#6 – Don’t Be That Guy - MSP Project Management Playbook (Louis Bagdonas) & (Ryan Alter)

In this edition of the Don’t Be That Guy series, Josh is joined by Louis Bagdonas from Moovila and MSP veteran Ryan Alter to talk about why so many service providers struggle with project management — and how to finally get it right. They share the practical playbook for setting clear timelines, managing dependencies, protecting margins, and improving communication with clients.

Whether you’re trying to manage fixed-fee projects, improve after-action reviews, or handle disengaged clients without burning out your team, this episode lays out what it takes to build a repeatable, profitable project management process inside your MSP.

This candid conversation explores:

• Why project management is universally challenging — even for experienced MSPs
• How to set and hold clear project end dates clients can trust
• Why after-action reviews are key to profitability
• How to manage client disengagement with professional boundaries
• How dependencies, templates, and task durations improve delivery
• When to hire (or grow) your first project manager
• How to confidently charge for project management time

To dive deeper into MSP project management best practices, check out our guide on building a scalable process from quote to completion, learn how to leverage ConnectWise templates and budgets for project success, and discover how to use project indicators to measure profitability.

For more episodes and conversations like this, visit the BMK Vision Podcast main page →

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Episode Highlights

• 00:00:15 – Introduction and why project management challenges are universal.
• 00:03:25 – Operational discipline — time entry and ticket hygiene — as prerequisites for success.
• 00:06:15 – The importance of setting firm end dates and communicating them clearly.
• 00:10:00 – After-action reviews as the foundation for profitable projects.
• 00:15:41 – Managing client disengagement with professionalism and boundaries.
• 00:19:05 – Using dependencies to maintain flow and accuracy in timelines.
• 00:36:20 – Change orders reframed as healthy customer communication.

About the Guests

Louis Bagdonas works with Moovila, a firm dedicated to helping MSPs improve project management systems, tools, and workflows. His approach combines software best practices with people-first leadership to ensure predictable, profitable project outcomes.

🌐 Explore Moovila’s website → | Connect with Louis on LinkedIn →

Ryan Alter is a former MSP owner who grew his company from a solo operation into a 25-person team before selling. He’s passionate about building mature project systems, empowering staff, and making project management a profit center, not a pain point.

🌐 Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn →

About the Host

Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley and host of the BMK Vision Podcast. Through the Don’t Be That Guy series, Josh explores the honest truths of running a Managed Service Provider — the wins, losses, and everything in between.

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