The State Bar of Texas has partnered with TPx to deliver cybersecurity advisory services and collaboration to its members.

TPx will provide specialized pricing and discounted access to State Bar of Texas Members, and offers a full suite of services and offerings, including Business Internet, Managed SD-WAN, Managed Firewalls, Managed Network Services, Security Advisory Services, Managed Endpoint Security, Managed Data Center Colocation Services, Unified Communications, Managed Microsoft 365 Business and Managed Backup and Disaster Recovery.

State Bar of Texas Members can visit this page to learn more and request information.

Technology is omnipresent and essential for law firms, and attorneys are ethically required to maintain and update their solutions to ensure attorney-client privilege. However, staying atop the latest offerings in today’s cloud and digital world doesn’t need to be lawyers’ primary focus, especially when they can turn to a trusted and experienced partner to help them with their technological journey.

Given the steady increase in cyberattacks against the legal industry, law firms must also focus on cybersecurity measures that protect confidential systems, documents, and client data. Old or outdated technology is a risk, making it critical for law firms to ensure their technology is current.

Compliance is also central to legal work, from individual client confidentiality requirements to broader industry standards, including HIPAA. Failure to follow regulations could lead to reputational and monetary damages, making proper technology and rigorous cybersecurity measures a business necessity.

Firms don’t always have time to monitor regulatory changes continuously to update. Instead, TPx’s Security Advisory Services delivers a holistic security posture and ensures firms navigate the complex and changing regulations and have a defensible position.

“Threat actors regularly target law firms due to the sensitive nature of the data they hold, making the need for an IT partner more critical than ever,” State Bar of Texas Executive Director Trey Apffel said. “TPx has specialized experience in handling cybersecurity for the legal industry and offers solutions that will empower State Bar of Texas members to help protect themselves against hacks and breaches. We look forward to the added protection TPx will bring to our members.”

The State Bar of Texas is the latest organization to turn to TPx for its Managed IT Services for its members. TPx has worked with companies large and small to develop customized solutions to help them prepare for changing regulations and burgeoning threats.

TPx customizes information security programs to a company’s requirements, size, complexity, operations and data sensitivity. Click here to read recent success stories of companies that have partnered with TPx to deploy the right-sized solutions that help their businesses prosper.

The State Bar of Texas is a public corporation and an administrative agency of the state government’s judicial department. Its mission includes enabling its members to better serve their clients.

Do you feel prepared to tackle the many threats facing businesses? We work with companies of all sizes across every industry to deliver IT solutions to increase their resiliency and navigate the unexpected. Get in touch with us to get started.

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While the world pauses every March to celebrate Women’s History Month and the contributions of women throughout American history, at TPx, we honor the women who make history within our organization every day.

People are at the center of everything we do at TPx, and that’s why we take such pride in fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for everyone, whether a colleague, customer, partner, or supplier. Diversity isn’t just a talking point; it’s an intrinsic part of our operations and guides us forward as a company.

While more than half of our Executive Leadership Team is women, we know our efforts are never done.

Women are still making history at TPx, whether Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day on March 8 or another day.

We know a welcoming work environment cultivates talent, fosters growth, and promotes inclusivity and value for all. When we work together, we can achieve more — and we’re stronger as an organization.

Everyone carries with them unique experiences and backgrounds. When they bring those perspectives to the table, our diversity is our strongest asset, stronger than any product or service we could ever provide.

Are you looking for a workplace that values strong women? Visit TPx’s careers page for more information on your next opportunity.

The post Celebrating Women’s History Month Every Day of the Year appeared first on TPx Communications.

At TPx, we are dedicated to being the easiest MSP to do business with. Our passion is our customers and how we can help them improve their IT operations and security. The work we do isn’t possible without our talented and dedicated team. It is because of our employees that we are able to deliver best-in-class services to organizations nationwide. Each month, we highlight employees and the work they do in supporting our mission.

This month, we would like to highlight Joe Royer, Director, Product Management at TPx. Joe has been with the organization for 13 years and is an integral member of our product team. Read on to learn more about Joe and the work he does every day.

What does your role entail at TPx?

For the last several years, I’ve been responsible for leading product management of our Managed IT, Managed Networking, and Managed Cybersecurity solutions. In that role, I’ve been able to oversee the launch and growth of several of our existing solutions in these areas and it has afforded me the opportunity to work closely and collaborate with many different departments at TPx, as well as many of our vendor partners and customers.

In 2024, I’m thrilled to take on new responsibilities at TPx by managing key initiatives across our portfolio. I aim to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and maximize overall value by collaborating with stakeholders across the business to better leverage systems and optimize processes to achieve our goals.

How does the work you do impact our mission of being the easiest MSP to do business with?

