“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.
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In Episode 159 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks AI and payments with Travis Chrisman, President of Coastal Pay; Don Wilczynski, CEO of Merchant Rescue, powered by Tried & True Consulting; and Aidan Chau, Founder & CEO of Maple. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail…
In Episode 158 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with Andy Szanger, the Director of Strategic Industries at RSPA member CDW, to discuss his journey developing strategy, people, and leadership skills across an over three-decade retail technology career. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series…
In Episode 157 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with Kathy Durfee, the CEO and Founder of systems integrator/managed services provider TechHouse, to discuss her 30-year leadership journey. Conversation topics include embracing “practical bravery,” teaching creative problem solving, and connecting your company mission to day-to-day activities. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by…
In Episode 156 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with Shiv Sundar, the Co-Founder of ISV Esper, to discuss his journey leading a company from its startup phase to over $100 million in investments with hundreds of customers, partners, and team members. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series…
In Episode 155 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks with RSPA General Counsel Atty. Jill Miller about contract landmines in today’s reseller agreements, previewing her RetailNOW 2026 breakout session. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software providers.…
In Episode 154 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with Mark Morgan, ScanSource’s newly appointed President of Specialty Technologies, about channels in transition, companies in transition, and leaders in transition. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and…
Episode 153 of “The Trusted Advisor” features Zack Kass, the former Head of Go-To-Market for OpenAI and “one of the world’s foremost authorities on applied AI.” Kass was the featured guest for a recent RSPA Emerging Technologies Advisory Group meeting. Kass is an Executive-in-Residence at the University of Virginia, Chair of the Ruder Finn AI Advisory Council, and author of the new book The Next…
In Episode 152 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RPOWER President Jami Interdonato, BlueStar CMO Dean Reverman, and RSPA CEO Jim Roddy analyze the 2026 RSPA Retail IT Channel KPI Study. Interdonato, Reverman, and Roddy discuss the resurgence of partnerships, the resiliency of high-initiative VARs and ISVs, the short- and long-term benefits of recurring revenue, and more. To download your copy of the 2026…
Episode 151 of “The Trusted Advisor” features tech entrepreneur, futurist, author, and speaker Byron Reese. Reese was a recent featured guest for an RSPA Emerging Technologies Advisory Group meeting. Reese, who has 25 years of experience as a successful technology entrepreneur, answers questions about AI’s impact, the expanding role of trusted advisors in a changing world, and why the jobs of…
In Episode 150 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks “flexible leadership” with Bill Fultz, the General Manager of software provider LINGA. Among the topics discussed are adapting your leadership approach to each individual vs. having one set leadership style, slowing initiatives down to ensure they have a strong foundation and can survive over time, and delivering candid feedback…
In Episode 149 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks about the history and future of the retail IT channel with Brett Van Riper, Channel Account Manager for Epson. Among the topics discussed are how trends from the 1990s and 2000s are parallel to today’s channel, the importance of VARs remaining independent, how distributors drive success for channel partners, and why innovation in…
In Episode 148 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy shares accounts of mistreatment of women at industry events and issues a call to action for male leaders to step up and ensure the retail IT channel is a safe and professional environment for everyone. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed…
In Episode 147 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks leadership with Sandee Finley, Chief Payments officer at Paysafe Associates and the 2025 RSPA W2W Community Leader of the Year. Among the topics discussed are the value of leading with empathy, encouragement, and authenticity, why people connect with honesty and not perfection, and the importance of creating an environment where the…
In Episode 146 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks retail IT industry trends and leadership with Gilbert Bailey, the President of Genius Retail and Small Business for Global Payments. Among the topics discussed are AI, enterprise tools filtering to SMB, providing solutions beyond the POS, and that leaders “action always beats inaction.” “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail…
In Episode 145 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks with RSPA General Counsel Atty. Jill Miller about why VAR and ISV leaders need to understand the important difference between legal interpretations and personal opinions. Miller also provides an update on the latest news related to surcharging and cash discounting. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers…
In Episode 144 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with Gary Manchel, the all-time winningest men’s basketball coach at Mercyhurst (PA) University, to talk leadership and change management. Among the topics discussed are how to stay focused on your core goals while experiencing significant change, best practices for leading a growing staff, how to sustain success despite change,…
In Episode 143 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with Ansley Hoke, Senior Vice President of the Integrated Solutions Group at ScanSource, to discuss “stickier” solutions that VARs and ISVs can offer to merchants. Among the topics discussed are connected devices, IT aggregation, AI, and mobile device management. Hoke also shares insights into her leadership journey including…
