What's Inside

AireSpring Expands Channel Team with Two New Channel Managers

AireSpring is excited to announce it has expanded its award-winning channel sales team with the addition of two new channel managers in Q4: Jason Riedel (So. FL) and Chris Jackson (Dallas/Ft. Worth, No. TX, and OK). Chris and Jason are both telecom and channel veterans with strong reputations in the industry. AireSpring is taking significant steps to build this team to further strengthen its 100% channel commitment, ensuring partners and their customers receive outstanding service and support.

Chris Jackson: Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas, & Oklahoma

Chris brings over 30 years of experience in the industry, having served in virtually every capacity within the telecommunications industry from actual ownership and sales/team management to direct and channel sales experience, especially in the Dallas/Fort Worth region. Before joining AireSpring, Chris served as President and CEO of Skytel, a telecommunications consulting company, and as Vice President of Channel Sales at Spectrum VoIP.

Jason Riedel: South Florida

With over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Jason has built an extensive network of partnerships throughout Florida and will be an asset to the Southeast region. Jason previously served as Regional Sales Manager for Momentum Telecom, where he focused on helping provide unified communications, cloud voice, managed network, and mobility solutions.

AireSpring Adds New Carriers

We’re happy to announce we have added two new carriers: Unite Private Networks (UPN), a carrier for fiber DIA, and Geolinks, a fixed wireless provider.

UPN provides services in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, and Wisconsin, and its speeds include: 10M, 20M, 50M, 100M, 200M, 300M, 400M, 500M, 600M and 1,000M, with two and three-year terms.

Geolinks, with coverage in California, Nevada, and Arizona, includes the following speeds:

• 5M/5M
• 10M/10M
• 20M/20M
• 50M/50M
• 100M/100M
• 150M/150M
• 200M/200M
• 250M/250M
• 300M/300M
• 500M/500M
• 1000M/1000M

Interested in learning more? Contact your AireSpring Channel Manager.

Get What You Really Want Q4 Promo!

+

Earn 10X MRC with Microsoft Teams Direct Routing from AireSpring!

Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

Now that the holiday season is around the corner, it’s time you gave yourself the gift you’ve always wanted. AireSpring can help you get what you really want this year. All partners who bring in $25,000 or more of new MRC business to AireSpring during Q4 2023 will receive their choice of a $2,500 gift certificate to Tiffany's or the PGA Tour SuperStore. The promotion is valid through December 31, 2023.

AireSpring has also extended the 10X MRC Spiff on its Microsoft Teams Direct Routing solution through December 31, 2023. Microsoft Teams Direct Routing from AireSpring enables users to make and receive calls in Microsoft Teams using the AireSpring voice network and offers features not available in Microsoft calling plans.

As always, AireSpring is committed to helping you win new clients, retain customers, and close more business ahead of the competition. And we pledge to support you and your clients like no other supplier in the channel.

Our channel partners benefit from some of the highest evergreen commissions, spiffs, and bonuses in the industry. In fact, AireSpring is one of the only suppliers to offer spiffs on renewals:

• 10X MRC on MS Teams Direct Routing
• Up to 6X MRC on Voice/Cloud Services
• 2X Spiff on Wireless WAN
• 2X MRC on POTS Replacement
• 1X MRC on SD-WAN and Global SD-WAN Services
• 1X on Managed Security
• 1.5X MRC on Connectivity Services & MPLS
• $1,600 Cash Bonus on Toll-Free Services
• $800 Cash Bonus on Long-Distance Services
• Earn even more with 5% EXTRA Bonus Residual Commission on AireSpring Network & SIP LD (wholesale accounts do not qualify).

AireSpring’s Channel Managers and Solutions Engineering Team are committed to providing you with expert guidance and concierge service so you can easily deliver the best products to your customers and gain a competitive edge. AireSpring has always been 100% channel and has everything you need to provide the best customer service to your clients:

• Dedicated project coordinators and managed services engineers assigned to each order
• Free consultations with solutions engineering team
• 24/7/365 NOC Network Monitoring
• 20-second response time on support calls
• Escalation list up to our CEO
• AireSpring Advantage Support Guide

Ready to get what you really want? Contact your AireSpring Channel Manager for details.

Play JeopAIREdy and Win!

Joe Brondon

Mike Sullivan

VP Channel Sales, AireSpring

VP Channel Sales, AireSpring

What: Play JeopAIREdy and Win!

Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023

Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)

Presenters: Joe Brondon, VP Channel Sales, AireSpring and Mike Sullivan, VP Channel Sales, AireSpring

Please complete the survey after the webinar for a chance to win a

$100 Amazon gift card.