TPx has made significant technology investments over the last two years. We’ve implemented systems such as Salesforce, ServiceNow, and others to provide us with a powerful set of tools and infrastructure that we can use to run our business. These systems; however, are just tools. By identifying the business issues that TPx and our customers are facing and understanding how to leverage these tools to help solve them, we can make a tremendous positive impact. It helps better position us as the easiest MSP to do business with by facilitating fast, efficient, and accurate resolution of issues all long the customer journey and product lifecycle.

What excited you about the industry?

I really love being in the technology and managed services industry. I’ve been doing this for a long time and there is always something new around the corner. This creates tremendous opportunity to deliver continuing value for our customers as we find new ways to leverage technology and services to help them achieve their business goals.

What accomplishments are you most proud of at TPx?

During my time at TPx, I’ve held several positions within the sales and product teams.  While I I’m certainly proud of the work I’ve done and the accomplishments I’ve achieved in these roles, I’d say I’m most proud of how I’ve been able to mentor others along the way and to watch them achieve success as they grow with TPx and in their own careers.

What is your favorite part about working at TPx?

I like the consistent challenges and opportunities that exist here. When I wake up every morning it’s nice to be able to feel like there is important work to be done.  Work that has a larger impact on our business and for our customers.

What makes TPx’s culture different from other organizations?

There are many things that I think I could list here. I’d say a couple of the bigger ones would be a focus on employee engagement. TPx fosters a culture that encourages employees to be involved, recognizes their contributions, and promotes an overall sense of belonging. Next, is the importance placed on work-life balance. This is a demanding fast-paced industry, and TPx understands that by caring about their employees’ overall wellbeing, we can achieve better success.

What are you most excited about at TPx in 2024?

In the past, we’ve been somewhat hamstrung by systems limitations that have prevented us from reaching many of our goals. I’m very excited that in 2024 we’ll be in a position to really start leveraging the investments we’ve made in our systems to help enable us to accelerate our growth, significantly improve our service delivery, and increase our overall value.

What is one topic you never get tired of learning about?

I really love learning about technology in general because every few years there is something that is so new and different it’s a game changer. Remember when the fax came out? I do and it blew my mind. Today it’s Artificial Intelligence (AI).  It’s such a revolutionary tech that has so many possible applications for our business. AI is in its infancy, so it’ll be very interesting to see where this goes.

What has made the biggest impact on your professional life?

I don’t know that I can point to one thing. If I had to choose, I’d say it is the learning opportunities that I’ve been exposed to throughout my career. I’ve worked for fortune 100 companies and 20-person companies across a few different industries. This has exposed me to some brilliant people that I’ve worked for and with, afforded me opportunities to leverage some of the best training and development opportunities available, and involved me in a range of different projects and activities that have allowed me to develop a very comprehensive skillset.

What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you?

When I think of DEI, for me it really comes down to treating people the way you want them to treat you. We all have differences, and in large part these differences make us better as a whole. If we are open and accepting, treat everyone with the same respect and care, and value the contributions of others, it not only contributes to our own personal development but enables a complex machine like a business to run better.

What is one thing on your bucket list that you would like to accomplish this year?

I’d like to travel out west to Wyoming or Montana or Idaho and do some fly fishing.  I used to fish a fair amount as a kid and have recently learned how to fly fish.  I’ve gone locally to some great spots in Maine and New Hampshire, but I really would like to experience what the northwest has to offer.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I really enjoy my time with friends and family.  I have a pretty active social life and like to do a variety of things, from fishing and hunting to boating and beaching.  I really enjoy playing cornhole as well and am looking to improve my game and try to get into some local tournaments.

Want to join the TPx team and work with individuals like Joe? Check out our careers page for open positions you might be interested in.

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At TPx, we make it our mission to be the easiest MSP to do business with, and that wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated and talented individuals who work hard to make it possible. Our employees have a passion for IT and our customers that helps drive our business forward. Every month, we like to highlight an employee and the work they do in supporting our mission.

This month, we would like to highlight Mary Chapman, Field Marketing Director. Mary has been with the organization in different capacities for over 20 years. She is an experienced leader with a passion for marketing. Read on to learn more about Mary and her experience as a TPx employee for over two decades.

What does your role at TPx entail?
I’ve been with TPx for over 20 years, and during that time my role has evolved and now encompasses many areas.  As Field Marketing Director, my main role is managing all events for the entire organization, but I also manage our affiliate program as well as the marketing budget.

How did you get into field and channel marketing?

I kind of fell into this position.  I was working at Linkatel Pacific and was doing everything at that company from AR/AP and Payroll to Marketing and Office Management. When the organization was purchased, I had the opportunity to choose a more specialized role and marketing made the most sense because the growth opportunity it provided. Ever since that time, I’ve held several marketing rolls at previous organizations and within TPx. When given the opportunity to manage TPx’s field and channel marketing, I knew they needed my assistance and would be able to make an impact.

