Cynthia Schreiner Talks MSP Community (EP 1033)
Sat down with Cynthia Schreiner at Pax8 Beyond to unpack her journey into channel engagement, how Pax8’s community and academy support MSP growth, and the very real ways AI is reshaping how she runs 90+ events a year.
Cynthia Schreiner joins me live at Pax8 Beyond to talk about her first year at Pax8, what makes their partner community feel different, and how she’s using AI and automation to transform event operations.
Catching up with Cynthia at Pax8 Beyond 2026 in Salt Lake City, we dig into her move into the Senior Manager of Channel Engagement role, what it’s been like working alongside channel heavy hitters, and why this first Beyond feels so energizing for partners. We get into the real value of MSP community, the stress and isolation that comes with running an IT services business, and how it changes when you’re in a room full of vendors and peers who actually understand what you do. Cynthia also shares how she shifted her mindset around AI: instead of waiting for “free time” to learn tools, she started attacking annoying tasks with Copilot and CoWork, building skills that now save her hours across 90+ events.
=== Chapters
- 00:00 Welcome From Pax8 Beyond In Salt Lake City
- 00:18 Introducing Cynthia Schreiner And Her Move To Pax8
- 03:06 First Time At Pax8 Beyond And Event Energy
- 07:23 MSP Relationships, AI Conversations, And New Opportunities At Pax8
- 08:29 Changing Mindset Around AI And Automating Event Work
- 14:41 Why Community Matters So Much For MSPs
- 16:11 Inside Pax8’s Partner Approach, Academy, And Services
- 17:00 Running 90+ Events, Logistics Strategy, And Planning
- 18:54 How To Get Pax8 To Your Event And Annual Scheduling
- 20:26 Pax8 Beyond Entertainment, Past Performers, And Closing With Cynthia
=== Guest: Cynthia Schreiner, Pax8
- Website: https://www.pax8.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-schreiner
=== Shout-outs
- Eric Torres – https://www.linkedin.com/in/torreseric/
- Ola Witukiewicz – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ola-witukiewicz/
- Rob Rae – https://www.linkedin.com/in/robtrae/
- Nick Heddy – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-heddy-pax8/
=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books
- ConnectWise – https://www.connectwise.com
- Copper Onion (restaurant) – https://www.thecopperonion.com
- Red Rock Brewery – https://redrockbrewing.com
- Caputo’s / Caputo’s Market & Deli (likely “Caputo” coffee) – https://caputos.com
- Beyond (Pax8 Beyond conference) – https://www.pax8.com/beyond
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Senior Manager of Channel Engagement
Cynthia Schreiner is the Senior Manager of Channel Engagement at Pax8, with eight to nine years of experience on the event side of the IT channel and previous hands-on time at an MSP. She works closely with well-known channel leaders and manages logistics and strategy for roughly 90 events a year, ranging from small gatherings to large conferences.
Cynthia brings a deep understanding of MSP challenges, event operations, and vendor–partner dynamics. Her perspective combines practical event strategy—checklists, safety nets, attendee profiling—with a strong focus on community, ensuring MSPs feel seen and supported. She’s also leaning into AI and automation in her own workflows, using tools like Copilot and CoWork to turn repetitive event tasks into scalable, automated processes.
