TechCon Unplugged 2026 Preview (EP 1048)

TechCon Unplugged 2026 Preview (EP 1048)

Author: Marvin Bee July 30, 2026 Duration: 46:50

I kick this one off with a real-world vendor story from my own MSP, talking through changes at Intermedia, CORE program fees, and what those decisions mean when you’re trying to protect margins while keeping clients fully supported. From there, I roll into a quick “know your network gear” segment that breaks down hubs, switches, modems, routers, firewalls, and Wi‑Fi access points in plain language you can use to train your team and design more secure, reliable networks.

Then I bring on Paco Lebron, CEO of Prodigy Techs and co-host of MSP Unplugged, along with Nancy Enriguez, MSP founder, author, and head of community for MSP Unplugged, to dig into TechCon Unplugged 2026. We talk dates, location, why all the content is in one room this year, and how workshops from Cyber Matt Lee and the IR Games crew will give you tangible cybersecurity and incident response takeaways. Nancy shares how she’s shaping the MSP Unplugged community around presence and peer relationships, while Paco explains why the “magic happens in the hallways” and why being in the room with other MSPs still matters for business growth.

=== Chapters

  • 01:05 Vendor Rant and VoIP Woes
  • 09:17 Network Gear Basics
  • 19:32 TechCon Unplugged Preview
  • 25:08 Workshop Highlights Ahead
  • 29:48 Sponsors and Vendor Lineup
  • 32:45 Live Podcast Opening
  • 35:04 Hall of Fame Challenge
  • 37:27 Why Attend TechCon
  • 40:13 Origins of TechCon

=== Guest: Paco Lebron

=== Guest: Nancy Henriquez

=== Events

=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books

=== SPONSORS: 

=== SHOW MUSIC: 

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

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Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast (Real Talk for IT Pros & MSPs) by Marvin Bee is where managed service providers and IT professionals come for straight, practical guidance. This podcast dives into the real-world challenges of running and growing an IT services business - from pricing and packaging to sales, operations, and client management. Each episode features conversations with seasoned IT pros who share hard-earned lessons, proven strategies, and honest stories from the field. Whether youre just starting your MSP or looking to streamline and scale, youll find actionable tips you can apply right away. Listen episodes to stay ahead of industry trends, avoid common pitfalls, and sharpen both your technical and business skills. This podcast is your ongoing companion for building a stronger, smarter, and more profitable IT business in a fast-changing tech landscape.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast (Products, stories, and tips for the MSP and IT Professional)
Podcast Episodes
MSP Boundaries With Aggressive Vendors (EP 1038) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Kim Simmonds Live: Stop Letting AI Write Contracts (EP 1037) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:44
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Duration: 21:54
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Lessons From Pax8’s Ryan Walsh on SMB AI Adoption (EP 1035) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:32
I sit down with Ryan Walsh at PAX8 Beyond in Salt Lake City to break down the SMB Pulse Report, why so many small business AI projects stall out, and where MSPs can actually turn AI into real outcomes instead of hype. We…
Why GTIA Matters For MSPs (EP 1034) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:37
I’m joined by GTIA’s Dan Wensley and MJ Shoer live at Pax8 Beyond to break down why GTIA and ChannelCon 2026 in San Diego matter so much for MSPs right now. We get into industry self‑regulation, AI innovation awards, and…
Cynthia Schreiner Talks MSP Community (EP 1033) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:26
Sat down with Cynthia Schreiner at Pax8 Beyond to unpack her journey into channel engagement, how Pax8’s community and academy support MSP growth, and the very real ways AI is reshaping how she runs 90+ events a year.
Secure Business Communication with Traceless (EP 1032) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:09
I sit down with Gene Reich from Traceless to dig into how MSPs can lock down business communications, verify identity at the helpdesk, and stop high‑risk transactions from turning into wire fraud nightmares. We get real…
AI Automation for MSP Scalability with Pia (EP 1031) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:21
David Schwartz, CEO of Pia, joins me at Pax8 Beyond in Salt Lake City to dig into how MSPs can use AI‑driven automation to scale service delivery without burning out their techs. We cover PiaChat for Teams, smart forms,…
NSITSP Update: Taxes, Repair, Safe Harbor (EP 1030) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:06
Regulations are shifting fast, and this NSITSP update walks through the new cyber laws, safe harbor protections, right to repair battles, and tax trends that are already reshaping how we run MSPs and IT service businesse…