Eric Brooker

I have spent nearly two decades building, leading, and scaling revenue teams in the technology channel.

My background spans founder, VP of Sales, channel chief, and strategic partner leader roles across SD-WAN, UCaaS, satellite internet, and channel-first SaaS organizations. I have built channel programs from zero, doubled revenue without adding headcount, led national partner teams, and helped organizations reach EBITDA targets ahead of plan.

Today, I am the Founder and CEO of The Channel Standard, where I advise suppliers, TSDs, and trusted advisors on growth strategy, channel execution, talent, and leadership. Our work is hands-on and outcome-driven. We focus on what actually moves revenue, strengthens partnerships, and builds durable teams.

I also host the Counsel Culture podcast, ranked in the top 1 percent globally, where I have interviewed more than 150 leaders on leadership, culture, and decision-making. Those conversations inform how I coach executives and advise organizations in real time.

I am the author of the national bestseller You Are Enough, and a 2024 CRN Channel Chief.

I work with organizations that value clarity, accountability, and execution. If that is your standard, we should talk.

Speaker | Coach | CEO | Host | Author

Counsel Culture is a www.ericbrooker.com company.

“It is all about becoming the best version of ourselves possible.”

There is an opportunity for all of us if we look for it—the chance to serve others while at the same time taking a leadership role in our own lives.

Eric hosts the award-winning podcast Counsel Culture which is currently ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts globally.

In addition, Eric is a keynote speaker focusing on topics of culture and leadership. Topics include:
- Leadership & Culture
- Self Leadership - Where It All Begins
- The Power of Vulnerability as a Leader
- The Power of Being Present

Eric provides coaching opportunities from; 
- Leadership Coaching Program
- Sales Leadership
- The Keys to Culture
- The Power of LinkedIn

Eric also provide emcee services for; fundraisers, non-profits, annual company kickoff events.

The book, "You Are Enough Overcoming Lifelong Doubts of Worthiness" was released in October 2023.

"You Are Enough" is a book about loss, grief, and hope. In this book, I share how the grieving of an estranged relationship with my oldest child took me to my own childhood to find true healing. Ultimately, it is a book about self-leadership. This book details our journey and suffering through grief and explains how we have held onto hope. I share our emotional journey as a parent and discuss the genuine suffering we have gone through (including the suffering of our children). I share our story in hopes of building a bridge for you to come to terms with the simple fact that despite not having control of every situation, You Are Enough.”

Wheels up to Tampa. First trip of the year. 

Keynote conference. Keynote stage.

Reminder for the year ahead: choose your destination. You’re the pilot.

Eric A. Brooker

Keynote Speaker | Fractional Channel Leader | Bestselling Author | Podcast Host | Empowering Leaders & Teams Through Coaching, Culture, and Relationship Capital

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Early morning keynote in Maine today! Let’s go!

It starts with Relationship Capital and remember, the little things don’t mean a lot, the little things mean EVERYTHING!

Big news. And an even bigger signal of where we’re headed. 

I’m excited to officially announce Joshua as our Chief Technology Officer at The Channel Standard™️.

This isn’t just a title. It’s a commitment.

A commitment to building real infrastructure for the channel.

A commitment to data clarity over noise.

A commitment to creating tools that actually help advisors, suppliers, and leaders win.

As we head into 2026, our focus is clear.

We’re introducing The Companion to a market that’s ready for what’s next,  better intelligence, better alignment, and better outcomes across the channel ecosystem.

This tool will change the channel.

Josh brings the technical leadership, vision, and discipline required to build this the right way. Scalable. Thoughtful. Purpose-built for how the channel actually works.

This is a pivotal moment for us.

And just the beginning.

More to come.

Stay close.

Minneapolis, MN - The Channel Standard™️ today announced that Joshua Schmidt has been appointed Chief Technology Officer, leading platform architectur

Open article: The Channel Standard Names Joshua Schmidt Chief Technology Officer by Eric A. Brooker • 2 min read

The Channel Standard Names Joshua Schmidt Chief Technology Officer

Not everyone is going to like you, and that is okay.

