Episode 117 – Cybersecurity, AI & Scaling your business w/ Tommy Thornton
Tue Feb 03 2026
From being invited for 24 months… to building a business that now spans 26 states and 3 countries — Tommy Thornton, founder of Automates, joins us to share how BNI became the single most transformative factor in his company’s meteoric rise.
In this candid, high-level, and eye-opening episode, Tommy shares how he:
✅ Scaled from $300K to $5M+ in revenue in just 4 years
✅ Grew from a 3-person team to 26+ employees
✅ Went from fixing printers to disrupting the IT industry
✅ Coaches 75+ other MSPs (Managed Service Providers) monthly
✅ Landed on national tech magazine covers and shared stages with Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec
🔥 We also dive deep into the world of cybersecurity and AI:
— Why ransomware is the new battleground
— How solopreneurs and small firms can safely adopt AI
— What business owners need to know NOW about compliance
— The myth of “I’m too small to be hacked”
— Why every company needs a secure AI strategy in 2026
💡 “AI will make smart people smarter… and it’ll make lazy people lazier. It’s up to you which one you become.”
🎧 This is a masterclass in tech, mindset, and BNI-powered growth. If you’re serious about scaling, tune in.
📬 Want to share your BNI story? Email: podcasts@bnisd.com
💬 Comment: What’s one way you’re using AI or cybersecurity in your business?
👍 Like & Subscribe for more real-world BNI journeys
Have a topic you’d like us to highlight? Please share with us via email at podcasts@bnisd.com.
Visit us online: https://bnisd.com
BNI is the world's most successful organization of its type in the world. Members pass millions of referrals which translates to billions of dollars in business.
BNI San Diego
(619) 255-2620
Visit a chapter: https://bnisd.com/en-US/findachapter
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From being invited for 24 months… to building a business that now spans 26 states and 3 countries — Tommy Thornton, founder of Automates, joins us to share how BNI became the single most transformative factor in his company’s meteoric rise. In this candid, high-level, and eye-opening episode, Tommy shares how he: ✅ Scaled from $300K to $5M+ in revenue in just 4 years ✅ Grew from a 3-person team to 26+ employees ✅ Went from fixing printers to disrupting the IT industry ✅ Coaches 75+ other MSPs (Managed Service Providers) monthly ✅ Landed on national tech magazine covers and shared stages with Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec 🔥 We also dive deep into the world of cybersecurity and AI: — Why ransomware is the new battleground — How solopreneurs and small firms can safely adopt AI — What business owners need to know NOW about compliance — The myth of “I’m too small to be hacked” — Why every company needs a secure AI strategy in 2026 💡 “AI will make smart people smarter… and it’ll make lazy people lazier. It’s up to you which one you become.” 🎧 This is a masterclass in tech, mindset, and BNI-powered growth. If you’re serious about scaling, tune in. 📬 Want to share your BNI story? Email: podcasts@bnisd.com 💬 Comment: What’s one way you’re using AI or cybersecurity in your business? 👍 Like & Subscribe for more real-world BNI journeys Have a topic you’d like us to highlight? Please share with us via email at podcasts@bnisd.com. Visit us online: https://bnisd.com BNI is the world's most successful organization of its type in the world. Members pass millions of referrals which translates to billions of dollars in business. BNI San Diego (619) 255-2620 Visit a chapter: https://bnisd.com/en-US/findachapter