3 Big Takeaways from ChannelCon 2025 That Signal a New Era for the Channel

ChannelCon 2025: A Bold New Chapter for GTIA and the Channel

This week, the tech channel gathered in Nashville for ChannelCon 2025, hosted by the newly minted GTIA—formerly known as CompTIA. While the venue was familiar, nearly everything else about this year’s event reflected change, energy, and a forward-looking spirit.

Here are three key takeaways from this year’s ChannelCon:

1. GTIA Pulls Off a Major Event—Under 100 Days Old

ChannelCon 2025 marks one of the first major moves from GTIA (Global Technology Industry Association) since rebranding from CompTIA. The transition is still fresh—less than 100 days old—but that didn’t stop them from delivering a well-organized and well-attended industry event.

Despite the tight runway, GTIA showed it could move fast without compromising scale or professionalism. From stage sessions to expo floor logistics, the organization handled everything with polish. It’s a strong signal that GTIA intends to be more agile, inclusive, and globally minded as it evolves its role in shaping the future of the tech channel.

2. Podcasters Row Debuts—Led by Joey Pinz

For the first time, ChannelCon featured a Podcasters Row, and it quickly became a standout feature of the event. Roughly ten tech podcasters set up shop, turning hallway conversations into digital gold.

At the center of it all was the Joey Pinz Discipline Conversations Podcast, which conducted nearly 20 interviews with attendees, thought leaders, and vendors on-site. These engaging conversations captured real-time insights into industry shifts, partner strategies, and vendor outlooks. Expect these episodes to begin dropping every Wednesday in August—don’t miss them.

Podcasters Row gave the event a fresh, media-savvy feel and amplified the reach of ChannelCon far beyond the walls of the Nashville convention center. It’s an idea whose time has come—and it’s here to stay.

3. A Vendor-Heavy, Level Playing Field

ChannelCon’s exhibitor hall stood out for one striking reason: every vendor had the same-sized booth. Whether it was a global powerhouse or a startup with momentum, everyone had equal square footage and visibility. The message? Level the field, focus on conversation, not flash.

While MSP attendance wasn’t massive this year, the event was undeniably vendor-heavy—and the vendors were talking. This wasn’t just a lead-capture play; it was about networking, partnerships, and collaboration. Many vendors expressed excitement at the opportunity to form alliances with peers, not just pitch to providers.

In a market where channel success increasingly depends on ecosystems and co-selling, this environment felt both intentional and effective.

ChannelCon 2025 felt like a reinvention—of the event, of the association, and of how our industry connects. GTIA’s bold debut, the media-first energy of Podcasters Row, and the equalized vendor expo all sent the same message: the channel is changing, and we’re here for it.

We’ll be watching closely—and listening, too—as the Joey Pinz episodes from ChannelCon start rolling out in August.