What accomplishments are you most proud of at TPx?
What I am most proud of is knowing that what I do helps our sales and channel teams be more effective, which ultimately impacts the overall revenue outcome for the business.

You started at TPx over 21 years ago, how has the organization transformed during that time?
We have made the transition from being a competitive local exchange carrier to an MSP.  This is a huge transformation that very few companies have accomplished successfully. While we’ve had some growing pains, we will come out of this transformation a much stronger and healthier company.

What is your favorite part about working at TPx?
The people we have at TPx are truly amazing. I’ve built some amazing relationships with colleagues over the years. As a remote employee, I don’t see everyone as often as I used to in a traditional office environment, which is why I always look forward to working events and connecting with my colleagues.

As a woman in a predominantly male industry, what is your advice to women wanting to succeed in this industry?
Know your value but also learn how to deal with people. Growing up in a very large family you learn to laugh at yourself, don’t worry about what others think of you but rather what you think of yourself and don’t let the little things bother you. Life is far too short. You will go farther in life and be much happier as a person.

What inspires you?
People inspire me. Those that think of others before themselves. A person with a big heart, always looking for the best in everyone they meet regardless of that person’s circumstances – those are the people that make a difference and inspire me to do the same.

What has made the biggest impact on your professional life?
Rebecca Rosen made such a significant impact on my professional development. She believed in me when nobody else did. Even though I could almost be her mom, she provided encouragement, guidance, and was always there for me no matter what.

What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you and why is it important?
I believe DEI is important in making sure everyone has a voice. It helps ensure that every person is important, heard, and included in the conversation, not just a certain group of individuals. I always have believed that the best person for the job is not a person that fits a particular mold designed by someone, but rather the content of the person character that has the greatest impact.

What are you passionate about outside of work?
Being with family, friends and my fur baby is so important to be.  I travel so much for work that when I’m home – I want to spend time with the people I love most especially since the weekends fly by far too quickly.

You’re an avid traveler, where is your favorite place you ever visited?
Honestly, I have been to many wonderful places, and one of my absolute favorites is Southern Bavaria (Germany and Austria).

Do you have a favorite travel memory?
When you go abroad, you see a lot of history, which is something we often take for granted as Americans. I remember a trip to Italy my husband and I took 16 years ago. It was shortly after my dad had passed away. We went to these beautiful churches filled with history.  Every church we went to, I lit a candle in his honor, kneeled in a church pew, and said a prayer for my dad.  Even though I couldn’t see him, I felt connected.

The post Employee Spotlight Blog on Mary Chapman appeared first on TPx Communications.

Protecting a business starts with protecting its sensitive data, and companies need to take notice of an updated federal mandate that could have costly consequences if they don’t prepare. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Safeguards Rule mandates that organizations that engage in “significant” financial activities maintain certain security protocols to keep their customers’ information secure. Under the FTC’s definition, many companies are considered financial institutions, including finance companies, mortgage brokers, check cashers, collection agencies, credit counselors, tax preparation firms, non-federally insured credit unions, investment advisors, mortgage and payday lenders.

In October 2023, the FTC announced an amendment to the Safeguards rule that mandates financial institutions to alert the FTC as soon as possible — and no later than 30 days — after uncovering a security breach of unencrypted data affecting at least 500 customers. The earlier iteration of the rule did not include notification requirements, and the changes in regulations are necessary to keep up with evolving threats in the security landscape.

According to the FTC, “Receipt of these notices will enable the Commission to monitor for emerging data security threats affecting financial institutions and to facilitate prompt investigative response to major security breaches.”

When alerting the FTC, companies must include specific information about the event, the contact information of the reporting institution, a general description of the security event and the information compromised, the date of the security event and how many customers the breach affected — or potentially affected.

Many businesses think complying with the Safeguards Rule can be daunting and costly. However, it can be even costlier for non-compliant companies, as the FTC can levy stiff penalties. The updated breach notification requirement will take effect 180 days after publication in the Federal Register. However, companies should update their security posture to ensure compliance and defensibility as soon as possible.

The good news is that many processes required for compliance — such as written risk assessments, team security awareness training and regular refreshers, and monitoring and testing safeguards’ effectiveness — are security best practices that companies should employ independent of the Safeguards rule.

TPx offers services to make the process easy and affordable, and helps companies create and maintain a cybersecurity program aligned with the updated Safeguards requirements. The TPx security team stays current and has incorporated the amendment into our Safeguards program. We continually update our security programs to ensure a holistic security posture for our Security Advisory Services customers, so they are prepared to adjust to whatever requirements come next.

Organizations increase their defensibility when they implement and maintain an information security program with safeguards, including administrative, technical, and physical, to protect customer information. An information security program should be tailored to an organization’s size, industry, complexity, and nature of its activities while considering the sensitivity of the information at risk.

