In this From the Trenches episode, Alexis and Mariana, co-founders of Central Florida-based MSP My PC Friends, join Josh Peterson to tell the story of how an immigrant break-fix shop became a profitable, fast-growing managed service provider. They share their journey from Venezuela to the United States, candidly describing the cultural shock of U.S. business rules, the pain of early financial missteps, and the turning point that came when they discovered the MSP model at an industry event. What began as a loss-making break-fix operation aimed at retirees evolved into a recurring-revenue MSP focused on small businesses, built on tighter packaging, clearer pricing, and a disciplined approach to service. Along the way, they learned to navigate immigration processes, licenses, banking, and credit in a new country while raising a family and learning business English at the same time.
The conversation also highlights how Alexis and Mariana turned what they once saw as weaknesses—their accents, language, and outsider status—into powerful differentiators. By leaning into their bilingual skills and deep understanding of Latin American culture, they carved out a niche serving Spanish-speaking business owners who often lacked basic IT and cybersecurity foundations. From there, they began expanding into broader U.S. markets, refining their sales motion, and building the operational maturity needed to support a growing team as they approached the $500K annual revenue mark. For MSPs interested in building a more intentional journey from survival to scale, their story aligns with BMK’s guidance on designing a structured client engagement strategy from onboarding to QBRs and the kind of financial visibility described in BMK’s work on MSP financial consulting for revenue growth. If you want those same disciplines wrapped into a single operating system, explore how the BMK Vision platform can support your next stage of growth.
For MSPs navigating small-business growth and innovation, explore these related articles: how to build profitable service agreements, creating a people-first MSP culture, and improving MSP financial operations through better data.
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Alexis and Mariana are the co-founders of My PC Friends, a Central Florida managed service provider that grew out of their shared journey from Venezuela to the United States. What began as a break-fix computer support venture serving local residents has evolved into a profitable MSP focused on helping small and midsize businesses modernize their IT, close cybersecurity gaps, and build more reliable technology foundations. As immigrants, they learned U.S. business rules, regulations, and financial systems from the ground up, relying on community, mentorship, and a commitment to continuous education.
Their bilingual, bicultural background has become a core differentiator: My PC Friends serves a growing base of Latin American-owned businesses while expanding into broader English-speaking markets. Alexis drives technical strategy and outward-facing sales, while Mariana leads finance, vendor management, and operations. Together, they are working toward the $1M revenue milestone with a focus on intentional prospecting, repeatable processes, and community-building. You can learn more about their services at My PC Friends online, or connect with them directly on LinkedIn.
🌐 Connect with Alexis on LinkedIn →
🌐 Connect with Mariana on LinkedIn →
Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley and host of the BMK Vision Podcast. Through the From the Trenches series, Josh highlights MSP leaders who redefine growth through creativity, resilience, and genuine client connection.
🌐 Connect with Josh on LinkedIn →