The Switzerland of Provider Solutions
IT Leadership Accelerator
Strategic Technology Advisory Services for Mid-Market IT Leaders
Learn How It Works
Executive Overview
IT Leadership Accelerator delivers vendor-agnostic strategic advisory services that enable mid-market technology leaders to make optimal provider decisions without the burden of excessive research, implementation challenges, or subpar support experiences.
Our consulting methodology leverages collective buying power across 600+ technology providers while maintaining complete objectivity—ensuring you receive solutions that are technically sound, contractually favorable, and precisely aligned with your organization's specific requirements.
"Phil Howard's Strategic Approach has taken care of all the crap I hate to deal with when it comes to dealing with telecom and internet vendors. I tell Phil and his team what I need and it gets done or gets fixed right away." - Wayne VanBrocklin, REP Inc.
The Power Behind Our Platform
As the consulting arm behind the Dissecting Popular IT Nerds podcast and community, we deliver unmatched resources to mid-market IT leaders.
$
0
Billion+
in Enterprise Buying Power
Leverage the collective spending of 90,000+ customers
Top
0
%
Industry Position
Recognized leadership in vendor-agnostic technology advisory services.
0
+
Technology Providers
Comprehensive coverage across all major technology categories.
0
+
Technology Providers
Comprehensive coverage across all major technology categories.
0
+
Technology Experts
Access to specialized talent and certified engineers.
Partners Behind Our Platform
Brief description of each partner company
- Telarus – Tech brokerage with access to 600+ providers.
- DTL – IT strategy group led by former CIOs.
- AppDirect – Platform for managing cloud software and billing.
What They Bring
- Telarus: Supplier access, pricing tools, contract support
- DTL: IT strategy, vendor-neutral advice
- AppDirect: SaaS management, licensing automation
Experience & Market Share
- 50+ years combined experience
- 90,000+ customers
- $1.2B+ in annual tech spend
Certifications & Recognition
- 800+ certified engineers
- Fortinet certified support
- Top 1% vendor-agnostic advisors
Find Out If You Qualify
See if your organization qualifies for our zero-cost strategic advisory services.
Three Strategic Pillars
Our exclusive methodology combines three powerful elements to deliver unparalleled value to IT leaders.
1. Collective Buying Power
Leverage $1.2 billion in aggregate purchasing influence across 90,000+ customers to secure enterprise-level pricing, favorable contract terms, and premium support services typically reserved for Fortune 500 organizations.
How This Benefits You
Examples of Pricing Improvements
- One client reduced Microsoft licensing costs by 82%.
- Another replaced an entire PBX system with no capital expense, while cutting monthly costs.
Case Studies: Cost Reductions
- Healthcare client: Cut monthly IT spend from $82K to $30K.
- Design firm: Saved 20% on mobile plans and reduced vendor complexity.
- Manufacturing group: Saved $360K in capital costs through better contract terms.
How Negotiation Leverage Works
- We use $1.2B+ in buying power from 90,000+ customers.
- Providers offer deeper discounts and better terms to stay competitive.
- Our team handles negotiations, using real pricing benchmarks and escalation paths.
Exclusive Contract Terms
- Access to enterprise-level SLAs
- Early termination fee buyouts
- Free upgrades and hardware bundles
- Custom escalation terms for better support
Access combined expertise from veteran IT leaders, vendor-neutral advisors, and data analytics specialists who provide objective guidance based on real-world implementation experience and comprehensive market intelligence.