A partner like TPx helps ensure companies are defensible to these changes and helps keep infrastructure and data secure. Not sure where to start? Drop us a line to chart a path to compliance and security.

The post What the New FTC Safeguards Rule Means for Companies appeared first on TPx Communications.

We are proud of the work we are doing at TPx to become the easiest Managed Services Provider (MSP) to do business with. Driving change within our business wouldn’t be possible without our incredible employees and leaders. Each month we highlight one employee to learn more about their work and experiences. This month, we would like to highlight Lynne Pincek, Senior Vice President, Sales.

Lynne joined TPx three years ago to lead our direct sales efforts. She is an experienced sales executive with a proven track record within the IT and Telecom space. Read on to learn more about Lynne.

What led you to TPx?
I’ve always looked for opportunities where I can use my experience to make an impact and create change that translates into positive results for an organization.  When I joined TPx, our transformation was just beginning. I really liked the people, the leadership team and the goals of TPx – and I wanted to be a part of the tremendous transformation that was underway. I knew we had hard work ahead which would make the success that much more satisfying. 

You’ve been in the IT and Telecom industry for nearly 25 years, how has it evolved? And how does it impact what we do on a daily basis?
The industry has been in a continuous loop of transformation itself.  As a leader in sales, I constantly look at how to take advantage of changes and advancements to improve productivity for my team. Right now, we’re incorporating AI into our processes to increase efficiency. As the industry evolves and technology advances, it opens the door to new opportunities and new ways of thinking.

How does your team’s work impact our mission of being the easiest MSP to do business with?
Every engagement, every interaction, every decision defines how easy we are to do business with and demonstrates how much we care about the success of our customers. Our sales team is amazing, and I am confident in their ability to create magical moments and lead TPx’s mission to be the easiest to do business with!

What do you enjoy about working at TPx?
We have a great team at TPx that sees the 360 degree view of the business and works hard to deliver on initiatives that drive positive results.

As SVP, Direct Sales at TPx, how do you motivate your team?
I value and help enable a very empowered, highly collaborative culture with accountability to ourselves, our goals and our mission. I work everyday to deliver to value, remove obstacles, be engaged and work harder for my team so they can work easier and smarter. I depend upon my work ethic and passion to lead by example and ask my team and leaders to do the same. We are all accountable, we are all forgiving and we are all striving towards one goal. Instead of just focusing on motivation, I constantly look for ways to create momentum. A very wise man recently told me, some people are like the wind, you are the wind. I was so flattered. But I love it, I strive to be wind that drives momentum and success for our team.

You’ve always been a champion of mentoring others. Why is it important?
I was mentored, so I mentor. It is as simple as that. Mentoring was an important part of my career path, and I believe it is critical to give back. It is such a valuable part of your growth as a person, a leader, a partner and life. 

As a woman in a predominantly male industry, what is your advice to women wanting to succeed in this industry?
My father gave me the biggest blessing by never treating me as if I were different than my brother so I truly always felt like a competitor. I would say sincerely believe that you belong in the room, and prepare yourself to be at the same level and then present as such. Most of all, just believe in yourself and surround yourself with those that will support you and your goals.

What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?
I have pride in taking really difficult situations or goals and producing results that exceed expectations. I know that if I can do that at work, it translates to life and to a legacy for those who want to find their own successes. My hope is that legacy is seen and shines on my sons and those close to me.

What has made the biggest impact on your professional life?
Great leaders like our CEO, Rick Mace, and CRO, Patti Key, who are authentic, real and take time to share their vision and their experiences. This goes back to having great mentors in your life and how meaningful that is on a professional level.

What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you and why is it important?
I believe that there is a basic, responsibility and requirement on a human level to understand, to learn, be inclusive, be tolerant and be open to hearing and including all ideas. When we do that, there is an elimination of ignorance, better ideas are formed and a greater good created.

What’s one topic you never get tired of learning about?
I never get tired of documentaries and true stories of underdogs succeeding or learning about really great achievements. For example, take Kobe’s story or the 1980 US Hockey team. These stories empower me to strive to be better.

What does your perfect weekend look like?
I get up, pray in gratitude for our blessings, meet my running friends for a run, drink a coffee with my husband in the back yard, do something fun with my boys, which could range from going to the beach, watching a movie, a trip to museum, or playing volleyball, and then having a nice dinner. We are foodies.

What are you passionate about outside of work?
Travel, experiencing different cultures, remaining active by running, skiing, and yoga.

Want to learn more about life at TPx? Check out our careers site to learn more about our business and open positions.

The post Employee Spotlight Blog on Lynne Pincek appeared first on TPx Communications.

Having more than one retail location doesn’t mean you have to manage multiple IT systems for each storefront. Disparate IT solutions can leave you open to operational inefficiencies and considerable cybersecurity risks not to mention they are costly to manage and maintain. But with the following tips, you can centralize your tech and provide a better IT experience of each store, giving your business the best of both worlds. In this blog, we outline four retail IT solutions that make it easier to do business when you’re managing multiple locations.