If you choose to build, lead, or create in public, you will eventually become someone’s misunderstanding. That is part of growth. You do not need to correct every narrative. Real work does not need defending. It speaks over time.

What gets built through years of relationships, listening, hard lessons, and showing up when no one is watching always leaves a trail. If someone misunderstands you, let them. If someone doubts you, let them.

• Your job is not to manage their story 
• Your job is to live yours with integrity

You are enough. Not when everyone agrees. Not when your reputation is perfectly curated. You are enough right now, exactly as you are.

Keep building.

Portland, Maine.....I am coming for you! See you tomorrow.

This isn’t a campaign.
It’s an acknowledgment of where the channel actually is.

For years, suppliers have been forced to guess where advisor attention goes.
Advisors have been buried under portals, PDFs, and half-updated data.
And the industry learned to operate inside that friction.

That friction is expensive.

When clarity enters the system, behavior changes.
Decisions happen earlier.
Confidence shows up sooner.
Revenue follows with less waste.

What you’re seeing here is the introduction of a new standard.
Quietly. Deliberately. Without hype.

This week matters.
👇 Comment COMPANION if you want early access.

Built for leaders who set the standard.

The Channel Standard Companion

Friday toast, on a Thursday. Lets go!

Some weeks don’t wait.

This one was layered with generosity, challenge, laughter, and real growth. Too much gratitude to hold until tomorrow.

First, I'd like to raise a glass (orange juice this morning) to Justin Jones-Fosu. Meeting you was a gift, but what matters even more is what’s already taking shape: a real friendship. Thank you for the investment, the challenge, and the push toward more. Your time, insight, and trust mean a great deal to me. Thank you for the book!

⭐️ Tami Evans, CSP, you are rare talent paired with real depth. Sharp, thoughtful, and effortlessly funny in a way that keeps the rest of us humble. Did I mention your passion!? You stretched me beyond my comfort zone, and I’m better for it. Thank you for the wisdom and the nudge forward.

Cherno Jobatey, M.Sc., CSP — An absolute legend. Not Bono but, a legend nonetheless 🤣. Your perspective, your joy, your ever-present smile, pure energy. The week was richer because of you. Thank you for the conversations and the constant reminders to lead with joy.

Tanya Steele, CSP, CHSC 🇨🇦, Tami said it perfectly before the night ended. You are simply the best. In craft, in heart, in service. The best smile, the best spirit, the best intentions. Full stop. Oh....thanks for the syrup!

And then there is the incomparable,✨Sylvie di Giusto, CSP CPAE ✨

At 46, I can say this with clarity: very few people invest without agenda. You do. The care, the precision, the details no one notices but everyone feels. You live the truth that the little things don’t mean a lot, they mean everything. Superstar, confidant, friend. I’m deeply grateful our paths crossed and profoundly thankful for the time we shared this week.

Cheers to Unleash 2026.

Deep appreciation, real affection, and a full heart for every one of you. My love to each of you. Be well. Travel safe. See you in July.

A new week doesn’t need hype.
It needs intention.

Most progress isn’t loud.
It happens in the small decisions we make when no one is watching.
The conversation we choose to have.
The pause before reacting.
The extra care in how we show up.

The little things don’t mean a lot.
They mean everything.

As this week begins, don’t rush past what actually matters.
Build trust.
Invest in people.
Do the small things well.

Momentum follows meaning.

Here’s to a grounded, human, purposeful week ahead.

If you aren't already following us at The Channel Standard™️, now is the time. 

Welcome to the team David Zimmermann. More to come. Big weeks ahead.

Huge weeks ahead.

This is just the beginning. Lets go! We are thrilled to have you on the team David Zimmermann.

The Channel has changed. The Companion is coming.

