Announcing the Inaugural Leader in Managed IT Awards at MSP SUMMIT

We’re excited to introduce a brand-new recognition program for the managed services community: The Leader in Managed IT Awards.

Debuting live at MSP SUMMIT (January 20–22) at The 20 HQ in Plano, Texas, these awards are designed to spotlight MSPs that are raising the bar for operational excellence, service delivery, and client impact across North America.

MSP SUMMIT itself has quickly grown into a premier industry event. What began as an exclusive gathering for members of The 20 is now open to all MSPs, attracting 100+ providers from across the U.S. and Canada. SUMMIT is an intense, hands-on experience focused on the realities MSPs face today – from AI and automation to growth without burnout, M&A strategy, and modern sales and marketing.

And now, SUMMIT will also serve as a stage for recognizing outstanding leadership in the MSP space.

The Leader in Managed IT Awards: An Overview

The Leader in Managed IT Awards honor MSPs that exemplify what it means to lead – not just keep up – in today’s rapidly evolving IT landscape.

These awards recognize providers who have demonstrated:

  • Consistent client success and satisfaction
  • Strong operational maturity and execution
  • Sustainable growth and service performance
  • A commitment to innovation and world-class IT delivery

Being named a Leader in Managed IT is about more than revenue or size. It’s about impact – on clients, teams, and the broader MSP community. This new awards program complements The 20’s existing VISION Awards, offering another opportunity to highlight excellence within the MSP ecosystem.

Award Categories

One MSP will be named a winner in each of the following categories:

  • Community Impact Award
  • Cybersecurity Leadership Award
  • Regulatory Excellence Award
  • Gold Standard Award
  • Momentum Award
  • Women in Managed IT Excellence Award
  • Canada
  • US – Midwest
  • US – Northeast
  • US – South
  • US – Southwest
  • US – West

Winners will be announced live on stage on the final day of MSP SUMMIT, making the awards ceremony a can’t-miss moment of the event.

List of Finalists

The following MSPs have been selected for recognition at the inaugural Leader in Managed IT Awards. Nominees span a wide range of markets, regions, and specialties, reflecting the depth of talent and leadership across the MSP community:

  • Adair Technology (Mark Adair)
  • American IT Department (Erik Fuerte)
  • ARK Solvers (Reginald Andre)
  • Asgard IT Services (Forrest Smith)
  • Blue Paladin Network Security (Cameron Call)
  • BomberJacket Networks (Mike Bramm)
  • CentraComm (Nick Eastby)
  • Coleman Technologies (Darren Coleman)
  • Consolidated Business Systems (Doug Hulme)
  • CTS Computers (Tyler Wallace)
  • Digital Solutions (David Herrera)
  • Engler IT (Chris Engler)
  • Forward Systems (Sean Barden)
  • Image Tech (Marcus Griswold)
  • Infomax Office Systems (Doug Postel)
  • Inspiris (Lyle Regehr)
  • Interweave Technologies (Ravi Kolli)
  • IT Pros Management (Randall Martinez)
  • JMD IT Consulting (Mike Dempsey)
  • Just Smart Business Technologies (Michael Duke)
  • Kennedy Computer Solutions (Chance Isham)
  • Kinetic Technology Group (Jim Harryman)
  • Kloud9 (Nicole Milliron)
  • Managed Solutions Group (Kurt Gudenkauf)
  • MashGrape Technologies (Brandi Couse)
  • Mobius Partners (Kevin Hall)
  • Monty’s PC Solutions (Toni Coffey)
  • Northwest Computer Solutions (James Hanson)
  • PacketLogix (Terrence Boylan)
  • PC Help! (David Nelson)
  • Popper Tech Team (Joe Popper)
  • Red Box Business Solutions (Seana Fippin)
  • Royer Networks (S.T. Royer)
  • Sentri-Fi (Jon Reedy)
  • SmartWeb USA (Knox Wimberly)
  • Strix IT (Xavier Rehder)
  • Superior Turnkey Solutions (Josh Thomas)
  • Sysoptix (John Stephens)
  • Techknowledgey Inc. (Boyd Smith)
  • Tech Pros (John Gethers)
  • Techie Gurus LLC (Chris Burns)
  • The Critical Update (Luis Delgado)
  • The Lerepco Group (Kim Leiby)
  • Ultimate Managed IT (Joe Giunta)
  • Uptime Networks (Ben Maschan)
  • X-Tek (Justin Arendt)
  • XTB Solutions (Opher Mizrachi)
  • Your IT Guys (Zachary Hamblen)

The winners of the inaugural Leader in Managed IT Awards will be announced live at MSP SUMMIT on January 22. Stay tuned as we recognize the MSPs setting the standard for leadership in managed IT!