How This Benefits You
Time Savings Breakdown
- Save 5+ months of research and planning
- We handle vendor evaluation, contract reviews, and escalation paths
- 700+ emails and 30+ meetings managed on behalf of one client
Specialized Expertise Available
- Former CIOs and IT directors
- Certified engineers in cloud, security, networking, and voice
- Experts in contract law, funding programs (like USAC), and procurement
Implementation Challenges Avoided
- No delays from bad-fit vendors
- Avoid missed SLAs and poor support from rushed deals
- Prevent common deployment issues (e.g., firewall misconfig, poor SD-WAN design)
Value of Competitive Intelligence
- Access to real pricing data from 600+ providers
- Benchmark your contracts against Fortune 500-level deals
- Get visibility into what's working (and what’s not) across the industry
2. Aggregate Human Capital
3. Enterprise Support Architecture
Receive personalized cradle-to-grave management and escalation support throughout the entire technology lifecycle—from initial needs assessment through implementation and ongoing optimization.
How This Benefits You
Escalation Process
- Direct access to senior-level support at provider orgs
- We escalate issues for you—no ticket queues or frontline delays
- Problems are tracked until resolved, with updates along the way
Support SLAs & Response Times
- Custom SLAs negotiated into contracts
- Faster response and resolution times than standard support
- 24/7 NOC access available for critical systems
Implementation Support Team
- Project managers coordinate vendors, timelines, and logistics
- Certified engineers ensure proper setup and testing
- We stay involved through go-live, not just planning
Ongoing Optimization
- Regular check-ins to align tech with evolving needs
- Performance reviews to catch issues early
- Ongoing access to advisory team for strategy, renewals, and upgrades
Explore Our Pillars for Free
Experience the power of our three strategic pillars through a no-cost consultation.
Quantifiable Results
Our consultative approach consistently delivers measurable outcomes for mid-market IT leaders:
Monthly cost reduction
20-
20
%
Months of time saved
0
+
Network speed improvement
0
%+
Healthcare savings
$
0
M+
See More Success Metrics
Additional detailed metrics not featured in the main section
- 60–70% reduction in provider management workload
- $42,000+ saved in early termination fees
- 82% drop in Microsoft licensing costs
- Zero-capex deployment of global PBX systems
Mini case studies with specific numbers
- Healthcare org cut monthly IT spend from $82K to $30K
- Manufacturing firm saved $360K in Microsoft licensing
- Design firm replaced all phone equipment for free and still saved monthly
ROI calculation methodology
- We track actual reductions in monthly spend, time saved on vendor research, and long-term contract gains. All based on your baseline numbers, not estimates.
Before/after comparisons
- Before: Fragmented vendors, no leverage, high costs
- After: Centralized provider strategy, enterprise pricing, fewer headaches
"It was late in our procurement process and we were ready to make a big decision on Microsoft licensing and a unified communications solution. I scheduled a call with Phil just to double check our numbers and research. After talking with Phil for 15 minutes, he showed us a better solution that cut our monthly licensing costs by 82% and saved us an additional $360,000 in capital expenditure."
Steve Goudreau
Information Technology Manager (Head of IT) at MIDWAY PRODUCTS
Qualification Process Dropdown
Explanation of your qualification criteria
- 100–5,000 employees
- Multi-provider tech environments
- Strategic IT projects planned in the next 6–18 months
- Willing to collaborate and share insights with peers
Why we have a qualification process
- Our services are high-impact and no-cost. To keep quality high, we only accept leaders and orgs where we know we can add real value.
What happens after qualification
- You’re invited to a Value Discovery Workshop. Then we start working with you on provider strategy, cost savings, and contract improvements.
Waitlist process for non-qualifying organizations
- If you don’t qualify now, we may add you to a priority waitlist. You’ll be contacted if an opening becomes available.
Ready to see similar results for your organization?
Comprehensive Technology Portfolio
Our vendor-agnostic expertise spans the entire technology spectrum, delivering solutions across seven critical domains:
Connectivity / SD-WAN
- Fiber, Cable, Wireless & Satellite Solutions
- SD-WAN Architecture & Implementation
- International Connectivity Services
View Partners & Solutions
- Vendors: AT&T, Comcast, Zayo, Aryaka, Bigleaf, etc.
