For Kevin Damghani, founder of ITPartners+, a managed service provider (MSP) based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the decision to build an offshore team in the Philippines wasn’t made in a boardroom. It started with a conversation at an event in Washington DC and eventually led to a plane ticket to Manila.
“From that moment, just stepping foot in and seeing the operation, seeing how TGT takes care of the team and the people,” Kevin shared, “it was a no-brainer for us.” That trip changed everything.
Key Takeaways
Here’s what the ITPartners+ story teaches us about building a high-performing offshore team:
- Culture fit matters as much as cost. Kevin chose TGT Global because we shared his commitment to caring for people.
- Seeing is believing. Reading about offshore staffing and actually visiting the team are two completely different experiences. The in-person perspective changes how leaders think about managing and scaling their teams.
- A true offshore team extends your brand. When the Manila office operates as a real part of ITPartners+, the service quality follows. Filipino hospitality becomes a direct asset for US-based clients.
Why ITPartners+ started looking for offshore team
ITPartners+ operates across 37 states. With that kind of national reach, scaling the team is not just a growth goal. It’s a real operational need.
Like many MSPs, Kevin was looking for a way to expand capacity without putting too much pressure on his US-based staff or stretching his budget thin.
But here’s the thing. Kevin wasn’t just chasing a lower price point. He was seeking a partner who shared his values. ITPartners+ operates with a clear mission: to impact people positively. That mission shapes every decision, including who they partner with.
When he saw how TGT Global treats its staff, the decision became simple.
Seeing the operation in person made all the difference
A lot of companies explore offshoring by reading case studies or sitting through sales calls. Kevin took a different approach. He showed up in person, toured the office, met the team, and allowed the experience to speak for itself.
What he saw was not a vendor-client setup. It was a culture built around people.
“We decided to do offshoring, really,” Kevin said, then paused to clarify something important. “And we don’t call it offshoring. We just call this our Manila office.”
That reframe matters. It’s not a cost-cutting move tucked away offshore. It’s a real extension of the ITPartners+ brand, staffed by people who are part of the team in every meaningful way.
The real win is on both sides
Kevin is honest about the financial side. Yes, there is a cost-saving benefit. However, he is equally quick to point out that the value goes much further than the bottom line.
“Our staff in the United States are happy, our staff here in the Philippines are happy,” he said, “and we see it as a mutual win-win.”
That balance matters. Building an offshore team in the Philippines works best when both sides feel invested, respected and valued. That’s exactly what Kevin found with TGT Global . The Manila team is hungry for new roles, eager to grow, and brings something Kevin didn’t quite expect: an exceptional level of service built into who they are.
“Hospitality and service are just built into the DNA and the fiber of everyone we’ve met here,” he said. “And so, taking that same hospitable nature and delivering it to our US-based operation, as well as our partners and customers in the United States, is incredible.”
This is where it gets interesting. Filipino hospitality isn’t a soft perk. For an MSP that lives and breathes in client service, it’s a competitive edge.
What Kevin would tell anyone unsure about offshoring
If you’re still unsure whether an offshore team in the Philippines is right for your company, Kevin has simple advice: go see it.
“Getting out here and physically seeing this is very different to hearing about the benefits and the features and what the bottom line looks like,” he explained. “It really expands your worldview. It expands your perspective on how you run and manage your own staff.”
And if travel costs is your hesitation, he puts that to rest, too. “It’s really not that expensive to do, and you’re going to have a great time.”
That’s not a sales pitch. That’s someone who made the trip and hasn’t looked back since.