Top Priorities for MSPs in 2026

The new year is here – and with it, a host of opportunities to take your MSP business to new heights.

We want to help your MSP hit the ground running in 2026, and we encourage all you MSP founders, leaders and decision-makers to join us next week at MSP SUMMIT. The 3-day event is taking place at The 20 HQ in Dallas, TX, and we’re covering the topics that matter right now: AI-augmented sales, M&A strategy (AKA building a business worth buying), elite operations, and more. SUMMIT is where growth gets real…Will you be in the room?

In the meantime, start putting together your gameplan for the year ahead with the help of this post: an overview of top priorities for MSPs in 2026. Here’s what to focus on over the next twelve months to get big results.

Priority #1 – Get Authentic

2026 is the year MSP leaders need to show up – and as real, visible people. Today’s clients aren’t just buying services; they’re buying into your vision, your values, and your leadership.

In the age of AI-generated content, authenticity matters more than ever. Look around the business landscape and you’ll see generic, beige messaging everywhere. The same rhythm, the same words, the same ideas. If you can be honest, transparent, raw, and above all, different, it will set you and your MSP apart.

An eye-opening stat: 82% of today’s consumers are more likely to trust a company led by folks who are active on social media.

Priority #2 – Plug In to Level Up

No MSP succeeds on an island, and collaboration will be key to thriving in 2026. Burnout is all too real: a report from Kaseya found that approximately 40% of tech staff are working 50+ hour weeks. There’s no magic bullet for overworked staff, but strategic outsourcing and partnerships can be lifesavers.

If you’re battling burnout at your MSP business, look into ‘master MSPs,’ peer groups, and other growth platforms to lighten your load. White-label services like NOCs or SOCs allow MSPs to offer 24/7 coverage or advanced capabilities without overextending staff. You can start by checking out our acclaimed growth platform – The 20 MSP Group. We give your MSP the tools, resources and knowledge it needs to grow and scale faster and with less stress. As a member, you get access to our US-based 24/7/365 support desk, a world-class NOC, and a thriving community of 175+ MSPs who love to connect and collaborate.

Priority #3 – Speak in Benefits

MSPs can no longer rely on generic monthly reports; modern clients want proof of impact. In 2026, successful providers will present clear, actionable KPIs that show how their services improve business outcomes. This might include dashboards tracking cyberattack prevention, resolution times, or productivity gains. By benchmarking performance and conducting business reviews, MSPs can quantify value, demonstrate risk reduction, and guide clients on what’s next.

If you’re still talking to clients in the language of tech, focus on developing a new style of communication in 2026 – one that clearly articulates the value your services bring in terms of measurable outcomes. If you can do that, those “what am I paying for?” complaints will become few and far between.

Priority #4 – Conquer Compliance

Compliance is no longer optional; it’s table stakes in industries like healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. Leading MSPs are beginning to offer compliance-as-a-service, combining continuous monitoring, automated audit reporting, and guidance through evolving regulations. Real-time compliance dashboards tracking access controls, patching, backups, and policy adherence help clients stay ahead of audits and regulatory changes, positioning your MSP as both a trusted advisor and a business enabler.

If your MSP doesn’t have a sophisticated compliance program, this is the year to build one. Not sure where to start? Start with this actionable article from N-able.

Priority #5 – Marry AI to Cybersecurity

AI is here, but there’s a lot of work to be done on the implementation front – especially in regard to cybersecurity.

A 2025 Darktrace study shows 88% of security teams report significant time savings from AI tools, and a recent report from Lansweeper found that 56.4% of MSPs are using AI-powered cybersecurity to generate new revenue.

In 2026, integrating AI into threat detection, monitoring, and response is essential for operational efficiency, client protection, and staying competitive.

Priority #6 – Attend Channel Events!

This one gets an exclamation point because, yes, it’s that vital. The MSPs making moves and progress are consistently getting out there and mixing it up with their peers. Why? Because nothing else moves the needle quite like it.

Live events are where trends are being shaped in real time. And in case you missed the previous plug, our own MSP SUMMIT (Jan 20-22) offers a hands-on opportunity to strategize for 2026, exchange insights, and forge partnerships that will help your business thrive in the year ahead.

If you haven’t signed up for SUMMIT, stop reading and grab one of the last remaining seats!