Use SD-WAN for an Enhanced Network

SD-WAN allows you to manage and monitor network activity from a centralized location remotely, saving both time and money. More importantly, you can use SD-WAN to optimize your network’s performance across retail locations, deciding which applications and workflows need the most bandwidth and setting up your system accordingly. With SD-WAN, you can benefit from guaranteed performance delivered over the cloud to create seamless enterprise connectedness.

Invest in Unified Communications

Retail IT solutions like unified communications gives you the power to manage multiple phone lines across distributed retail locations—all while using a single backend management system. Not only does this simplify your management, but it also paves the way for better communications between employees and customers at difference retail locations. Since unified communications are cloud-based, you get greater reliability and uptime when paired with SD-WAN to improve customer interactions.

Enable a Network Firewall

Keeping your retail business safe from cyberattacks can be difficult without the proper retail IT solutions in place. A managed firewall can help by being a first line of defense against internet-based attacks.  Not only can it help keep your network and customer information secure, you can also benefit from greater visibility and control of your network.

Incorporate a Centralized Inventory System

By creating a single, centralized inventory solution, you can streamline your purchasing and order fulfillment processes. In this way, you always know what you need to buy to support the inventory of each location—all on one screen. In addition, you pave the way for seamless sharing of inventory between your different locations. Instead of over-investing in buying and shipping inventory to individual stores, you can transport excess stock from one location to another, saving both time and money.

Use Virtual Meetings to Consistently Connect With Employees

It can be very complex to touch base with employees as frequently as you need to when you have multiple locations. But if you use a virtual meeting system as one of your retail IT solutions, you can enjoy meaningful interactions without having to invest time and energy into traveling to your different locations. In this way, employees can be made to feel like an integral part of the company’s culture. When everyone gets the chance to provide and receive feedback, you can create a culture that values everyone on the team. You also get the chance to address employee issues as soon as they arise instead of waiting weeks or longer for an opportunity to visit their site.

These retail IT solutions can make it easier to manage and scale your business to even more new locations. By using cloud-based solutions with centralized management, you save time and money while taking advantage of rich feature functionality that helps improve operations. To learn how managed retail IT solutions can make using these and other technologies easy, connect with TPx today!

The post Retail IT Solutions that Make Managing Multiple Locations Easier appeared first on TPx Communications.

The TPx team prides itself on fostering a culture of mentorship every day. It’s the best way to create an open environment where employees can collaborate freely and grow professionally. Our leaders constantly look for opportunities for their team to lead and develop new skills that will support their career objectives. It has become a part of our DNA and a way for employees to grow in their career at TPx.

Mentorship Matters

Most of our TPx leaders have benefited from mentors throughout their careers and know it’s important to give back and mentor others. Mentorship can make a tremendous impact on employees and play a critical role in their success. We encourage mentorship throughout the organization as a way for employees to hone their skills and become leaders within the organization. We believe the best way to build a team is through mentorship, which is why we created our internship program.

The Internship Program

Our sales internship program launched just two years ago and began as a passion project from our Chief Revenue Officer, Patti Key. “Mentorship has always been an important part of my life,” said Patti. “I’ve been fortunate to have some great mentors, and in return, mentor those around me to pay it forward.”

The eight-week, paid internship program is open to all college students interested in pursuing a career in Sales. The program is based in our Maitland, Florida office and is designed to train and equip students with new sales skills. While the program is a great learning experience for students, it also creates a career path for professional growth opportunities within TPx once they graduate to become part of our Sales Development, Technical Overlay, and Sales Operations teams.

The skills they learn during our internship program creates a solid foundation for the start of their career. We are proud to mentor the next generation of leaders and have expanded mentorship opportunities beyond our internship program through our partnership with the University of Central Florida (UCF) School of Business. TPx regularly participates in UCF’s “The EXCHANGE,” an open forum for students to sit down with industry leaders, faculty, and experts to discuss a variety of topics.

Developing Young Leaders

Leaders like Jorge Vazquez, Vice President of SMB and Inside Sales, help make the internship program and our partnership with UCF possible. Jorge has worked in telecommunications and technology for more than two decades, and as a leader, he works with sales teams to drive results and knows it takes more than a job opportunity to ensure the team thrives and reaches its fullest potential. “My motto is leaders make leaders, and that can’t happen without mentorship,” Jorge said.

A mentorship model like TPx’s approach encourages leaders to mentor young professionals or those new to technology and help them grow into future mentors. This synergy can be seen — and felt — by the whole team and acts as a motivator by injecting new energy into the entire organization. It’s a win, win for interns and TPx alike. “It allows our team to not only mentor the next generation of business leaders but opens our doors to more diversity and new ways of thinking,” said Patti. “As we continue to evolve and grow our sales organization, diverse and inclusive thinking will help us reach our highest potential.”

