C Spire: SI & Consulting
Gap Analysis
Blind spots, strategic opportunities, and a CustomerTimes engagement roadmap for building C Spire's consulting services and AI infrastructure.
The Bottom Line
C Spire is the strongest regional MSP in the Southeast — but it remains an MSP with SI aspirations, not a credentialed systems integrator. Their own leadership has publicly signaled the pivot intent. The gap between ambition and execution is precisely where CustomerTimes delivers value.
The CIO engagement is now live and active. CIO Rabun confirmed C Spire's dual mandate: (1) deploy AI internally, (2) package AI as revenue-generating services for B2B customers. 4 workstreams are in progress, an MSA is under review, and a strategic deep-dive is confirmed for April 24 with a COO presentation in Early May. The research below is now validated by direct CIO quotes.
C Spire's Agentic AI Services page listed ambitious capabilities with zero proof points. In the April 15 meeting, CIO Rabun confirmed this exact gap: "We've never really pushed into the software space, either in implementations or in support. I think this is one of the spots we may want to consider." He also confirmed the revenue aspiration: "I am trying to get my IT department to be a revenue source as well as a cost center."
Active Partnership Status
Strategic partnership meeting held April 15, 2026. Four workstreams active, MSA under review, strategic deep-dive confirmed for April 24.
Stakeholder Map
| Name | Role | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Rabun Jones | SVP & CIO | 20+ yrs telecom. BS Information Systems (Grace College), MBA (Mississippi State). Led Salesforce Revenue Intelligence implementation. Drives internal AI transformation and IT revenue strategy. Long-standing relationship with Tom (10+ years). |
| Brad Carpenter | COO & EVP, Business Technology | Key executive for B2B services partnership. Final decision-maker on new service offerings. Regularly meets customer CIOs/CEOs. Target for joint pitch in Early May. |
| Brandon | Technical Lead | Primary contact for Product Catalog Agent and SISP workstreams. Going on leave for ~2 weeks — connections must be made before departure. |
| Doug | Technical (Product) | Working with Brandon on Product Catalog Agent requirements. |
| Fernanda | AI Lead (New) | Newly appointed. Should participate in the April 24 deep-dive and ongoing AI strategy discussions. |
Active Workstreams
2.1 Product Catalog & User Management Agent
Objective: Build AI agent to automate product catalog setup, changes, and user management (currently ServiceNow tickets).
Status: In Progress — Requirements review call scheduled Tue Apr 21. Initial SOW to follow.
Approach: Start small. V0/V1 agent for high-volume, quick-win ticket types. Not a full-scale POC.
2.2 Data Platform Assessment (Vertica)
Objective: Assess Vertica data platform, recommend modernization path (potentially Databricks). Focus on cost savings + new revenue-generating analytics.
Status: Pending — Waiting on Rabun to connect CT data team with cSpire data warehouse contact.
Scope: $5K–$50K depending on depth. Business impact analysis, not just technical assessment.
2.3 SISP Process — AI-Enabled Routing
Objective: Inject AI into cSpire's SISP (Service Improvement / Strategic Investment) process for routing, decision-making, resource allocation.
Status: Initializing — Rabun confirmed good timing. CT to meet SISP process owner for 1-hour discovery session.
Connection: Ties directly into the broader "AI-enabled MSP" vision.
2.4 MSA (Master Services Agreement)
Objective: Get legal framework in place so SOWs can execute without bottleneck.
Status: Under Review — Draft sent by KP to Rabun. Rabun committed to reviewing and providing feedback.
Urgency: Tom emphasized all workstreams could move fast — MSA must not be the blocker.
CIO Rabun: Direct Quotes
"I am trying to get my IT department to be a revenue source as well as a cost center. I still haven't broken into what I can do with these extra efficiencies that turn into revenue generation."
"The thought process is, we're going through this process of bringing AI into becoming an AI-driven telco. The whole point is for us to go through it first so that we can help our customers go through it as well."
"A lot of these customers are never going to go out and work with a big SI. They're working with us because we have a trusted position with them."
"We've never really pushed into the software space, either in implementations or in support. I think this is one of the spots we may want to consider."
