch Talk – The Trailblazers to the mainstage this year. This hour-long panel features industry veterans such as Laurie Benson, Gerald Blackie, and Arnie Bellini who helped shape the industry into what it is today.
Another exciting event at IT Nation Connect is the M&A Deal Crawl, which was first introduced at IT Nation Connect 2018 and was also held at IT Nation Connect’s inaugural Australia conference earlier this year.
The Deal Crawl, which is facilitated by M&A veteran Arlin Sorensen, pairs buyers and sellers who are actively looking to make a deal. Companies are vetted before IT Nation Connect begins, and only the most qualified businesses are asked to participate.
Buyers and sellers are brought together in a fashion similar to speed dating, matched based on their conversations before they move on to other participants in the room. At last year’s Deal Crawl in October, more than 25% of businesses actively entered negotiations with another participating company.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Deal Crawl, click here.
IT Nation Connect also will have the great thought-leadership content and networking events people have come to expect from ConnectWise. The session topics this year will range from security to mergers, from acquisitions to attracting top talent, and more. In addition, more than 100 vendors in the Solutions Pavilion will give attendees a first-hand look at their wares.
IT Nation Connect is taking place in Orlando, Florida, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. Tickets are still available.