Fostering Diversity and Inclusion

These programs also ensure that TPx has a diverse team that reflects the communities and the companies we serve. Diversity plays a vital role in solving the problems businesses face in today’s world. While speed is of the essence, diverse teams solve problems faster and achieve better outcomes for everyone involved because they see issues from different perspectives.

As a company, we have always taken pride in having a diverse team, and as we recruit new interns, we strive to achieve diversity in the workplace. Witnessing a diverse team come together for a common goal is a great experience that highlights the importance of diversity in the workplace.

Our team leaders understand that every team member is unique and has their own personality traits. Understanding how each individual likes to be communicated with and what motivates them is crucial, as well as learning their way of functioning and what drives them.

Mentorship requires aligning the team’s goals with personal aspirations to ensure mutual success and incorporating those tenets into TPx’s overall strategy, goals and objectives. A sincere and honest approach to communicating with the team is vital in building a great team environment.

For more information about TPx’s internship programs, email TPxCollegeProgram@tpx.com.

The post A Culture of Mentorship: How TPx’s Internship Program is Building a New Generation of Leaders appeared first on TPx Communications.

Cybersecurity is a top priority for many organizations today, but it’s a complex topic that can be difficult to navigate if you don’t have a dedicated team of professionals to help. At TPx, our goal is to make IT and cybersecurity easy for the businesses we work with, and we wouldn’t be able to do that without our dedicated and passionate team of IT professionals.

Since October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we wanted to highlight one of our TPx employees who has made a big impact on our security business, David Carr, Vice President, Solutions Architects at TPx. David joined TPx nearly three years ago and has played an integral role in developing and evolving our Security Advisory Services, which help organizations gain a better understanding of their risk and current state of cybersecurity. We had a chance to sit down with David to learn more about his experiences and insights. Read on to learn what David had to say.

What led you to work at TPx?

I was very attracted to the idea of joining an organization that was looking to reinvent itself, to build something new. The chance to support our transition into a full-fledged MSP, as well to develop an Advisory Services practice in support of that, was too good an opportunity to pass up.

What does your role entail at TPx?

My primary role is to guide the work of the Solution Architect team, which provides pre-sale technical support to the Sales organization. I’m especially interested in fostering an environment that enables the team to grow technically and professionally, to allow TPx to provide the best possible technical solutions for our customers’ needs. I’m also responsible for the execution and evolution of our Advisory Services portfolio. Cybersecurity is one of the largest challenges that organizations face today – our Advisory offerings enable them to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their security footprint, and how best to allocate their tight security budgets to stay safe against ransomware, phishing, and other cyber threats.

How does the work your team does impact our mission of being the easiest MSP to do business with?

Technology can be complex. Being able to translate business-level requirements into technical solutions that address customer pain is what my team is all about. Many of our customers do not have large technical teams to help them navigate the IT and security landscapes. They rely on us to recommend solutions, but just as importantly, to explain those solutions in language that they can understand. Eliminating the technical jargon and speaking in terms of business outcomes makes it easier for them to make informed decisions about how to spend their limited budgets.

With October being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, what advice can you give business leaders to strengthen their organization’s security posture?

There is a lot of talk in the industry about “zero trust” and how to build security architectures around that. Even if a zero trust technical architecture is not in their immediate future, business leaders can instill a mindset of a “zero trust” approach to security within their teams. Fortunately, there a low-cost ways to do this. Educating employees through a robust Security Awareness Training program in an excellent way to do this. Deploying multi-factor authentication (MFA) across the organization is another. This doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated – sometimes ensuring a strong security foundation provides the biggest impact.

Which accomplishments at TPx are you most proud of?

The development and growth of our Advisory Services portfolio to complement our Managed Services offerings has been just one of the high points. The way that the delivery team embraced the early uncertainty as we built from the ground up was especially inspiring. To get from there to where we are now, with a solid and growing Advisory Services business, is a testament to the hard work of innumerable people here at TPx, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we have put in place.

What do you enjoy about working at TPx?

The people, both within our organization and our valued customers and partners. In the tech industry, it’s not just about the technology itself, but how it’s harnessed to solve real business problems. I have a special affinity for our work with SMBs, where we have the opportunity to provide innovative solutions that they might not have even known were possible. It’s the satisfaction of making a tangible impact on our clients’ success that truly sets TPx apart.

What has made the biggest impact on your professional life?

The most significant influence on my professional journey has been the guidance and mentorship I’ve been fortunate to receive. Having a trusted mentor who can provide honest insights into both my strengths and weaknesses has been invaluable. This has helped me address my shortcomings and enabled me to build teams that complement my strengths effectively.