CT Value Proposition (Presented by Dima)
What We Told Them
- CT telco heritage: Vodafone, large regional telcos, triple-play, B2C/B2B
- 60+ AI agents/bots deployed at Takeda — 27 FTEs released
- $1B+ enterprise customer base across CPG, pharma, manufacturing, insurance
- Built $1M+ McKinsey-equivalent research in 2 hours using Anthropic
- Revenue impact: 60–70% top-line, 30–40% bottom-line
- Agile alternative to Accenture / Big SIs — direct CEO access, faster execution
Strategic Themes Identified
- AI-Enabled MSP: Augment existing ops, decrease resource consumption, increase quality
- IT as Revenue Source: Reframe efficiency gains as customer-facing services — "exoskeleton of AI"
- Regulated Industry Focus: PCI, HIPAA compliance DNA gives edge over hyperscalers
- Niche Strategy: Start within Microsoft stack or target QuickBooks ecosystem for SMBs
- Change Management: Hardest challenge is people, not technology
- Use-Case Mining: Tom identified 20+ upsell/cross-sell use cases from existing touchpoints
Timeline & Next Steps
| Date | Activity | Participants | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| This Week | Rabun sends data warehouse contact intro to CT | Rabun → CT Data Team | In Progress |
| This Week | Rabun sends note to Brandon re: SISP project lead | Rabun → Brandon | Pending |
| This Week | Brandon & Doug compile Product Catalog Agent requirements | Brandon, Doug | In Progress |
| This Week | Rabun reviews draft MSA from KP | Rabun | Pending |
| Tue, Apr 21 | Product Catalog Agent — requirements review call | Tom, Brandon, Doug, Rabun | Scheduled |
| Post-Tue | Draft initial SOW for Product Catalog Agent | Tom (Portfolio Manager) | Planned |
| Fri, Apr 24 | Strategic Deep Dive (2:00–4:00 PM ET) — CT presents capabilities, AI use-case library, internal IT AI experience; cSpire walks through current state, vision, tooling | Tom, Dima, KP, Rabun, Fernanda + B2B team | CONFIRMED |
| Early May | Joint meeting with Rabun + Brad (COO) to present partnership vision and service offering framework | Tom, KP, Dima, Rabun, Brad | To Schedule |
The Friday session is the make-or-break moment. CT must present: (1) AI use-case library adapted to cSpire's verticals (healthcare, banking, telco), (2) go-to-market model for packaging AI services for cSpire's B2B customers, (3) internal IT AI story showing how CT eats its own cooking, and (4) delivery framework proving CT can execute. This presentation directly feeds the Early May pitch to Brad (COO), who is the final decision-maker on the B2B services partnership.
McKinsey & Industry: The $16B Telco AI Opportunity
Deep research validates every element of Rabun's vision. The numbers are massive and the timing is now.
McKinsey identifies AI-powered customer lifecycle engagement as the #1 B2B bet: 5-8% revenue growth, 50% upsell increase, 30% churn reduction. A Latin American telco launched GenAI-enabled B2B messaging with >40% click-through rates. A European telco achieved 5-15% ARPU growth via AI hyper-personalization. McKinsey's framework: AI factories for use-case prioritization, performance tracking, and accountability — linking AI directly to revenue. CIOs should frame AI to boards via revenue metrics, not just cost savings.
C Spire's Hidden Tech Maturity: Grafana Observability
C Spire Already Runs a Modern Observability Stack
Our research uncovered that C Spire migrated from AppDynamics + LogicMonitor + Splunk to Grafana Cloud + OpenTelemetry + Grafana Alloy — a sophisticated, modern observability platform deployed via Ansible across 1,000+ services/VMs. Results: 95% adoption across App Dev teams, 30% CPU reduction replacing AppDynamics Java agents, deployment updates from days to 30 minutes. This proves C Spire's IT organization can execute complex platform migrations — critical context for the Vertica assessment. They are more technically capable than the "MSP with SI aspirations" framing suggests.
Workstream Deep Dive: Vertica Data Platform
Vertica is used by 7 of the top 10 telcos globally (including AT&T) for CDR analysis, network analytics, and customer segmentation. C Spire's likely use case is similar. Here's the migration context:
Vertica: What It Does Well
- Petabyte-scale columnar analytics — fast SQL queries
- CDR, SNMP, IPDR data processing for telcos
- Thousands of reports daily, sub-second query response
- Single source of truth across data silos
Databricks: What It Unlocks
- Native AI/ML: Spark MLlib, MLflow, Delta Lake end-to-end
- Churn prediction, network optimization, customer segmentation models
- Real-time streaming for 5G/IoT — critical for next-gen telco
- Revenue-generating analytics that C Spire can sell to B2B customers
Pitch framing: This isn't a tech migration — it's the data foundation for Rabun's "IT as revenue source" vision. Without modern AI/ML capabilities on their data, C Spire cannot build the predictive analytics services their B2B customers will pay for.
