Wisconsin businesses face an unprecedented challenge: the labor force is shrinking while demand grows. In this episode of IT Unplugged, Brandon sits down with Laura Strickland, Partner Success Manager at Carex Consulting Group, to uncover the shocking reality behind Northeast Wisconsin's labor market. (Check out September's LMI Report: https://www.carexconsulting.com/resources/labor-market-insights-september-2025/

What You'll Learn:

Why Wisconsin job openings dropped from 268,000 to 137,000 (and what this really means)
The 6 million worker shortage coming by 2032 - traced back to 1970s birth rates
How to build vs buy vs rent talent in today's competitive IT market
Essential upskilling strategies that boost retention and cut hiring costs
Why IT unemployment sits at 2.9% while national average exceeds 4%
The truth about software development job postings vs AI/cybersecurity demand

Key Topics Covered:

Labor market index insights and what a 60.9 score means for businesses
Northeast Wisconsin's innovation boom and talent retention strategies
Building local talent through CSAs, technical colleges, and apprenticeships
Hiring adaptable employees over perfect skill matches
ROI of employee upskilling vs external hiring costs
Transparent hiring practices that improve candidate-company matching

Laura breaks down Carex's labor market insights report, revealing why traditional hiring approaches no longer work in today's talent-scarce environment. Learn practical strategies for workforce planning, from identifying upskilling needs to creating competitive advantages through employee development.
Whether you're struggling to fill IT positions, planning workforce strategy, or wondering how AI fits into the labor shortage equation, this episode provides data-driven insights and actionable solutions for Wisconsin business owners.
Special focus on IT professionals: Discover why certain tech roles are abundant while others face scarcity, and how smart companies are adapting their hiring criteria to find hidden talent in unexpected places.
Subscribe for weekly insights on business technology, workforce strategy, and the future of work in Northeast Wisconsin.

Are remote IT workers really more productive, or is it just hype? In this episode of IT Unplugged, Brandon and Ben dive deep into the remote work debate that's dividing the tech industry.

What You'll Learn:

Why 18% of IT jobs are fully remote (and why that number might surprise you)
Real cybersecurity risks of remote work - 75% of IT professionals say companies are MORE vulnerable
Generational differences: How Gen Z approaches remote work vs Millennials
The truth about productivity - can you really focus while watching kids?
Essential security tools every remote IT worker needs (VPN requirements, avoiding public WiFi threats)

Key Topics Covered:

Remote work productivity myths vs reality
Managing different employee types in distributed teams
Cybersecurity challenges with remote IT teams
Generational workplace attitudes and authority issues
Building effective remote IT culture
Public WiFi security risks and Pineapple attacks

Whether you're an IT manager considering remote policies, a cybersecurity professional worried about distributed teams, or just curious about the future of tech work, this episode breaks down the complex reality of remote IT work beyond the hype.
From basement home offices to coffee shop security nightmares, we cover what really works (and what doesn't) when your IT team goes remote. Plus, candid insights on hiring self-motivated employees and the challenges of managing across generations.
Security Focus: Learn why remote work makes companies 75% more vulnerable to cyberattacks and the essential tools to protect your business.
Subscribe for weekly IT insights that cut through the noise and give you actionable business technology advice.

Manufacturing insurance Wisconsin | Risk management consultant | USI Insurance Services | Business insurance broker advocacy

Is your insurance broker truly advocating for you? In this episode of IT Unplugged, we sit down with Stephanie Lee, Senior Risk Management Consultant at USI Insurance Services, to discuss how manufacturers can tell if their insurance partner is working in their best interest.

Stephanie shares her unique journey from 13 years in logistics and supply chain consulting to becoming a trusted insurance advisor for Wisconsin manufacturers. Her insider knowledge of manufacturing operations gives her a distinct advantage in identifying risks that other brokers might miss.