In Episode 142 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with John Giles, President of ISV Round 2 POS, to discuss the retail IT VAR of the future. Giles begins with a tour of his VAR company, Butler Business Systems in Butler, PA, and then provides his thoughts on designing a “VAR for our kids’ generation,” why he continues to bet on the channel, expected business model changes for…
In Episode 141 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with COCARD’s Dan Brattland to discuss leadership communication best practices. Among the topics discussed are how to teach effective communication throughout your organization, how to establish credibility, the importance of preparing and asking questions, and why you should keep your team “in the information loop.” “The…
In Episode 140 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with retail strategist Carl Boutet and channel expert Mike Monocello about their top takeaways from RetailNOW 2025 , held July 27-29 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Among the topics discussed are AI, data monetization, the ever-changing channel, technology diversity, managed services, and the next generation of retail IT channel…
In Episode 139 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy shares insights on the important leadership trait of justice. Justice: Don’t advantage yourself, your family or friends at the expense of others. Seek first to understand before seeking to be understood. See the other person’s viewpoint. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an…
Episode 138 of “The Trusted Advisor” features four RSPA members discussing networking best practices for retail IT channel trade shows and conferences: Melissa McGrath of VAR Value Systems, Megan Farley of VAR Electronic Office, Crystal Barrineau of ISV OrderCounter, and host Christine Antonson of VAR Synovus. McGrath, Farley, Barrineau, and Antonson are graduates of the RSPA’s Leading…
In Episode 137 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy discusses how vendors can appropriately manage channel and direct sales with Crystal Harrison, Vice President of Channel & Pre-Sales Solution Architects at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, and Tony Roy, President and Co-Founder of software provider Popmenu. Harrison and Roy share their best practice philosophies, strategies, tactics,…
In Episode 136 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks leadership with Steve Casteel, the President of VAR/ISO Payteva. Among the topics discussed are strategies to build an ownership culture inside your organization, the importance of investing time and money supporting local groups, why pushy sales tactics don’t work, and how humility enables leadership growth. “The Trusted Advisor,”…
In Episode 135 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks leadership with two startup founders/CEOs: Philip Wegner of TechGrid and Shawn Harris of Coworked. Among the topics discussed are the differences between leading at an established company vs. a startup, how to navigate early-stage turbulence, and how to establish and maintain a “democratic but decisive” leadership style. “The…
In Episode 134 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks with Jim Hilton, Director of Networks and Connectivity at distributor BlueStar. Among the topics discussed are networking and connectivity opportunities for retail and hospitality VARs, what VARs need internally to seize these opportunities, how these technologies generate recurring revenue, and what’s around the corner in…
In Episode 133 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy shares his insights on Critical Thinking, both as an important leadership concept as well as the six-step Critical Thinking execution process. Critical Thinking is the process of determining what you want to accomplish (the outcomes), evaluating what you know, and determining what actions must be taken to achieve that outcome: Fully…
In Episode 132 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks with RSPA General Counsel Atty. Jill Miller about the latest developments related to the Corporate Transparency Act. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software providers. Our goal is to educate you on…
In Episode 131 of “The Trusted Advisor,” POS Nation VP of Customer Experience Will Atkinson, BlueStar VP of Marketing Dean Reverman, and RSPA CEO Jim Roddy analyze the 2025 RSPA Retail IT Channel KPI Study. Atkinson, Reverman, and Roddy discuss better-than-expected 2024 revenue numbers, VAR and ISV optimism for 2025, strong profit margins for solution providers, how VARs should counter “MSP…
In Episode 130 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks leadership with Steve Martorelli, the Founder and CEO of VAR/ISO Turnkey Processing. Among the topics discussed are how the guiding principle of “Remarkablism” shapes Steve’s leadership approach and the organization, how to integrate your core values into day-to-day operations, and the importance of opening yourself to 360-degree…
In Episode 129 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy shares insights on the important but often overlooked leadership trait of prudence. Prudence: Don’t make reckless choices. Use good judgement. Analyze, compare, calculate, and project. Accurate critical thinking (what’s true, what’s false, what’s relevant). Open-minded. Flexible. Lack of prejudice or bias. Keep things in perspective –…
In Episode 128 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks about the overlooked leadership skill of public speaking with John Vautier, a 15-year communications coach and the Vice President of Business Development for Vautier Communications. Among the topics discussed are how strong speaking skills greatly enhance a leader’s perceived competence, the foundational elements of an effective…
In Episode 127 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks leadership with channel expert Janet Schijns, the CEO and co-founder of JSG and an RSPA Board Advisor. Among the topics discussed are leading through change, key differences between risk taking at a large company vs. a small company, the state of women in the IT channel, and why VAR and ISV leaders need to avoid “echo chambers.”…
In Episode 126 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks leadership with COCARD’s Dan Brattland. Among the topics discussed are the importance of being true to your distinct leadership style, the Three C’s of Leadership (staying cool, calm, and collected), how to delegate effectively, and what to do when delegation to an employee doesn’t work out. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the…
