David S. Schafran

David S. Schafran, President of Transformation Strategies, Inc. is a consultant who works with information technology (IT) consulting and support firms to integrate or enhance managed services within their offerings.

Mr. Schafran founded Transformation Strategies to enable Managed Services Providers (MSPs) to succeed in this growing market.  “The managed services model is extremely compelling; it is a win-win for both the MSP and its client.  The client gains stability and predictability both financially and with its own systems while the MSP, by providing additional value to the client, gains a closer, more stable relationship, predictable cash flow and reduced delivery cost,” says Schafran.

Schafran has developed a strong reputation in the managed services industry as a consultant and speaker through his work with a variety of MSPs and vendors, in managed services sales, marketing, operations and technology.  In 2008 he was named to “The MSPmentor 250”, an annual listing of the top 250 executives and leaders shaping the managed services ecosystem.  His approach to managed services has influenced best practices in many aspects of the industry.

Prior to establishing Transformation Strategies, Mr. Schafran worked for twenty years within IT consulting and support firms as a network and systems engineer, an executive and an owner.  Since 1987 he has worked with hundreds of clients, large and small, across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia, encompassing many vertical markets. 

Schafran began focusing on managed services at the beginning of their introduction to IT integrators in 1999 while Senior Vice President, Technology at Devise Associates, Inc., (later acquired by Intelispan, Inc., McLeodUSA and Emtec, Inc.).  He became the firm’s Senior Vice President of Managed Services, designing and implementing Devise’s managed services practice from initial concept to revenue generating service, operating 24x7, serving a wide variety of clients.

Later, as Vice President, Managed Services at Exenet LLC, Schafran overhauled all aspects of the firm’s managed services offering, including service definitions, pricing, positioning, staffing, operations and infrastructure.  As a result, client satisfaction skyrocketed, the business became scalable and revenue increased over 300%.