Episodes

Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
In Episode 18 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Jeff Riley, CEO of ISV Retail Management Hero, and Jami Interdonato, President of restaurant ISV RPOWER POS, about the future of software developers in the point of sale channel. Among the topics discussed are today’s biggest challenges for software developers, the emerging role of direct ISVs, and predictions about near-term ISV acquisitions.
“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 Apr 17, 2020
Friday Apr 17, 2020
In Episode 17 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Canadian VARs Paul Leduc, President of Globe POS Systems in Brampton, ON; Gord Doerksen, President and CEO of Ideal POS in Winnipeg, MB; and Tim Shein, President of King Business Services in Richmond, BC. Among the topics discussed are utilizing Canadian government resources created to help businesses through the COVID-19 crisis, adjusting your sales and service tactics during the pandemic, and crafting a business strategy during uncertain times.
“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 Apr 16, 2020
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 16: Retail IT Community Roundtable on COVID-19 (Session 4)
Thursday Apr 16, 2020
Thursday Apr 16, 2020
This special episode of “The Trusted Advisor” features a fourth Retail IT Community Roundtable on COVID-19 hosted by the RSPA. VARs, ISVs, vendors, and distributors in the restaurant, retail, and grocery verticals share strategies and tactics for best dealing with this crisis. Among the roundtable topics members discuss are pursuing new federal government resources through programs such as the CARES Act and PPP (Paycheck Protection Program), adjusting sales/marketing approaches during the COVID-19 crisis, and adapting staffing levels and service tactics during this pandemic.
“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 Apr 15, 2020
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 15: Retail IT Community Roundtable on COVID-19 (Session 3)
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
This special episode of “The Trusted Advisor” features a third Retail IT Community Roundtable on COVID-19 hosted by the RSPA. VARs, ISVs, vendors, and distributors in the restaurant, retail, and grocery verticals share strategies and tactics for best dealing with this crisis. Among the roundtable topics are firsthand experiences applying for a PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan, providing online ordering and selling more tablets to help distressed restaurants, and counseling your merchants to reshape their business for a post-COVID world.
“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 Mar 26, 2020
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 14: Retail IT Community Roundtable on COVID-19 (Session 2)
Thursday Mar 26, 2020
Thursday Mar 26, 2020
This special episode of “The Trusted Advisor” features a second Retail IT Community Roundtable discussion on COVID-19 hosted by the RSPA. VARs, ISVs, vendors, and distributors in the restaurant, retail, and grocery verticals share strategies and tactics for best dealing with this crisis. Among the topics discussed are protecting your employees and merchants, appropriately introducing new products like e-commerce solutions, adjusting to an extreme reduction in credit card residuals, helping your merchants keep their equipment clean, and enabling employees to work from home.
“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 Mar 25, 2020
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 13: Retail IT Community Roundtable on COVID-19 (Session 1)
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
This special episode of “The Trusted Advisor” features a Retail IT Community Roundtable discussion on COVID-19 hosted by the RSPA. VARs, ISVs, vendors, and distributors in the restaurant, retail, and grocery verticals share ideas on strategies and tactics for best dealing with this crisis. Among the topics discussed are loans and grants for solution providers, the necessity of frequent communication, managing your finances during a period of extreme uncertainty, and examples of consulting with merchants on adapting their strategy, adopting online ordering, and utilizing social media to generate sales.
“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 Mar 04, 2020
Wednesday Mar 04, 2020
In Episode 12 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Blake Gillum, General Manager of DCR, and Thomas Greenman, Sales Manager at Skurla’s POS Solutions, to discuss their leadership transition journeys at their reseller organizations. Among the topics explored are the importance of internal systems and standards to ensure an effective transition, the biggest challenges new leaders face, and the importance of staying true to the company culture.
“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 Feb 19, 2020
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 11: Cannabis and CBD Vertical Opportunities for VARs and ISVs
Wednesday Feb 19, 2020
Wednesday Feb 19, 2020
In Episode 11 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy connects with Dave Albert, the founder and President of VAR Retail Control Systems; Brian Meyer, co-founder of Solvent; and Duane Roebuck, Sr. Channel Manager of Retail and IoT at BlueStar, about VAR and ISV opportunities – and challenges – in the emerging cannabis and CBD vertical. Among the topics discussed are resources VARs and ISVs should utilize to learn more about this market, specific steps required to enter this vertical, expected roadblocks during this journey, and lessons learned firsthand by our guests.
“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.

Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 10: Special W2W Episode on Work/Life Balance
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
Episode 10 of “The Trusted Advisor” features members of the RSPA W2W (Women to Women) Community discussing Work/Life Balance. Guest moderator Brianna Moriarty of Star Micronics sits down with guests Brenda McCurry of ScanSource, Deanna Joseph of BlueStar, and Michelle Johnson of VAR Pinnacle Hospitality Systems. Among the best practices they share are understanding it’s okay to wait on non-urgent tasks, putting yourself as a priority, eating and thinking healthy, squeezing in visits with friends during work travel, and having an “attitude of gratitude.”
“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 Feb 06, 2020
Thursday Feb 06, 2020
In Episode 9 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Kevin McGrath, co-owner of restaurant and retail VAR Value Systems, and Mic McGrath (no relation), Sr. Partnership Manager at Worldpay, to discuss how they provide stellar personal customer service. Among the topics discussed are their customer service philosophies, technology that helps keep customer service high, how to execute Commercial Teaching, and why you should strive to be “trusted and loved” by your customers.
“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.