GTIA Taps Tech Veteran Dan Wensley As CEO: Exclusive

‘I’m here to listen, to learn from the team and the community, align around clear goals and then execute,’ says Global Technology Industry Association CEO Dan Wensley. ‘GTIA isn’t just changing names. We’re evolving our impact. We’re better together, and we’re here to be the community that proves that every day.’

The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) is ushering in a new era as the industry-driven, non-profit powerhouse for MSPs with the appointment of its first CEO since separating out from CompTIA.

After nearly two decades as a member of the organization formerly known as CompTIA, Dan Wensley is stepping into the role with a renewed mission to modernize, globalize and humanize the IT services industry and its community.

The industry veteran has worn many hats in the IT channel over the past 30 years including entrepreneur, innovator and board member. Most recently he served as CEO of Vancouver-based vendor ScalePad, where he led the company through a successful rebrand and rapid global expansion from 30 to about 150 employees and more than 12,000 partners.

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“I consider myself a continuing student of our industry,” Wensley told CRN in an exclusive interview. “GTIA gave me a way to connect, learn and grow beyond the walls of my own business. That’s what I want to preserve and amplify. This role is the natural culmination of everything I’ve worked for. It’s about community, always has been.”

GTIA has undergone a rebrand this year following the sale of the CompTIA name and its training/certification business, which now operates separately as a for-profit entity. GTIA remains a non-profit, vendor-neutral membership organization dedicated to serving the IT channel worldwide, representing more than 2,000 organizations and tens of thousands of IT professionals.

Wensley’s first order of business after assuming the role on April 21 is leading GTIA through a new phase focused on member value, advocacy and global expansion.

“Some may have seen it as a leap [for me to go] from SaaS to nonprofit, but for me it’s a continuation,” he said. “It’s still about building communities around innovation. And we can now focus exclusively on value delivery for members: vendors, ITSPs and everyone in between. We’re here to grow the industry, not just revenues.”

MJ Shoer, GTIA chief community officer, said Wensley’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment and as CEO will act as a “force multiplier” in the organization’s next chapter.

“He’s the perfect personality. You couldn’t ask for a better cultural fit,” Shoer told CRN. “He understands that full spectrum, from A to Z, of who our members are, which is critical now that we’re laser focused on the channel.”

‘He Knows Our Ecosystem From The Inside Out’

With Wensley at the helm, the board is ready to take GTIA from being the industry’s “best kept secret” to becoming a recognized trade association, said Tracy Pound, managing director of U.K.-based Prizm Solutions Ltd., Maximity Limited and outgoing GTIA board chair. “His leadership, his channel experience, his strategic vision, they’re exactly what we need to take this organization to the next level. He knows our ecosystem from the inside out.”

Wensley served on the GTIA board from 2012 to 2015 and has held leadership roles at Level Platforms, Plan 27 and PassPortal and advised emerging vendors and MSPs through Top Down Ventures. He has also been recognized as a CRN Channel Chief and a 2013 inductee into the MSPmentor Hall of Fame.

One of the key areas he is expected to impact is how GTIA capitalizes on its existing resources. The association has long been known for its research and training programs, but under Wensley’s leadership it will grow its communities, expand geographically and amplify its valued assets from research to events.

“Dan brings a commercial perspective that will help us showcase and expand the value of what we offer,” Pound told CRN. “We want members to know that when they come to our events or take our courses, they’re going to walk away with knowledge that will make a real impact on their business.”

Transitioning from the for-profit tech world to a nonprofit isn’t without its challenges, but this is a natural evolution for Wensley, both professionally and personally, said Rob Rae, corporate vice president of community and ecosystems at Greenwood Village, Colo.-based cloud marketplace Pax8 and a GTIA board member.

“He’s a seasoned veteran in the twilight of his career,” Rae told CRN. “This is a chance to leave a real mark and to create positive, lasting change for the industry.”

Wensley understands what keeps MSPs up at night, Rae added, as well as MSPs’ objectives, pain points and what matters to their business: “That’s incredibly valuable right out of the gate.”

The Road Ahead: Growing A Global Movement

In the near term, Wensley is focused on executing the 2025 roadmap, supporting the GTIA team and preparing for ChannelCon, the organization’s touchstone event.

As far as the long-term strategy, Wensley’s vision is ambitious: global expansion, youth engagement and making GTIA a central force in tech advocacy and workforce development. While GTIA already has communities forming across multiple continents, he wants to deepen that investment with true localization and expanded outreach.

“There are tens of thousands of IT pros who’ve never been part of this,” he said. “We’re going to change that. We have to.”

He’s also focused on four main pillars: people, resources, community and advancement, “Whether it’s technology, careers or thought leadership, we must push the industry forward.”

It’s a heavy-duty lift, but he has what it takes to lead a nonprofit into the future, according to Juan Fernandez, channel chief for Claymont, Del.-based vendor SuperOps and GTIA North American executive council member.

One of the key reasons MSPs should remain engaged, or get involved for the first time, with GTIA is the shift in thinking Wensley brings.

“There’s a new evolution of value,” Fernandez said. “We need leadership that thinks creatively and focuses on both profitability and outcomes for MSPs. Dan has proven over time that he’s that kind of out-of-the-box thinker. There’s no better changemaker than the crew at the helm now. We’re seeing a vision come to life through thoughtful leadership and a reinvigorated mission.”

Another initiative is marketing the GTIA brand.

“GTIA’s brand is community,” Wensley said. “IT service providers, MSPs, VARs, whatever acronym you use they’re looking for a place where they can learn, grow and talk openly about what’s impacting their businesses. That’s what GTIA offers, and we need to tell the world why being a member of this community matters.”

‘We’re Evolving Our Impact’

As GTIA gears up for its next phase, Wensley isn’t just stepping into a new role, he’s stepping into a movement backed by trust, alignment and a shared vision for lasting industry impact.

“We’re laser focused now,” Shoer said. “Dan’s leadership, his understanding of our members and the talent we’ve assembled means we’re going to be able to do even more for them. It’s an incredibly exciting time.”

Wensley’s familiarity with the organization, particularly through his time on the board, is expected to smooth his transition from the for-profit tech sector into GTIA’s nonprofit structure.

“That prior service is worth its weight in whatever heavy metal you want to pick,” Shoer said. “He knows how a nonprofit trade association operates, and more importantly, how to lead one.”

Peter Melby, GTIA’s newest board member and CEO of Denver-based solution provider New Charter Technologies, said first impressions of Wensley leading the way “are promising.”

“We had our first in-person board meeting last week. Dan brings a great balance of listening and clear direction. It’s exactly what we’ve needed,” Melby told CRN.

With both a CEO who understands the industry's complexities and a board freshly infused with real-world provider insight, Melby said GTIA’s new era under Wensley promises to be one of transformation and action.

“We’re going to be more innovative, more valuable and far more relevant to service providers,” he said. “Under Dan’s leadership, we’re not just catching up, we’re steering where the industry is going.”

During his interview for the CEO role, in which GTIA reviewed hundreds of candidates, Wensley was asked to present a thesis. His was titled “The Possible.”

“With the strength, talent and resources we have, anything is possible,” he said. “That’s what excites me. We’re not just reacting. We’re shaping the future of this industry.”

And his leadership philosophy is rooted in clarity and collaboration.

“I’m here to listen, to learn from the team and the community, align around clear goals and then execute,” he said. “GTIA isn’t just changing names. We’re evolving our impact. We’re better together, and we’re here to be the community that proves that every day.”