Award recognizes the empathetic, courageous leadership that fueled a companywide sales transformation and record growth at the Durham-based MSP.
DURHAM, N.C., September 10, 2026. Net Friends, a leading managed IT services and cybersecurity provider serving the Triangle region, announced today that President Neelesh Patel has received a Triangle Business Journal Leadership Award. The distinction recognizes business leaders across the region whose vision, integrity, and impact set a standard for others to follow.
The award caps a defining stretch for Net Friends' sales operation. Heading into 2025, Patel recognized that the existing sales structure was not set up to support the company's growth goals. Rather than pursue small tweaks, he chose the harder path and rebuilt it from the ground up. He reorganized roles, redesigned the commission model, formalized the sales process, and added an outsourced business development function to strengthen the top of the funnel. The results followed quickly. Net Friends is on pace for roughly 15% revenue growth, with its client base up 25%, and 97% client retention.
What set the transformation apart was how Patel led it. Before reassigning a single role, he listened. He moved one person into outbound sales, where a natural gift for storytelling could shine, and another person into account management, where relationship-building instincts had room to grow. Because each change was grounded in a genuine understanding of what people needed, the team leaned into the shift instead of resisting it. Patel has continued that hands-on approach through active mentorship and coaching.
"Leadership isn't about having every answer. It's about listening closely enough to find the right one together," said Neelesh Patel, President of Net Friends. "This award means a lot, but the real credit belongs to a team that trusted the process and each other along the way. This is a win for every Net Friend who has helped build our success."
"As much as I would love to list all of Neelesh's accomplishments, what I really want to highlight is just how much this recognition has landed with his family. It is so special to see my business partner get an award that makes his kids this excited and proud of their dad. What a gift!" said John Snyder, CEO of Net Friends.
About Net Friends
Founded in 1997, Net Friends has built a legacy of award-winning excellence in managed IT, cybersecurity, and infrastructure solutions for small businesses across North Carolina. A seven-year continuous recipient of the SOC 2 Type II audit certification, Net Friends also ranks among an elite group of technology providers recognized by Channel Futures' MSP 501 Global Ranking, the ChannelPro Partner in Excellence Award, the GTIA, and the Triangle Business Journal's Fast 50. These honors reflect not just operational integrity and security leadership, but a deep and lasting commitment to the clients Net Friends serves.
Learn more at netfriends.com or connect on LinkedIn.
Media Contacts
Emily Dao-Forrester
Brand Manager | Net Friends, Inc.
Emily.Dao-Forrester@NetFriends.com
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