Key Topics Covered: • How to evaluate if your insurance broker is truly advocating for your business • Why manufacturing risks are different from other industries • The interconnected nature of supply chain vulnerabilities • Using data analytics to make informed risk management decisions • Breaking away from relationship-based insurance decisions • ROI analysis for insurance investments and loss prevention • Supply chain risk assessment for manufacturers • Property and casualty insurance challenges for difficult risks • Business interruption coverage and downtime costs

What You'll Learn: Stephanie explains how USI leverages proprietary data from thousands of clients to benchmark your coverage against industry peers. Instead of relying solely on relationships, modern insurance consulting should provide hard facts and analytics to support recommendations.

Learn why "insurance finds you" rather than the other way around, and how Stephanie's background in warehouse assessments, automation, and system integrations now helps her protect the very assets she once helped companies invest in.

Perfect for manufacturing business owners, risk managers, and anyone evaluating their current insurance partnerships. Discover how data-driven insurance consulting differs from traditional relationship-based approaches.

About the Guests: Stephanie Lee brings unique expertise combining supply chain operations knowledge with insurance risk management. Her experience spans logistics consulting, business solutions, and now comprehensive risk assessment for Wisconsin manufacturers.

Connect with M2 Technology for comprehensive IT solutions supporting your manufacturing operations.

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Meet Ben Marsh, M2 Technology's newest IT consultant! In this episode of IT Unplugged, we dive into Ben's unique career path from Dell software sales in Nashville to becoming a tech wizard serving Wisconsin businesses.

What You'll Learn:
How sales experience translates to better IT consulting and customer relationships
Why Ninja RMM is a game-changer for managed service providers
The psychology behind business owners and cybersecurity investment decisions
Building trust with small and medium-sized businesses through proven solutions
Career advice for aspiring IT professionals in Wisconsin
Troubleshooting strategies when multiple systems fail simultaneously

Ben shares his hands-on expertise with Veeam backup solutions, Microsoft Azure implementations, and disaster recovery planning while explaining why proactive IT support functions like insurance for your business. From managing complex system failures to helping Wisconsin SMBs leverage technology for sustainable growth, this episode showcases what makes M2 Technology's people-first approach to managed IT services distinctive in the competitive MSP landscape.

Topics Covered:
MSP career development and professional certifications
Disaster recovery and comprehensive backup strategies
Remote monitoring and management tools comparison
Customer relationship building in IT consulting
Small business technology challenges and solutions
Wisconsin IT job market insights and opportunities
Dell partner portal navigation and product selection
Microsoft 365 implementation best practices
Network setup and infrastructure management
Cybersecurity awareness for business owners

This episode is perfect for business owners considering managed IT services partnerships, IT professionals looking to advance their careers in the MSP industry, aspiring tech consultants interested in customer-facing roles, or anyone curious about how strategic technology partnerships drive measurable business success throughout Wisconsin.

Ben's journey from software sales to technical implementation demonstrates how diverse experience creates well-rounded IT professionals who understand both business needs and technical solutions. His expertise with enterprise-level tools like Ninja RMM, combined with his customer service background, exemplifies M2 Technology's commitment to delivering personalized IT solutions that scale with growing businesses.

M2 Technology provides comprehensive managed IT services, advanced cybersecurity solutions, business continuity planning, and strategic technology consulting for businesses with 10-750 employees across Wisconsin and the greater Green Bay area.

https://www.m2.technology

Join Brandon as he sits down with Nick, Claims and Carrier Compliance Specialist at M2 Logistics, to explore the sophisticated world of freight fraud and how technology is being weaponized on both sides of this battle.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

• How phishing attacks are targeting logistics brokers to steal credentials and post fraudulent loads
• The rise of carrier identity theft and "cloning" schemes that bypass DOT regulations
• Advanced tracking technology and fraud detection platforms like Trucker Tools
• The concerning role of AI in doctoring delivery documents and creating fake damage claims
• International dispatch services and the challenges they present for fraud prevention
• High-value cargo protection and the insurance requirements that come with it

Nick shares real-world examples of cargo theft schemes, from fake Amazon warehouse pickups to sophisticated shipper impersonation scams involving major home builders. Learn how M2 Logistics uses both technology and human verification to stay ahead of increasingly complex fraud schemes.

Whether you're in logistics, cybersecurity, or business operations, this episode reveals striking parallels between digital security threats and physical supply chain vulnerabilities.