How do you mentor your employees?

As a mentor, I prioritize fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth within my team. I encourage team members to take ownership of their professional development, providing guidance while also granting them the autonomy to manage and solve challenges independently. This hands-on approach instills a sense of responsibility and leadership, empowering them to make decisions and contribute effectively.

Accessibility and open communication are key to my mentoring style. I’m always available to my team, creating an environment where they feel comfortable approaching me with questions, ideas, or concerns. My aim is to support their growth, both professionally and personally, and empower them to reach their full potential within our organization.

What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you and why is it important?
To me, DEI means recognizing and valuing the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of every individual. By fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, we tap into a wealth of creativity and innovation, we are able to better serve our customers, and can foster a culture of belonging and growth that benefits us all. It’s not just the right thing to do; it’s a cornerstone of our success.

What’s the one topic you never get tired of learning about?

For some reason – and this may be weird – etymology. When I hear an expression I’ve never heard before, I wonder where it came from, and what it originally meant. Usually the way we use it today isn’t the same way it was originally intended.

What does your perfect weekend look like?

My perfect weekend can take many forms, but it usually involves good food, discovering a new movie, watching a baseball game, and hiking in the fresh air. It’s perfect as long as I’m with loved ones.

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The TPx channel partner program offers excellent financial rewards, training, and resources to make all our partners successful. We are dedicated to the success of our agents, VAR’s, and MSP’s, which is why we offer competitive SPIFFS so that they can earn even more.

We are excited to announce the winner of the Q3 Partner Giveaway for $10,000. As a reminder, On Friday the 13^th our agents and channel community came together virtually to see the winning ticket being drawn.

Congratulations to Ed Philbrook with Dovetail Networks for winning $10,000.

We’re excited to announce our next Partner Giveaway drawing in Q4 will be for $10,000. You can earn up to 30 tickets. You can earn up to 30 tickets for each qualifying new customer order from October 1^st through December 31^st. For more information, reach out to your channel manager.

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TPx is committed to the success of our customers. We help businesses of all sizes navigate a complex and ever-evolving technology landscape, but we would not be able to do it without our dedicated and passionate employees. In our employee spotlight blog series, we like to highlight employees and the work they do to support our mission.

This month, we would like to highlight Stephanie Zepeda, who is an integral part of our Customer Care team and has been with the organization for over 16 years. Read on to learn more about Stephanie and the work she does day in and day out at TPx.

What does your role entail at TPx?
I manage the Customer Care call center agents. The team handles all our internal and external tickets. Our goal is to resolve issues quickly and efficiently to drive customer satisfaction.  To make this happen, I provide scorecards each month so the team is aware of how they are meeting or exceeding our department goals, and I coach and work alongside my team so they can be successful in their job duties. The work we do directly impacts the experience our customers have with TPx, and we continue to evaluate our efforts to deliver the outcomes our customers expect.

How does the work you do impact our mission of being the easiest MSP to do business with?
My job is to assist the team but more importantly our customers. Our customers are our number one focus. When customers have issues, I ensure they are addressed quickly and if resolution of the issue requires assistance from other departments, I’ll work cross-functionally until it is resolved, making sure the customer is not lost and that we address their needs fully.

What do you enjoy about working at TPx?
I enjoy my team. We have been together for many years, so we have become a family. We encourage each other to do better and celebrate achievements across the team. I’m thankful that the work we do is recognized beyond just our team as we regularly receive acknowledgment and support from other TPx departments.

Which accomplishments at TPx are you most proud of?
I’m proud I’ve been with the same company for 16 years and longer than that when you count my time working at Pac-West before they were acquired by TPx. I was with Pac-West for seven years but left to stay home with my children for two years. TPx has so many tenured employees who have been with the organization for more than a decade. I loved the anniversary awards, I felt it was a time where we were shown our value as a TPx employee. 5-year award, 10-year award with a dinner was a nice way to show appreciation for us. I’m proud to be a TPx employee for 16 years and am appreciative of the recognitions I’ve received over the years.

What has made the biggest impact on your professional life?
My Manager, Maria Villanueva Acosta, has made a tremendous impact on my career. I worked with her at Pac-West for seven years. When TPx acquired Pac-West, I chose to be a stay-at-home mom but kept in touch with Maria. When I was ready to work again, I got in touch with Maria, who had a position available in the call center as a level I, on the phones. I jumped at the opportunity. Through her leadership and encouragement, I moved up in levels. When a supervisor position was available, I interviewed and got the position. The role was still under her management, and I learned so much from her about leading a team, working on processes, and always going to bat for our team. Everything I learned about management came from her.

What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you and why is it important?
It means to me that every human being should have access to the same opportunities as the next person. Each person has valuable experiences and history to share, we can learn from everyone, and this is so important.