In Episode 125 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks ethical capitalism and leadership with Bob Chapman, the Chairman and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, a $3.6-billion global capital equipment and engineering solutions company. Among Chapman’s accolades are being named the CEO of the Year by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the #3 CEO in the world in by Inc. Magazine, and a…
In Episode 124 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks leadership with two Heartland executives: Andre Nataf, Sr. Vice President of POS Distribution, and Maddie Stockwell, Sr. Director of the Heartland POS Dealer Channel. Among the topics discussed are how to navigate shared leadership responsibilities, tactics to bridge generational divides, and the importance of building a team that…
In Episode 123 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with John Giles, the President of ISV Round 2 POS, to talk strategy and leadership. Among the topics discussed are choosing a strategy designed to be radically different from your competition, how to implement your strategy, and the importance of frequently running tests to ensure you are the disruptor and not the disrupted.…
In Episode 122 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with Mike DeGuibert, North America Sales Manager for Epson, about his leadership journey and lessons learned. Among the topics discussed are filling the shoes of industry legend Linda Sudderth, best practices for leading a remote team, how taking notes makes you a more effective leader, and how veteran leaders can improve their…
Episode 121 of “The Trusted Advisor” features a conversation between two high-energy RSPA members: Tyler Young, the CEO/Founder of Tonic POS, and Jeremy Julian, the CRO at Custom Business Solutions. Originally aired on The Restaurant Technology Guys podcast ( www.restauranttechnologyguys.com ), Young and Julian reveal what drives them to lead others. Among the topics discussed are impact over…
In Episode 120 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with Brett Bennett, Co-Founder and President of retail VAR POSitive Technology and ISV OpSuite, and Jeff Riley, CEO of ISV Retail Management Hero, about best practices for handing off leadership responsibilities. The conversation is a behind-the-scenes look at how they transitioned positions on the RSPA Board, Bennett serving as…
In Episode 119 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy catches up with Blake Gillum, President of VAR/MSP/ISV Data Cash Register (DCR), and Thomas Greenman, President and Co-Owner of VAR Skurla’s POS Solutions. Gillum and Greeman were Trusted Advisor guests back in 2020 ( Episode 12: VAR Leadership Transitions ) to discuss their transition into company leadership roles. In this episode they…
In Episode 118 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks with RSPA General Counsel Atty. Jill Miller about the latest on cash discounting and surcharging sparked by her RetailNOW 2024 presentation “Legally Speaking: Cash Discounting and Surcharging.” RetailNOW, the retail IT channel’s #1 trade show, education conference, and networking event, attracted over 1,500 attendees July 28-30 in…
In Episode 117 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy delivers the 2024 RSPA State of the Industry Report. The report features eight retail IT channel macro trends and our industry’s top two competitive advantages over non-channel organizations. The State of the Industry Report was first delivered July 29 on the main stage at RetailNOW 2024 in Las Vegas. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the…
In Episode 116 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks with Heather Philpott, the Director of Supplier Services at ScanSource, about her leadership journey and her upcoming RetailNOW 2024 panel “Elevate & Innovate: Essential Tools for Empowering Your Retail Technology Solution Business.” Philpott details VAR and ISV best practices for technology expansion and revenue diversification,…
In Episode 115 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy sits down with Kevin Spencer, President of VAR Rod Plus Solutions, to discuss his leadership journey and his upcoming RetailNOW 2024 presentation “Dynamic Leadership: Igniting Growth, Navigating Change & Empowering Teams.” Spencer shares how embracing visionary leadership has impacted his reseller organization, which actions have freed up…
In Episode 114 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy draws business leadership lessons from the world of college athletics through an interview with Brian Streeter, the Director of Athletics for 27 years at Penn State-Behrend, and Dave Niland, Behrend’s head men’s basketball coach for 29 years. Streeter and Niland share the keys to their longevity as successful leaders, how they have…
In Episode 113 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks with Michel Sirois, President of BlueStar Canada and Past Board Chair of the RSPA, about his leadership journey and his upcoming RetailNOW 2024 panel “Unlocking the Secrets of Selling to a New Generation of Customer.” Sirois shares one of his sales secrets, how he developed his leadership style through “unlearning and relearning,”…
In Episode 112 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks with the co-founders of VersiTech, the parent company of Tonic POS and BOLD Integrated Payments, CEO Tyler Young and Chief Revenue Officer Gary Liu. Young, Liu, and Roddy discuss how to successfully integrate three companies into one culture, how to effectively hire and onboard new employees who enhance your culture, challenges that…
In Episode 111 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks leadership with Stephen Enfield, the CEO of POS Supply Solutions. Enfield and Roddy discuss how to integrate company values throughout an organization, how to successfully onboard new hires and newly acquired companies, how successful leaders embrace “emotional agility,” and more. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail…
In Episode 110 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks leadership with brothers Brad Lucas and Owen Lucas of VAR Lucas Systems, named one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina. Brad, the company President, and Owen, Vice President of Operations, discuss what drives them to improve their family business, what activities have expanded their leadership skillsets, why retail IT…
