#31 - From the Trenches - The CIO Mindset - MSPs, Luck & Learning (Bob Coppedge)

When former CIO Bob Coppedge, CEO of Simplex IT, joins Josh Peterson, the conversation turns into a masterclass on business maturity, luck, and the evolution of managed services. From aviation museums to model-year MSP strategies, Bob shares 45 years of perspective on what separates the techs who adapt from the ones who stall.

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In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson chats with Bob Coppedge, CEO of Simplex IT, about his journey from CIO to MSP leader and his unconventional take on luck, learning, and leadership. Drawing parallels between aviation, poker, and IT, Bob and Josh break down why success often depends on timing, humility, and adaptability.

👉 The CIO Advantage – How Bob’s enterprise background shaped his MSP from the start. 👉 Luck vs. Skill – Why luck plays a bigger role in business success than most leaders admit. 👉 The Evolution of MSPs – From break-fix to business improvement and the dangers of commoditization. 👉 AI, Big Data & the Model Year Mindset – How Simplex IT stays future-ready by treating every year like a product upgrade. 👉 Content That Connects – Why MSPs should start YouTube channels and how to overcome the fear of video marketing.

This episode dives deep into what it means to run an MSP like a modern business—constantly learning, adapting, and sharing knowledge along the way.

Visit https://beringmckinley.com  for more MSP resources.

🔗 Resources & Links • Bob Coppedge at Simplex IT: https://simplex-it.com  @simplex-it   • Bering McKinley MSP Consulting: https://beringmckinley.com

⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & Ohio stories 05:30 – The origin of Simplex IT 10:30 – From CIO to MSP owner 16:00 – The role of luck in business 24:00 – Adapting through disruption 28:00 – Information over technology 30:00 – The “Model Year” approach 35:00 – YouTube, AI & marketing shifts 45:00 – Making video content simple 54:30 – Final thoughts & where to find Bob

🔍 Primary Keywords MSP leadership, managed services, CIO mindset, business strategy

🔍 Secondary Keywords AI in MSPs, MSP marketing, Simplex IT, Bering McKinley podcast

#️⃣ Hashtags #bmkvisionpodcast #beringmckinley #msp #mspbusiness #managedservices #mspgrowth #mspmarketing #aitransformation #mspcommunity #itleadership #simplexit #bobjcoppedge #mspinsights #businessstrategy #technologytrends