In Episode 83 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with ScanSource CEO Mike Baur to discuss the history and the future of the retail IT channel. Baur details his company’s transition to the “new ScanSource,” describes his vision of the VAR of the future, and offers his perspective on actions VARs, ISVs, vendors, and distributors should take to help each other adapt long-term.  “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.   The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

In Episode 82 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy talks sales best practices with Darcie McNamara, Strategic Partner Specialist at Datacap Systems, and James Gribbin, Account Manager with Metropolitan Sales. McNamara and Gribbin offer advice and anecdotes about accelerating a sales cycle, how to persist during a long sales cycle, and how sales professionals can improve their communication skills.   “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.   The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

In Episode 81 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy shares his observations on the changing retail IT channel after the announcements of several VARs being acquired in the second half of 2022. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org. The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.

In Episode 80 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy catches up with executive, board advisor, author, and podcaster Ron Thurston about his firsthand view of the changing retail landscape. Thurston is in the midst of a year-long tour called “Retail in America,” driving across the United States in an Airstream trailer to discover unsung retail heroes. Thurston shares his IT-related lessons learned during his travels, winning strategies for selling to retailers, and the future of brick-and-mortar stores for leading brands as well as SMB retailers.   “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.    The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

In Episode 79 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy talks with Lora Coggins of Toshiba and Travis Hare of DCR Point of Sale Systems about what it takes to become a leader in today’s (and tomorrow’s) retail IT industry. Coggins and Hare discuss how their companies have created a pro-development culture, the importance of a servant leadership mindset, and what they learned from the lowest points of their careers. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org. The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.

In Episode 78 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA General Counsel Jill Miller sits down with RSPA CEO Jim Roddy to provide non-solicitation advice for retail IT VARs. Miller talks non-solicitation related to employees, partners, and merchants, plus she offers guidance for VARs and ISVs on business disputes. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org. The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.

In Episode 77 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy talks software developer growth strategies and go-to-market plans with ISV executives Jason Richelson, the Co-Founder and CEO of Bookkeep, and Ben Leviton, the Co-Founder and Director of Business Development at Acadia Point of Sale. Richelson and Leviton discuss the changing retail IT channel, their most successful sales strategies, and which partnerships will play a role in their future go-to-market plans. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org. The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.

In Episode 76 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy shares observations on the changing retail IT channel which was evident at RetailNOW 2022 in Orlando. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org. The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.

In Episode 75 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Karen Licker, the Director of Marketing for the United States and Canada for EVO Payments, and Dorian Sandi, the Marketing Director for RSPA VAR member OSS Data, preview their RetailNOW 2022 session “RetailNOW Live Lab: Social Media Strategies that Work.” Licker, Sandi, and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discuss what VARs and ISVs need to understand before they select social media channels, how to best allocate labor for social media activities, and outcomes social media can generate for IT solution providers. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org. Register today for RetailNOW 2022, the retail technology channel’s #1 trade show, education conference, and networking event! Join RSPA and retail IT channel leaders live and in-person July 24-26 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando. RetailNOW will have everything you’ve come to expect from the RSPA – plus several new features including Niche & Startup Alley in the expo hall, the first-ever ISV Community Networking Reception, six education tracks (Executive Education, Security & Legal, NextGen Technology, Sales & Customer Service, Cannabis, plus a new ISV Education Track), and more. If you’re serious about the retail IT channel, you have to attend RetailNOW 2022. It’s Where the Industry Meets! www.GoRSPA.org/retailnow The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.

In Episode 74 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Alejandro Swaby, the Director of Sales for RSPA VAR member Cervion Systems, previews his RetailNOW 2022 panel “Organically Grown Leadership.” Swaby and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discuss leadership from several angles including how metrics accelerate leadership development and why initiative is a required character trait for successful future leaders. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org. Register today for RetailNOW 2022, the retail technology channel’s #1 trade show, education conference, and networking event! Join RSPA and retail IT channel leaders live and in-person July 24-26 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando. RetailNOW will have everything you’ve come to expect from the RSPA – plus several new features including Niche & Startup Alley in the expo hall, the first-ever ISV Community Networking Reception, six education tracks (Executive Education, Security & Legal, NextGen Technology, Sales & Customer Service, Cannabis, plus a new ISV Education Track), and more. If you’re serious about the retail IT channel, you have to attend RetailNOW 2022. It’s Where the Industry Meets! www.GoRSPA.org/retailnow The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.