From the CEO’s Desk
Building Business Together
Out the gate, I want to say thank you! Thank you for an explosive start to what will no doubt be another exceptional year of doing what we do best here at PlanetOne: GROW YOUR BUSINESS!
With all the buzz around SENTIENT and our PARTNER APPRECIATION WEEK, the expectations are high for 2022, and we would not have it any other way. This is going to be a record-breaking year for so many reasons:
- The trust we’ve earned and the relationships we’ve established over the last 30 years by doing what we say we will do and having your back, always.
- The leadership team and best practices we’ve brought together under our President and COO Chris Werpy’s direction.
- The arrival and expansion of our proprietary amplified intelligence platform SENTIENT—which puts our partners in the driver’s seat, brings actionable insights throughout the sales cycle and enables everyone to engage on a new level and in real time.
- The launch of PlanetOne’s 2022 Provider Program, which has grown to include 55+ of the IT and telecom’s most in demand and well established brands.
- Our “simply the best” content-led events strategy that promises hard-hitting takeaways and focused engagement.
- And, finally, our #LFG attitude and proven capabilities within our entire organization to GET IT DONE RIGHT and help you CLOSE MORE BUSINESS and GROW STRONGER!
As you know, at PlanetOne, we take business personal and for us there’s no greater measure of success then what we accomplish together. That’s why in 2022, my goal is this: Enable our team to earn a 100% on our annual partner satisfaction survey.
It’s a big goal, and in order to make that happen, I need you to tell us what you need and what more you want from PlanetOne. There’s no wrong answers so let’s make it happen. Fire away!
Our team is your team. We’re here to help you grow, close more deals and get you paid on time, every time.
Cheers to building our business together!
Ted Schuman, Founder/CEO
PlanetOne
Newsletter Exclusive Teaser
The all-new PlanetOne podcast studio is built and ready for big laughs, celebrity guests and no-filter topics. Get ready because Talkin’ Sh*t with Ted & Werp is coming your way!
ICYMI - PlanetOne Partner Appreciation Week
PlanetOne Elevates Chris Werpy to President and Jake Schuman to Senior Vice President
After a “transformational year” of partner success, innovation and growth, PlanetOne CEO Ted Schuman announces two key executive leadership
Scottsdale, Ariz., Jan. 19, 2022 – PlanetOne Founder and CEO Ted Schuman today appointed Chris Werpy to President and Jake Schuman to Senior Vice President. The news comes after an incredible year of growth, enablement, and success in PlanetOne’s 30-year history.
“Since 1992, PlanetOne has always differentiated on experience and execution, and operated with a growth mindset that if everything seems under control, we’re not going fast enough,’” says Schuman. “I’m proud to say over the last 18 months with Werpy as COO and Jake focused on the origin and continued advancement of SENTIENT, PlanetOne is faster, stronger and operating with more precision and focus. The positive business impact generated and inspired by these two business leaders runs wide and deep.”
In 2021, the PlanetOne team changed its engagement model, embracing new processes and unveiling SENTIENT, a disruptive, intelligent enterprise-grade sales engagement and enablement platform powered by AI. The moves resulted in a record year that positions PlanetOne for explosive expansion in 2022 and beyond. Among the key highlights:
- Eclipsing all previous year in sales and income records, as well as new partner recruitment and share of wallet with existing partners and providers.
- Increasing the average revenue order per partner using SENTIENT by 70 percent.
- Expanding the PlanetOne staff by 25% including the hiring of powerhouse Karie (Kat) Atwood, vice president of supplier management, PlanetOne.
- Building out PlanetOne’s provider portfolio by 60% across key technology categories including advanced security, collaboration and voice, connectivity, cloud and mobility.
- Architecting a new PlanetOne Partner Program under the leadership of Atwood.
Werpy Advances from COO to President, PlanetOne
Werpy joined PlanetOne in July 2020 as COO. His task: Take the team and the business to epic levels of energy and execution. Fast forward 18 months, and Werpy’s fingerprints and “let’s go” mindset are easily spotted throughout PlanetOne’s operations.
“Werpy took PlanetOne’s team, our partnerships and our entire operations from great to exceptional,” comments Schuman. “His leadership can be seen, heard and felt by every stakeholder. Promoting Werpy to President is an absolute honor and comes as no surprise to those close to PlanetOne.”
Jake Schuman Continues to Disrupt and Deliver for Channel Partners and Providers
Jake joined PlanetOne in 2014 as a Partner Development Manager. Over the years, he took on a variety of roles, learning the business inside and out. In recognition of his growing leadership in operations and innovation, Jake was promoted to General Manager of the Costa Mesa, Calif., office and Vice President of PlanetOne in January 2020. As a member of the executive leadership team, Jake conceptualized the ground-breaking BI-infused platform that would “forever change how the company engages and enables their partner and provider ecosystem.”