Workstream Deep Dive: ServiceNow AI Agents
C Spire's Product Catalog Agent (Workstream 2.1) maps directly to ServiceNow's Telecom Service Management capabilities:
ServiceNow TSM
Telecom Service Management unifies ITSM + CSM with telco-specific workflows. Automates service orders, network inventory, fault management, SLA tracking.
Now Assist AI
GenAI for TMT: case summarization, automated routine tasks, next-best-action recommendations. Reduces manual effort and agent handling time.
Proven Results
Canadian telco: 41% reduction in daily case volumes. Multinational telco: projected £25M savings by 2027 via AI-powered scheduling.
Workstream Deep Dive: Agentic AI for SISP Process
McKinsey's "sense, think, act" framework maps directly to C Spire's SISP routing optimization (Workstream 2.3):
Collect data from network infrastructure, customer interactions, project requests, resource utilization
LLMs as reasoning engines: evaluate build-vs-buy, prioritize investments, optimize routing decisions, predict resource needs
Execute: auto-route requests, allocate resources, generate proposals, escalate complex decisions to humans
Reference: Deutsche Telekom + Google Cloud partnered on specialized AI agents for RAN operations. KPN deployed voice-to-voice agents for end-to-end customer care. A European telco boosted inbound sales 40% via AI agents. Gartner predicts autonomous agents will handle 80% of customer service interactions by 2029, reducing costs 30%.
10 AI Agent Use Cases for C Spire's B2B Customers
| # | AI Agent Use Case | Vertical | Value Proposition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patient Triage & Intake Agent | Healthcare | Voice AI assesses symptoms, prioritizes, collects insurance — 40%+ admin reduction | Industry research |
| 2 | HIPAA Document Processing | Healthcare | Automated transcription, smart routing, auditable claims processing | AirgapAI model |
| 3 | Post-Op Monitoring Agent | Healthcare | 24/7 symptom checks, vitals monitoring, doctor escalation | Clinical AI research |
| 4 | Appointment Scheduling Agent | Healthcare | SMS/phone booking — cut no-shows 30%+ | Telco voice APIs |
| 5 | Fraud Detection Agent | Banking | Real-time anomaly detection leveraging telco network data | McKinsey |
| 6 | PCI Analytics & Reporting | Banking | Automated compliance reports, audit trails on encrypted infra | Telco compliance |
| 7 | Self-Healing Network Agent | All | Predictive maintenance — 30% downtime reduction, 25% OPEX cut (McKinsey) | McKinsey |
| 8 | ServiceNow Ticket Resolver | All | L1 auto-resolution — 41% case volume reduction (proven) | ServiceNow TSM |
| 9 | AI Sales Agent | All | Prospecting, pricing, scheduling, upsell — 40% inbound sales lift (McKinsey) | McKinsey |
| 10 | Compliance Monitoring Agent | Regulated | Continuous PCI/HIPAA monitoring, evidence collection, audit-ready reports | Industry research |
Go-to-Market: How Telcos Are Launching AI Services
Real examples from telcos that have already moved:
| Telco | AI Service Launched | Model | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | AI Recaps (GenAI note-taking for business) | Niche productivity tool sold to B2B | Scaling to edge AI & GPUaaS |
| Telus | LLM fine-tuning & customization for enterprises | AIaaS without in-house AI expertise | Expanding to full enterprise AIaaS |
| Orange | Live Intelligence (connectivity + cloud + AI) | Bundled AI with existing services | Expanded to GenAI orchestration |
| Telefonica Tech | 10 AI specialist centers for customer use cases | Vertical-specific AI agents | Growing to global GenAI platform |
| Lumen | NaaS + ExaSwitch + AI networking | Self-service AI-ready infrastructure | 2,000+ enterprise users by 2026 |
| KPN | Voice-to-voice AI agents for customer care | End-to-end autonomous resolution | McKinsey-cited case study |
Pattern: Every successful telco started with a niche (T-Mobile: note-taking, Orange: bundled intelligence, Telefonica: vertical agents) and expanded. Dima's advice to C Spire — start within Microsoft stack or QuickBooks ecosystem — follows this exact playbook.
