|
|
|
|
AireSpring's Ron McNab Recognized as 2018 CRN Channel Chief
|
||
|
AireSpring Welcomes Zayo Channel Executive to Its Management Team
Before joining AireSpring, Shane applied his extensive skillset to leading the channel management team at Zayo Group where he served as National Director of Business Development. Previously, Shane held the roles of Vice President of Sales at Dynamic Network Advisors, and National Partner Sales Manager at XO Communications, in addition to serving as Senior Manager for Account Development Teams at business intelligence (BI) software provider Domo, Inc., where he led a team of over 30 in one of the fastest growing SaaS companies ever. AireSpring is proud to welcome such a distinguished and well-regarded industry veteran to the team. Shane will play a key role in helping AireSpring continue to set the industry standard for channel program execution. |
||
|
AireSpring Announces FREE 30-Day Demo on Platinum SD-WAN and AirePBX Cloud Business Phone System AireSpring has heard from our channel partners that experiencing the usability and features of AireSpring's Platinum SD-WAN and AirePBX Cloud Business Phone System first-hand creates a compelling case for adopting these technologies. As such, we are excited to announce two great demo options to help you close deals. |
||
 |
||
|
Free 30-Day Demo on Platinum SD-WAN Take the risk out of adopting cutting edge technology by requesting a free 30-day SD-WAN equipment demo to help introduce customers to AireSpring’s Platinum SD-WAN service. Here’s an easy, professional way to showcase the superior features and value of AireSpring’s SD-WAN package.
AireSpring includes the following differentiators as part of Platinum SD-WAN:
Contact your Channel Manager to take advantage of this great offer. Free 30-Day Demo on AirePBX Cloud Business Phone System
If you’ve been looking for a better way to learn and demonstrate the AirePBX Cloud Business Phone System with authority, here it is. Now, you can become better educated on and experience all the features and functionality of AireSpring’s AirePBX Cloud Business Phone System before you present the product to interested customers.
Contact your AireSpring Channel Manager for more information or download the AirePBX Demo order forms on AgentStar in the Order Forms/Other Documents section under AirePBX Demo IP Phones. |
|
Choose the Gold Standard in Service and Delivery!
|
|
|
|
Cybersecurity breaches have reached crisis levels. Attacks against small and medium-sized businesses are increasing as larger companies with deeper pockets spend more to keep cybercriminals out! SMBs are not taking the steps they should to protect their network, and cybercriminals know it. As a trusted advisor, if your clients are not already asking you about what security to implement on their network, then it is your job to tell them. Join AireSpring and Timothy Martinez, a 30-year network security expert on Thursday, March 22, 2018 for a primer on cybersecurity and how to position and sell a Managed Firewall Service. WHAT: AireSpring Webinar: What is Security as a Service (SECaaS) and Why Do Your Clients Need It?
|
||
|
|
|
|
 |
SANDLER PARTNERS SOUTHWEST PARTNER SUMMIT |
 |
CHANNEL PARTNERS CONFERENCE & EXPO Register here with Promo Code AireSpring for FREE Expo Only Pass |
 |
ITW |
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the latest edition in our series of profiles, shining the spotlight on AireSpring’s amazing partners. This month, we’re speaking with Ryan Hunt, Principal at Connect 4 Communications. Ryan, please tell us a bit about your background, Connect 4 Communications, and how long you've been in the industry. I started in the telecom industry at Electric Lightwave 20 years ago. After one year with the company, they became Integra Telecom but eventually brought back the Electric Lightwave brand. They were ultimately purchased by Zayo in 2017. I actually started as the agent channel manager for the Utah market at Electric Lightwave and loved that job for the first 1 ½ years of my telco career. Due to some consolidation on the channel side, I jumped over to the direct channel as an Enterprise Account Rep and stayed there for the next 18 years. Last May 2017, my desire to return to the channel and start my own agency outweighed any potential risk, and I jumped in with both feet and haven’t looked back. At Connect 4 Communications, we know networks, we know carriers, we know services, we know timelines, but what we know most importantly is that it’s all about relationships with our customers. They know that when they connect with us for communication services, it goes far beyond us just being a resource for them. We become their