Live at ACES with Brian Best (EP 1006)

Recorded on‑site at the Elliott Park Hotel during ACES 2026, this conversation kicks off with a quick behind‑the‑scenes look at the venue, the vibe, and why this Apple‑centric event cares more about P&L than power users. I walk through how ACES is structured as a business‑first conference for Apple IT providers, covering topics like pricing, marketing, HR, scaling, and work‑life balance, with zero tool pitches from the stage and everything bundled into a focused two‑day experience. Then I catch up with Brian Best from Best Mac, who has attended and spoken at all twelve ACES events, and we get into the real talk about running a Mac‑focused MSP in a Windows‑dominated world. Brian shares how the Apple side of the channel is mostly small to mid‑sized MSPs, how his own M&A experience with LogicNow and SolarWinds reshaped his business, and why co‑managed Apple support is a powerful play for Windows‑first MSPs serving mixed environments. Chapters 00:17 ACES Conference Intro 02:01 What ACES Is 04:37 Conference Venue Tour 06:50 Reconnecting With Brian Best 08:22 Why ACES Matters 12:00 SolarWinds Deal Backstory 14:54 Windows And Mac Blend 15:54 Getting Mac Help === Guest: Brian Best Company: BestMacs – IT support for Apple-powered businesses Website: https://bestmacs.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-j-best === Shout-outs Justin Escar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinesgar Eric Anthony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esanthony/ === Companies / Vendors / Products / Books ACES Conference: https://acesconf.com/ All Things MSP (podcast / community): https://www.facebook.com/allthingsmsp The Brit (pub in Minneapolis – likely “Brit’s Pub”): https://www.britspub.com Elliott Park Hotel: https://www.elliottparkhotel.com Macworld Expo: https://www.macworld.com N-able: https://www.n-able.com === SPONSORS:  Livestream Partner, ThreatLocker: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/threatlocker Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/ Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoip Travel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugrid Digital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready === SHOW MUSIC:  Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo  Item URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UET Author Username: AlexanderRufire  Item License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/🎙 Host: Marvin Bee🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcastIf you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.