Priority #7 – Familiarize Yourself with M&A Fundamentals

Mergers and acquisitions may not be on every MSP’s immediate agenda, but understanding M&A principles is critical for growth. Buyers today look beyond revenue: they want scalability, stability, and a business built for long-term success. Even if you’re not selling, learning M&A fundamentals helps you build an MSP that’s worth buying – and that’s a good thing, regardless of your plans.

Download our free MSP M&A Guide: We put this together to help MSPs navigate today’s dealmaking landscape with confidence and clarity. Get your copy here.

Priority #8 – Begin Transition to MIP Model

Your clients no longer want their systems to just work; they want them to automate, streamline, and scale. That’s where the managed intelligence provider – or MIP – comes in. An MIP is the next stage in the evolution of the MSP: not just a support service, but a strategic partner that leverages AI and data-driven insights to help businesses identify opportunities, improve productivity, and prioritize growth. In short, an MIP combines the reliability of traditional MSP services with forward-thinking intelligence that drives real business outcomes.

Check out our blog on the topic for a much deeper dive into the MIP model.

Final Thought

Our industry has never moved slowly – but things are about to go into warp speed in 2026. We’re talking a massive, channel-wide leap forward, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the widespread exodus from break/fix in the early 2000s. We’ll leave you with one ‘meta priority’ to rule them all…

In 2026, prioritize prioritizing your MSP’s overall business health. In other words, make sure you’re putting sufficient time and energy into the big picture. Study trends. Observe other MSPs (especially the successful ones). Go to events. Find out what’s happening at the leading edge. Don’t just keep your head down and hope the busy work will save you. If you want growth in 2026, you’ll need to be bold, decisive, and present.

Now get out there and make it happen!

The 20 in 2025: Our Year in Review

2025, it’s been real.

You taught us a lot, kicked our butts more than once, and challenged us to grow in new and exciting ways. From everyone here at The 20, thank you.

And to everyone in our community, join us for a look back at 2025 – and a peek at what’s in store for 2026. This is our year in review.

A Year of Growth

2025 was another year of growth for The 20. We welcomed dozens of MSPs into our peer group, while continuing to deepen our own MSP’s national footprint.

Our consolidation efforts in particular have been fruitful: 44 MSP acquisitions in the past 36 months (seven in 2025), with zero failed deals. This year, we expanded operations in several key markets, adding new end clients in Michigan, California, Virginia, and Massachusetts.

With these deals, we’re not just getting bigger and better; we’re also helping MSP owners make smooth exits and turn decades of hard work into a legacy they can be proud of. M&A, done right, is a beautiful thing.

Are you an MSP owner considering an exit?

Set up a call with our team to learn more about our founder-friendly approach.

Process-Based, People-Led

In 2025, our Texas-based 24x7x365 support desk closed 209,786 tickets. That’s a lot of problems solved and people helped. When you do something at that sort of scale, of course you need rock-solid processes. But you also need rock-solid people.

People like Diego, who spent six hours resolving a WiFi outage right in time for a big wedding – with a follow-up gathering of state legislators! So clutch.

Or people like Ben, who insisted that a client calling in for support verify their identity – even though the caller really didn’t want to.

And then there’s Brandon, described (accurately) by one of our legal clients as a “rockstar and superhero all in one.”

Great people make great work possible. And we’ve got a whole bunch of ’em.

Milestones & Moments

We got busy in 2025. Over the past year, we…

We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished. But are we satisfied? Are we done?

Come on – is that even a serious question?

Let’s Get Together!

We love events here at The 20. In 2025, we participated in 21 and hosted 14.

Our annual VISION conference in August was freakin’ incredible: 300+ MSPs got together for 3 days of sharing ideas, getting real, getting weird, getting smarter, better, and faster. What else is there to say besides…That sh*t was awesome!

If you’re an MSP, don’t even think about missing our next in-person event – MSP SUMMIT ’25, taking place next month at The 20 HQ in Dallas, TX. We’ve got a special 3 days planned for all you MSPs looking to grow, scale and kick butt in 2026.

Check out the SUMMIT Agenda – and secure your seat before we hit capacity!

2026, Here We Come

2026 is almost here – and we’ve got big plans. We’re talking…

More acquisitions and a broader national (international…?) footprint. Stay tuned for more deals and more growth!

New partnerships and elevated capabilities. AI is here – but what’s the best way to use it? For MSPs? For end clients? Our AI Team is on the case, and can’t wait to show you what’s possible.

A Stronger MSP community. Sitting at around 175 members, our MSP peer group is poised for major growth in 2026. We can’t wait to help a bunch of new MSPs get unstuck and scaling the right way in the coming year. If you’re an MSP who needs a little help, reach out!

Plus, a huge announcement…

OK, 2026. Let’s do this.