Reader Spotlight: Roger Michelson, VP, COO, And Co-owner, BNMC

BNMC has provided professional IT Solutions for businesses since 1988.  For companies with no IT staff, we offer full managed services and cloud services, complete outsourced IT. For companies with an existing IT department, we offer Enterprise IT Support as well as project and consulting services. 

Describe the most innovative installation/solution you’ve been involved in recently.

We are currently reusing office space from one customer (who we moved out to a larger space) to setup as a new office for a second customer.  We are reusing many components such as wireless Access Points, patch cables, UPS and other items so that nothing goes to waste and we save money for both customers.

What is the biggest threat to your business? What are you doing about it?

Our biggest threat to our business is the economic landscape for our customers.  If small and medium sized businesses do not feel confident with their financial situation or outlook, then they will tighten the purse strings and spend less on IT services.  We are always looking for ways for our customers to save money and help them with their budgeting process.

What is the biggest opportunity for your business? What are you doing to take advantage of it?

Cloud services are the biggest opportunity for our business and we are working with our customers to understand their business requirements in order to leverage the best cloud services for them.

What emerging technology will have the biggest impact on your business and why?

Cloud  Services will have the biggest impact on our business as customers move from in house applications and data centers to the cloud.  New Security Services will have a big impact as well.

What technology do you wish you had embraced sooner and why?

I wish we had upgrade our Email Defense and Archive vendor sooner.  We had been using McAfee SaaS Email Defense (MXLogic) and took our time reviewing new vendors.

Where do you see the channel in 10 years?

I see more opportunity from the large Manufacturers (e.g. Dell, HP, EMC, Microsoft, etc) being moved to the Channel.

What about your company culture attracts new employees and helps retrain current ones?

We have a great team that works well together.  Our culture encourages both hard work as well as taking time to enjoy company events (e.g. BBQ, holiday parties, lunches, etc.).

What advice would you give to a VAR/MSP/ISV new to the channel?

Network with as many VAR/MSP/ISV companies as you can and talk with those of us who have been doing this for a long time.  There is a lot of us willing to share advise and lessons learned to help anyone new to the channel.

If you weren’t a VAR/MSP/ISV what would you be doing?

I would be coaching VAR/MSP/ISV companies to help them grow.

What is the best business book on your shelf?

Traction by Gino Wickman.