M2 Technology Solutions

01/29/2026

$340 billion.

That's the gaming industry right now.

By 2028?

$580 billion.

For context, that's seven times larger than the film industry. Larger than TV, film, and music combined.

Times two.

Yet people still call it a "side hobby."

Ben Kvalo from Midwest Games pointed this out, and it immediately reminded me of how business owners talk about IT. It's treated like a necessary evil until it becomes the thing that either saves you or sinks you.

The value was always there. The perception just took forever to catch up.

Makes you wonder what other "overhead costs" are actually strategic investments we're undervaluing.

Full episode with Ben Kvalo on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcast!

01/28/2026

New IT Unplugged episode is live with Ben Kvalo from Midwest Games.
https://youtu.be/09xM_3zwvX4

Here's something I didn't expect to discuss on a tech podcast: research showing video games can improve longevity.

But that's where the conversation started, and it only got more interesting from there.

Ben's path (from radio to 2K working on Borderlands 2 and NBA 2K, to Blizzard, to Netflix, to founding Midwest Games in Wisconsin) isn't your typical trajectory.

What makes it relevant for business owners and IT pros is how he approached the decision to leave corporate security.

Three things that stood out:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. Ben didn't just quit and hope for the best. He shared his idea, got feedback, whiteboarded possibilities, and validated the concept before committing. That's applicable whether you're launching a business or implementing new technology.

𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘂𝗽𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲. Statistically, even failed founders advance 1.5 to 2 steps further in their careers than if they'd never tried. Successful founders? 2.5 to 3 steps. The risk isn't as scary when you look at the data.

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. The most valuable thing Ben gained wasn't revenue or recognition. It was understanding the full scope of what leadership actually deals with. That makes you better at every job that follows.

He's now publishing indie games (Tombwater, The Legend of Baboo, Floor is...what!?) and advocating for Wisconsin's gaming industry through the Wisconsin Games Alliance.

Worth a listen if you're analytical by nature but have been stuck in analysis paralysis.

01/27/2026

Ever wonder what it takes to walk away from Netflix to start a gaming company in Wisconsin?

Tomorrow's IT Unplugged features Ben Kvalo, founder of Midwest Games.

He went from working on massive franchises like Borderlands 2 and NBA 2K at 2K and Blizzard to building something entirely his own.

But here's what caught me off guard: his analytical approach to risk.

As IT professionals, we're wired to think systematically, but we often let that same analytical nature paralyze us when it comes to big decisions.

Ben breaks down how he tested his business idea before jumping, why failed founders statistically come out ahead, and the unexpected research showing video games might actually extend your life.

If you've been sitting on a business idea or wondering how to make that career leap, this one's worth your time.

New episode drops tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4lipjw3plLZuTGRD0Pz0PdSyaMivhA6a

01/26/2026

Signage is up at our new Green Bay location!

It's one of those things you don't think about until you see it done right - quality signage matters.

First impressions count, and we wanted ours to reflect the work we do inside.

Covenant Sign and Graphics delivered exactly what we were looking for.

Professional ex*****on, no hassles, done when they said it would be.

Appreciate working with local partners who take their work seriously!

12/05/2025

We just found out we're the 16th fastest growing company in our region according to Insight Publications.

We're grateful. This recognition belongs to our team who brings expertise and responsiveness to every client interaction, and to our clients who trust us to protect their businesses.

In the MSP space, it's easy to get lost in the noise. We've stayed focused on what matters: being reliable, transparent, and treating every partnership like it actually is one.

Growth like this doesn't happen by accident. It happens when you prioritize service over everything else.

Thank you to everyone who's been part of this journey.

11/03/2025

And the winner is...

Kat Po**ck from Eagle Performance Plastics!

Kat has won our Yeti giveaway from last weeks Manufacturing First Expo.

It was a great event and can't wait to attend again next year.

10/28/2025

Slow response times. Overpriced services. Getting ghosted when you need help. The bar for IT support keeps dropping, and if you've been burned, you know exactly what we're talking about.

Brandon and Joe from M2 Technology will be at Booth 521 ready to talk about what responsive IT actually looks like. We do things differently:

- Transparent pricing (no surprise bills)
- Same-day response when systems go down
- CMMC Level 1 & 2 compliance support with certified professionals on staff

If you're tired of being ignored by your current provider or need help with CMMC certification for DoD contracts, come talk to us. We'll break down where your vulnerabilities are and what it takes to protect your operations.

Plus, we're giving away a Yeti cooler. Stop by and say hello!

📍 Booth 521 | Manufacturing First Expo
📞 920-362-6869

09/26/2025

"If this job is becoming obsolete, what are you going to do with that person? We need to teach them something new."

Laura from Carex nailed why upskilling your current team isn't just nice to have - it's essential business strategy.

Think about it: 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀.

Plus when someone has the aptitude and willingness to learn, and you give them the resources, you end up with a really happy employee.

Better to reskill someone you trust than roll the dice on a new hire, especially in today's tight labor market.