- Expertise: SD-WAN certified, global routing, carrier contracts
- Scenarios: Multi-site rollouts, bandwidth upgrades
- Challenges Solved: Long installs, poor support, pricing confusion
- Extras: Circuit audits, backup plans, pricing benchmarks
Unified Communications (UCaaS)
- Vendors: RingCentral, Zoom, Teams, 8x8, Dialpad
- Expertise: UCaaS integrations, porting, licensing
- Scenarios: PBX replacement, hybrid Teams setup
- Challenges Solved: Call quality, licensing mess, global coverage
- Extras: Demo setup, porting support, cost reviews
Security
- Vendors: Fortinet, Cisco, Palo Alto, SentinelOne
- Expertise: Fortinet NSE, Zero Trust, SOC/NIST
- Scenarios: Firewall upgrades, VPN, endpoint security
- Challenges Solved: Legacy tools, fragmented stack, no staff
- Extras: Free firewall review, virtual CISO, SOC options
Unified Communications (UCaaS)
- Hosted Voice Platforms
- Mobility Integration
- Video & Web Conferencing
View Partners & Solutions
- Vendors: RingCentral, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, 8x8, Dialpad, GoTo
- Certifications: Microsoft Teams Voice, Zoom Phone Certified
- Scenarios: Replacing on-prem PBX, remote workforce setup, global voice rollout
- Challenges Solved: Call drops, poor support, porting issues, licensing confusion
- Extras: Licensing audits, free trials, number porting help, global dial plan design
Security
- Firewalls & Threat Detection
- Incident Response Management
- DDoS Mitigation
- Malware, Virus & Phishing Protection
- Fortinet Security Fabric Implementation
View Partners & Solutions
Connectivity / SD-WAN
- Vendors: AT&T, Comcast, Zayo, Aryaka, Bigleaf, etc.
- Expertise: SD-WAN certified, global routing, carrier contracts
- Scenarios: Multi-site rollouts, bandwidth upgrades
- Challenges Solved: Long installs, poor support, pricing confusion
- Extras: Circuit audits, backup plans, pricing benchmarks
Unified Communications (UCaaS)
- Vendors: RingCentral, Zoom, Teams, 8x8, Dialpad
- Expertise: UCaaS integrations, porting, licensing
- Scenarios: PBX replacement, hybrid Teams setup
- Challenges Solved: Call quality, licensing mess, global coverage
- Extras: Demo setup, porting support, cost reviews
Security
- Vendors: Fortinet, Cisco, Palo Alto, SentinelOne
- Expertise: Fortinet NSE, Zero Trust, SOC/NIST
- Scenarios: Firewall upgrades, VPN, endpoint security
- Challenges Solved: Legacy tools, fragmented stack, no staff
- Extras: Free firewall review, virtual CISO, SOC options
Cloud Infrastructure
- Hosted Infrastructure Services
- Public, Private & Hybrid Cloud
- Data Center & Colocation
- Disaster Recovery
- Managed Office 365
View Partners & Solutions
Connectivity / SD-WAN
- Vendors: AT&T, Comcast, Zayo, Aryaka, Bigleaf, etc.
- Expertise: SD-WAN certified, global routing, carrier contracts
- Scenarios: Multi-site rollouts, bandwidth upgrades
- Challenges Solved: Long installs, poor support, pricing confusion
- Extras: Circuit audits, backup plans, pricing benchmarks
Unified Communications (UCaaS)
- Vendors: RingCentral, Zoom, Teams, 8x8, Dialpad
- Expertise: UCaaS integrations, porting, licensing
- Scenarios: PBX replacement, hybrid Teams setup
- Challenges Solved: Call quality, licensing mess, global coverage
- Extras: Demo setup, porting support, cost reviews
Security
- Vendors: Fortinet, Cisco, Palo Alto, SentinelOne
- Expertise: Fortinet NSE, Zero Trust, SOC/NIST
- Scenarios: Firewall upgrades, VPN, endpoint security
- Challenges Solved: Legacy tools, fragmented stack, no staff
- Extras: Free firewall review, virtual CISO, SOC options
Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Microsoft Office 365
- Google G-Suite
- Application Services
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Client-Based Security
- IT Service Management (ITSM)
View Partners & Solutions
Connectivity / SD-WAN
- Vendors: AT&T, Comcast, Zayo, Aryaka, Bigleaf, etc.