Join Brandon from M2 Technology as he sits down with Kelly and Aslinn from Women in Technology Northeast Wisconsin to discuss the real challenges facing women in tech and the practical steps everyone can take to create more inclusive workplaces.

Key Topics Covered:

-Why "you can't be what you can't see" matters in tech careers
-Practical allyship strategies that work in real meetings
-How to advocate for others when they're not in the room
-The difference between formal and informal mentorship
-Breaking down barriers in STEM fields
-Career pivots and validation moments that changed everything

Actionable Takeaways:

-Specific phrases to draw out quiet voices in meetings
-How to give constructive feedback across gender lines
-Networking strategies that actually build careers
-Ways to support colleagues without overstepping
-Self-advocacy techniques for career advancement

About Our Guests:

Kelly serves as President of Women in Technology Northeast Wisconsin and brings years of experience from programming to executive leadership. Aslinn has an international background in technology and leads WIT's professional development pillar.

About Women in Technology:

WIT Northeast Wisconsin operates on three pillars: WIT for Girls (middle school outreach), WIT on Campus (college mentoring), and WIT at Work (professional networking). Their mission spans "from classroom to boardroom" - supporting women and allies in STEM careers at every stage.

Why This Matters:

The tech industry continues to face diversity challenges, but organizations like WIT are creating tangible change through community building, mentorship programs, and practical education. This conversation goes beyond statistics to show exactly how allyship works in practice.

Perfect for: IT professionals, business leaders, anyone interested in workplace diversity, mentorship, career development, and creating more inclusive teams.

M2 Technology provides managed IT services, cybersecurity solutions, and technology consulting for businesses across Wisconsin. We believe technology should be accessible to everyone.

Connect with Women in Technology and M2 Technology

WIT Website: https://www.witwisconsin.com/
M2 Technology Website: www.m2.technology

On this episode of IT Unplugged, we sit down with Eric Hussin, the new owner of Express Employment Professionals, to tackle one of the biggest questions facing job seekers today: Is AI making it harder to land your next role?

Eric shares his unique journey from employee to business owner, including the mentorship and transparency that made his acquisition possible. We dive deep into the reality of AI in recruiting - spoiler alert: it's not as advanced as you think.

What we cover:

-The truth about AI auto-rejections (hint: it's probably not what you think)
-Why human connection still beats automated LinkedIn messages every time
-The biggest red flags on resumes that destroy your chances
-How to justify your salary with actual numbers, not buzzwords
-Why data scraping tools are game-changers while AI matching falls short
-The generational divide on job tenure and work-life balance
-Green Bay's hottest job markets: cybersecurity and AI programming

Key takeaways:

-Resumes need to show results, not just skills
-Lying about employment dates is an instant disqualifier
-Remote work expectations are creating tough competition
-Companies are paying premium for cybersecurity talent
-AI tools cost $5-50k annually but often lack positive ROI

Eric gives brutally honest insights about what really works in today's job market, why vague interview answers are career killers, and what it takes to attract top talent in competitive fields.

Whether you're job hunting, hiring, or just curious about the future of work, this episode breaks down the real impact of technology on employment - without the hype.

Guest: Eric Hussin, Owner of Express Employment Professionals
Hosts: Brandon from M2 Technology

In this episode of IT Unplugged, Mike and Brandon dive deep into Microsoft Office Protect - the powerful security add-on that's becoming mandatory for M2 Technology clients. Discover how this affordable tool can prevent email breaches, detect suspicious login attempts, and stop malicious rule creation before damage occurs. We break down real-world examples of how attackers compromise Microsoft 365 accounts, why traditional security measures sometimes fail, and how Office Protect provides that critical extra layer of protection with minimal user impact.

Learn why proper DNS configuration, multi-factor authentication, and responsive monitoring create the perfect security stack for email protection. We share a minute-by-minute account of how our team detected and remediated a breach in just three minutes, potentially saving a client from serious financial and reputational damage. If you're concerned about email security or wondering if someone might already have unauthorized access to your inbox, this episode is essential viewing.