Minneapolis, MN - January 6, 2026 The Channel Standard™️ today announced the appointment of David Zimmermann as Business Development Manager, further 

Open article: The Channel Standard Appoints David Zimmermann as Business Development Manager. by The Channel Standard™️ • 2 min read

The Channel Standard Appoints David Zimmermann as Business Development Manager.

If you let unqualified voices shape your decisions, you’re handing them your future.

Bill “PhoneBill” McClain

You can call Gates, Joel, Murray, or Clinton…but only this Bill has the answer 💪 UCaaS Provider - VoIP- ☎️

Pioneering the intersection of AI and business communications as a 3X founder. 

Currently revolutionizing voice technology through UponAI while leading innovative UCaaS and CCaaS solutions at StratusDial, backed by extensive experience at Networking Solutions.

At StratusDial, I've transformed business communications by:
• Implementing cost-saving solutions that reduce operating expenses by up to $9,000
• Developing seamless Office365 integrations and advanced VoIP systems
• Building a 24/7 technical support infrastructure that maintains 99.9% uptime
• Creating custom UCaaS/CCaaS solutions for diverse enterprise needs

Through UponAI, I'm pushing the boundaries of:
• AI-powered voice recognition and natural language processing
• Intelligent call routing and automated customer service solutions
• Machine learning algorithms for enhanced communication efficiency
• Voice-enabled business intelligence and analytics

My entrepreneurial journey spans:
🔹 Advanced Telecommunications
🔹 Enterprise Network Architecture
🔹 Cloud Communications
🔹 AI/ML Implementation
🔹 Business Process Automation

Proud to be recognized by industry leaders, including Eric Hernaez, Founder & President of SkySwitch, for maintaining exceptional service standards and driving continuous innovation in business communications.

Specialties:
#AIVoice #UCaaS #CCaaS #CloudCommunications #NetworkingSolutions #VoIP #BusinessIntelligence #EnterpriseNetworking #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTransformation

Looking to connect with:
• Business leaders seeking communication solutions
• Technology innovators in AI and voice tech
• Enterprise clients exploring digital transformation
• Fellow entrepreneurs in the tech space

Let's discuss how AI-powered voice solutions can transform your business communications. Open to partnerships, collaborations, and innovative ventures.


Founder -

Networking Solutions 29 years
StratusDial 13 years
UponAi 2 years

3X Founder - 0X Exits

Founder President & CEO

Does the idea of switching phone providers for your business sound like a permanent migraine? Here’s what’s worse:

Turning your customers away because you’re unable to provide a good phone customer experience because of lousy support from your business phone provider.

When you entrust ☎️PhoneBill (& the team at StratusDial) with your company’s new voice, here’s what you get:

✔️ Pre-installation audit to locate savings (sometimes $9000!) & lower your operating costs
✔️ Take care of allllllllll the prep, installation, routing, testing… everything done-for-you
✔️ Hold your hand through set-up & advise you on phone experience best practices
✔️ Latest phone features for maximum efficiency (hello, Office365 integration!)
✔️ Custom set-up the big providers won’t do (e.g. overhead paging system)
✔️ 60-day and 90-day check-ins to make sure you love your new system
✔️ Eager-to-help technical support, 24/7

As a smaller (but mightier!) provider, we can deliver the type of boutique service that the large competitors wish they could deliver. 😉

Ready to have your business phone system work for you (not against you) in bringing more clients to your business?

Message ☎️PhoneBill on LinkedIn. I’ll sort you out.

Bill (PhoneBill) McClain

Thank you for registering your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. 

You successfully registered your phone number ending in 6500 on November 19, 2010. Most telemarketers will be required to stop calling you 31 days from your registration date.  

I remember reading that message and feeling hopeful.  

Peace.  

A quiet phone line.  
Fewer dinnertime interruptions.  

That was the dream.  

