Episodes

Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 28: ScanSource Execs Map Out Total Solution Provider Transition
Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
In Episode 28 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Kyle DeWitt, ScanSource’s Vice President of Technical Services, and Brenda McCurry, Vice President of Merchandising for ScanSource POS and Barcode. DeWitt and McCurry discuss the retail IT Total Solution Provider technology stack, how to transition to complete offerings without wrecking your cash flow, and effective tactics for marketing and selling your total solution.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale 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.

Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 27: Reseller Innovations with Heartland’s Bill Fultz
Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
In Episode 27 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Bill Fultz, the Vice President of POS for Heartland POS. Fultz shares his insights on reseller technology innovations, effective new go-to-market strategies for VARs, and how to create a culture of innovation in your organization.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale 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.

Monday Aug 03, 2020
Monday Aug 03, 2020
In Episode 26 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Vanessa Foden, Intel’s Head of Global Strategy and New Innovation for Retail, Banking, Hospitality and Education, previews the RSPA Academy Symposium panel “Retail Trends and New Technologies Emerging in 2020, Post-COVID.” Among the technologies Foden and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discuss are online ordering, IoT (Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence), and cloud technology.
Scheduled for Aug. 26-27, 2020, the RSPA Academy Education Online Symposium will feature 20+ education sessions across six tracks: VAR & ISV Executive Education, Marketing, Sales, Customer Experience, Security, and Next Gen Technologies. To register, go to www.GoRSPA.org/education-symposium.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale 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.

Friday Jul 31, 2020
Friday Jul 31, 2020
In Episode 25 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Keith Sampson, the National Sales Director for North American Bancard, shares highlights from his RSPA Academy Symposium talk “Enabling Customer Success with Programs Outside the Surcharge Challenge.” Sampson and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy also discuss social media best practices (spoiler alert: content is king) and how B2B marketers should adapt when their in-person industry events are cancelled.
Scheduled for Aug. 26-27, 2020, the RSPA Academy Education Online Symposium will feature 20+ education sessions across six tracks: VAR & ISV Executive Education, Marketing, Sales, Customer Experience, Security, and Next Gen Technologies. To register, go to www.GoRSPA.org/education-symposium.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale 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.

Thursday Jul 30, 2020
Thursday Jul 30, 2020
In Episode 24 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Jeremy Julian, the COO of VAR/ISV hybrid CBS NorthStar, previews the RSPA Academy Symposium industry expert panel “Pivoting After COVID-19.” Julian and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy talk through the biggest challenges for resellers and software developers as they move forward, mistakes to avoid during the transition, and how to lead during this crisis.
Scheduled for Aug. 26-27, 2020, the RSPA Academy Education Online Symposium will feature 20+ education sessions across six tracks: VAR & ISV Executive Education, Marketing, Sales, Customer Experience, Security, and Next Gen Technologies. To register, go to www.GoRSPA.org/education-symposium.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale 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.

Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
RSPA Trusted Advisor “Quick Take” Ep. 23: Tom Bronson on Story Brand Marketing
Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
In Episode 23 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Tom Bronson, the President and CEO of business consultant Mastery Partners, previews his RSPA Academy Symposium presentation “Transform your Marketing with Story Brand.” Bronson and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discuss the story brand concept, what first steps VARs and ISVs should take to transform their story brand, and how solution providers can maximize their business value.
Scheduled for Aug. 26-27, 2020, the RSPA Academy Education Online Symposium will feature 20+ education sessions across six tracks: VAR & ISV Executive Education, Marketing, Sales, Customer Experience, Security, and Next Gen Technologies. To register, go to www.GoRSPA.org/education-symposium.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale 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.

Thursday Jul 23, 2020
Thursday Jul 23, 2020
In Episode 22 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Harry Brelsford, the founder of 420MSP, a community for cannabis managed service providers. On the pod, Brelsford details the biggest challenges and opportunities for POS VARs and ISVs in this vertical, how traditional retail IT solution providers can partner with cannabis MSPs, and the best resources for cannabis vertical knowledge.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale 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.

Thursday Jul 09, 2020
Thursday Jul 09, 2020
In Episode 21 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy talks with Dan Jablons, owner of the technology consultant group Retail Smart Guys. Jablons has perhaps the most interesting resume in the retail IT channel: he’s worked with major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Jimmy Choo, and Oakley, along with many SMB retailers, plus he’s an actor, writer, director, and musician. Among Jablons’ credits are the HBO hit Curb Your Enthusiasm, over 20 films, and TV commercials for Facebook, Little Caesars, Go To Meeting, Samsung, and more. On the pod, Jablons explains how he balances acting with running a solution provider, the importance of solving problems vs. only offering technology, and how open-to-buy services are core to the Retail Smart Guys’ success.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale 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.

Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 20: Channel Insights from New RSPA General Counsel Jill Miller
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
In Episode 20 of “The Trusted Advisor,” we meet Atty. Jill Miller, the RSPA’s new General Counsel. Miller talks one-on-one with the RSPA’s Jim Roddy about her sales and payments background, her early observations of the RSPA community, and the importance of SMBs receiving practical, business-focused legal advice.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale 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.

Wednesday Jun 17, 2020
Wednesday Jun 17, 2020
In Episode 19 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy interviews Dave Kasinetz, Vice President of Sales at reseller Advanced Hospitality Systems, and Vaughan Fergusson, founder of retail ISV Vend, about the future of the retail and restaurant verticals after the COVID-19 crisis. Among the topics discussed are anticipated short- and long-term changes in both markets, pandemic-related innovations that are expected to become permanent, and key technologies retail and restaurant VARs should embrace over the next 12 months.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale 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.