Q-1) Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
A – ITPartners+ simplifies internal IT departments by providing targeted services that relieve pain points. We do that by being a partner who listens first, and partners with nationally recognized brands to bring value to midsize enterprises and local governments.
IT Directors from across the US have chosen to partner with us for three reasons
• First, we include our unlimited service with everything we sell
• Second, we understand the struggles of IT security
• Third, we are constantly evaluating and only work with the best in breed solutions
Whether it’s backup or security layers; our partners gain a predictable bill, time back in their day, and peace of mind.
Q-2) Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
A – Kevin Damghani founded his first IT company in 2007 and is the current visionary-owner of ITPartners+ where he spends his time dreaming of ways to improve the managed services industry.
Kevin’s passion is building community with other Managed Service Providers (MSPs). He speaks across the nation to MSPs through various channel events and serves on advisory boards for Datto, Kaseya and Sherweb.
With the ITPartners+ brand, Kevin set out to differentiate the company culturally as well. Driven by the core values of Think BIG, do great work, and make it fun, ITPartners+ mission is to positively impact people including primary and post-secondary education in El Cacique, Dominican Republic to address long term systemic change. ITPartners+ has been recognized as one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work since its first year in business.
Kevin is married to Marita and has three young children.
Q-3) What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
A – With the ITPartners+ brand, Kevin set out to differentiate the company culturally as well. Driven by the core values of Think BIG, do great work, and make it fun, ITPartners+ mission is to positively impact people including primary and post-secondary education in El Cacique, Dominican Republic to address long term systemic change. ITPartners+ has been recognized as one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work since its first year in business.
Q-4) What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
A – Find your passion – I thought mine was tech, knowing how to use it and fix it but it’s actually helping people. I was lucky that my passions aligned with the business that I was already in.
Create a support network. Whether that is a mentor, friends or family you will need support and it’s best to have it in place before starting.
Get the right people. Whether employees, business partners or outsourced services, working with the right people is the key to multiplying your effort.
Q-5) What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
A – Optimism, it’s not always going to be easy, and you need to not give up.
Curiosity and willingness to learn. Every day is a new challenge, and you have to adapt quickly and be willing to learn and change.
Have a clear vision and be able to communicate it. This is where the magic happens.
Q-6) How many hours do you work a day on average?
A – There is no average. When I’m traveling, I might devote the majority of my time to work but when I’m home I will always prioritize time with my family.
Q-7) To what do you most attribute your success?
A – I started out with a lot of advantages—an immigrant father who instilled in me the value of hard work, a wonderful mother who quit her job to come help me out, a supportive wife who still challenges and sharpens my business decisions. I can’t imagine being where I am without them.
Q-8) How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
A – I love branding and invested in it early. Today I believe that the strong brand ITPartners+ has built is the foundation layer for any particular marketing we might chose to do.
Q-9) Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
A – I founded my first business with $350 over 15 years ago. Since then all of my businesses have been cash positive and able to sustain themselves.
Q-10) What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
A – Long-term success requires long-term thinking. We may be ready to head into a recession but it’s those who can think past the next big scary thing that will achieve.
Q-11) Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
A – I see opportunities everywhere. In 10 years I may still be in managed services but I may also have found a new passion. I love being able to impact people but I don’t put limits on what that might look like.
Q-12) Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
A – It’s no secret, I’m a true Apple geek. I’m impressed by design and the branding but it’s really the user experience that sets them apart. I use their products every day and I’m still in love. How many brands can say that?