Rabun's Vision Validated: IT as Revenue Source
McKinsey Framework for CIOs
- Frame AI as revenue engine, not cost savings: 5-15% ARPU uplift, 50% upsell, 30% churn reduction
- Build AI factory for use-case prioritization, performance tracking, ROI accountability
- Deploy cross-functional squads for rapid AI campaign execution
- Move to value-based pricing: price AI services by delivered outcomes, not hours
The "Exoskeleton of AI" Model
- Step 1: Automate internal ops (ServiceNow agents, SISP routing, network self-healing) — free 30-60% capacity
- Step 2: Retrain freed engineers on customer-facing AI delivery
- Step 3: Package internal AI tools as subscription services for B2B
- Step 4: Track revenue per engineer as key metric — create "business within a business"
Market: $16B new US telco value by 2030 (McKinsey). $2T global GenAI value in telco (Oliver Wyman). US healthcare AI: $8.65B → $43.3B by 2030. 89% of telcos increasing AI spend in 2026. McKinsey benchmarks: 5-8% B2B revenue uplift. 50% upsell increase. 30% churn reduction. 41% case volume reduction (ServiceNow). 40% inbound sales lift. 30% downtime reduction. CT proof points: 60+ agents at Takeda (27 FTEs released). $1M+ McKinsey-equivalent research in 2 hours. Revenue impact: 60-70% top-line, 30-40% bottom-line. C Spire advantage: Grafana migration proves modern platform execution capability. HIPAA/PCI compliance DNA = moat vs hyperscalers. #1 SE healthcare MSP = ready-made customer base for healthcare AI.
C Spire's Current Capabilities
A telco-anchored MSP that acquired its way into professional services via TekLinks (2018), now operating as a full-stack managed IT provider with genuine depth in infrastructure but thin consulting DNA.
| Service Area | Capabilities | Key Partners | Maturity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managed IT | Infrastructure mgmt, 24/7 NOC, proactive monitoring | Dell Titanium, Cisco Gold | Strong |
| Cloud | Private, public, hybrid, AWS/Azure migration | AWS Advanced, Microsoft, VMware | Strong |
| Cybersecurity | MDR, managed firewall, threat detection, compliance | Fortinet, Palo Alto, Arctic Wolf | Strong |
| Networking | SD-WAN, fiber DIA, 5G, UCaaS | Cisco Gold Provider/Integrator | Strong |
| Data Center | Colocation, DR, backup, 5 Tier III DCs | ExaGrid, Veeam | Strong |
| Professional Services | "Custom-scoped engagements" — project-based | Cisco, Dell, AWS | Emerging |
| AI / Automation | Agentic AI page published, Copilot internal use | Listed: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google | Aspirational |
| Strategic Advisory | No visible vCIO/vCISO, no IT strategy practice | — | Absent |
| ERP / Application SI | No SAP, Salesforce, ServiceNow, or ERP practice | — | Absent |
| Data & Analytics | No BI, data strategy, analytics, or data governance | — | Absent |
Vertical Market Strength
Research Blind Spots
The Perplexity competitive analysis was strong on market positioning but missed critical intelligence that changes the engagement strategy. Here are 10 blind spots our deeper research uncovered.
1. The Agentic AI Services Page Exists — But It's Hollow
C Spire has already published an ambitious "Agentic AI Services" page at business.cspire.com/enterprise/solutions/managed-artificial-intelligence listing AI readiness assessments, custom AI solutions (agentic workflows, ML, reinforcement learning), AI-ready infrastructure, use cases for Finance/IT Ops/HR/Sales, and support for OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Vertex, Azure AI, Amazon Bedrock, and on-prem models. But there are zero case studies, zero named clients, zero team bios, and zero certifications. The Perplexity report missed this entirely. This page is the CIO's intent signal — he wants to build this capability. CustomerTimes is the answer.
2. CEO Suzy Hays Has Made AI Central to Strategy
Appointed June 2024, CEO Suzy Hays created an internal AI Center of Excellence — but it's a cross-functional steering committee (CEO + networking + IT + marketing + ops + business services), not a technical delivery organization. She's publicly stated: "AI is not a trend but a transformation" and that C Spire is evaluating "AI as a product that C Spire both uses and produces." The Perplexity report didn't capture this leadership context, which is critical for our engagement framing.