Capacity Asia

December 12-13, 2023

Shangri-La, Singapore

REGISTER HERE

AireSpring JeopAIREdy Partner Webinar

Thursday, December 21, 2023

REGISTER HERE

AireSpring SD-WAN and SASE Virtual Boot Camp

Thursday, January 18, 2024

REGISTER HERE

ITEXPO

February 13-15, 2024

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

REGISTER HERE

Webinar: AireSpring's SD-WAN and SASE Virtual Boot Camp

Instructor: Mike Chase, J.D., CCIE, SVP Solutions Engineering

Date: Thursday, January 18, 2023

Time: 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM Central Time (CT)

• Get up to speed on SD-WAN, the technology that improves control, management, up time, business agility, security, and data encryption of Wide Area Networks.
• Get an overview of VMware, Fortinet and Cisco-Meraki SD-WAN solutions.
• Take a deep dive into AireSpring’s Global Managed SD-WAN solution and Global Private Network (GPN).
• Learn more about AireSpring’s international expansion and internet circuit procurement.
• Discover how SASE can reduce your customers’ exposure to security risks.

To begin, please tell us a little about yourself and Sandler Partners.

Before I started in my current role as Regional Vice President for Sandler Partners, I worked for TPx (formerly TelePacific) as a consultant on the direct sales side. I called myself a consultant, even though I only had one product line and services to offer.

So, in reality, I was a salesperson. In the beginning, I sold T1 lines, then fiber, and fixed wireless. But as TPX expanded its product line I was able to sell VoIP, UCaaS, and eventually SD-WAN. I found it rewarding working in telecom with IT directors, VPs of IT, and controllers. I really enjoyed helping them solve their service and billing issues, but I felt that something was missing. Because my hands were tied working for one company, I wasn’t truly able to offer all the services my customers needed.

In 2017, I made one of the scariest decisions of my life in leaving my stable position at TPx. I realized I needed to offer more, do more, and be more for the companies and people I represented. So, I took a risk, went out on my own, and became a telecommunications consultant with Sandler Partners. Now I have access to over 200 carriers and providers worldwide, and I can proudly say I am a true consultant, bringing solutions that are the best fit for the customer.

Sandler Partners is an industry-leading technology solutions distributor (TSD) with over 8,000 agents, and over 200 telecom, cloud, and data providers. Through their network of sales experts, Sandler and their partners serve small, medium, and enterprise organizations, helping them to manage the complexity of technology sourcing.

I am excited to get up in the morning and go to work. I am thrilled about the value we bring to the table working with Fortune 100 and 500 companies because we are able to utilize our buying power to negotiate the lowest possible rates!

Recently, I worked with a CIO of a service-based company and was able to triple their bandwidth and add firewall and SD-WAN devices at all locations to optimize their network and was still able to save them 30% on their telecom spend! Needless to say, the CIO and CFO were delighted.

I am passionate about the positive impact I can make daily with the companies I represent. For me, nothing is more rewarding than getting a call from a CIO, CTO, or VP of IT saying, “Michelle, the rates you negotiated and the provider you connected us with are a perfect fit, you’re the best!” That’s why I do what I do.

"In this day and age, it’s hard to find companies that truly care about customer service and customer satisfaction. AireSpring brings that to the table."

In this day and age, it’s hard to find companies that truly care about customer service and customer satisfaction. AireSpring brings that to the table.

One recent example of when the AireSpring team really came through for me during a critical time was when I received a call from one of my subagents that his customer (a hotel) had lost all their voice services. In a panic, he said they cannot receive any inbound or outbound calls and had requested a quote for a PRI replacement. So, right away we went to work and found that the customer had an old legacy TDM PRI that was turned off by one of the large local exchange carriers (LEC).

This carrier was unwilling to turn their voice services back on, not even for a short time. Leveraging my relationships, I was able to get the carrier to forward their two main numbers to cell phones to buy us some time.

After talking with the customer, they gave me the authorization to bring in just one carrier and move forward with getting new voice services in place. Of course, I reached out to AireSpring Regional Channel Manager Steve Mooney because I knew he and the AireSpring team would do everything in their power to get this customer up and running as fast as humanly possible.

I met Steve back when I worked at TPx, and we have had a great relationship since then. Steve and I had our first conversation with the customer on a Thursday, and we got all the info needed and emailed the agreement to them the same day. By Friday, we had signed the agreement and all the info we needed to start working on this project. AireSpring shipped the router and submitted the port request. In the meantime, AireSpring gave the customer interim DIDs, and they were able to do business as normal while we waited for the losing carrier to port the numbers. We were able to deliver a complete solution in just 7 business days. On top of that, we saved the customer $63,000 a year on their voice telecom spend alone. This is unheard of and goes to show what an amazing carrier AireSpring is!

What would you say is the secret to being a successful trusted advisor/sales agent in today’s marketplace?

The secret to being a successful trusted advisor in today’s marketplace is listening to your customers. I mean truly listening. This includes taking the time to perform a deep discovery of their current technology and find out all their needs and requirements. It’s also important to have the experience and knowledge to know which carriers or providers will meet these customers’ needs the best. I make a point to provide a list of questions to ask each of the carriers during product demonstrations to ensure the customer has all the information to choose the carrier that suits them best.