- Expertise: SD-WAN certified, global routing, carrier contracts
- Scenarios: Multi-site rollouts, bandwidth upgrades
- Challenges Solved: Long installs, poor support, pricing confusion
- Extras: Circuit audits, backup plans, pricing benchmarks
Unified Communications (UCaaS)
- Vendors: RingCentral, Zoom, Teams, 8x8, Dialpad
- Expertise: UCaaS integrations, porting, licensing
- Scenarios: PBX replacement, hybrid Teams setup
- Challenges Solved: Call quality, licensing mess, global coverage
- Extras: Demo setup, porting support, cost reviews
Security
- Vendors: Fortinet, Cisco, Palo Alto, SentinelOne
- Expertise: Fortinet NSE, Zero Trust, SOC/NIST
- Scenarios: Firewall upgrades, VPN, endpoint security
- Challenges Solved: Legacy tools, fragmented stack, no staff
- Extras: Free firewall review, virtual CISO, SOC options
Energy Solutions
- Efficiency Analysis
- Backup Power Systems
- Solar & EV Charging Infrastructure
- Water, Waste & Expense Management
View Partners & Solutions
Connectivity / SD-WAN
- Vendors: AT&T, Comcast, Zayo, Aryaka, Bigleaf, etc.
- Expertise: SD-WAN certified, global routing, carrier contracts
- Scenarios: Multi-site rollouts, bandwidth upgrades
- Challenges Solved: Long installs, poor support, pricing confusion
- Extras: Circuit audits, backup plans, pricing benchmarks
Unified Communications (UCaaS)
- Vendors: RingCentral, Zoom, Teams, 8x8, Dialpad
- Expertise: UCaaS integrations, porting, licensing
- Scenarios: PBX replacement, hybrid Teams setup
- Challenges Solved: Call quality, licensing mess, global coverage
- Extras: Demo setup, porting support, cost reviews
Security
- Vendors: Fortinet, Cisco, Palo Alto, SentinelOne
- Expertise: Fortinet NSE, Zero Trust, SOC/NIST
- Scenarios: Firewall upgrades, VPN, endpoint security
- Challenges Solved: Legacy tools, fragmented stack, no staff
- Extras: Free firewall review, virtual CISO, SOC options
Managed Services
- Professional Services Implementation
- Managed 365 Environments
- Application Support
- IT Service Management (ITSM)
View Partners & Solutions
Connectivity / SD-WAN
- Vendors: AT&T, Comcast, Zayo, Aryaka, Bigleaf, etc.
- Expertise: SD-WAN certified, global routing, carrier contracts
- Scenarios: Multi-site rollouts, bandwidth upgrades
- Challenges Solved: Long installs, poor support, pricing confusion
- Extras: Circuit audits, backup plans, pricing benchmarks
Unified Communications (UCaaS)
- Vendors: RingCentral, Zoom, Teams, 8x8, Dialpad
- Expertise: UCaaS integrations, porting, licensing
- Scenarios: PBX replacement, hybrid Teams setup
- Challenges Solved: Call quality, licensing mess, global coverage
- Extras: Demo setup, porting support, cost reviews
Security
- Vendors: Fortinet, Cisco, Palo Alto, SentinelOne
- Expertise: Fortinet NSE, Zero Trust, SOC/NIST
- Scenarios: Firewall upgrades, VPN, endpoint security
- Challenges Solved: Legacy tools, fragmented stack, no staff
- Extras: Free firewall review, virtual CISO, SOC options
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