3. Internal AI Usage Is Productivity Tooling Only
C Spire performs ~16,000 Microsoft Copilot actions monthly, saving ~730 employee hours and ~$500K annually. This is off-the-shelf productivity AI adoption, not custom AI/ML development. Their 200+ certified engineers are infrastructure/networking engineers (Cisco, Dell, VMware certs) — not data scientists or ML engineers. The gap between the Agentic AI page and actual delivery capability is massive.
4. Data & Analytics Practice Is Completely Absent
Zero mentions anywhere on C Spire's public presence of data analytics, business intelligence, data strategy, data governance, data lake/warehouse, Power BI, Tableau, or data-driven decision making. You cannot sell AI consulting without a data foundation. This is a prerequisite gap that CustomerTimes must address in the engagement.
5. No Thought Leadership or Content Marketing
C Spire has published zero whitepapers, zero research reports, and zero executive perspectives on AI adoption, cloud strategy, or digital transformation. Their blog is purely operational (XDR, internet security). This means they have no mechanism to build the advisory brand credibility needed for an SI pivot. Presidio and ePlus both actively publish thought leadership.
6. Brand Identity Conflict: "Customer Inspired" vs. SI Brand
"Customer Inspired" is a consumer telco tagline. Compare to Presidio ("Global Digital Services Provider"), Logicalis ("Architects of Change"), or ePlus ("Where Technology Means More"). C Spire's brand positioning undermines its SI ambitions. The brand needs to speak to CIOs, not consumers.
7. Presidio Revenue Is ~$6B, Not $1B+
The Perplexity report cited Presidio at "$1B+" but current ZoomInfo data shows $6.0B annual revenue. This dramatically widens the competitive gap and underscores why C Spire cannot compete head-to-head with Tier 2 SIs — they need a differentiated positioning, which is where our strategy consulting enters.
8. Workforce Composition Gap Not Analyzed
The 200+ engineers are infrastructure specialists. Presidio runs "a company within a company" for security with dedicated cybersecurity sales teams, presales engineering, and field CISOs (former state government CISOs). C Spire has no equivalent advisory bench. The MSP-to-SI pivot requires a fundamental workforce composition shift from technicians to consultants.
9. Mid-Market Is the Strongest Play — and C Spire Owns the Relationships
BCG confirms mid-market companies are where regional SIs gain share against global players. C Spire's 2,000+ enterprise customers are overwhelmingly mid-market. They own the customer relationship but lack the SI delivery depth to capture wallet share. CustomerTimes can be the delivery engine behind C Spire's existing customer base.
10. MSP 3.0 Transition Window Is Now
Cisco's Group VP of Global Partner Sales specifically called out MSPs moving into "professional services, SI spaces, and advisory capabilities" as the key scaling path. 68% of MSPs are expected to use AI tools by 2025. C Spire is at this exact inflection point. The window for transformation is open but closing as competitors like Logicalis acquire their way into the same space.
Competitive Tier Map
C Spire sits at the top of Tier 3 — dominant in its geography but invisible in the analyst reports that drive enterprise buying decisions.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Dimension | C Spire | Presidio | ePlus | Logicalis US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | ~$443M | ~$6.0B | ~$2.2B | N/A (CRN SP500) |
| Employees | ~1,200 | ~4,800 | ~3,000 | ~500+ US |
| Geography | Southeast + 49-state | National + EMEA/APAC | National | National + Global |
| Analyst Recognition | None | IDC Leader | Limited | CRN SP500 |
| AI Practice | Page only | Deployed | AI Ignite | Limited |
| Strategic Advisory | Absent | vCISO + Advisory | Consulting Div | Architects of Change |
| ERP / App SI | None | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Healthcare | #5 Global | 500+ hospitals | Moderate | Growing |
| SLED | Regional | 50 state contracts | Moderate | Moderate |
The AI Reality Gap
The distance between what C Spire's Agentic AI page promises and what they can actually deliver is the single biggest opportunity for CustomerTimes.