Here is the dry truth.  
Registering a phone number with the Do Not Call Registry tells legal telemarketers to remove that number from their call lists.  

It does not stop scammers.  
It does not stop every robocall.  

The Registry gives people a choice.  
People can say no to many sales calls.  
People can gain some control back.  

In my world, voice and AI can help.  

Smarter call routing.  
Better spam detection.  
Clear rules for teams that want to stay trusted.  

Business needs to reach people.  

Respect needs to reach them first.  

Thoughts on how the Registry works for you today?

#PhoneBill ☎️

You can call Gates, Joel, Murray, or Clinton…but only this Bill or AI from UponAi has the answer ☎️🤖

Last fall, StratusDial brought on two new automotive dealerships running their phone system with another provider.

That sounded like good news we know the NetSapiens system they had inside and out. We’ve been running it for over ten years.

But within minutes on site, we learned how bad things had gotten.

Calls dropping. Delays connecting. Terrible voice quality.

The dealerships had been on the system only about six or seven months and it had been a disaster. 
Multiple tickets opened with the previous provider and their IT support team.
 No resolution.

The buy/sell of those dealerships went through on a Monday. 

My team was onsite immediately to handle the migration and full acquisition of all technology.

As they went desk to desk setting up our complete tech stack, nearly every employee had the same question:

“Can you do something about our phones?”

We were patient and empathetic, but knew the priority 👉 the migration and new tech stack came first. 
My team was absolutely slammed but we were up for the challenge.

I arrived on Tuesday to assist wherever I could. 
Our team leader, Eric asked me to look into the phone issue.

So I called the provider for access to the system. 
And what I found was very disturbing.

Here’s the thing:
 Voice traffic must always come first. 

Browsing, streaming, and file downloads come second.
 That’s called Quality of Service (QoS) - and one of the best ways to achieve it is through a VLAN (Virtual LAN).

Picture your network like a six-lane highway. 
Each type of traffic gets its own lane. 
And guess which one gets the fast lane? 
Voice 👍

Now, remember this is a car dealership. 
A big customer waiting area. 
Customers streaming music, video, and social media on the dealership Guest Wi-Fi.

So what happens when that customer traffic ends up in the same lane as voice traffic? 
Big problems. Dropped calls. 
Bad audio. 
Delayed connections.

Within two hours, I’d confirmed the issue. The network desperately needed a traffic cop.

So I installed one - and called it #PhoneBill 🤣

After implementing QoS, separating traffic with VLANs, and making targeted improvements, voice calls immediately sharpened up.

Dropped calls disappeared. Connections were instant. Quality was crystal clear.

In less than a day, we proved our expertise and earned the client’s trust.

That’s the power of understanding what matters most: 
Voice traffic always gets the fast lane.

Do you need a traffic cop?

#PhoneBill ☎️


Networking Solutions, Inc. 
StratusDial 
UponAI

Most CIOs juggle 3+ phone platforms.

I run them all through one brain…UponAI.

In my world, single-platform purity is rare.  

Real companies grow by merger, region, and vendor.  

Result:  
One team on UCaaS A.  
Another on UCaaS B.  
A contact center on a third CCaaS stack.  

As founder of StratusDial, I learned early that forcing everyone onto one phone system creates risk.  

Vendor outage.  
Contract fight.  
Feature gap.
Buy / Sells.
Equity Investors.  

When all calls live on one platform, one bad day can shut a business down.  

So we built StratusDial around a different model:  

Risk mitigation!

No emotion, just strategy.

Multi-platform UCaaS and CCaaS for resilience and choice.  


Then I added one simple rule from UponAI:  

Many phone systems, one AI brain.  

