Dan Schneck is CEO of MD6--an IT infrastructure, cloud, and security solution provider. Customers depend on the MD6 team to provide predictable, best-in-class technology and support solutions to grow their businesses. MD6’s team of skilled solution architects and strong technology partnerships makes it a good choice for IT projects between $25K - $5M. Our MSP support model is designed to manage & support networks for small and medium-sized businesses with up to 150 employees.
MD6’s Core IT Beliefs:
· We believe the right people, tools, training, and technology are necessary to succeed in business
· We believe in a personal approach to every project & support interaction
· We believe that well-designed networks are foundational to business growth
· We believe in a no-assumptions model, where expectations are clearly outlined for everyone involved
· We believe that clear communication is the key to successful project & support outcomes
· We believe that properly and securely implemented technology protects our clients’ most valuable asset…their time
Me: Tell us about your family.
Dan: I have a wife (Day) and three children: William (16), Jacob (15) and Bella (11)
Me: Tell us about your leadership journey.
Dan: I went to college for music technology at UW-Milwaukee. I used that skill as a musician for a few years (music is still my avocation) before obtaining my first “real IT gig” at a 200-employee home builder in Waukesha, Wisconsin (my first boss was my wife’s client in her hair salon). After working my way up the ranks there to an IT management position, I decided to branch out on my own as an independent IT consultant. My first gig was running an Active Directory migration and working on the Cisco networking team for a 2,500-user healthcare firm in Brookfield, Wisconsin. I got to manage a small team of 3 consultants and discovered my love for running IT businesses and helping customers solve technology challenges. The business eventually took on employees, merged with another company and that business grew to over $1M in recurring annual revenue before I joined MD6. In 2017, MD6 brought me in as Director of Managed Services & Partner and I came in at the tail end of a large project the company was running for a 110-acre manufacturing facility near Lubbock, Texas. MD6’s leadership changed direction in late 2019, and in 2020 I had the opportunity to step up as the company CEO.
Me: What is the favorite part of your work?
Dan: I love strategizing and thinking about where technology is today and where it will go tomorrow. Tech is fast-paced so it’s hard for anyone to keep up! I love facing and managing challenging decisions, finding smarter ways to implement technology for our customers, and finding better ways and tools to be more efficient. I also love the challenge of working with a highly skilled team who keeps me on my toes.
Me: What do you value most from your Vistage membership?
Dan: Where to begin? Vistage has provided me with an essential tool that I use every day to stay focused on my most important assets…my team and my time. By “team”, I mean not only my company’s team, but my Vistage team. The group experience is powerful. I feel like I am a part of an inspiring group of leaders who lift each other up and refocus one another through all the shared challenges of leading businesses. I’ve gained a clarity and a focal point that I didn’t have before Vistage.
Me: What book are you currently reading or have most recently read?
Dan: I just finished re-reading Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People”
Me: What do you like to do for fun?
Dan: I love playing and composing music. I play jazz/blues/funk at clubs around Milwaukee for fun. I play hockey every weekend and do a lot of golfing. Chilling out on the deck in the backyard patio with friends and family is the highlight of my summers. I enjoy weightlifting, training at the gym, and living an active lifestyle with my family.
Me: If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
Dan: If I could change one thing, it would be to lift the stigma of anxiety and depression in the workplace, and in general. I think we need more emotionally-driven and supportive leadership teams in today’s workplaces who recognize and accept the challenges faced by our employees, friends, family, and colleagues.