C Spire AI Maturity Assessment
| AI Capability | Industry Standard for SI | C Spire Today | Gap Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Strategy & Governance | Published framework, responsible AI policy, C-suite advisory | Steering committee only | Critical |
| Data Foundation | Data strategy, governance, lake/warehouse, DataOps | Not mentioned anywhere | Critical |
| ML Engineering | Data scientists, ML engineers, MLOps pipelines | No visible team or capability | Critical |
| GenAI / LLM | RAG implementations, fine-tuning, prompt engineering | Copilot usage only | Critical |
| AI Infrastructure | GPU clusters, NVIDIA DGX, model serving | 5 data centers (CPU-focused) | Moderate |
| AI Use Case Delivery | Published case studies, named clients, ROI metrics | Zero case studies | Critical |
| AI Partnerships | NVIDIA, Databricks, Snowflake, platform certifications | Lists platforms on page, no cert evidence | Moderate |
The CIO has already approved the aspirational positioning (the Agentic AI page exists). What he needs now is the delivery engine — the methodologies, the talent, the frameworks, and the first case studies that turn marketing language into a real practice. This is CustomerTimes' core value proposition.
The Thought Leadership Vacuum
C Spire has a compelling AI story to tell — an internal AI Center of Excellence, $500K in Copilot savings, a Lift Off innovation program — but the only place that story appears is in a single Fierce Network article they didn't write. Their own content ecosystem is nearly empty.
C Spire sells AI consulting services but publishes nothing demonstrating AI expertise. Their 9 whitepapers are all vendor-produced (Cisco, Veeam, Arctic Wolf). Their last webinar was in October 2020. Their blog is 100% cybersecurity operations. No C Spire executive has a single bylined article on their own platform. Meanwhile, Presidio runs a multi-format content engine across blogs, eBooks, videos, webinars, podcasts, and client stories — and ePlus publishes 109+ blog posts including 15 dedicated AI articles.
Content Inventory: C Spire vs. Competitors
| Content Type | C Spire | Presidio | ePlus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blog Posts | ~6 visible, 1-2/mo 0 on AI strategy |
500+ archive (23 pages) AI, cloud, security |
109 posts 15 on AI |
| Whitepapers / eBooks | 9 total All vendor-produced |
Multiple original eBooks Incl. Agentic AI guide |
Dedicated whitepapers section AI + security focus |
| Webinars | 5 total Last: Oct 2020 |
Active webinar series Ongoing |
BrightTALK channel Ongoing |
| Podcasts | None | Limited | Active podcast Regular episodes |
| Video Content | None visible | Video library AI + Intel series |
AI Experience Center NVIDIA demos |
| Case Studies | 5 case studies + 9 success stories 1 mentions AI/IoT |
Dedicated client stories hub Multi-industry |
Customer success section AI deployments |
| Original Research | None | Content ROI research | Limited |
| Executive Bylines | Zero | Expert authors | Named authors |
C Spire Blog: What They Actually Publish
The most recent 6 posts on blog.cspire.com tell the story:
| Date | Title | Author | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2025 | How XDR is reshaping security operations for IT leaders | C Spire (corporate) | Cybersecurity |
| Jul 29, 2025 | The best internet providers can also protect your network | C Spire (corporate) | Networking |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Questions your board will ask after a ransomware attack | Cristina Lee | Cybersecurity |
| Jul 14, 2025 | Why small businesses are prime targets for cyberattacks | Jim Beaugez | Cybersecurity |
| Jul 8, 2025 | Should your company pay the ransom? | Jim Beaugez | Cybersecurity |
| Jun 17, 2025 | Why multifactor authentication is crucial for businesses | Jim Beaugez | Cybersecurity |
Pattern: 6 of 6 recent posts are cybersecurity ops. Zero on AI, cloud strategy, digital transformation, or advisory topics. Primary author is a communications strategist, not an engineer or executive. No C-suite voices anywhere.