Here is how it works in practice:  

1. StratusDial supports multiple call platforms for one client  
→ UCaaS from multiple suppliers  
→ CCaaS in a remote center  
→ A legacy PBX still in place in one branch  

2. UponAI connects to all of them through flexible SIP  
→ SIP trunk, for whole-system connection
→ SIP endpoint as a dedicated AI extension  
→ SIP URI for routing only certain calls  

3. The AI voice agent handles the heavy lifting  
→ Answers first, in any language the business needs  
→ Understands intent with natural language  
→ Uses sentiment to adapt tone  
→ Passes full context when a human must step in with a WARM transfer

4. The business keeps one AI playbook  
→ One prompt strategy  
→ One routing logic  
→ One integration into CRM, POS, ticketing systems  

The platforms stay diverse for safety.  
The AI stays unified for simplicity.  

That is how we see up to 60% of calls move from human agents to AI  
without ripping out phone systems  
without new chaos for IT  
without customers feeling lost.  

Many platforms for risk management.  
One AI brain for control.  

Thoughts on running many phone systems under one AI brain?

#PhoneBill ☎️

Unfortunately #PhoneBill will not be attending but Jody & Sean will do a great job 🙌

Make sure you stop by to see and support them 👍

See you at ITExpo! 🎤

Jody is joining the CEO Insights Panel: Agentic Voice AI in the Real World to discuss ROI, Trust, and Scaling.

🗓️ Thursday, February 12, 2026
🕐 1:00 – 1:45 PM
🎯 CEO Insights Panel

Sean will also be on-site to answer questions and chat about our AI voice solutions.

UponAi is at the cutting edge of AI, and we're excited to be back again this year to share what we're building.

Stop by and say hi! 👋

Jody Gonzales Sean Henning Bill (PhoneBill) McClain

#ITExpo #ITExpo2026 #UponAi #VoiceAI #AgenticAI #CEO #AIPanel #ArtificialIntelligence #TechConference

Businesses today don’t just need to communicate-they need to connect smarter.

I see the same pattern in companies of every size.

Teams feel busy.
Phones ring all day.
Costs keep going up.

Yet customers still wait on hold.
Messages still fall through the cracks.
Leaders still lack clear insight.

AI in business communications changes that.

Here is how we set it up at UponAI:

→ Improve communication  
AI voice agents listen, understand, and respond in real time.  
They speak in natural language, stay calm with every caller, and never forget key details from past interactions.

→ Boost efficiency  
AI handles the routine work:  
- Simple questions  
- Balance checks  
- Password resets  
- Status updates  

Your people focus on complex cases and human moments where empathy matters most.

→ Scale without new headcount  
Call volume grows?  
AI does not need more desks or parking spaces.  
You add capacity in the cloud, not on the org chart, while service stays fast and steady.

Under the hood we use:

- AI voice agents  
- Intelligent call routing  
- Analytics that show trends, sentiment, and gaps in your customer experience  

The result is a system that works 24/7, keeps quality consistent, and gives leaders clear data instead of guesswork.

I have spent my career at the crossroads of phones, networks, and now AI. I believe the next big gains for business come from how we connect, not how loud we shout. 

Actually delivering today what others promise in the future.

What is your take on using AI to handle the front line of customer communication?

#PhineBill ☎️

Yes 🙌 another AI post from #PhoneBill ☎️

Is it just me, or did every phone platform suddenly launch their own “AI voice agent”?

Here’s the thing… 
We’ve been building our ecosystem for 3 years - not weeks.

Yes, we can spin up an AI receptionist in 5 minutes. 
But then what?

💡 What if your business needs something more complex? 💡 What if you need a real solution that goes beyond just a “hello”?

Most platforms stop at simple use cases. 
We built one platform that lets you: ✅ Launch simple AI voice agents instantly ✅ Scale seamlessly to advanced, fully customized agents ✅ Integrate with any voice platform

And here’s what we’ve learned from experience -
 The second you deploy a simple solution, your customers will want more.
 We’ve seen it firsthand. We’ve built for it.

That’s why UponAI isn’t just another AI tool -
 It’s the ecosystem that grows with your business into the future.

#PhoneBill ☎️

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