Episode Details

We’re on the floor at Pax8 Beyond in Salt Lake City with GTIA leaders Dan Wensley and MJ Shoer, talking about ChannelCon 2026 in San Diego and what’s changed since the CompTIA transition. They share how GTIA rebuilt from zero infrastructure, doubled IT service provider attendance year over year, and is leaning into education, research, and community to deliver “more value to more members.

We also dig into the new AI and innovation awards, the GTIA ISAO, and a major collaboration with Texas A&M to define standards for responsible, professional IT services. Dan and MJ explain why now is the time for MSPs to stop sitting on the sidelines, plug into a global trade association, and take advantage of millions of dollars in resources, threat intel, and free access to ChannelCon for just a few hundred bucks a year.

=== Chapter

• 0:27 PAX8 Beyond Kicks Off
• 1:35 ChannelCon Heads to San Diego
• 3:51 AI Awards and Member Value
• 9:20 Research, Education, and Growth
• 11:01 Responsible IT Services Standards
• 15:37 Growth Challenges and Foundations
• 18:36 Community Impact Stories
• 21:22 Why Join GTIA Now
• 24:14 Final Invitation to Members
• 25:42 Event Fun and Entertainment

=== Guest: Dan Wensley

• Company: GTIA – Global Technology Industry Association: https://gtia.org/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danwensley

=== Guest: MJ Shoer

• Company: GTIA – Global Technology Industry Association: https://gtia.org/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjshoer

Shout-outs

• Nick Heddy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-heddy-pax8/
• Scott Chasin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottchasin/
• Rob Rae: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robtrae/
• Carolyn April: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-april-90894233/
• Nancy Hamervik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyhamervik

Companies / Vendors / Products / Events / Organizations

• Pax8: https://www.pax8.com
• ChannelCon (GTIA event): https://channelcon.gtia.org/
• Consortium for Responsible IT Services: https://it-services.tamu.edu
• ASCII Group: https://www.ascii.com
• Gaslamp District (San Diego area reference): https://www.gaslamp.org
• Salt Lake City (host city, Pax8 Beyond 2026): https://www.slc.gov
• San Diego (host city, ChannelCon 2026): https://www.sandiego.gov
• Breakaway (legacy CompTIA/ChannelCon event name, historical reference): https://www.comptia.org (no separate current site; legacy brand)
• NSITSP – National Society of IT Serv