Have you seen our latest IT Unplugged episode yet?

Laura breaks down the entire Wisconsin labor market situation and shares practical workforce strategies that actually work.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/H___0rXv4xw
Carex September Labor Market Insights Report: https://www.carexconsulting.com/resources/labor-market-insights-september-2025/

How is your company handling upskilling right now?

09/24/2025

The Wisconsin labor market reality you need to understand.

Laura Strickland from Carex just explained what's really happening with hiring in our state, and the picture is more complex than the headlines suggest.

Here's what we covered:
- Why companies are being more strategic about hiring (not just freezing it)
- The 6 million worker shortage coming by 2032 - and why it started in the 1970s
- How "job listings" don't actually equal "new hires" (the data is misleading)
- Northeast Wisconsin's innovation boom and what it means for talent
- Build vs buy vs rent strategies for finding the right people
- Why adaptability matters more than perfect skill matches

Laura's perspective: "You can teach specific skills, but you can't teach someone how to be a good person."

The conversation covers practical workforce planning strategies, upskilling ROI, and how to hire for attitude over aptitude. Laura also explains their labor market index and what businesses need to know about the current environment.

Whether you're struggling to fill positions or planning ahead, this episode gives you the context and strategies to make better workforce decisions.

Watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

I've included Carex's latest September Labor Market Insights report in the comments - Matt Duffy's analysis shows the market is "not very good" with some sobering data points about hiring rates and job creation.

What workforce challenges are you facing right now?

09/23/2025

Had such a great conversation with Laura Strickland from Carex about Wisconsin's labor market.

She helped make all those confusing headlines about jobs make sense - and easy to understand!

Laura walked us through what's actually behind those job opening numbers and shared some honest insights about hiring in today's market. This conversation took place in early June but Laura has provided the latest Labor Market Insights below.

Her perspective on workforce planning was refreshing and practical.

Tomorrow's IT Unplugged episode with Laura is one you'll want to listen to if you're dealing with hiring challenges or trying to understand where the labor market is headed.

Really appreciate Laura taking the time to share her knowledge with us and our listeners.

Episode drops September 24th: https://youtu.be/H___0rXv4xw

Carex's new September Labor Market Insights report: https://www.carexconsulting.com/resources/labor-market-insights-september-2025/

What's your biggest hiring challenge right now?

09/20/2025

"If you hire someone who's gonna slack off at home, they'd be slacking off in the office too."

During COVID, our guest Ben was selling remote work software from his basement while helping companies transition their entire workforce. The irony? He was proving remote work could be just as productive as office work - by actually doing it.

His take: There was no difference in how he performed his job whether he was in his Dell cube, his basement, his living room, or his kitchen counter.

The remote work debate often misses this fundamental point - it's not about the location. It's about hiring the right people.

Companies that struggled with remote work productivity often had deeper issues that location couldn't fix:
- Lack of clear expectations
- Poor communication systems
- Hiring people who weren't self-motivated to begin with

The businesses that thrived during the remote transition? They already had good people and good processes. The location change was just logistics.

This doesn't mean remote work is right for everyone or every role. But blaming productivity issues on working from home might be missing the real problem.

What's been your experience? Does location really change how your best performers work?

From our latest IT Unplugged episode on remote work reality - https://youtu.be/WVXRD56qemM

09/19/2025

Over 8,000 defense contractors risked losing DoD eligibility last year due to unclear cybersecurity requirements.

If you're a Wisconsin manufacturer or defense contractor, the clock is ticking on CMMC compliance. Starting in 2025, companies without proper certification will be ineligible for Department of Defense contracts - not as a suggestion, but as a mandatory requirement.

The confusion is real. Many businesses don't know which of the three CMMC levels they need:

Level 1: Basic cyber hygiene for Federal Contract Information (self-assessment, 17 controls)
Level 2: Advanced security for Controlled Unclassified Information (third-party assessment, 110 controls)
Level 3: Expert protection against Advanced Persistent Threats (government assessment, 110+ additional controls)

Here's the reality check: Most Wisconsin manufacturers handling technical drawings, specifications, or defense-unique components need Level 2. That means 6-18 months of preparation and significant investment in both technology and processes.

The shift from "trust me" to "prove it" represents a fundamental change in defense contracting. But companies that prepare now often discover the cybersecurity improvements protect them from threats that could cripple their business regardless of DoD work.

Your required level depends entirely on what information flows through your systems. A facilities maintenance contractor might only need Level 1, while a parts manufacturer likely needs Level 2.

The barriers are real - limited budgets, small IT teams, competing priorities. But breaking this into manageable steps makes it achievable.

We just published a complete breakdown of all three CMMC levels. https://m2.technology/cmmc-levels-explained-find-your-required-certification-level-in-2025/

What questions do you have about CMMC compliance for your business?

CMMC Levels Explained: Learn the requirements for each, determine which certification your business needs, and get started with compliance.