The Webinar Graveyard
C Spire's webinar program has been dead for nearly 6 years:
| Date | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2020 | Dell Data Protection Webinar | Last webinar |
| Jun 2020 | Layered Security Series (Cisco) | Vendor-led |
| Feb 2019 | Email Security Compromise | Tactical |
| Feb 2019 | Cybersecurity Awareness Training | Tactical |
| Sep 2018 | Lessen the Impact of a Network Attack | Tactical |
| 2021-2026 | — | Nothing published |
Executive Visibility Audit
C Spire Executives
- Fiber Connect 2025 — "Scaling a Fiber Business" (operator talk)
- ADTRAN Connect — FTTH plans (video)
- MS Business Journal profile (interview)
- Zero published articles, zero AI keynotes, zero LinkedIn thought leadership
- MCPS Student Tech Ambassador Conference
- Base Camp Coding Academy Board
- No industry conference speaking found
- Bytes & Bites event host (internal)
- No external speaking found
What Presidio Executives Do
- Field CISOs publish security advisories and industry analysis
- Named expert authors on insights blog across AI, cloud, security
- Joint content with Intel on AI solutions (video series)
- Original eBooks including "Agentic AI" content operations guide
- Active webinar program with ongoing cadence
- IDC MarketScape Leader citation drives earned media
What ePlus Does
- 109+ blog posts with 15 dedicated AI articles
- AI Ignite blog series with step-by-step adoption guidance
- Active podcast with regular episodes
- BrightTALK webinar channel (ongoing)
- AI Experience Center with NVIDIA DGX demos
Bytes & Bites: Untapped Content Gold
C Spire's one genuine thought leadership vehicle is their annual Bytes & Bites event (300-400+ attendees, partner demos, AI/cybersecurity breakouts). But it produces zero digital content — no recorded sessions, no published keynotes, no post-event articles, no downloadable materials.
| Year | Location | Focus | Digital Content Produced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Bridlewood, Madison MS | AI + Cybersecurity | None |
| 2025 Spring | Vulcan Park, Birmingham | TBD | None |
| 2025 Fall | Madison, MS | TBD | None |
| 2022 | Avondale Brewing, Birmingham | Workforce Change | None |
The Unpublished AI Story
Here's the irony: C Spire actually has a compelling AI narrative. But it lives entirely in third-party press coverage, not on their own platforms:
Stories They Should Be Telling
- 1. AI Center of Excellence creation & CEO personal involvement
- 2. 16,000 Copilot actions/month saving $500K annually
- 3. C Spire Lift Off innovation program (inaugural cohort complete)
- 4. Three-pronged AI strategy: network efficiency + customer AI + internal productivity
- 5. ALDOT AI/IoT deployment (their only AI-adjacent case study)
- 6. Employees reassigned 50% time to AI development teams
Where These Stories Live Today
- 1. Fierce Network article (Oct 2025) — they didn't write
- 2. Fierce Network article — same single article
- 3. MS Business Journal — passing mention only
- 4. Fierce Network article — same single article
- 5. C Spire success stories page — buried, no AI framing
- 6. Fierce Network article — same single article
Site Infrastructure Problems
Beyond content gaps, C Spire's content platform itself is broken:
/resources/guides returns 404
The guides section links from the resource hub but the page doesn't exist. Site migration was incomplete.
/resources/white-papers returns 404
White papers link from the new domain is broken. Content only accessible via the old /enterprise/resources/ path.
/resources/webinars returns 404
Webinar section is inaccessible from the main resource hub. Last actual webinar was October 2020.
No search or filtering
Resource hub has no search, no tag filtering, no topic navigation. Just a flat list of category cards.
This is a quick-win engagement add-on that can start Day 1. CustomerTimes can help C Spire: (1) Launch an AI-focused blog series and executive byline program, (2) Turn Bytes & Bites into a digital content engine, (3) Create the first original AI whitepaper, (4) Build a webinar relaunch around AI readiness for healthcare and SLED, (5) Fix the broken resource hub, (6) Establish a LinkedIn thought leadership cadence for Suzy Hays and Brad Carpenter. This builds brand credibility for the SI pivot while generating leads for the AI consulting practice.
Where CustomerTimes Delivers Value
Three interlocking engagement streams that address C Spire's structural gaps and accelerate their MSP-to-SI transformation.
