“What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to connect with so many passionate and driven professionals. The sessions were insightful, especially those focused on innovation and leadership. I left feeling inspired and equipped with new strategies to better serve our clients and grow in my role.”
The energy was undeniable. From the moment the doors opened, Special Forces Summit 2025 felt less like a conference and more like a movement. Trusted Advisors, vendors, and technology leaders united around one goal: mastering the art of being indispensable.
What It Means to Be Indispensable
This year’s theme isn’t a tagline—it is a mindset. An indispensable Trusted Advisor:
- Anticipates risks and opportunities
- Elevates conversations with sharper questions
- Orchestrates outcomes, not transactions
- Builds unshakable trust as part of the customer’s team
In short, they are absolutely necessary to their customers.
On stage and in sessions, speakers didn’t just talk about these qualities. They showed how to live them out in every engagement.
Special Forces Summit acted as a springboard to help Trusted Advisors transform from helpful guides to the key that unlocks more sophisticated and future-proofed organizations.
By the Numbers
- 1,500+ attendees energized the venue
- 60+ breakout sessions delivered actionable insights
- Nearly 20,000 connections made across the ecosystem
- 83 NPS score with Trusted Advisor attendees, among the best in industry events
- $35,000 raised for charity, demonstrating impact extends beyond business
Stories from the Main Stage
Our Main Stage mixed energy with substance. Keynotes and case studies spotlighted cloud, AI, security, and other emerging technologies—giving Trusted Advisors practical strategies to sharpen their sales and channel approach.
One attendee noted this as a key takeaway for them: “The main stage presentations—short, sweet, to the point, but impactful.”
To kick Special Forces off, AVANT President and Co-founder Drew Lydecker took us ten years in the future, sharing what his vision of the Trusted Advisor movement looks like in 2035. He focused on indispensability too, explaining just how vital the Trusted Advisor will be in the future – and why now is the time to solidify your role with your customers, so you’re ready to guide them through their next journeys into IT decision-making.
On Day 2, AVANT CEO and Co-founder Ian Kieninger got things started, building on Drew’s vision and taking us step by step through the next era of the channel. What does that mean, exactly? Smarter money, more iconic brands, greater disruption, and the evolution of IT buying – all focused on empowering customers to outsmart uncertainty and make decisions with confidence.
Breakouts That Built Momentum
Breakout sessions tackled every level of expertise, from new sellers to seasoned owners. Technical workshops, leadership sessions, and sales training created space to learn, transform, and grow. And attendee feedback reinforced this notion:
“Deep, high-impact training and breakout sessions brought together Trusted Advisors, channel providers, and the AVANT team…a rich environment for connection.”
“Breakout subject matter was excellent, as were presenters.”
Celebrating Excellence
The AVANT Summit Awards honored top-performing Trusted Advisors and vendor partners who set the standard for what it means to be indispensable. See the full list of 2025 Summit Award winners.
Special Forces Summit 2025: Beyond Three Day
Special Forces didn’t end when the blue lights went down. Attendees left with exclusive resources, follow-up content, and tools to sustain momentum all year. That’s what becoming indispensable is about: leaving with conviction, confidence, and community.
Thank you!
Special Forces Summit 2025 was unforgettable because of our ecosystem. Together, we didn’t just host an event—we accelerated a movement of Trusted Advisors changing how customers make technology decisions.
The momentum is real. Let’s keep building it.