"Overseeing the entire process and making sure the carrier follows through on all their commitments is key."

Usually, I have an intro meeting where I explain what I can offer and the value Sandler brings to the table, and then I'll schedule a separate meeting for several days later and hold a deep discovery meeting. I have a list of questions depending on the topic. For instance, if it's just internet, the process is basic, but if it's UCaaS or CCaaS it could be very detailed.

Overseeing the entire process and making sure the carrier follows through on all their commitments is key. Oftentimes, the carrier will overpromise and underdeliver, so you need to make sure that the carrier does right by the customer. I never lose sight of who I work for. That makes a huge difference to the value we bring. I touch base with the customer to maintain that relationship about every 3 months. If I go to a seminar and find out about a new technology or solution that would be helpful to them, I reach out.

What do you foresee happening in the channel in 2024? (Or, what is the “next big thing” or “things” you think people should be aware of or get involved in, etc.)?

"Customers are trusting partners more than ever to help solve business challenges and bring solutions to the table."

I see a lot of positive changes coming for customers and the channel. The innovative providers keep adding to their product line to deliver a more comprehensive solution to our clients. Customers are trusting partners more than ever to help solve business challenges and bring solutions to the table. I believe the hottest topics of 2024 are standalone 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT) and cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity was a big focus for me last year, so I’ve been working to bring those solutions to customers. Staying engaged with our customers and making sure they have what they need to stay secure is important to us.

With respect to IoT, it’s up-and-coming, with industries like construction particularly interested in incorporating the new technologies. Sometimes, companies are in rural areas and 5G is a better option for them, so we’ve seen an increased interest in that technology as well.

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of telecom?

Some of my hobbies and interests are boating, wake surfing, lifting weights, mountain biking, paddle boarding, wine-tasting, vacations with the family, and hiking with my favorite fur baby, my dog, Oakley.

My husband Keith and I have two grown children, Austin, 28, and Tate, 25. We also have a 17-month-old granddaughter we adore. We are blessed that our family lives close and our kids still want to hang out with us. Boating and wake surfing together is a weekly activity that we all love and enjoy!

A few times a month, Oakley and I take off for the day to enjoy the beauty of nature (God’s creation). Usually, we go on a 7-to-9-mile hike in the Auburn area here in Northern California where there are mountains and rivers to experience. Lots of wildlife and views for miles. I feel completely blessed!

Tell us about your professional background and positions you’ve held prior to joining AireSpring.

I have been in the telecom business since 1997, first becoming interested in the industry after working with a marketing research firm that performed customer attitude surveys (CAS) for major client NYNEX/Bell Atlantic/Verizon. I got my start at CTC Communications (which was acquired by One Communications, and then Earthlink), where I spent 17 years. I then worked for CRA Telecom, located in Holyoke, MA, where I was a project manager for several partners and moved on to NetFortris before joining AireSpring.

I am also a veteran of the United States Air Force. I joined when I was 17 and was trained as an Avionic Instrument Systems Specialist. I got out and was a stay-at-home mom for six years before reentering the workforce.

Tell us a bit about your role at AireSpring and how you support Platinum customers.

I am a Platinum Senior Project Coordinator, which entails coordinating with the customer, their vendors, the partner, and the carriers as well as working with our internal groups to make sure the orders run smoothly and are done right and on time. Through this position I’ve developed deep knowledge of circuit provisioning, hosted UCaaS, and SD-WAN services. I love the challenge of the job and work hard to make sure our customers feel confident with our company and are delighted with our service. The Service Delivery team shares my goals, and we work to deliver the “AireSpring Advantage” daily.

What do you like about working at AireSpring?

I love the team and feel supported by everyone at all levels of the company, and that the work I do matters. We treat each other like family, and I’ve been encouraged and challenged throughout my time here. I enjoy working with our customers and partners daily and helping them implement AireSpring’s broad set of solutions.

Tell us about your hobbies outside of work.

For several years I have participated and worked with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. For seven years I was the Volunteer Climb Director for the Albany NY/Capital Region Tower Climb and organized a Tower Climb fundraising event for the area. During those seven years we raised over $150,000 for the Foundation. The money raised goes to support the Foundation’s programs: One is building custom-designed smart homes for catastrophically wounded veterans, which they receive mortgage-free. They also have a Fallen First Responder program which pays off the mortgages for the families left behind when a first responder dies in the line of duty. The Gold Star program also pays off the mortgages for the family with young children who are left behind after a military member loses their life in the line of duty.

I have recently moved from New York to North Carolina and will be the Volunteer Climb Director for a Stair Climb, which I will be organizing in November 2024 in the Winston Salem, NC area. When I am not volunteering, I also do crafting (papercrafts, shadowboxes, decals, key chains, t-shirts, etc.). I also crochet, and I find these hobbies help me relax after a day at work.

sales@airespring.com | 888.389.2899 | www.airespring.com