If there is one word to sum up the day two kickoff session at Kaseya Connect 2025, it’s this: community. Gary Pica, Kaseya’s chief community officer and a longtime industry legend (pictured above), opened the morning not with a product pitch or a roadmap, but with stories—of growth, setbacks, reinvention, and the power of peer connection that has been the lifeblood of this industry for decades.
And yes, there were major announcements (we’ll get to those), but the real story was a familiar one for anyone who’s ever sat alone at their desk wondering, “Am I the only one struggling with this?” The answer, as Pica reminded us with humor and honesty, is no. You’re not alone. And if you lean into community, you won’t have to be.
A Few Familiar Names, a Few Transformative Stories
Pica spotlighted David Bridges, who grew from a curious service manager to president of VC3, now with over 720 employees, and Keith Barthol, founder and chairman of DBK Innovative, who quit a cushy job at Dell and went on to build—and exit—a wildly successful MSP. These weren’t just humble brags. They were case studies in how proximity to the right people accelerates possibility.
The Matt Harvey Moment
In a candid, powerful fireside chat with EVP Dan Tomaszewski, Matt Harvey, CEO of Colorado Springs-based MSP, Stepping Forward Technology, laid it all out—the fallout from a failed business partnership, losing most of his team, rebuilding from the ground up, and working 17-hour days to keep his business (and sanity) alive.
What made the change was accountability, then belief. Harvey joined a peer group. He stopped feeling like he had to go it alone. He shifted from a scarcity mindset to a growth-focused one—and the numbers speak for themselves: 28% YoY growth, 27% net profit, three office expansions, and a business that no longer runs on panic, but on purpose.
But more than that, Harvey reminded us that the real ROI of community isn’t just revenue—it’s peace. It’s presence. It’s the ability to come home and tell your partner how the day went, not just that it did.
Announcements You Don’t Want to Miss
Between the stories, Pica dropped a few mic-worthy updates:
- TruMethods Foundations training is now free. Every Kaseya customer can now access the complete, newly updated training platform: 14 guides, 25 videos, and 50 templates, all available now in Powered Services.
- Marketing campaigns removed from behind the paywall. The most effective, field-tested marketing campaigns from Powered Services are now free to all Kaseya customers—with editable source files included.
- $500,000 in MDF funding for Connect attendees. Yes, half a million dollars. Go claim your share.
- Massive investment in Kaseya’s community platform. With over 81,000 users, the Kaseya Community is getting a facelift; affinity groups, gamification, and direct access to product owners are just the start. Tomaszewski and Pica are now officially in charge of it. Expect mischief. Expect magic.
Eyes on the Horizon
Perhaps the most urgent part of the morning’s keynote came at the end—when Pica warned that AI and automation are coming not just for efficiency, but for the very foundation of the MSP model: the support desk. As that pillar erodes over the next 3–5 years, those who lead in efficiency, innovation, and strategy will win. This is not the time to be passive.
“We have evolved,” Pica said. “We’ve changed our business model. We’ve sold bigger deals. But support desk has always been there—and that’s what’s about to change.”
Kaseya, he says, is doubling down on helping MSPs navigate this seismic shift. Community isn’t a feel-good theme—it’s the engine.
The Real Heart of a Team
To close the session, NFL legend Peyton Manning took the stage, sharing insights about leadership, family, and resilience—and yes, missing those post-win plane rides more than he misses getting hit from the blind side.
He reminded us, in his signature mix of humility and dry wit, that great teams don’t just work together—they win together. That alignment, commitment, and trust are what turn talent into championships.
At the end of the day, this morning wasn’t just about announcements. It was a call to action.
A new era is here. New challenges, new opportunities, and new tools. But the same old truth holds: if you want to go far, go together.
As Gary said: “Let’s go, people.”
If you missed yesterday’s coverage of day one of Kaseya Connect 2025, check out Kaseya’s major new Kaseya 365 and SIEM announcements here.