partner, their advocate, their trusted advisor and their friends. With nearly two decades of experience behind us, we are able to deliver on our promise of advocacy and expertise. How long have you been working with AireSpring? I have been working with AireSpring for the past several months as an agent. Prior to becoming an agent, I was often competing against AireSpring. One of our mutual customers would tell me daily, “You guys need to be more like AireSpring,” so I reached out when I opened Connect 4 Communications, because I know I need great partners to deliver for my customers. Of course, I also know Shane [Speakman] from my tenure at Electric Lightwave and Zayo, and I am looking forward to growing my consultancy with the entire AireSpring team. What do you like about working with AireSpring? AireSpring treats me like they do our customers, with white glove service and support. The entire organization is very responsive, very easy to get on the phone, and they can be relied upon to quickly provide accurate information. AireSpring is nimble enough to change and adapt and offers flexibility that is hard to find in the industry. They match Connect 4 Communications' intensity to win business. I would absolutely recommend AireSpring to other agents. Working with a 100% channel friendly and channel focused carrier makes it simple and fun to win deals. What would you say is the secret to being a successful agent or VAR? Well, I have only been at it now for nine months, but after 20 years in the industry, I can honestly say it goes back to what I mentioned above, relationships matter - not only with our customers, but with our vendors, master agents, and those who assist in making us successful on a daily basis. No matter what else is going well or poorly around you, if you have a solid relationship with the involved parties, you will be able to weather challenges and resolve issues. Of course, there is an element of luck - those who have been most successful in starting up their consultancies were able to land one or two large clients that stabilized the business early on, but ultimately that luck is based on the quality of their relationships, because they allow agents to get into opportunities that otherwise wouldn't be available. The successful agents that I see are responsive. They are on top of things and they fight on behalf of their customers. Every agent tries to differentiate themselves a little bit from other agencies, and finding your point of differentiation is important. For example, they may adopt a field of specialization - some may focus on SD-WAN; some may focus on data centers. Frankly, because I am still establishing my consultancy, I am not focusing on just one particular aspect of the industry. Right now, the level of service I provide to my customers is a key point of differentiation. I am running as fast as I can where there is business. I am willing to do circuits. I am willing to do whatever it is my customers need. And, it’s been really good! I am extremely busy. What is the “next big thing” you think agents should be aware of in 2018? Aside from new technologies like SD-WAN that we’ve all been hearing about, from my perspective, I am hoping the next big thing will be seeing carriers invest in additional automation and tools. Efficient access to information like order processing, order flows, support, trouble tickets, and billing at the master agency and agent level is critical to providing the level of service Connect 4 Communications is building its brand on. I primarily sell through Telarus and I am a huge fan of the tools they provide like GeoQuote and their new mobile App because having automated access to information makes it much easier for agents. If masters were allowed even more access to databases from the carriers and could then let that information flow down to the agents, everyone would benefit. I know Telarus is working on that with some carriers, and I am really loving AireSpring's QuoteSpring online, real-time quoting program and DAX order status and reporting portal. Automating access to information is going to be key in allowing agents to be self-sufficient. The more information agents can access without having to track it down by calling or emailing, the more efficiently they can serve their customers - and especially for smaller agencies, that is a huge help! When the masters can flow information from the carrier to the agent, it eliminates the need to pick up a phone and call and say, “What’s the latest on this? What’s new on this?” It just makes keeping on top of things and keeping clients informed so much easier. What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of telecom?
I am a family man first and foremost. My wife Julie and I have three daughters and a son who keep us really busy. Bailey is 20, Sydney is 17, McKenzey is 15, and our son Camden is 6. The girls are all involved in competitive and high school cheerleading, so you will often see the family at different sporting events supporting them or at cheer competitions. Camden is involved in Junior Jazz basketball and I am having a lot of fun coaching the team. Aside from that, I am a pretty big sports fan and spend way too much time caring about the Utah Jazz and local college sports teams, whether it’s football or basketball. Ryan, thank you for sharing your insights with us. We look forward to contributing to Connect 4 Communications' growth! |
|
|
|
At AireSpring, we know that it is our dedication to customer service that sets us apart, and customer service begins with great employees. Here is your chance to get to know the AireSpring team that oversees your orders and delivers great service every day. This month we are talking with Mike Smith, Channel Manager. Hello Mike. To begin, can you tell us about your professional background and how long you've been in the telecom industry. I’ve been in the telecommunications industry for over 11 years and have worked for a variety of major service providers with responsibility for business development, network design, engineering, sales, customer experience and account management. Before coming to AireSpring, I worked as Senior Sales Account Executive at Network Services Solutions, and before that, at TPx Communications as an Enterprise Business Consultant. Previously, I was at Level 3 Communications as Senior Account Executive, and XO Communications as a Major Account Executive. I have also worked with 8x8, Inc. and Birch. My background includes specialized knowledge in mobility, Layer 1, 2 and 3, as well as IP VPN (for MPLS and MPLS Mesh). I have also had a chance to work on colocation, network-based firewalls, managed security and network design. My experience in Hosted PBX, VOIP, SIP trunking, and internet line up really well with AireSpring's product offerings. Given the growing need for security awareness, I have taken advantage of opportunities to work with related products and services for disaster recovery, with attention to redundancy and managed failover. Additional work has involved work in 4G wireless, fixed wireless, fiber optics, SD‐WAN, technology solutions development, DDoS scrubbing, IP and cloud solutions and services. Tell us about your role at AireSpring and how long you’ve been with the company. I started with AireSpring nearly a year ago as a Channel Manager and I am responsible for providing advanced network services solutions to master agencies and agents. My job is to work with agents and get them excited about AireSpring and our products, letting them know how easy we are to work with and all the options we bring to the table. We offer a kind of salad bar of solutions and pricing, so they don’t have to approach each individual carrier for quotes. One of the things that sold me on working at AireSpring was the incredible speed of turning around pricing with our QuoteSpring platform, so I love showing that tool to agents. I also really enjoy attending outreach events and getting to know the team members at master agencies such as TBI. If I have learned one thing from all my experience in telecom, it's that how you handle problems and put out fires is what differentiates you from your competition, and AireSpring excels at that. As a Channel Manager, I always focus on the client's needs and goals, and I draw on the expertise of the whole AireSpring team to meet customer and partner expectations. The incredible support for partners and customers is another key AireSpring strength. During a sales call, I'll get on the phone with partners and customers and bring in our engineering team, and that has really helped to close deals. Having worked for some of the biggest providers out there, I understand the value of being flexible and agile, like AireSpring. I bring all that direct sales experience, a deep understanding of the competition and the industry and the importance of consultative sales to every engagement. I think my partners really appreciate that perspective...I know what they need because I've been in their shoes. What do you enjoy most about working with AireSpring? I enjoy all of it, especially being able to work with multiple opportunities and companies, and building the AireSpring brand name in the industry. In fact, I applied to AireSpring because its reputation “on the street” was just phenomenal. I did some research, learned a lot more about the company and decided to pursue getting a job here. During my search, I contacted Bree Nimitsilpa, Channel Account Manager for the AT&T Partner Exchange. She knew my deep experience and customer focus would be a great match for AireSpring's channel program and she connected me with Ron McNab [SVP Channel Sales]. I’ve been a remote employee at other carriers but I really prefer working onsite with a team, especially in our new offices. The open plan format is great, we get a lot more interaction with all our co-workers and it just becomes easier. We have a really amazing channel team here at AireSpring - the camaraderie and support are the best I've ever experienced, and Ron McNab really creates an environment where we can succeed. I’m also glad to be working with our new VP of Channel Strategy, Shane Speakman, because I know he will help make us even better! What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of the office?
Mike, thank you for sharing your fascinating story with us! |
|
|
AireSpring is an award-winning provider of Managed Connectivity and Cloud Communications solutions providing fully managed and connected end-to-end, next-generation solutions for multi-location enterprise customers, including:
AireSpring's services are delivered over its revolutionary nationwide MPLS Mesh Network, providing customers a fully integrated, end-to-end solution from a single vendor.    |
|
||||||