What’s the one topic you never get tired of learning about?
Health, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned more about what it takes to live a healthy lifestyle which is vital.  I just wish I cared more about it when I was younger.

What are you most passionate about outside of work?
My family, I’m blessed that most of my family lives in the same town, so we are able to spend a lot of time together. My kids, mom, sisters, nieces, and nephews mean the world to me. Last month, my daughter got married and it was a wonderful day spend with those closest to us.

What does your perfect weekend look like?
Taking time away and going to the beach. For the last 12 years, my family takes a beach week trip in July, and it’s what I look forward to every year. It centers me, clears my mind and its something I’ve always done since I was a child.

Interested in being part of the team at TPx? Visit our Careers Page to learn more about our open positions.

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Ridwanat “Riddy” Adeleke and Joseph Waide didn’t necessarily plan for an IT career. But when the right opportunity arose, they seized the moment — and they haven’t looked back.

Adeleke moved to the United States in February 2020 after completing college studies in archaeology while working in digital marketing. Waide worked in hospitality management during the COVID-19 pandemic and realized he needed a change.

Before they started working at TPx, they discovered the New York City-based Flatiron School, an innovator in the education space known for its comprehensive and immersive training in cybersecurity and IT. Both saw an opportunity for growth because the school teaches in-demand tech skills like software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, and product design in line with its mission — to enable the pursuit of a better life through education.

“Flatiron School, looking back at it, was more than just an educational route to the workforce,” Waide said. “I was able to work with a small cohort of like-minded individuals that share a common goal. The instructors were professionals who could provide insight into the industry beyond textbooks and busy work. Without my experience at Flatiron School, I do not think I would be where I am today.”

Two years ago, TPx launched an alliance with Flatiron School to support the advancement of Black technology professionals. Through this partnership, TPx has participated in their four-month-long apprenticeships program, where we provide on-the-job training and ongoing mentorship for young professionals. While the John Stanley Ford fellowship program is no longer being offered, many of these apprenticeships resulted in a full-time opportunity at TPx.

This alliance has been an integral component of our overall recruiting strategies and further supports our diverse hiring practices. For TPx, diversity, equity, and inclusion are not only a priority but at the core of our corporate fabric. The programs, policies, and practices we have in place at TPx contribute to building our rich and diverse community. It’s through the diversity of our team that leads to better collaboration, different perspectives, and cutting-edge ideas.

“Overall, the comprehensive and practical approach of the Flatiron School’s Cybersecurity program has been instrumental in shaping my success as a solutions architect at TPx,” said Adeleke.

“The Flatiron School’s Cybersecurity program provided me with a strong foundation in various cybersecurity domains, practical application of knowledge through hands-on projects, and analytical skills. Additionally, the program’s emphasis on adaptability and continuous learning has equipped me to stay updated with the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity and technological advancements,” Adeleke said.

After graduating from the Flatiron School, Adeleke and Waide accepted roles with TPx, Adeleke as a solutions architect and Waide as a security overlay. The two quickly became key members of the TPx community, helping solve technology challenges for the businesses we serve.

“The transition into my professional career has been an intriguing blend of anticipated challenges and unexpected opportunities for growth and collaboration,” Adeleke said. “As I embarked on this new chapter, I was prepared for the inevitable learning curve, facing real-world complexities beyond the scope of academia. However, the support and guidance from colleagues and mentors surpassed my expectations, fostering a nurturing and collaborative environment that accelerated my professional development.

“Overall, while there were aspects that aligned with my expectations, the professional journey has also presented unexpected opportunities for growth and collaboration,” Adeleke added. “It has been a fulfilling experience, and I continue to be motivated to excel and positively impact my field.”

TPx is proud of the partnership we’ve created with the Flatiron School. Being able to provide individuals just entering the technology and cybersecurity space with new opportunities is nothing short of amazing. Not only have we been able to mentor the next wave of cybersecurity professionals – we’ve been able to add to the diverse framework of our corporate community.

“As a solutions architect, I am amazed by how much I have been able to learn and grow since changing my career,” Adeleke said. “Embracing the challenge of transitioning into the technology and cybersecurity field has been incredibly rewarding.

“The vast knowledge and skills acquired through the Flatiron School’s cybersecurity program and on-the-job experiences have been instrumental in my professional development,” Adeleke added. “From understanding diverse cybersecurity domains to honing problem-solving abilities and effective communication, the journey has been transformational. The continuous learning and adaptability required in this field have pushed me beyond my limits and ignited a passion for constant improvement. Each day, I am inspired by the progress I’ve made and the endless possibilities.”

The team at TPx is excited to continue to grow our relationship with the Flatiron School, provide more opportunities to up-and-coming technology professionals, and continue to enhance our own diverse TPx community. It’s through our diverse workforce that we are able to bring more perspectives to the table and create better go-to-market strategies to support our mission of being the easiest managed services provider to do business with.

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