From Corporate Programming to MSP Entrepreneurship
Lisa Niekamp-Urwin's journey into MSP ownership began with a career in Oracle database administration and project management, where she earned a master's degree in project management while climbing the corporate ladder. After experiencing layoffs during the 2001 construction industry downturn and hitting glass ceilings in corporate environments, she found herself working in quality control at a manufacturing company—a role that didn't align with her IT expertise. With encouragement from her supportive husband, she made the leap to entrepreneurship by approaching her employer with a proposition: she would start her own IT business with them as her first client. This strategic move gave her immediate revenue and a foundation to build Tomorrow's Technology Today, a full-service IT support company based in St. Henry, Ohio.
Building a Managed Services Practice
Lisa's transition from break-fix to managed services came through persistent exploration and mentorship from N-able's Stephanie Hammond, who guided her through the recurring revenue model. After false starts with Dell and other platforms, she found success with N-able's managed services framework. The shift required building trust with early clients in rural Ohio, where personal relationships and community connections proved essential. Lisa focused heavily on the manufacturing sector, finding alignment between her team's personalities and the passionate, hands-on culture of manufacturing clients. Her approach to hiring emphasized cultural fit and personality—particularly seeking technicians who were geeky, collaborative, and could build genuine relationships with clients.
Marketing, Growth, and Future Collaboration
Lisa recognized early (2010-2011) that marketing required dedicated investment and a data-driven approach. She emphasizes that successful marketing is fundamentally about numbers—working backward from desired client acquisition goals to determine required database size, qualified leads, and activities. Her philosophy centers on consistency and measurement, insisting that any marketing partner must demonstrate clear ROI. Looking ahead, Lisa is exploring collaboration opportunities with other MSPs to build a shared platform, recognizing that growth is essential in an industry facing client consolidation and M&A activity. She remains energized by networking at industry conferences, drawing insights from diverse sources including her husband's commercial roofing industry, and maintains her founding employee—a testament to her commitment to creating a workplace culture focused on giving her team a great life.