Strategy Consulting
- MSP-to-SI transformation roadmap & operating model design
- CIO/vCISO advisory service design — the missing top-of-funnel
- Analyst relations strategy to break into IDC / Gartner / Forrester
- Brand repositioning from "Customer Inspired" to SI-credible identity
- Vertical strategy deepening: healthcare AI, SLED modernization
- Go-to-market for consulting — pricing, packaging, sales enablement
- Thought leadership program: whitepapers, research, executive content
- Mid-market enterprise capture playbook leveraging 2,000+ existing relationships
AI Consulting
- AI readiness assessment framework & methodology build
- AI governance & responsible AI policy development
- Use case identification & prioritization workshops
- AI CoE maturation: from steering committee to delivery org
- Data strategy & analytics practice creation (the missing foundation)
- GenAI/LLM implementation: RAG, agents, fine-tuning capabilities
- AI talent acquisition strategy & training program design
- First 3-5 reference case studies to prove delivery capability
Tools & Platform Enablement
- CRM practice build (Salesforce) — net-new revenue line for C Spire
- ITSM modernization (ServiceNow) — uplift from reactive to strategic
- BI & analytics platforms: Power BI, Tableau, Databricks
- AI/ML platform deployment: Azure AI, AWS Bedrock, Vertex AI
- Process automation / intelligent document processing
- Modern PSA with native AI for MSP 3.0 operations
- DevOps & platform engineering practice establishment
- AI infrastructure: GPU compute, model serving, MLOps pipelines
Opportunity Matrix: Where Gaps Meet Revenue
Engagement Architecture
A phased approach that delivers quick wins to build trust, then expands into the structural transformation C Spire needs.
Phase Details
Prove Value, Build Trust
AI Readiness Assessment: Evaluate C Spire's data maturity, infrastructure readiness, workforce capability, and AI governance posture. Deliver a scored report with prioritized recommendations.
Data Strategy Workshop: Address the critical missing foundation — define data governance framework, identify analytics quick wins, map data assets across their 2,000+ customer engagements.
First AI Pilot: Deliver one tangible AI project in their strongest vertical (healthcare) — e.g., AI-powered compliance monitoring or predictive infrastructure maintenance. This becomes the first case study for their Agentic AI page.
Stand Up the Practice
AI Practice Standup: Recruit and train the initial AI consulting team. Define engagement methodology, pricing models, and delivery frameworks. Mature the AI CoE from steering committee to delivery organization.
Advisory Model Design: Build the vCIO/vCISO offering, IT strategy assessment methodology, and quarterly business review frameworks that move C Spire from reactive MSP to strategic advisor.
CRM/ServiceNow Launch: Establish the first application-layer practice (Salesforce or ServiceNow), creating a net-new revenue line that none of their direct competitors are strong in either.
Establish Market Position
Analyst Relations Campaign: Prepare submissions for IDC MarketScape and Gartner peer insights. Package the healthcare AI case studies and advisory model for analyst briefings.
Brand Repositioning: Evolve from "Customer Inspired" consumer telco identity to a CIO-credible technology partner brand. Publish the first thought leadership series.
National Go-to-Market: Leverage the 49-state commercial reach with the newly built SI capabilities. Target mid-market healthcare, SLED, and financial services nationally.
Transformation Roadmap
The complete MSP-to-SI journey — from where C Spire is today to where the CIO wants to be.
Key Success Metrics
First AI Case Study Published
Within 6 months — a named client, measurable ROI, deployed in healthcare vertical. Transforms the Agentic AI page from marketing to evidence.
AI Practice Revenue > $5M ARR
Within 18 months — standalone AI consulting and implementation revenue proving the practice is commercially viable, not a cost center.
IDC or Gartner Inclusion
Within 24 months — appear in at least one analyst report. This unlocks enterprise RFP credibility that money alone cannot buy.
Advisory Revenue Mix > 15%
Within 24 months — shift from 95%+ infrastructure-managed revenue to a meaningful consulting/advisory component proving the SI pivot is real.
Risk Factors
| Risk | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Presidio moves into SE healthcare | High | Accelerate first AI case study in healthcare to create defensible positioning |
| C Spire hires consulting lead internally | Medium | Position CustomerTimes as delivery partner, not competitor to internal hires |
| AI practice fails to generate revenue in 12mo | Medium | Phase 1 pilot in healthcare maximizes chance of quick win with existing customers |
| Logicalis acquires SE competitor | Medium | Build depth vs. breadth; differentiate on AI/advisory, not infrastructure |
| Internal culture resists consulting pivot | High | Change management workstream in Phase 2; executive sponsorship from CEO Hays |
The CIO meeting happened. Rabun confirmed the dual mandate: deploy AI internally, then package it as B2B services. 4 workstreams are live (Product Catalog Agent, Vertica Data Assessment, SISP AI Routing, MSA). The April 24 strategic deep-dive is confirmed — CT presents the AI use-case library, go-to-market model, and delivery framework. Early May: joint pitch to Brad (COO/GM of B2B) for the full services partnership. The research in this report is now validated by direct CIO quotes and active engagement.