SENTIENT launched in Sept. 2021—sending waves of insights and actionable sales growth throughout PlanetOne’s partner and provider ecosystem. “Jake sees solutions and saw the opportunity to disrupt the industry and deliver a business intelligence platform that would introduce a smarter, more forward working way to engage and enable our partners and our providers,” concludes Schuman. “SENTIENT has changed our industry for the better, and the exciting part is there’s so much more to come. Congrats to Werpy and Jake on their promotions, and cheers to our entire team and all the partners and providers who do business with PlanetOne – let’s do this!”
For more information about PlanetOne, visit www.planetone.net.
PlanetOne Celebrates 30 Years of Business Excellence
In 1991, our Founder and CEO, Ted Schuman was working for a long-distance telecommunications carrier, Allnet Communications, when he discovered the agent model. A year later, he established PlanetOne as a business entity and today we are celebrating 30 years of growth, success and business excellence.
In recalling those early days, Ted says, “The day I started PlanetOne was the day I tore off the rear-view mirror. I had everything to gain and nothing to lose. Jocelyn and I were renting our home, I was driving an old Buick with no air conditioning – which was absolutely no fun during those hot Arizona summers – from my perspective, there was nowhere to go but up.”
So, what is the secret to our continued growth and success?
At the foundation, it is honesty and loyalty to partners and agents. Next, it’s perseverance and a willingness to take on risk, even in the face of uncertainty. Ted started PlanetOne with a $50K credit line at 12% interest from his parents, which later turned into $300K as the company grew. He was able to pay back his parents in full within a few years. Last, but not least, it’s the family culture that thrives here at PlanetOne through the team building activities, group lunches and “From the Heart” community service projects that engage our team members in supporting local non-profit organizations like Arizona Helping Hands, Arizona Humane Society and Phoenix Children’s Hospital, to name a few.
Today, through our growing cloud services portfolio, which is now comprised of more than 300 providers, as well as ongoing enhancements to the white-glove pre- and post-sales and support services, PlanetOne is committed to growing our cloud practice and empowering MSPs and VARs across the United States to successfully market, sell and support cloud-first solutions and services. Within a highly-competitive cloud marketplace, we have established ourselves with best-of-the-best cloud providers, uncovered unique solutions, created new sales opportunities, and maximized margin potential through new revenue streams for our partners.
Over the years, we have also received countless awards recognizing the company for growth and business excellence. These include six consecutive years as a recipient of the prestigious Arizona Corporate Excellence (ACE) Award, presented by the Phoenix Business Journal. Additionally, we have been celebrated by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies; named one of the Best Places to Work by The Business Intelligence Group in 2018; ranked No. 1 in the Phoenix Business Journal’s annual “Best Places to Work” survey in 2015 and 2017, and featured annually in CRN’s Partner Program Guide.
Throughout 2022, we will be celebrating 30 years in business through events and other activities.
Stay tuned to our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages for updates!
From the Heart: Arizona Helping Hands
For the last three years, PlanetOne has volunteered with Arizona Helping Hands. Earlier this month, our team participated in the organization’s 23rd Annual Holiday Toy Drive, benefiting children ages 0 to 21, in foster care only. For 2021, the community event was a festive drive-thru experience featuring live music and holiday entertainment, delicious snacks and pictures with Santa. As families came through to drop off their toy donations, the PlanetOne team assisted in collecting, separating and loading toys onto the delivery truck. Each year, the goal of the Arizona Helping Hands Toy Drive is to provide every child with a toy to open during the holidays. The first year the toy drive was held, Arizona Helping Hands was able to provide 500 kids with toys and books for the holiday season. This year, Arizona Helping Hands will serve more than 1,000 children in foster care through the annual toy drive. In addition to the annual toy drive, PlanetOne has participated in Arizona Helping Hands’ Back-to-School Support Week. During this event, the PlanetOne team assisted children and their families in getting all their necessary back-to-school supplies, including new shoes and clothing. Another one of PlanetOne’s favorite projects with Arizona Helping Hands is Birthday Dreams, a program that provides personalized birthday gifts wrapped and decorated by volunteers. More than 250 boys and girls each month receive gifts and party packages to celebrate their special day. Arizona Helping Hands was founded in 1998 to honor the wish of “one good deed being done every day.” The organization’s mission is “to provide essential needs for children in foster care through our programs promoting safety, permanency and health. Arizona Helping Hands is the largest provider of essential necessities for children in foster care in the state. For more information, visit https://azhelpinghands.org/about-us/.
For information on PlanetOne’s From the Heart initiative visit:
