CRN Women Of The Year 2024: The Finalists
CRN’s Women of the Year Awards aims to shine a spotlight on women who have made significant contributions to the channel throughout 2024.
CRN is pleased to introduce the finalists for the second annual Women of the Year Awards, a project that aims to shine a spotlight on women who have made significant contributions to the channel throughout 2024 and the companies that support them.
The finalists -- spanning 15 individual categories and three company categories -- were selected by a panel of judges from a pool of almost 400 applicants. Next, a panel of judges comprised of CRN editors and members of the channel community at large will select the winners, who will be announced and celebrated at the CRN Women of the Year Awards Gala on December 10 in New York City.
"We are thrilled to congratulate the finalists of the CRN Women of the Year Awards for their remarkable accomplishments and dedication to transformation across the IT channel,” said Jennifer Follett, vice president of U.S. content and executive editor of CRN, The Channel Company. "Each of these outstanding individuals, organizations, and allies inspires us through their deep commitment to reshaping the IT channel, blazing a path for future leaders, and contributing to a more equitable tech industry. We applaud their achievements and look forward to the positive impact they will undoubtedly have in the future."
Click ahead for a look at the finalists in each category as well as the unedited bio information each applicant provided.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
Ginette Adragna
Vice President and General Manager
CDW Canada
Ginette Adragna is a strategic leader, empathic mentor and expert in corporate success. As Vice President and General Manager of CDW Canada, Ginette leads a robust network of high-performing teams, to deliver the highest level of service and innovative technology solutions to customers. Adragna previously served as CDW Canada's Chief Financial Officer and was responsible for ensuring financial compliance and building a strong foundation for the organization's growth. Adragna was one of the key executives that helped CDW Canada climb the Canadian Top 100 Solutions Providers list, from a position outside the list to the No. 1 spot in less than five years. Adragna has served over 20 years at CDW Canada and is recognized as a distinguished female executive in the Canadian technology sector.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
Megan Amdahl
SVP of Client Experience & North America Chief Operating Officer
Insight
Megan Amdahl is the COO of North America at Insight, a global fortune 300 Solutions Integrator, responsible for operations, partner management and client experience. She leads a team of approximately 2,400 teammates and oversees client operations, integration services, sustainability centers, warehouses, inventory management, procurement and transformation teams.
Megan is also responsible for Insight's key partner relationships, including NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, Dell, Cisco and Microsoft. She leads the company's CX teams, ensuring world-class service levels, solutions and support for clients. Megan has held multiple leadership positions at Insight, including VP of finance for North America, senior VP of operations, and senior VP of operations and partner alliances. She expanded the team's scope from 300 to 2,400 teammates and successfully led various areas across Insight's business operations. Prior to joining Insight, Megan served as VP of finance at eTelecare Global Solutions and held positions at VistaCare and EY. She holds a master's degree in accounting from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor's degree in finance from Arizona State University.
Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
Judith Breen
Vice President Partner Alliances and Portfolio Solutions
Insight Canada
Insight Canada's Vice President of Partner Alliances and Portfolio Solutions, a dynamic and caring leader with over 27 years of experience in the technology industry. With a strong background in business and psychology, she holds degrees from Concordia University and the University of Quebec in Montreal, as well as a mini-MBA from McGill University.
Prior to joining Insight, she spent 13 years at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where she honed her skills in strategic partnerships and team building. She is passionate about mentoring and believes in the importance of diversity of thought, as well as the value of leadership and achievement.
As a leader, she is committed to building strong teams and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. Her dedication to her work and her team has earned her a reputation as one of the most respected and influential leaders in the industry. With her extensive experience and expertise, she is a valuable asset to Insight and an inspiration to those around her.
Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
Tanaz Choudhury
President/ CEO
TanChes Global Management
As a serial entrepreneur, Tanaz is passionate about aligning Education with Entrepreneurship. She believes that Collaboration is the key to success. With over 2 decades of experience and expertise in award winning business processes and alignments, her companies deliver IT excellence to Clients in the SMB, Commercial, Enterprise and SLED( State/ Local Governments and Education and FEDERAL verticals. At TanChes they are hyper focused on:
(1) Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
(2) Infrastructure Design and Maintenance
(3) Cybersecurity
As a passionate leader, Tanaz manages and aligns expectations and deliveries to maximize growth for clients with a win-win focus. What amazes me about Tanaz is ability to be known as the "Human Connection". People collect Things ... and she admittedly collects People. She is an avid collector of people (personal and professional friends and acquaintances).
Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
Prerna Goja
Chief Executive Officer
Zensa
Prerna Goja, a visionary leader, and entrepreneur created Zensa, a digital transformation company. She led Zensa to deliver significant revenue growth (in multi-million dollars) in the past 5 years and is on track to reach new heights with a projection of 67% growth in revenue for 2023-24. She has received one of the most prestigious awards in the industry – the Woman of the Year Award 2023 by Women in IT Awards – USA, for her exceptional and visionary leadership in the tech industry.
Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
Tracey Hayes
Senior Vice President of Sales
MicroAge
Tracey Hayes is the Senior Vice President of Sales at MicroAge, leading the national sales organization to help businesses secure, accelerate, and transform with the right mix of technology solutions and services. Her leadership has driven MicroAge's growth and achievements, earning recognition on CRN's Tech Elite 250, Solution Provider 500, and MSP500 lists.
Tracey joined MicroAge in 1993, serving in leadership positions throughout account development and product marketing and working to empower a sales-driven culture that sets the organization apart. Under Tracey's leadership, MicroAge has been recognized as a Best Place to Work by Phoenix Business Journal nine times.
In her current role, Tracey drives MicroAge's growth strategy while networking to recruit relationship-focused, tech-savvy experts for the expanding national salesforce. She collaborates with subject matter experts, sales leaders, and account executives to deliver exceptional results. As a dedicated mentor, Tracey supports account executives in achieving their professional goals and thriving in a connected, collaborative, remote work environment.
Tracey also spearheads MicroAge's ActTogether initiatives, ensuring the organization remains active in supporting local communities through fundraising, events, and promotion.
Tracey holds a B.S. in Communications from Arizona State University. She and her husband, Larry, have three children.
Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
Valerie Henderson
President and CRO
Caylent
Val Henderson is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the technology industry. Val is often recognized for her leadership capabilities and consistent ability to exceed growth targets and expectations across a multitude of roles, geographies and remits. Leading various teams at both SHI and Rackspace over the last decade, Val joined Caylent with an intention to build an elite Go-To-Market engine to elevate Caylent as the preeminent pure-play AWS Premier Services partner. Val’s experience of running large scale organizations lends itself to the acceleration of Caylent’s growth plans for the future. Powered by drive and a passion for execution, with the promotion to President & CRO, Val leading the sales, marketing and solutions strategy for Caylent. Val’s commitment to customers, the AWS partnership and employees is exemplified in her passion for raising the bar and staying focused on customer engagement. In addition, Val is one of the co-founders of the Caylien Collective. Caylien Collective’s mission is to empower and foster a more inclusive world and work environment through investing in education, community engagement, inclusive recruitment practices and consciously building a safe and embracive community both internally and externally to Caylent.
Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
Alison Rossi
VP Offerings, Enablement, and Revenue Operations
Bluum
Alison Rossi is a dynamic and accomplished professional currently serving as the VP of Enablement and Offerings at Bluum, a leading educational technology company. In just one year with the organization, Alison has made significant strides, rapidly ascending through the ranks to play a pivotal role in shaping the company's strategic direction.
Alison's contributions to Bluum have been substantial and far-reaching. She spearheaded the development of the offerings playbook and operating framework, providing essential structure and guidance for the company's operations. Additionally, Alison has created numerous tools that drive the strategic direction of the go-to-market team, demonstrating her keen business acumen and innovative thinking. With a strong educational background, Alison is currently pursuing her doctorate in strategic leadership. She holds a master's degree in educational technology and a bachelor's degree in mathematics and earth science, complemented by a teaching certificate from the state of Connecticut. This unique combination of technical knowledge and educational expertise allows her to bridge the gap between technology and pedagogy effectively.
Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
Kristin Scheidmantel
Sr. Vice President of Customer Experience Management
NWN Carousel
Kristin Scheidmantel is a passionate professional who takes immense pride in her career. With a background in Business and a strong commitment to drive outcomes, she has been a valued member of NWN Carousel for over a decade. During her tenure with the organization, she has held various roles and been promoted four times, most recently to Senior Vice President of Customer Success.
Outside of work, Kristin has been happily married to her husband Mark for twelve years. Together, they share a nine-year-old daughter, Presley Joy, who is a spitfire. Mark also has two children from a previous marriage: Bridgett, who is twenty-one, and Jimmy, who is nineteen. Jimmy has bravely battled terminal cancer since he was three years old, undergoing chemotherapy since shortly after joining Kristin’s life. Despite the challenges they face, their family is a supportive unit, emphasizing joy amidst life’s trials.
Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Antoinette “Toni” Chaltiel
Chairman & Co-Founder
Trustifi
Antoinette Chaltiel immigrated to the United States in 1988 from Dublin, Ireland. She originally settled in Los Angeles, California, where she was president of Total Insurance and Planning Corp, a Torrance, California, insurance brokerage firm then specializing in health, life insurance, and estate planning. She moved on to new business ventures in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1997. Antoinette has degrees from both the Dublin City University, (a bachelor of business studies) and the Institute of Personnel Management. She is chairman and co-founder of Trustifi LLC, a SaaS company specializing in cyber security and email encryption.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Michelle Hodges
SVP, Global Channels & Alliances
Ivanti
As SVP Global Channels and Alliances, Michelle oversees Ivanti’s worldwide partner ecosystem. This is critical for Ivanti’s growth strategy, as partners are an extension of the team and allow for greater reach to meet customer needs.
Michelle’s professional passion is to discover the true value basis between a company, its GTM motion, and its ecosystem. She has global experience working with companies in international expansion both in operating and go-to-market (GTM) strategies. Most recently, Michelle led the channel business at GitLab during its IPO. Her unique understanding of how indirect routes to market contribute to overall operating efficiency, revenue growth, and customer value was formed during her time with companies like Microsoft, VMWare and Business Objects; building global channels, services and alliance opportunities.
Michelle holds an M.B.A. International Management and an M.A. International Policy Studies from Monterey Institute of International Studies – Monterey, CA.; and a B.A. French Literature and Philosophy from Whittier College, Whittier, CA.
Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Nisha Holt
Head of Americas Channel Sales
Check Point
Nisha Holt is Check Point’s Head of Americas Channel Sales. Nisha has over 20 years in cybersecurity and in cultivating partnerships and strategic alliances. She has a purpose-driven leadership approach focused on driving business strategy, building strong C-suite partnerships and building and developing high performance channel and alliances teams.
Nisha joined Check Point in 2020 as the Head of US National Partners and moved into her current role the following year taking on responsibility for Check Point’s channel vision, strategy and execution plans across Canada, the US and Latin America.
Prior to Check Point, she was a Global Strategic Alliances Director at Symantec and Blue Coat Systems. She also held leadership positions at other security focused companies.
Nisha is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and resides in Austin, TX with her husband.
Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Sami Jenkins
COO and Co Founder
ThreatLocker
Sami is a dynamic leader in the technology sector, renowned for her entrepreneurial spirit and technical acumen. With a career marked by innovation and leadership, Sami has co-founded multiple technology companies, shaping the landscape of cybersecurity and IT solutions. Currently serving as the COO and Co-Founder of ThreatLocker, Sami has been instrumental in establishing the company as a trailblazer in the cybersecurity industry.
At ThreatLocker, Sami's role extends beyond traditional executive responsibilities; she is the driving force behind the creation of the award-winning ThreatLocker Cyber Hero Team. Her leadership has been pivotal in assembling and nurturing teams that excel in safeguarding digital assets and combating cyber threats.
Sami's journey in ThreatLocker began with hands-on, from racking servers to installing operating systems and managing support functions. This diverse background has uniquely positioned her to understand the intricacies of technology development and deployment at every level.
Beyond her operational duties, Sami is passionate about mentoring and empowering teams to achieve their fullest potential. Her strategic vision and dedication to excellence continue to propel ThreatLocker to new heights in innovation and client satisfaction.
Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Colleen Kapase
Vice President, Channels and Partner Programs, Google Cloud
Google Cloud
Colleen is the Vice President of Channels and Partner Programs for Google Cloud. Colleen previously was the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Partner and Alliances at Snowflake where she built a next-generation cloud-first partner and channel organization from its infancy to multiple billions of dollars of impact. In 2020, she spearheaded the successful launch of the Snowflake Partner Network which changed the way Snowflake engaged with its partners.
Prior to that, Colleen spent 13 years at VMware, with her last role being Vice President of Partner Go-to-Market, Incentives and Programs. She was also the Director of Channel Programs for Citrix from 2001 to 2006.
Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Virginie Le Barbu
Global Sustainability Director - International Markets
Lenovo
Virginie is a recognized leader in Sustainability and Business Development, specializing in accelerating business transformation towards climate change, circular economy, and biodiversity. Her expertise integrates sustainability strategically, fostering resilience, and leveraging innovation for competitive advantage. Committed to positive impact, she prioritizes collaboration with stakeholders, boasting a track record as a proven achiever, speaker, awardee, mentor, and mentee, poised to drive meaningful changes.
Virginie serves as the Global Sustainability Director - International Markets at Lenovo, overseeing the sustainability strategy and ESG framework for Lenovo's downstream ecosystem. In her capacity, she also spearheads the Lenovo 360 Circle, a sustainability-driven channel community.
Virginie leads a team of sustainability experts, expediting corporate transformation through collaborative strategies and ESG programs. She defines ESG Channel objectives, implements robust data management frameworks, and prioritizes ESG market needs, fostering collaboration for innovative sustainable solutions among internal and external cross-functional teams, benefiting customers and partners. With over 20 years in IT, she has held diverse roles at Lenovo, spanning finance, sales, operations, customer experience, and incubation business. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Virginie holds a master's in finance and an MBA in Sustainability Management.
Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Denise Millard
Chief Partner Officer
Dell Technologies
Denise Millard serves as Chief Partner Officer at Dell Technologies. She is responsible for delivering the promise of Dell Technologies to customers, together with some of Dell’s most strategic partners and industry experts while leading Dell’s partner strategy and vision, enablement, program design and experience.
Dell Technologies’ partner ecosystem extends the reach of Dell’s capabilities by combining Dell’s essential technology with its partners’ unique technology and expertise to provide essential and innovative solutions to customers.
Millard’s passion for connecting with customers and enabling sales and partner organizations has been a constant throughout her 25+ year career. She previously held senior executive roles leading Sales Operations, Channel Sales, Learning and Enablement, Field Marketing, Sales Strategy and Professional Services.
Intensely committed to promoting the next generation of talent, Millard is a strong believer in mentorship and development. She is a long-standing contributor to Dell’s Women In Action Resource Group. Millard serves on the Strategic Advisory Board for the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership.
Millard lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children. An avid fitness enthusiast, she can be found at her local CrossFit gym. She holds an MBA from Clark University and a BS in Business from Bryant University.
Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Gretchen O'Hara
Channel Chief & Vice President, WW Channels & Alliances
Splunk
Gretchen O'Hara is the Vice President of Worldwide Channels and Alliances at Splunk. She is responsible for growing partner-led revenue, building channel profitability and evolving Splunk's channel strategy and ecosystem to improve the customer and partner experience. Scaling Splunk solutions to support customers operating in a distributed, hybrid, multi-cloud world. With more than 26 years of channel sales, marketing, alliance and ecosystem development, Gretchen brings a passion for building ecosystems, business building and connecting sales, technical and marketing to deliver world-class solutions that address customers' most important business outcomes. She has deep experience across all partners and segments. Prior to Splunk, Gretchen was the VP of AI & Sustainability and VP of Go-To-Market at Microsoft where she built multi-million-dollar businesses. Recognized as CRN Channel Chief and CRN Women of Channel Power 100 multiple years, she led the global cloud ecosystem strategy across core cloud solutions and ecosystem transformation. She is an advocate for channel diversity and co-founded Women in Cloud, a global organization focused on building access for female entrepreneurs in the channel. She holds a B.A. and executive MBA certificate from University of Washington Foster School of Business, and executive education at Wharton, Cal Tech and London Business School.
Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Michelle Paitich
Global Vice President, Channel Sales
8x8
As Global Vice President of Channel Sales, Michelle Paitich empowers company growth and customer experience through a robust and resilient partner ecosystem. She is responsible for 8x8’s go-to-market strategy with a global network of more than 2,000 partners and executing upon it to deliver topline revenue. Michelle was most recently at Twilio and before then was at Salesforce.
Paitich has a track record of repeated success across multiple partner types including ISVs, integration partners, SIs, and resellers. Through a combination of adaptability and collaboration, she amplifies her worldwide teams, partner programs, and operations in order to exceed sales targets.
Prior to joining 8x8, Paitich led the global partner team for Twilio Flex, substantially enhancing its partner operations. Before joining Twilio, she led the Salesforce ISV Partner Program and Partner Success team.
Paitich holds a bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University and an MBA from the University of California Berkeley. She plays an advisory role for HEROES, Inc., a non-profit organization that supports women and children living with HIV/AIDS.
Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Julie Sanford
Vice President, GTM Programs & Operations
Microsoft
As Vice President, Partner GTM, Programs, & Operations within Global Partner Solutions at Microsoft, Julie is responsible for the end-to-end go-to-market strategy across Microsoft’s commercial services partner ecosystem. The team brings together the go-to-market strategy, programs, and platforms to accelerate growth and improve partner experience across all partner segments. Before her current roles, Julie was GM, Global Industry Product Marketing, and was responsible for Microsoft’s Industry GTM across priority industries and Microsoft industry clouds strategy and GTM, including Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Microsoft Cloud for Retail, Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services, and Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing.
Previously, Julie was General Manager, Enterprise & Industry Marketing, for the United States Subsidiary. Julie led a marketing organization responsible for driving new opportunities, increased velocity, revenue, share, and NSAT for our largest enterprise customers.
Julie was also the Chief of Staff for the M&O CVP. She has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing in the software and technology industry. Julie has also been part of the Microsoft Office division, participating in and leading three major Office releases (2007, 2010, O365). Julie graduated from Ryerson University with a degree in Business Management.
Channel Innovator of the Year
Dee Dee Acquista
Vice President of Worldwide Channel and Alliances
Gigamon
Dee Dee Acquista is the Vice President of Worldwide Channel Sales at Gigamon. As a seasoned channel sales executive with over 20 years of experience, Dee Dee has demonstrated outstanding performance and leadership in channel practice and development, strategy execution, marketing, and sales.
Regarded as an “execution machine,” Dee Dee has successfully leveraged relationships that she has built with key channel partners in every company and each role that she has held throughout her career. Dee Dee is equally strong in recruiting and developing strategic partners and top-performing teams and has built an impressive record of exceeding targets for global channel strategy and execution.
Prior to her time at Gigamon, Dee Dee served as the vice president of Channel Sales at Mandiant, now part of Google Cloud, where she was responsible for program management, strategy, design, and execution. Prior to Mandiant, Dee Dee served in several channel sales leadership roles at Proofpoint, SentinelOne, and BeyondTrust. She was also a Founding Board Member of the Ingram Micro Security Vendor Advisory Board and she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communication studies from Florida State University.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Channel Innovator of the Year
Maggie Bauer
Senior Director of Global Partner Operations and Programs
Arctic Wolf
Maggie is the Senior Director, Partner Operations and Programs and is responsible for leading a team of tenured channel and operations professionals. Her channel career began when she was hired as a funded head responsible for sourcing opportunities for a resale partner and spans a variety of channel-connected roles over the past 13 years. In her current role, Maggie leads a team that has a diverse set of responsibilities including Partner Operations, Partner Programs and benefits and Government contracts. Maggie’s focus is on cross-functional collaboration with key channel leaders to define, operationalize and execute on Arctic Wolf’s channel strategy, with a focus on driving scalability, efficiency, and a positive partner experience. In addition, Maggie serves as the Partner Ecosystem Pillar Leader for Arctic Wolf’s Women Transforming Technology Council. Maggie is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and has 13 years of experience in sales leadership, business development, channel marketing and operations, and in building high performance teams. Before joining Arctic Wolf, Maggie built and led the Partner Ecosystems Marketing team at Infor. Undoubtably, her greatest joy is spending time with her husband and two young sons.
Channel Innovator of the Year
Nicole Dezen
Chief Partner Officer, CVP of Global Partner Solutions
Microsoft
Nicole Dezen serves as Chief Partner Officer and Corporate Vice President, Global Partner Solutions (GPS) at Microsoft. She leads the commercial partner business and is responsible for building and selling Microsoft Cloud AI applications, services, and devices with partners. She collaborates with a broad set of commercial partners including Advisory partners, device partners, System Integrators, Independent Software Vendors, and channel partners to drive digital transformation, scale, business growth and profitability.
Nicole believes in empowering people to drive growth. She works to help partners unlock the virtually limitless power of the Microsoft Cloud to provide AI solutions that create new value for customers and new opportunity for partners.
With more than 25 years of sales experience in tech, Nicole’s innate curiosity has led her from several years in telecommunications, to leading tech start-ups as CEO, to driving Microsoft’s multi-billion-dollar commercial partner business today. Nicole joined Microsoft in 2007 and has held roles in the US, Asia and EMEA.
Nicole is a proud Los Angeleno living in the Pacific Northwest. In her personal time, Nicole is a foodie, and loves cooking family recipes, or crushing a Peloton ride. She loves to travel and experience the culture in the countries she visits.
Channel Innovator of the Year
Jaspreet Jaffer
MSP and Professional Services Program Manager
Jaspreet brings over 12 years of extensive experience in launching transformational channel programs, leading organizations through hyper-growth phases, and delivering scalable and sustainable business results. She has a proven track record in designing efficient partner programs where none exist and unifying disparate programs to promote ease of doing business, harmony, and ultimately drive value for the customer. Throughout her tenure at leading technology companies including Ivanti, Google, Palo Alto Networks, and VMware, Jaspreet has exemplified a commitment to optimizing partner program efficiency, driving significant revenue performance, and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Channel Innovator of the Year
Jenifer Hendrix
Director, Channel Transformation & Enablement Strategy
SAS
Jenifer is a visionary leader with a demonstrated history of driving partner program strategies to maximize revenue growth and market expansion. She is known for delivering solutions that surpass partner expectations while cultivating robust, collaborative relationships with partners, stakeholders, and internal teams. She holds an MBA from Michigan State University, where she was awarded a Scholar role in the Committee of 200, the preeminent global, by-invitation-only organization for women business leaders. Jenifer currently leads SAS’ Channel Transformation and Enablement Strategy where she is spearheading organizational development to foster a compelling “trust and inspire” culture, aligning internal stakeholders on a shared vision, and launching initiatives to streamline business interactions with the SAS channel. Prior to SAS, she gained valuable experience in marketing services, consumer goods, and at a cloud-based logistics software company. There, she played a pivotal role in establishing a strategic product development program and led the creation of a technology alliance program, significantly increasing net annual revenue partner contributions by threefold. She is dedicated to fueling growth, optimizing profitability, and delivering unparalleled value to stakeholders, while actively pursuing transformative change to elevate organizational performance and ensure long-term success.
Channel Innovator of the Year
Calhoun McKinney
Sr. Director of Advanced Solutions Go to Market Strategy
TD SYNNEX
Calhoun is known for challenging the status quo within the IT industry to deliver innovative outcomes. She has demonstrated effectiveness in leading teams to create and execute data driven go to market strategies for multiple Fortune 100 companies to achieve multibillion dollar sales targets for TD SYNNEX. She was a key contributor to the Westcon integration and led the Product Business IMO workstream for the most recent TD SYNNEX historical merger. She is recognized by CRN as a Woman of the Channel 4 years running, all of the marketing programs she leads have CRN 5 star recognition, and she is the 2023-2024 TD SYNNEX Founder’s Award winner. Her passion is developing high performing leaders and advocating for a workplace culture that empowers parents to thrive personally and professionally. Calhoun has the pleasure of serving on the TD SYNNEX Share the Magic board to serve a variety of incredible charitable organizations all over North America. She is happiest when barefoot outside with her husband, Daniel, chasing their Fox Red Lab, Sully.
Channel Innovator of the Year
Harriet-Marcia Shakir
Vice President, Global Strategic Alliances, Partner Management
Kyndryl
Harriet-Marcia Shakir is Vice President of Global Strategic Alliances, Partner Management.at the IBM spin-off: Kyndryl. Kyndryl is a global infrastructure management services firm that she helped startup in 2021 at the request of her IBM GM and VP. Harriet went to the the new startup and helped startup the non-existent Global Strategic Alliances and Country Alliance organizations. Harriet received her executive appointment as IBM Director in 2019. She was responsible for transforming the Business Partner digital experience as part of the IBM Sales Cloud Core Leadership. Harriet led the skills transformation for both BPs and IBMers for the Hybrid Cloud and AI era. Harriet has over 20 years of management experience and expertise in software sales, services delivery and consulting, working with various IBM divisions and global partners. Harriet has led numerous teams and projects related to cybersecurity, SaaS, digital transformation, skills development, and partner ecosystem. Before joining IBM, she worked for HP/EDS, providing IT services to GM and other clients in different domains and roles. Harriet also has a background as an educator, holding a MA in Educational Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Michigan and a BS in Business Education from Wayne State University.
Channel Innovator of the Year
Jayne Tuma
Director, Partner Business Development and Field Marketing
Xerox Corporation
Jayne Tuma is a Sales and Marketing professional with 35 years' experience in both Xerox direct sales and North America Channel Business and Sales Operations. As a direct sales professional Jayne was a nationally recognized top producer. She has vast experience in field sales management, marketing management, sales enablement, business process management, top-line sales revenue, and market growth.
Jayne leads the creation, management, and execution of partner programs, marketing offerings and events that deliver maximum impact through a combination of tailored global and new market–specific activities. She is an effective relationship builder and connector in the partner community and is highly respected amongst her peers and those in the industry.
Jayne fosters relationships across partners, industry analysts and leaders and is regarded as a trusted advisor and business advocate. A passionate, and can-do leader, Jayne's success is due to her initiative and the fresh perspectives she brings when working cross-functionally with internal and external teams.
Channel Innovator of the Year
Colette Tunstead
Sr. Manager Global Channel Activation - Worldwide Public Sector
Amazon Web Services
Colette brings over 30 years of extensive experience in the technology sector, having excelled in roles from network engineer and data center infrastructure architect to IT manager for a major Canadian ISV. Since joining AWS in 2016, Colette has been a key player in the Public Sector Partner Development organization, where she excels at leading teams to envision and implement innovative strategies that propel partners' cloud businesses forward.
Colette is a passionate advocate for women in technology, dedicating her time as a mentor and public speaker to inspire and support women in IT. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental resiliency and personal development. Her leadership, commitment to innovation, and dedication to empowering others make her a true ambassador for women in tech.
Channel Innovator of the Year
Michelle Welch
Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Business Strategy
WatchGuard Technologies
Michelle Welch joined WatchGuard in 2015 and is responsible for shaping the company’s growth and transformation initiatives. She serves as the company’s chief marketing officer, responsible for the development and execution of WatchGuard’s global marketing strategy and channel operations team. As the senior vice president of business strategy, Michelle also leads critical, cross-functional initiatives focused on fueling operational excellence and company evolution.
Prior to WatchGuard, Michelle served as vice president of marketing at SafeNet, one of the largest information security companies in the world, where she worked to rebuild the company’s channel program and partner enablement platform. Michelle has also served in a variety of product, field, sales operations, and corporate marketing leadership roles and brings nearly 20 years of experience in security-focused B2B marketing to WatchGuard.
Michelle works tirelessly to enable WatchGuard's partner ecosystem to deliver critical security protections for organizations battling increasingly sophisticated threats despite insufficient IT expertise, budgets, and skilled security staff. She and her team are key in supporting WatchGuard’s channel community and mission to make enterprise-grade security accessible to businesses of all types and sizes through simplicity.
Sales Executive of the Year
Kelly Allbright
Vice President Americas Channels
Wiz
Kelly has a track record of driving successful partner programs across leading technology companies, and she has put that expertise to work at Wiz, where she is helping top companies leverage cloud to grow their business. As a resourceful and influential global channel sales executive, she drives business development by accelerating channel sales and market growth, transforming complex sales strategies into executable plans, creating effective go-to-market (GTM) strategies, leading talented teams, and cultivating high-value strategic partnerships. Leveraging her understanding of the growing importance of cybersecurity in a technology-dominated world, she applies innovation and broad knowledge of managed security services, enterprise software, and cloud security solutions to increase customer engagements, influence product development, and expand penetration into competitive emerging markets.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Sales Executive of the Year
Samantha Brooks
Technology Advisor
Opkalla
Samantha has over 20 years’ experience serving clients of all sizes in successful IT Solution implementations. Her dedication and expertise have won her the Summit of Leaders Presidents Club Award three consecutive years along with other honors applauding her successes. As a Technology Advisor at Opkalla, Samantha achieved her President’s Club goal in both 2021 and 2023 and was honored with Opkalla’s Technology Advisor of the Year Award in both years. Samantha provides high touch support for all her clients and ensures that they receive technology solutions tailored to their needs. In addition to delivering exceptional customer support, Samantha demonstrates leadership within the sales team by consistently offering to share self-made resources that have proven effective in enhancing her client relationships.
Sales Executive of the Year
Missy Clayton
Vice President, Sales – Nationals Elite
TD SYNNEX
Missy is a seasoned leader with 24 years’ experience at TD SYNNEX. Over her tenure, she’s led inside sales, field sales, and security and software sales teams. Named Vice President, Sales for the Nationals Division in 2022, Missy oversees a dynamic team responsible for revenue, profitability, services, and multi-vendor proposals totaling $2B+ annually. Her strategic leadership has led to consistent growth, seamless collaboration between customers and vendors, implementation of best practices, and process optimization for excellence in customer experience. Missy has played a pivotal role in various projects and committees, most recently as part of the Integration Management Office (IMO) for the TD SYNNEX merger. As part of the IMO, she co-led workstreams across departments for a successful pre Day One and continues to lead on varying committees post merge. Missy was a 2020 Founders Award Finalist, 2021 Founders Award Nominee, and in 2022, a fourth time President’s Club Honoree. She was a Women of the Channel Honoree in 2023. Missy is not only passionate about the company’s success but also deeply invested in people. As a mentor, she empowers others, leading by example through servant leadership. Her thought leadership drives innovation and fosters a collaborative environment.
Sales Executive of the Year
Keli Davis
VP Strategic Partnerships
IntelePeer
Didn't start in the channel -- actually marketing communications. Layoffs forced me into channel sales 20+ years ago. After picking myself up off the floor, I found a passion mentoring, coaching and working with clients and partners to solve for business outcomes. My tenure includes building the channel organization from the ground up at three different "start ups". Recent endeavors I managed both channel development & channel selling teams. Most proud of accomplishment in last 90 days -- built sales funnel from $0 to $15M.
Other experience that helps me be a better channel executive was to lead a cross-functional "POD" team to create new product. POD was responsible for full product cycle -- design, development, test, run, message, and support. Our POD created a fully operational go-to-market solution. We assumed the roles of other departments and took responsibility for development, testing, operations, or support, etc. We achieve this in 15 weeks.
Over-achievement is my standard. Top accomplishments -- 8 consecutive Presidents Clubs, top performer overall and contributed more than 25% of the tenured customer base.
Blessed with an amazing husband, three lovely children & 3 dogs. One daughter works in cybersecurity as a channel manager.
Sales Executive of the Year
Paola Doebel
SVP and Managing Director of North America
Ensono
Paola joined Ensono as the leader for North America in May 2020, after serving as Vice President and General Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), where she led the North America Compute, Software Defined, High Performance Computing, and AI team. Previously, Paola spent over eight years in Asia-Pacific, holding various technology leadership roles at Dell Technologies and HPE, including leading the APJeC Datacenter and Hybrid Cloud business from Singapore.
Before her time at HPE, Paola was a Director at Dell in APJ, managing the Enterprise Infrastructure and Options businesses from Seoul and Singapore. Her technology career began at Dell in Austin and North Carolina, involving product management, global business operations, and product development.
Earlier, Paola started as an M&A investment banking analyst in California and later managed Nike’s Vision, Timing, and Technology business in Austin, focusing on Asia-Pacific distribution. Paola is also a Founding Advisory Board Member of “Sales Community,” a Fast Company Executive Board Member, and a contributor to two books on customer engagement and sales strategies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania.
Sales Executive of the Year
Stefanie Hammond
Head Nerd
N-able
As Head Nerd of Sales and Marketing for N-able, I'm here to help guide you through conversations with your customers. I am fully engaged and committed to assisting MSPs with the modernization and delivery of training around their sales and marketing efforts.
I have been with N-able for 20 years this November, originally joined the company in 2004 (when it was called N-able the first time around) becoming one of the first two individuals to hold the Partner Development Specialist role. Over the years, I was promoted to Principal Account Manager, supporting our Major and Elite partners. My passion has always been to help N-able partners become the world's most successful MSPs. I am proud to have helped hundreds of partners to improve their business and sales acumen to build a more profitable business.
Sales Executive of the Year
Maile Kaiser
Chief Revenue Officer
CoreSite
Maile Kaiser is CoreSite’s Chief Revenue Officer. She is responsible for overseeing revenue growth through CoreSite's national sales organization and provides oversight to marketing, business development and sales operations. Ms. Kaiser joined CoreSite in 2012 and was previously Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Ms. Kaiser has over 25 years of direct sales and management experience in the data center, network communications, software and managed services industries driving growth and innovation for large enterprises.
Prior to joining CoreSite, Ms. Kaiser was responsible for wholesale and large enterprise sales at IO Datacenters (now Iron Mountain) and ran the Southwest region for Abovenet Communications (now Zayo). Ms. Kaiser started her career with Oracle Corporation. Maile received a B.A. in English Literature from the University of California, at Berkeley. Maile also serves on the board of the Advanced Imaging Society and is the Chairman of the Awareness and Communications Committee for the iMasons.
Sales Executive of the Year
Terra Norine
SVP, Sales
Bluum
I am a dynamic and passionate leader with a unique blend of technical expertise and sales acumen. My journey began as the first and only person in my family to attend college, igniting a lifelong passion for education and personal development. Early in my career, I worked as a software engineer for the Department of Defense, contributing to high-stakes projects with top-secret clearance. However, I realized that my true calling lay in leadership and sales.
Transitioning into the education sector, I became the youngest female youngest manager at UOP and then moved to Bluum 9 years ago and rose through the ranks with numerous leadership positions becoming a VP at 30. This trajectory continued as I navigated through multiple mergers and the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. My leadership during these turbulent times was characterized by empathy, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to my team.
In my current role, I have led the development and implementation of innovative sales strategies, launched new business development teams, and secured some of the largest accounts in our company's history. My ability to combine strategic vision with a deep understanding of client needs has been instrumental in driving significant business growth.
Sales Executive of the Year
Samantha Tropeck
Director of Channel Sales North America
AVANT Communications
Samantha Tropeck is the Director of Channel Sales for North America at AVANT Communications, where she successfully enables her partners to sell and stand out in the ever-changing market. Samantha began her telecom career 12 years ago at AVANT, where she supported one of the largest channel partners. She got promoted to support the sub-agent community and then took on the role of Director of Sales to strengthen and build the new Midwest region for AVANT, prior to becoming Director of Channel Sales for North America.
Sales Executive of the Year
Regina Vignone
Vice President, MM Sales East
Sophos
Regina Vignone is a visionary cybersecurity sales leader with a 22-year career in the IT channel, demonstrating exceptional leadership and sales acumen. As Vice President of Midmarket Sales at Sophos, Regina has redefined cybersecurity sales. Regina’s strategic prowess in direct and channel sales strategies has driven revenue growth and market expansion for Sophos. Her ability to nurture top talent has created a sales force known for their expertise as trusted cybersecurity advisors.
Regina's holistic approach to sales leadership sets her apart. She has built cross-functional relationships across all organizational levels, integrating efforts with marketing, support, inside sales, and operations teams. This collaborative approach extends to customers and channel partners, fostering mutual success.
Under Regina's guidance, her team has consistently surpassed revenue targets while elevating Sophos's market position. Her leadership philosophy, centered on continuous improvement and relationship building, has been instrumental in the success of her team and partners.
Regina's impact extends beyond numbers. She has created a culture of excellence, innovation, and customer-centricity within Sophos's sales operations. Her visionary strategies and ability to navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape have positioned Sophos as an industry leader.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
Madison Erhardt
Director, Marketing
Cipher
Madison Erhardt is the Director of Marketing at Cipher, a managed security organization and the cybersecurity division of Prosegur. Cipher’s model is to think global but act local, offering solutions and services that empower teams and businesses. Madison graduated from the University of Tampa with a degree in English and Communications and began her career in the nonprofit sector. She later discovered a passion for marketing, particularly with MSSPs, focusing on customer and product campaigns. She has a strong background in demand generation, helping to transform the way enterprises view, approach, and deliver security solutions.
In her role at Cipher, Madison is responsible for creating impactful marketing strategies to generate revenue, build processes within the organization, in addition to creating content and successful events for Cipher’s brand.
Outside of work, Madison is dedicated to mentoring graduate students at the University of South Florida. She enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and tripod pitbull rescue. She loves kayaking and fishing in the Tampa Bay area, and she and her boyfriend travel as often as they can.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
Anne-Marie Faber
Chief Marketing Officer
GoSecure
Anne-Marie Faber is an experienced marketing executive with 15+ years in the IT industry, focused on Security. She brings energy and pragmatism to GoSecure in her role as Chief Marketing Officer where she oversees all aspects of GoSecure marketing strategy including corporate messaging, branding, corporate communications, digital demand generation, field, and channel marketing. As an Indigenous woman in cybersecurity, Anne-Marie brings a unique perspective and diversity of thought to the tech industry, which is critical for fostering innovation and understanding in a globally connected world.
Anne-Marie’s strong track record has helped various companies evolve into market leaders with double-digit revenue growth and her philosophy underscores the importance of a close partnership with all sales channels, both direct and indirect, as well as an emphasis on constant creativity and the ability to think differently than competitors do.
Anne-Marie attended Laval University in Québec City where she earned both her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Business Administration as well as a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA). She also holds a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from York University.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
Narine Galstian
Chief Marketing Officer
SADA, An Insight company
As SADA's Chief Marketing Officer, Narine oversees global branding and marketing initiatives, including corporate communications and public relations, conferences and events, solutions marketing, and demand generation.
With 25+ years of marketing experience, Narine has led impactful marketing and business development teams, steering strategic business objectives and execution of results-oriented marketing programs.
Prior to SADA, she served on executive teams and led marketing programs for various B2B and B2C technology and SaaS companies and tech startups. Since 2021, she has been honored annually on CRN’s Women of the Channel lists as part of their Power Solution Providers lists, recognizing her work for her channel expertise and vision. She was also an honoree in the 2023 Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing Inspirational Women Awards Company Executive Large Company category.
Narine received an MBA with a focus on International Business from Woodbury University and holds a Bachelor in Business Administration degree in Marketing Management from California State University, Los Angeles. Narine is CMO Club and CMO Huddles member, and an #IamRemarkable facilitator.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
Amy Gregory
Head of Marketing
ANM
As the Head of Marketing at ANM, Amy Gregory leads the strategic planning and execution of integrated marketing campaigns that drive brand awareness, customer retention, and revenue growth. She has over 20 years of experience in technology marketing, with a focus on B2B and IT service provider solutions.
Her core competencies include developing and implementing go-to-market strategies, positioning and messaging, content marketing, inbound marketing, account-based marketing, partner marketing, product marketing, customer cross-sell marketing, and sales enablement.
Amy has deep knowledge in marketing emerging technologies, such as multi-cloud, hybrid IT, data center, cybersecurity, data modernization, and channel partner solutions. She is passionate about delivering value to our customers and empowering our sales team with the tools and insights they need to succeed.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
Kim Riley
Marketing Director
NWN Carousel
Leveraging over 25 years of experience in marketing, planning, and executing impactful events Kim excels in building exceptional relationships and demonstrates strong collaborative and communication skills, both verbal and written. Kim is adept at delivering top-notch results, driving opportunities through pipeline, and supporting internal and external event experiences. Her expertise spans from conceptualizing to executing events of all sizes, from intimate gatherings to large-scale, multi-day events with thousands of attendees, ensuring a strong ROI and customer satisfaction.
Kim has been with NWN Carousel for nearly 8 years. Prior to joining NWN Carousel, Kim spent over 26 years at Fidelity Investments. She started in the Fidelity Advertising Agency in the Print Production and Fulfillment department and progressed through various marketing roles during her tenure. Her swan song at Fidelity Investments included managing Brokerage events nationwide.
On a personal level, Kim has been happily married to her husband Patrick for almost 30 years. They are the proud parents of two grown children, Aidan and Brooke, who are now pursuing careers in the event industry. Outside of work, Kim is an avid reader and cherishes spending time celebrating life with her family and friends.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
Renee Seltzer
VP of Marketing
Renee was most recently the VP of Marketing at Bluum, where she leveraged over two decades of marketing expertise to drive innovative educational solutions across K-12 schools, higher education institutions, government sectors, and airport facilities.
While at the helm of a dynamic team, she managed a significant budget and collaborated closely with channel partners to bolster their success and expand their sales pipeline.
Renee's approach to marketing is rooted in a deep understanding of the educational landscape, honed through 25 years in education marketing and her entrepreneurial journey as the founder of Ellison Ellery Consulting and fractional CMO for the University of Arizona Global Campus.
Her leadership philosophy centers around empowering her team to think critically, solve challenges strategically, and adopt innovative solutions to thrive in complex markets.
Renee is adept in guiding her team through the nuances of go-to-market strategies, demand generation, paid media, content creation, and social media engagement, while consistently meeting demanding business KPIs.
With a commitment to excellence and a knack for storytelling, Renee excels in developing compelling brand experiences resonating with audiences and driving substantial growth. She is both a visionary leader and a catalyst for change in the education sector.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Heidi Biggar
VP, Partner Marketing
Sovos Compliance
I am a passionate marketer with over 20 years of experience in influential marketing, analyst, and editorial roles. My career includes groundbreaking partner marketing positions at Sovos, HYCU, Commvault, Sungard Availability Services, and Hitachi Data Systems. Honored five times as a CRN Woman of the Channel (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2024), I possess extensive expertise in product, solutions, growth, and content marketing, which gives me a unique skillset and perspective in the industry.
I am a believer in lifelong learning, holding certifications in channel mastery (Channel Master, The Channel Company, 2018), leadership (ACE: Leadership by Influence, AchieveUnite, 2019), and business economics (Storage Economics Blue Belt, Hitachi Data Systems, 2011).
My accolades include:
• Dell EMC Global Alliances Marketing Partner of the Year and EMC Global Alliances Industry Partner of the Year (2017)
• EMC Honoree for International Women's Day (2014)
• Hitachi Spirit of Kaitaskusha-Seishin Award for outstanding personal initiative with partners VMware and Microsoft (2006)
I studied math, French, and political science at Tufts University and, on a whim, took a semester of Russian my senior year. I am the proud mother of two amazing women. I now live in the South with my husband, and our dogs.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Aimee Catalano
Global Partner Marketing Executive
Google Cloud
Aimee leads the Global Partner Marketing organization at Google Cloud. This team is responsible for joint marketing across the portfolio of Google Cloud partners and products. Through her 25+ years of experience in enterprise marketing, she’s held a variety of leadership roles with large and small companies including the Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Pure Storage and the Vice President of Alliance Marketing at Citrix where she joined from the XenSource acquisition. She currently sits on the Google GTM Advisory Board for Capital G, Alphabet’s Independent Growth fund, and the board of the Jimmy V Foundation Wine Celebration which has raised $158M in the fight against cancer.
Aimee earned her MBA at Santa Clara University, and is an industry-recognized thought leader in go-to-market strategy for partner ecosystems and for her impact on DEI. When not working, she enjoys cycling, tennis, and together with her husband keeping up with two very busy sports-loving teenagers.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Brooke Cunningham
Chief Marketing Officer
LogicMonitor
Brooke Cunningham is Chief Marketing Officer at LogicMonitor, where she is responsible for leading the global marketing strategy and organization. Brooke has dedicated her 26-year career to driving business growth for data-related B2B software companies, with an emphasis on fueling that growth through partners. A third time CMO, Brooke was previously CMO at inriver where she elevated the brand awareness and perception of the product information management vendor during her tenure. Prior to inriver, she was Chief Marketing Officer of Datto, a security and IT vendor for MSPs to service SMBs that was successfully acquired for $6.2 Billion.
Brooke has focused a great deal of her career on enabling joint partner business growth. She has also held senior roles at SAP, Qlik and Splunk. Notably, she played a key role in growing Splunk’s revenue from $650 million to over $2.5 billion during her tenure. She is focused on building for scale and driving outcome-based integrated marketing models that align with LogicMonitor’s overall strategic mission.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Marlena Fernandez
VP, Marketing
Scale Computing
Marlena Fernandez has more than 20 years of results-oriented global marketing experience helping organizations reach their business, marketing and sales goals. Currently, she is the Vice President of Marketing for Scale Computing. Fernandez is responsible for all aspects of marketing, with a focus on positioning the brand as a leader in the hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI), edge computing and virtualization markets. Prior to joining Scale Computing, Fernandez served in a number of leadership positions including Senior Marketing Director for Avoka, Vice President of Marketing at Cloud Lending Solutions and Managing Director for JustSmart Communications.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Kristin Heisner
Senior Director, Global Partner Marketing
Commvault
Kristin Heisner is a senior marketing executive with a strong background in partner/channel marketing within complex, high-tech, B2B corporations. She has held positions at Commvault, Amazon Web Services (AWS), VMware, NEC, and AT&T. As the Senior Director of Global Partner Marketing at Commvault, Kristin is a strategic thinker, builder, and results-driven leader. She closely collaborates with the company's sales and marketing teams to develop strategies that drive pipeline growth through partner-focused marketing demand generation initiatives.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Natascha Lee
Global Channel Partner & Alliances Marketing Leader
Cloudera
Natascha Lee, Head of Global Partner & Alliance Marketing at Cloudera, is a six-time winner of the Women of the Channel awards. She boasts over 20 years of channel marketing experience across multiple B2B technology firms, including her time here at Cloudera. In her position, Natascha has led the transformation of Cloudera’s already high-performing Global Partner & Alliance Marketing team, weaving together the art and science of marketing to drive demand. She and her team’s work has been instrumental in aggressively pursuing revenue goals and growing market share, as well as directly contributing to major growth within the partner marketing program. During her time with Cloudera, Natascha has helped facilitate major partner integrations with organizations like NVIDIA, among others, as the company continues to strengthen its offerings. Natascha is also a member of Partnership Leaders, a network built exclusively to elevate the role of partner teams in their companies.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Christina Nairn
Head of Americas Marketing
Sophos
Christina Nairn serves as the head of Americas marketing at Sophos, creating the vision for and leading the Americas Channel Marketing and Demand Generation teams with a focus on developing, driving, and implementing channel marketing excellence within Sophos’ partner communities across the USA, Canada, and Latin America.
A results-driven marketing professional and consistent top performer, Christina brings a wide range of experience and leadership roles in marketing and sales strategy from her 20 years in the technology sector, most of which has been spent focused on cybersecurity. Christina has proven success in the planning and execution of marketing programs that drive sales targets for both direct and indirect channels.
Prior to joining Sophos in 2005, Christina spent several years within the financial industry at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and CM Investment Management. Christina received her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Trinity Western University, and currently resides in Vancouver, BC.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Alex Stanton
Senior Director of Partner Marketing
Arctic Wolf
Alex brings 15 years of experience in technology and B2B marketing with a focus on strategic multichannel communication and engagement, program design, and fueling partner demand.
As Senior Director of Global Partner Marketing at Arctic Wolf, Alex was the company’s first partner marketer and one of the first 100 employees, pioneering the development of the partner marketing function and Arctic Wolf’s Partner Program. She leads both the channel and alliance marketing teams responsible for partner journey and experience, activation, and engagement. This includes supporting a diverse partner ecosystem and designing unique program and partner benefits, incentives that inspire action and drive partner demand, enablement tools that guide the partner’s sales efforts, and a communication strategy that captures partner mindshare and keeps partners informed and excited about selling Arctic Wolf’s Security Operations solutions.
Alex has a passion for building and scaling high-performing teams, a relentless curiosity, and a drive for pushing boundaries and maintaining excellence. She serves as a member of the Women of the Channel Advisory Board, is a five-time honoree of CRN’s WOTC recognition and is an active member in Arctic Wolf’s Women Transforming Tech (WTT) Pack Unity group. Alex resides in Minnesota with her husband and two daughters.
Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Colleen Tyler
Senior Director, Partner Marketing
Microsoft
Colleen Tyler is the Sr Director of the Global Partner Marketing and GTM Team at Microsoft. She leads a global team of marketing professionals accountable for delivering Go-To-Market campaigns and marketing services that help partners generate demand and accelerate growth. She is also responsible for GTM with Microsoft’s top strategic partners.
Throughout her multi-faceted career at Microsoft, Colleen has led marketing teams focused on driving value for customers including roles in Industry Product Marketing, where she launched the Microsoft Clouds for Industry in Healthcare, Retail and Financial Services and in the US field marketing organization for the $5B Public Sector business where her team was focused on ensuring all students have access to the best learning environments, enabling governments to increase the value they provide to citizens and improving the efficiency of the healthcare system in the US.
Colleen has twice won the coveted Circle of Excellence awards at Microsoft. She holds a BA from the University of Arizona and enjoys traveling, spending time with her husband John and her son. Colleen has a passion for bringing out the best in others, making a difference and continuing to enable our customers to change the world.
Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
Denise Collison
Senior Vice President, Public Sector
SHI International
As Sr. Vice President of SHI's Public Sector Business Unit, Denise's primary goals are to create and execute the sales, marketing and customer support strategies of a 700-employee business organization projected to top $4 billion in revenue in 2024. By leveraging her signature optimism, intelligence and leadership to foster an environment of collaboration, Denise bridges the gap between strategy and tactics. In addition to being deeply committed to - and engaged in - daily sales activities, Denise's leadership helps to strengthen SHI's partnerships with customers, vendors, and employees.
Denise is one of the "Founding Mothers" of SHI. Celebrating her 30th Anniversary with the 35-year old company this coming April, Denise was among the first 50 "Software House" employees and has played an extremely prominent role in defining the culture of the now 6,000-employee global solution provider for three decades.
Denise is passionate about mentorship and encouraging all employees to bring their full self to work. She believes this is only truly possible when employees are taught balance and feel valued.
Denise is most proudly a parent to two college-age children, working hard to support their independence and curiosity.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
Liz Costerisan
Director of Services and Strategy
Continental Resources (ConRes)
In 2003, Liz earned her Business Communications degree from Boston College, later obtaining her MBA from the University of Notre Dame in 2011. Throughout her two-decade tenure at Continental Resources (ConRes), she navigated various roles, from Inside Sales and Account Executive to Regional Sales Manager. Presently, she serves as the Director of Services and Strategy, spearheading Marketing, Managed Services, Strategic Partner Alliances, & Customer Success (CX).
Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
Joy Levine-Winn
Vice President, Services
Insight Enterprises
As the Director for Cloud Sales & Success at Insight, Joy Levine-Winn leads a 200-person team that delivers solutions for Microsoft, AWS, and Google. Before this role, she was the Sales Director for Insight Services for the East, where her team sold implementation solutions for Workforce Enablement, Infrastructure Optimization, and Digital Transformation. Joy has 15 years of experience at Microsoft in various leadership roles. She started at Microsoft in February 2000 as an Account Executive selling to Enterprise customers. In 2006, she moved to Microsoft’s Enterprise Services business as a Practice Manager in charge of the Support business for Infrastructure and Application solutions. In 2009, she went back to the Enterprise software business as a Productivity Sales Director, responsible for Office 365 technologies. In 2012, she became an Enterprise Sales Director to lead a team managing clients in the Northeast focused on all Microsoft technology solutions. In 2013, she joined the Services Sales team as the East Region Services Sales Director for Corporate Accounts, responsible for selling consulting and support solution offerings. Before joining Microsoft, she was an Account Executive for Corporate Software & Technology. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from The George Washington University.
Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
Brittany Locker
Vice President of Sales
1Path Managed Services
Since 2023, Brittany Locker has served as the Vice President of Sales at 1Path. In this role, she leads a sales team focused on expanding market reach and enhancing client satisfaction. With over 20 years of experience, Brittany has gained a reputation as a results-oriented leader with a passion for fostering collaboration and motivating others to reach their full potential.
Prior to her current role, Brittany held various leadership positions, including General Manager and Director of Business Process Outsourcing at 1Path, where she orchestrated significant improvements in operational efficiency and customer service excellence. Her tenure at companies like Public Storage and Target further honed her expertise in team leadership and customer-centric operations.
Brittany holds a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising from the University of Georgia. She emphasizes continuous learning, strategic thinking, and leveraging technology or data insights to drive growth.
Outside of work, Brittany is dedicated to her family, faith, and adventure racing. She participates in races across the U.S., tackling challenging terrains and aims to complete her first 5-day expedition race soon.
Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
Kristin Malek
Global Director of Business Diversity
CDW
Kristin Malek is the Global Director of Business Diversity at CDW. Malek has firmly established an innovative business diversity strategy that aligns with CDW’s core values. As the architect of CDW’s diverse supply chain with more than 1100+ suppliers, Malek ensures CDW’s continued investment in DE&I within their businesses. She is responsible for the firm’s total spend with diverse partners that in 2021 alone reached more than $3Billion. Under Kristin’s leadership, CDW was inducted into the prestigious Billion Dollar Roundtable and was named a Supplier Diversity Excellence Champion by Gartner.
A Cornell University graduate, Malek has held multiple leadership roles. Malek is a member of NMSDC, an advisory board member for Chicago Blend, and serves as Vice Chair of the Chicago Minority Supplier Diversity Council. As a proponent of women in technology, she is involved with Tech Scale, an advocacy group for diversity in supply chain within tech and is an executive board member for SheTek, a non-profit in New York City focused on women and young girls participating in STEM.
Malek is mother to two teenage girls and fosters their curiosity, independence and education but most of all grit and a will to succeed.
Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
Maryann Pagano
CEO & Co-Founder
BlackHawk Data
Maryann currently serves as CEO and co-founder of BlackHawk Data, a Women-Owned Solutions Provider and MSP based in New York City. With over 20 years of experience in the IT Channel, Maryann has built, managed, mentored and trained customer support teams both locally and nationally for a good portion of her career. Maryann has been a team lead and helped to build careers of many people throughout her career. She has a proven track record of driving customer success and building long-lasting relationships. Recognized by CRN as one of the top Women of the Channel, Maryann is dedicated to supporting and mentoring other Women-owned businesses and female entrepreneurs like herself. Maryann regularly hosts mentorship sessions as well as quarterly Women in Tech events bringing many people together and promoting networking within the channel.
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Chandra Cramer
General Manager of Commercial Partner Sales, Americas Global Partner Solutions, Microsoft
Microsoft
Chandra Cramer is an accomplished sales leader with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. Currently serving as the General Manager of Commercial Partner Sales, she is responsible for leading the Partner Sales strategy and supporting customers' digital & AI transformation within the Americas Global Partner Solutions ecosystem at Microsoft. Chandra has dedicated her career to bringing the transformative power of the cloud to mobile and IoT devices. She has extensive experience in solution sales, a commitment to partner excellence, and a proven leadership track record. Her strengths include strategic thinking, relationship building, sales and marketing strategy, and business development, and she is passionate about having a broad impact and driving others to a common cause.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Laura Kelly
Sr. Marketing Manager, GSI
Fortinet
Throughout my career, I’ve been a fan of building up women and appreciating all career paths whether the choice is to work full-time, work part-time or to step away for a time to focus on personal and family life. Over the past 12 months I’ve been actively involved in the Women of Fortinet’s Mentorship program. I have 3 women that I meet with once a month to discuss career goals and growth. Together we work through any challenges facing them as they establish themselves in a traditionally male-dominated field. These women help me, as well, grow both professionally and personally as a mentor.
I was also part of the team that activated the Fortinet’s Women in Technology conference in March 2024. I encouraged women from our MSSP & Global System Integrator partners to attend, providing them the opportunity to listen to inspiring keynote speeches and network with other women in the industry.
I advocate for diversity and inclusion within my team and among partners, ensuring that women’s contributions are recognized and valued. By amplifying the voices of women around me, I have helped cultivate a supportive community where they’re inspired to share their unique perspectives and pursue career goals.
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Alison Kenney Paul
Managing Director, Go To Market
Alison Paul is Managing Director of Global Partnerships at Google Cloud, leading a cross functional global team that sets the Go To Market strategy for key GSI's. As a former Vice Chair and leader of one of the largest US Practices, Retail, at Deloitte, she brings thought leadership and deep understanding of ecosystems and the role that influence and trust play in successfully partnering across tech and professional services firms. She is also board director at Sysco where she chairs the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee, As a lifelong champion of women and girls (having helped found the Network of Executive Women, serving on the board of Girls Inc. and invited to join the International Women's Forum), she mentors and sponsors dozens of women (and men!) at Google, in High Tech and in multiple other industries and disciplines including academia, public service and nonprofits. She is a believer in 'paying it forward' and that every individual has an amazing story that any of us can learn from -- and so makes time to listen to and advise less experienced colleagues as they navigate pivotal points in their careers. She was named a 'Woman to Watch' by Diversity Inc.
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Kristin O'Grady
Sr. Director, National Channels
Trend Micro
Kristin O’Grady meets people and partners where they are; pursuing progress not perfection. She drives initiative and aligns her mission to her customers to make mutual history achieving new milestones. As a senior leader in the Trend Micro channel organization Kristin has been a rising star during her 10 and a half + year tenure at the Cybersecurity company. She’s continued to modernize Trend Micro’s channel approach to be relevant with partners, bringing real value to build channel heroes. Advanced technologies can be complex so this includes breaking silos because the channel is where “IT” can all come together! Kristin has been fortunate to build and lead a talented team keeping Trend Micro’s core values at heart and challenging each other to do so. Kristin is a volunteer Ambassador in Trend’s Internet Safety for Kids & Families (ISKF) Program educating students, parents and educators on Digital Citizenship and a founding member of Trend’s Women's Employee Resource Group, "Women @ Trend". She has an action-packed family life, biking with her kids to school, volunteering with Breakthrough Urban Ministries, an active member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and is an enthusiastic bird watcher.
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Jessica Reece
Head of MSSP and Strategic Accounts
Check Point
With over a decade of experience in the cybersecurity industry, I currently serve as the Head of Strategic and Managed Service Provider Organization at Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd. Since January 2022, I have led strategic initiatives to enhance service provider partnerships, driving growth and innovation. Prior to this, I was the Head of Strategic Service Provider Organization, contributing significantly to the company’s success in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
From October 2017 to January 2020, I focused on Managed Service Providers (MSP) at Check Point, after a tenure at Palo Alto Networks managing MSSP Channel Operations. My experience includes a role as Global Channel Manager, Sales Operations – AT&T at Fortinet and various leadership positions at McAfee Security, where I led global sales operations for AT&T and served as an Advisory Enterprise Account Manager.
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Brown College, where I was a Dean’s List honoree and recipient of academic honors. My career has been marked by a commitment to driving sales growth, developing strategic partnerships, and leading successful operational initiatives.
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Dawn Rundell
Director, eCommerce and Retail
Schneider Electric
Dawn is Director, eCommerce and Retail Channel Sales at APC by Schneider Electric where she is responsible for eCommerce and Retail channel partner alignment, driving revenue growth and improving customer engagement throughout their online buying journey. With over 20 years of channel experience, Dawn leverages her long-term business relationships with channel partners and her channel network to accelerate eCommerce initiatives. While at APC by Schneider Electric, she has been awarded CRN’s Women of the Channel recognition from 2015 to 2022. As a higher performer, she also has been a recipient of APC’s President’s Club for 8 years of her 14-year tenure.
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Urvashi Sheth
Chief Customer Officer
Intermedia Cloud Communications
I am responsible for Intermedia’s Global Client Services, including Onboarding, Technical Support, Customer Service, and Strategic Client Service Management. I joined Intermedia in September 2019. I am a leader in Global Customer Support with over 20 years of experience building and directing multi-tiered, omni-channel customer support and service operations for startups to Fortune 500 companies. Previously, I managed Global Customer Care for Western Digital and SanDisk, overseeing global Support and Warranty Operations. I have vast experience in B2B, B2C, retail, and enterprise support. My passion is developing innovative, AI-based, cost-effective, culturally appropriate, customer-friendly solutions that not only improve the bottom line but also enhance the customer experience for a rapidly growing global customer base. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Mumbai and my MBA from the University of San Francisco’s Graduate School of Management.
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Kandyce Tripp
Managing Director, MSP Program
IBM
Kandyce brings 20+ years of achievements at IBM, Palo Alto Networks, Polycom, Avaya, and other top technology organizations.
Today, as Managing Director of IBM’s MSP Program, Kandyce is responsible for designing, developing, deploying, and managing its global MSP Program. Prior, Kandyce led the design, development, and implementation of the company’s Worldwide Security Services Strategic Alliance Partner Program for IBM’s Cybersecurity Services division in Consulting. Prior to joining IBM, Kandyce served as a Vice President at Palo Alto Networks, where she focused on building the operational go-to-market frameworks, infrastructure, channels, and alliances to drive revenue growth.
Currently, Kandyce serves on several advisory boards including the Executive Women’s Forum, the Channel Company’s Women of the Channel, IBM’s Women in Security Exceling (WISE) and Sigma Kappa’s Zeta Chapter at George Washington University.
Recognized for her influential leadership style and collaboration skills, Kandyce has been recognized as a "Power 100" Women in the Channel by CRN six times between 2012 and 2018 and as a "Woman of the Channel" eleven times from 2012 through 2024. She was also recognized as a “Channel Chief” in 2023 and 2024.
Kandyce holds a BS in Business Administration from Miami University and an MBA from University of Maryland.
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Mary Beth Walker
Vice President & Head of Global Channel Strategy
HP Inc.
Mary Beth Walker is an accomplished sales leader with extensive experience in go-to-market (GTM) strategy and business planning. She currently leads HP's Channel Strategy and Enablement organization, responsible for 85% of the company's total revenue. In this role, she drives the implementation of HP's Future Ready strategy, empowering both the company and its partners.
Mary Beth is at the forefront of efforts to equip partners and their sales teams with the knowledge and capabilities to navigate the impact of AI on the customer journey, anticipate market dynamics, and manage rapid change. Her commitment to sustainability is evident through her role as the driving force behind HP Amplify Impact, a unique program engaging partners across 48 countries in Climate Action, Human Rights, and Digital Equity. Since joining HP in 2011, Mary Beth has held various leadership positions, including managing the HP global accounts program, overseeing the worldwide GTM strategy team, and leading multiple M&A projects involving partners.
Before joining HP, Mary Beth held progressive sales leadership roles at Sun Microsystems, encompassing product sales, inside sales, professional services sales and delivery, and global sales operations.
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Jen Waltz
Vice President, Global Alternate Channels
Kron Technologies
Jen Waltz has been VP of Global Alternate Channel Sales at Kron Technologies since May 2023. She is an accomplished business development leader with 20 years of experience who believes mentoring is THE foundational leadership skill.
Specializing in enterprise cybersecurity, focusing on access management threat detection solutions, Jen has driven over $2B in growth through digital transformation, direct sales, and strategic channel partnerships. An expert in Hyperscalers, OEM hardware, SDLC, and Agile methodologies, Jen leads high-performance teams, excels at partner relations, and consistently surpasses revenue targets. As the Founding Sales Operations Manager, Jen's career trajectory began at Yipes Communications. Her journey continued at Microsoft in enterprise sales, followed by various leadership roles at Unisys and Equinix. At Equinix, she was the first minority female mid-level leader in the Global Partner Channel and co-chairwoman of Women in Tech Sales. Jen, a Benedictine University graduate focusing on business risks and strategic planning, champions diversity and mentorship. She founded The Brooks Firm, supporting re-entry into the workforce for formerly incarcerated individuals, and mentored emerging filmmakers through The Blackhouse. Jen's leadership, marked by integrity, accountability, and lifelong commitment to learning, reflects values instilled by her US Air Force veteran father and Girl Scout Law.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
Tammy Cooper
CEO, CFO & Chairman
Technologent
As CEO/CFO/Chairman, Tammy is responsible for the oversight and management of all departments of Technologent including its sales, finance, personnel, legal, corporate and governance functions.
Prior to her promotion to CEO and Chairman, Tammy functioned as the CFO and VP of Human Resources for Technologent over the past 15 years. Under her guidance, Cooper has driven 25% year over year revenue and GP growth in leading the corporation through its growth phase from an emerging startup to its current standing as an established $500M+ technology integrator recognized throughout the industry for its value-added professional services businesses in conjunction with its diverse OEM product portfolio. Cooper’s financial acumen has been key in leading the company through growth during downturns in the economy and economic expansions, efficient audit controls, strategic cash flow management, banking relationships, strategic planning and needed credit line financing to spur growth and critical investments.
Prior to joining Technologent, Tammy worked for a national family-owned steel company for 17 years managing their HR and finance functions. During her successful career she has won numerous awards for leadership.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
Tiffany Goddard
Vice President, Sales
Carahsoft
Tiffany joined Carahsoft in 2007 and has played a significant role in the company's record growth, culminating in recent company-wide 2023 revenues of over $16B.
With experience in federal, state and local government, and education sales, Tiffany is a strategic contributor to Carahsoft's success. Under Tiffany's leadership, sales for her portfolio focused on a variety of Government initiatives including Customer Experience, Geospatial, Law Enforcement and Cloud have grown from $5M in 2012 to over $657M in 2023. Tiffany organizes hundreds of educational events each year to support the vendor and partner ecosystems.
In addition to sales contributions, Tiffany leads the corporate initiative to ensure customer and partner success through training. In 2023 this training program grew 32% in revenue and trained over 6,000 customers and partners on technology they purchased to ensure they get maximum value. Tiffany mentored the 100+ people aligned to this initiative.
As a testament to her successes, Tiffany was recognized by CRN as a Power 100 honoree in 2024.
Tiffany received her MBA from William and Mary in 2023, and she is leveraging this experience to best mentor next generation leaders. She is currently delivering corporate training on leading by example and the importance of mentorship.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
Azi Handley
VP, Global Strategic Alliances
Kyndryl
A technology executive focused on creative solutions for our customers' every day problems, bringing key stakeholders together both internally and externally through key global strategic partnerships. Focus on identifying partnership opportunities and negotiating win-win agreements to support mutual success and collaboration. Playing a critical role in extending market reach, accessing new customer segments, and driving revenue through joint ventures and alliances.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
Brenda Hudson
Senior Vice President, Commercial Sales, Sales Enablement and Learning and Development, Insight North America
Insight Enterprises
Brenda Hudson assumed her role as senior vice president of commercial sales, sales enablement and learning and development in Jan. 2021. She joined Insight in 2015 as vice president of inside sales.
Prior to joining Insight, Hudson served as executive director of sales at Dell Technologies. During her 15-year tenure, she held several sales leadership roles, including growing the business into new territories across the U.S. Hudson also held global roles developing Dell’s acquisitions strategy and supporting managed services.
Hudson earned a degree in business management from Ashford University. Before entering the IT industry at Dell, Hudson worked for American Airlines where she developed sales training programs and led global sales teams focused on expanding into new business opportunities.
Today, Hudson leads Insight commercial sales teammates across North America to help clients achieve desired business outcomes through Insight Intelligent Technology Solutions™. She lives out Insight’s core values by building trust first. With trust in place, Hudson guides others into new growth opportunities so they can achieve their highest potential.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
Regina Manfredi
Executive Vice President and General Manager
Crayon US
Regina Manfredi has a passion for helping customers and partners optimize and innovate with software, cloud, data, and AI has served as a throughline in her more than 20 years in the technology industry. As the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Crayon, a global IT optimization and transformation consultancy practice and the US market leader for IT optimization services, she leads a team of experts who deliver solutions enabling scalable data platforms, AI, and IoT. Regina brings to Crayon a strong background in Software and Cloud services, Data, and AI innovation. Previously, Regina served as Vice President of Worldwide CSP Alliances at Teradata, a data analytics software company that helps clients build analytics ecosystems and predictive intelligence. Prior to Teradata and Crayon, Regina spent 20+ years in the Microsoft and AWS ecosystem, serving as SVP, Corporate Sales & Software at PCM and Insight, driving growth and enhancing the client experience. Regina attended the University of Houston. She serves on the board of the Women Executive Channel Advisory Network (WECAN) and is a member of the Athena Alliance.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
Heather Rim
Chief Marketing Officer
Optiv
Heather Rim is a global marketing and communications executive with more than two decades of experience building brands to fuel growth. As chief marketing officer for Optiv, she leads all aspects of marketing and communications to accelerate brand visibility, drive demand and inspire stakeholder engagement. She also serves as executive sponsor of the firm’s Environmental Social and Governance program and Optiv Women’s Network.
Rim joined Optiv from AECOM, a leading infrastructure consulting firm, where she served as chief marketing and communications officer. Previously, she held senior corporate communications, marketing and investor relations roles at companies including Avery Dennison, Disney and WellPoint.
Active in the community, Rim is a board member and immediate past president of the Downtown Women’s Center, an organization dedicated to ending homelessness for women in greater Los Angeles. She serves on the Annenberg Board of Councilors, Center for Public Relations Advisory Board and is Chair of the Annenberg Alumni Advisory Board at the University of Southern California. Rim is also a member of the Wall Street Journal CMO Council and Ambassador of the Executive Women’s Forum. She earned a master’s in communication management from the University of Southern California and bachelor’s in marketing from Azusa Pacific University.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
Alicia Rasta
Vice President and Head of Global Sales
Televerde
Alicia Rasta is the Vice President and Head of Global Sales at Televerde, a global sales and marketing company that provides inside sales, demand generation, and customer experience solutions to B2B businesses around the world. The company’s unique business model provides career opportunities to individuals in disempowered communities, specifically incarcerated women.
Rasta has been with Televerde for over 14 years, working her way up through the company onto the Executive Team. As Vice President and Head of Global Sales, she thrives on working with prospective customers, architecting bespoke programs for clients that deliver tangible ROI, partnering with Fortune 500 companies across all industries.
Additionally, Rasta is an advocate for the Televerde business model. Her work ethic and passion for her clients’ success is only matched by her drive and determination to provide meaningful work opportunities for the incarcerated women who come after her.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
Krystina Silva
VP of Strategic Planning and Projects
NWN Carousel
Krystina Silva is an accomplished executive recognized for her ability to foster collaboration, build effective partnerships across organizational boundaries, and drive leadership in organizational change. In her role as VP of Strategic Planning and Projects at NWN Carousel, she has been instrumental in transforming the company into a world class technology service provider.
With a strong background in program management, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a proactive approach, Krystina successfully led the company’s transition into a customer-centric, offerings-based organization focused on delivering positive business outcomes. She also spearheaded the development of NWN Carousel’s unique and highly differentiated platform, the Experience Management Portal.
Krystina is deeply committed to mentoring and supporting the advancement of women in leadership. In 2023, she helped launch NWN Carousel's first affinity group, Stronger TogetHER. This group aims to empower women by fostering connections, providing professional development opportunities, and amplifying female voices. Krystina serves as the Executive Chair of Stronger TogetHER affinity group.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Tina Gravel
Vice President Global Strategic Alliances
Majesco
Tina's expertise has made her a fixture in the Global Technology Channel. Prior to joining Majesco, where she’s responsible for expanding their global alliances strategy, she was Quantexa’s VP/Global Head of Channels. Prior to Quantexa, she was Appgate’s Senior VP/Global Channels and Alliances and a cybersecurity influencer. She has served as the Senior VP/Global Channels and Strategic Alliances for Cyxtera and Cryptzone, Dimension Data's GM/VP Cloud Services, Nirvanix's VP/Worldwide Sales and Marketing, and held key roles at Terremark, where she helped guide the team from $400,000 in sales to an eventual $1.4 billion acquisition by Verizon. She's held senior positions at NetGravity, SAS, Sybase and CSC. As an independent consultant, she was passionate about empowering start-up technology organizations to increase revenue, monetize intellectual property, and secure funding. She’s won countless awards from CRN and others, namely Women in the Channel (8 times) and Channel Chief (4 times). She serves on Advisory Boards for Dark Cryptonite and Demo-Force and was previously on the advisory boards for Channel Partners Online, Cloud Girls and CompTIA Talent and Diversity. She’s a founding member of Women in Alliances and serves on the Service Club of Chicago’s Board of Managers, a 127-year-old organization.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Holly Hartman Niedzielski
Director, Global Events and Communities
Ingram Micro Inc.
A 28-year veteran of Ingram Micro, Holly's responsibilities include leading a team to develop and execute the company's solution provider peer-to-peer communities, such as the Trust X Alliance (TXA) Community and SMB Alliance (SMBA) Community, as well as partner advisory councils. In addition, Holly has overall responsibility for Agency Ingram Micro's Global Event Marketing organization, which owns the strategy and execution behind event logistics for thousands of international events. Holly and team are also responsible for the overall strategy and execution of Ingram Micro's ONE Event – Ingram Micro's only multi-solution event in all the global regions. Holly resides in Snyder, NY, with her husband Mark, who is a 35-year Ingram Micro veteran and also a volunteer firefighter and medic, and two kitties named Sadie and Finn. Most recently, Holly was honored to be named one of CRN's Women of the Channel and was inducted into the Ingram Micro Trust X Alliance’s Hall of Fame.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Kristi Kirby
SVP, Vendor Marketing and Programs
TD SYNNEX
Kristi Kirby is Senior Vice President, Vendor Marketing and Programs for TD SYNNEX. In this capacity, she is responsible for strategic business planning and driving multi-faceted go-to-market awareness, enablement and targeted growth programs across all TD SYNNEX business segments, vertical markets and partner segments to achieve mutually desired growth and business objectives with vendors and partners.
Prior to this position Kristi was a Senior Vice President, Public Sector Vendor Management and Marketing responsible for strategic business planning, business development, incubation, training and development in alignment with our vendors, where she drove continuous double-digit growth in both top line revenue and partner growth. Kristi was recognized as a 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024 CRN Woman of the Channel and as a 2024 CRN Channel Chief for her efforts in the industry.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Lauren Landry
Vice President of Sales Development & Inside Sales
Arctic Wolf
Lauren is a seasoned Inside Sales & Sales Development Leader with over two decades of experience in software sales, she has consistently delivered innovative solutions and strategies that have accelerated revenue growth & market penetration.
Her journey began in large, complex organizations, where she was responsible for +200 people organizations that consistently outperformed targets, thanks to a combination of strategic thinking, persuasive communication, and a deep understanding of business needs. Over the past few years she has moved to help startups build a high performing sales development organization and future sales talent pool.
A key to her success has been the ability to embrace change and adapt to the evolving landscape of software sales. By staying abreast of industry trends and technological advancements, she has led teams to adopt cutting-edge sales methodologies, leveraging CRM systems, digital marketing tools, and sales development tools to maximize efficiency and impact.
In leading teams, she has emphasized the importance of continuous learning, professional development, and diversity, fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration. This focus has not only driven remarkable achievements but also contributed to the professional growth and success of my team members.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Sara Verri
Global Head of Field and Partner Marketing
Nozomi Networks
Sara Verri is a seasoned marketing professional with over eleven years of experience in cybersecurity, focusing on demand generation, business development, account-based marketing & field initiatives. Previously responsible for the planning and execution of the field and channel marketing strategies for the EMEA region, she is now responsible for the global partner marketing strategy in Nozomi Networks - the global leader in OT and IoT security, protecting 102M OT, IoT and IT devices worldwide. Prior to Nozomi, Sara worked as ABM Director at Dataiku and several marketing positions in Palo Alto Networks, giving her a 360 view on marketing and business.
Sara is known as a passionate and empathetic leader. She always goes above and beyond for the company and its people, focusing on engaging her coworkers on a human level to bring them closer together and develop them professionally. She is also a strategic-thinker, finding innovative solutions to problems and overcoming barriers to exceed business goals.
Verri earned a master's degree in Economics & Management from the University of Rome Tor Vergata with honors. She speaks English, French and Italian. In her free time, she enjoys Reformer pilates and Gyrotonic, traveling and cooking.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Jen Waltz
Vice President, Global Alternate Channels
Kron Technologies
Jen Waltz has been VP of Global Alternate Channel Sales at Kron Technologies since May 2023. She is an accomplished business development leader with 20 years of experience who believes mentoring is THE foundational leadership skill.
Specializing in enterprise cybersecurity, focusing on access management threat detection solutions, Jen has driven over $2B in growth through digital transformation, direct sales, and strategic channel partnerships. An expert in Hyperscalers, OEM hardware, SDLC, and Agile methodologies, Jen leads high-performance teams, excels at partner relations, and consistently surpasses revenue targets. As the Founding Sales Operations Manager, Jen's career trajectory began at Yipes Communications. Her journey continued at Microsoft in enterprise sales, followed by various leadership roles at Unisys and Equinix. At Equinix, she was the first minority female mid-level leader in the Global Partner Channel and co-chairwoman of Women in Tech Sales. Jen, a Benedictine University graduate focusing on business risks and strategic planning, champions diversity and mentorship. She founded The Brooks Firm, supporting re-entry into the workforce for formerly incarcerated individuals, and mentored emerging filmmakers through The Blackhouse. Jen's leadership, marked by integrity, accountability, and lifelong commitment to learning, reflects values instilled by her US Air Force veteran father and Girl Scout Law.
Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Robin Wolf
Senior Director, Enterprise Global Partner Marketing
NVIDIA
Robin Wolf is a proven marketing and channel visionary with a successful track record spanning over 20 years in the technology industry. Robin developed the NVIDIA partner marketing organization and has made significant contributions to the exponential growth of the NVIDIA partner marketing ecosystem. Her team manages partner relationships with global and regional partner marketing and sales leaders to drive partner pipeline and revenues.
Prior to joining NVIDIA, Robin held senior leadership roles including Head of Global Alliances at NetApp and Dell developing and managing joint global marketing strategy and execution with Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Oracle, Cisco, NA Channel and including multiple industries such as federal, civilian, healthcare and higher education. She also has expert knowledge supporting MDF negotiations, budgeting and execution.
Robin was recognized as 2023 CRN Marketing Executive of the Year Finalist; 2023 & 2022 Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the Channel and 2021 North American Winner of Archer Awards for Strategic Alliance Program Excellence. She is also a featured host/panelist in the 2022-2024 TechTarget Partner Marketing Visionaries Summits.
Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
Lauren Gonzalez
Manager, Customer Success Center
NWN Carousel
Lauren Gonzalez was born in Virginia, but spent most of her formative years in New Mexico. She now resides in Texas with her husband of 14 years, along with their 5 children and 2 dogs. Lauren finds joy in reading and working out in her free time. Her professional journey began with earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration.
Her leadership career started in healthcare, where she contributed to an outpatient cardiac unit in New Mexico. After taking a year off to care for her first born, Lauren transitioned into a new career at T-Mobile. During her decade-long tenure there, she specialized in workforce management and reporting. In the summer of 2022, she joined NWN Carousel, marking a new, transformative chapter in her career.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
Amy Hall
Director-Partner Management and Strategic Alliances
Insight
Amy Hall is a Director at Insight with over 17 years of experience building and managing global strategic partnerships and alliances for cutting-edge ISVs, data center storage and AI technology companies. She is a strategic leader and trusted advisor focused on partnering with senior stakeholders to identify, design, develop, align, launch, and execute the vision for global partner hybrid & multi-cloud business initiatives that drive expansion, performance, and revenue growth and maximize client ROI at scale. Her key partnership responsibilities include NetApp, Cisco, Splunk and Nutanix, and her and her team of Partner Managers and Business Development Managers work with internal and external stakeholders to identify key strategic initiatives and growth drivers aligned to Insight’s areas of expertise to maximize partner solution & Insight services growth.
Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
Alex Iversen
Senior Vendor Marketing Manager
GuidePoint Security
Alex Iversen drives Partner Marketing for GuidePoint Security, a leading cybersecurity provider that enables organizations to make smarter decisions and minimize risk. With a wealth of experience as a seasoned partner marketing expert, Alex’s dynamic leadership style has been instrumental in propelling GuidePoint forward and consistently surpassing pipeline and revenue targets. Alex has a tangible passion for field and channel and bridging the gap between sales and marketing. She thrives on connecting people and programs to meet in the channel and drive growth for all. Prior to joining GuidePoint, Alex shaped global partner marketing strategies and led global channel programs focused on partnership-driven growth across various cybersecurity organizations, including Noname Security, FireMon, FishNet Security and more.
Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
Kim Kamenicky
Director of Marketing
Advizex Technologies, LLC
Kim has been at Advizex since 2011, holding various positions throughout the organization. Currently, she is the Director of Marketing, responsible for brand positioning and lead generation for the entire organization. In her role, Kim is responsible for creating and executing marketing plans for OEMS, Advizex Services, Advizex Practices, as well as across the four core verticals.
Prior to Advizex, Kim worked in the healthcare industry, as the Marketing Manager at a Physical Therapy Practice. There, she oversaw new customer acquisition, social media, and website.
Kim earned her BA in Communication from the University of Pittsburgh, and her MA in Journalism and Communications from Point Park University.
Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
Krystal Klein
Manager of Business Operations
Epoch Concepts
Krystal Klein is a dedicated Business Operations Manager with a passion for streamlining processes and optimizing efficiency. With five years of invaluable experience at Epoch Concepts, she plays a vital role in driving operational excellence and fostering a collaborative work environment. Krystal holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of New Mexico.
Outside of work, Krystal finds joy in cheering on her niece at volleyball matches, showcasing her commitment to family and community. She also appreciates quiet evenings at home with her 2 dogs.
Krystal Klein's professional journey began with a strong academic foundation at the University of New Mexico, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration. Her education equipped her with a solid understanding of business principles and management strategies, which she has successfully applied throughout her career.
Joining Epoch Concepts five years ago, Krystal quickly distinguished herself as a proactive and results-driven Business Operations Manager. Her role involves overseeing day-to-day operations, optimizing workflows, and implementing strategies that enhance organizational efficiency. Krystal's dedication to her work is evident in her commitment to fostering a productive and harmonious workplace environment.
Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
Fiona Missaghi
Director of Partnerships
Cipher
Fiona is a results-driven professional serving as the National Director of Partnerships at Cipher. She has demonstrated exceptional leadership, driving significant growth and innovation within Cipher’s partner ecosystem. Fiona’s contributions have been instrumental in empowering partners with enhanced capabilities, building strong relationships and fostering closer alignment between Cipher and its partners.
She has successfully launched multiple partner campaigns and events, significantly boosting engagement and collaboration. Fiona's strategic initiatives have led to increased partner participation and revenue growth for Cipher in the channel. Fiona helps coordinate, motivate, and educate field teams with channel partners and leverages business development with innovative solutions to help grow business with strong go-to market strategies.
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Alice Ancel
Partner Development Manager
Microsoft
Alice Ancel is a Sr Partner Development Manager at Microsoft for North America, currently based in the United States. With a rich background in technology and international business development, Alice has held various roles at Microsoft supporting the Channel, from SIs, to ISVs, MSPs, CSPs and most recently as a PDM for one Microsoft's largest global licensing, OEM & Services partner. Alice is responsible for formulating alliance strategies and GTM programs to drive revenue aligned to business objectives within Microsoft's cross-functional ecosystem. Alice is an active member of the Women in Technology group and has been recognized as a role model & leader in the organization for showing energy, partnership, and care for others.
Alice is known for her involvement in various projects and initiatives to accelerate growth with the channel, along with her engagement with mentorship programs. She has a strong focus on partner development and has been instrumental in driving business growth and fostering partnerships. Alice's work ethic and dedication to her role and her broader team have built her reputation as an innovator and leader in the channel. Her education includes a Master's degree from Université Paris Dauphine as well as a Bachelor's degree from Concordia University.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Katie Boland
Senior Partner Program Operations Manager
Arctic Wolf
Katie joined Arctic Wolf in August 2022 as the inaugural member of the Program Ops team, playing a pivotal role in shaping and defining the identity of her position and driving key business initiatives. She is known for her collaborative spirit and approach and has led projects such as evaluating and implementing a new Partner portal, enhancing and refining the Partner Program, implementing new marquee programmatic benefits, and the creation and shaping of Arctic Wolf’s International Partner Program. Katie graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in international business, Marketing, and Spanish. She is known for approaching each day with a positive attitude, a friendly smile, and commitment to delivering outcomes centered around maximizing the Partner experience.
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Gwyn Edwards
VP of Strategic & Channel Partners
NexGen Technologies
Gwyn Edwards is an experienced Channel Leader with 35+ years in the high-tech industry. With a history of building and managing successful partner programs, both for startups and for large enterprise solution providers such as Oracle, Acme Packet and Nortel, Gwyn has a track record of achieving business goals and meeting sales quota. Gwyn's philosophy is that by understanding channel partners' go-to-market models and then guiding them to success, we can ensure that all parts of the partner ecosystem are profitable. Gwyn is a regular blog and podcast contributor and has been recognized by CRN Women of the Channel.
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Mikayla Engel
Partner Marketing Manager
LogicMonitor
Mikayla has been an instrumental force in driving the success of LogicMonitor as a Partner Marketing Manager. With over 5 years of experience in the Channel world, Mikayla has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovative thinking, and an unwavering commitment to fostering strong partnerships that have significantly contributed to the company's growth and success.
In her role, Mikayla has successfully developed and executed comprehensive marketing strategies that align with partner goals and drive mutual growth. Her strategic approach to co-marketing initiatives has led to an increase in partner-generated revenue and brand awareness across LogicMonitor’s partner ecosystem.
Mikayla is known for her ability to build and maintain strong relationships with partners, ensuring that both LogicMonitor and its partners achieve their marketing objectives. Her exceptional communication skills and deep understanding of partner needs have enabled her to create tailored marketing campaigns and valuable assets to drive partners to sell LogicMonitor, as well as strategically plan and execute activities that resonate with target audiences and deliver measurable results.
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Halle Epstein
US Channel Inside Sales Manager
Schneider Electric
Halle Epstein is a Product Marketing Specialist for the Home and Business Networks division of APC by Schneider Electric. Halle focuses on content creation for the Personal Power and Digital offer space. Prior to that, she held marketing positions on the North American eCommerce team. Based in the Boston City Hub, Halle holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Leadership from the University of Rhode Island.
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Christina Kelly
Americas MSSP Client Executive
Vectra AI
Kelly recently joined Vectra AI as its Americas MSSP Client Executive. Previously she was the Channel Partnership Manager at Exabeam. As a career growth and development strategist, Kelly was responsible for facilitating partner programming and go-to-market strategies for Exabeam’s managed service partners. In addition, Kelly is also the founder at BeeMused, a “food philosophy” brand focused on reinvigorating our relationship with food by the use of local sustainability and personal curiosity and a Board Member at Culinuity, an incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on closing the gap between the intention and impact of solutions aimed at resolving food insecurity. Kelly also serves as the Director of Strategic Growth and a board Member at NYMA, leading strategy in developing audiences in accordance with new international expansion, specifically in EMEA and APJ. In addition to her role driving channel partnership success with Exabeam, Christina was also a passionate advocate for a more inclusive and diverse culture within the company and the cybersecurity industry at large. She was the founder of Exabeam’s Black at Exabeam (BAE) employee resource group (ERG), where she championed numerous opportunities and learning initiatives that contributed to Exabeam’s award-winning inclusive and people-first culture.
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Lynsy Marshall
Sr. Field & Channel Marketing Manager
Infinidat
Lynsy Marshall is the Sr. Marketing Manager for Field & Channel and Global Alliances at Infinidat and the Marketing Lead for Infinidat Federal, a wholly owned subsidiary of Infinidat focused on the U.S. Government. Prior to joining Infinidat, Marshall led events for both Netcracker and Connectwise, formally Continuum Managed Services. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire. Marshall’s leadership skills, drive and versatility has helped her achieve continued success in her career. As a dynamic and visionary marketing professional with an exceptional track record in driving business growth, she continuously raises the bar. And with an unwavering dedication to achieving results, she has carved her path as a trailblazer in the marketing industry with her tight cooperation with Infinidat’s channel partners and Infinidat’s sales team.
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Andrea McGlothin
Senior Account Executive
Moovila
Andrea McGlothin is a rising executive who strives to make a positive impact for both her clients, partners and the businesses she supports. Her personal relatability, sales excellence and lifelong journey for growth has set her apart in the MSP industry. In 2023, she identified a crucial need in the MSP market, driving Moovila's significant growth and securing initial clients like CW, Halo, and Autotask. Andrea achieved top earner status in net new partner MSP clients, and set company records with the highest number of new clients in a year. Her exceptional sales skills include the fastest contract signing and the top revenue record in monthly contract value. Andrea's innovative content creation and marketing strategies, such as impactful demo videos and engaging LinkedIn posts, significantly increased MSP pipeline and engagement. Her efforts in networking and presenting at industry conferences generated valuable leads. Andrea also excelled in training new team members and collaborating with Operations to ensure smooth customer transitions. Her achievements underscore her expertise, efficiency, and dedication, making her a vital asset to Moovila's success.
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Kerry Robinson
Commercial Distribution Director
Ping Identity
Kerry Robinson is an experienced Channel Sales professional with 15 years of focus on Distribution, Resellers, Regional Service Integrator’s and Manage Service Providers in the Cyber Security Industry. With expertise in migrating to the cloud, authentication, endpoint security and encryption. Winning awards for taking action, creating incredible customer experiences and being customer driven. She’s equally passionate about setting her partners up for success, with extensive experience launching MSP programs and Distribution with companies like Symantec and Ping Identity. Kerry is passionate about diversity, championing change both internally and externally at Ping Identity as a Global Employee Resource Group (ERG) Champion for PingRED (Racial, Ethnic and Diversity). Kerry continually strives to create a better world for her two young men and is a certified Hot 26 Yoga instructor with 150 hours of dedicated teacher training.
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Samantha Serpa
Senior Director of Marketing
ESET North America
Samantha Serpa has climbed the ranks at ESET North America to become Senior Director of Marketing. New to this role, she brought extensive experience to the marketing team from her time managing ESET’s training and development team where she created new awareness programs, certifications and training resources that benefited channel partners, end users and ESET employees.
With a clear vision and unwavering determination, Samantha is spearheading efforts in this new role to transform ESET's brand perception, align marketing investments to channel feedback, and elevate the company’s market position with a laser focus on the channel. Her exceptional strengths in leadership, collaboration and problem-solving have played a pivotal role in shaping ESET’s success as a channel-first organization by aligning with sales leadership and ESET’s new go-to-market business units.
Having risen through the ranks at ESET for 16 years, Samantha embodies a rising star - pushing boundaries as ESET’s North America marketing leader and finding new ways to communicate with target audiences, collaborate with colleagues, and formulate winning plans to drive channel partners’ continued success.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
Sabrina Verburg
Head of Procurement
CDW Canada
Sabrina’s professional journey in the IT industry is a narrative of unwavering commitment and remarkable achievement. With an impressive 26-year tenure, she has not only witnessed the evolution of technology but has also shaped it through her role as the Head of Procurement at CDW Canada.
Her career is marked by a rich tapestry of collaborations, having forged strong connections with leaders, peers, distribution partners, and a multitude of suppliers. Her approach to work is fueled by a fervent passion and an unyielding determination, with a sharp focus on operational excellence and a robust dedication to cultivating long-term partnerships. Sabrina’s outstanding contributions have not gone unnoticed; she was the esteemed recipient of the 2019 President’s Achievement Award, a reflection of her exceptional impact on the business.
Sabrina’s compassionate leadership has been instrumental in empowering strong teams. She inspires managers and individual contributors alike, driving them towards significant business accomplishments. Her steadfast dedication to recognizing the efforts of her team has significantly boosted employee engagement and fostered professional growth.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
Jamie Burgess
National Risk Consulting Leader & RSM US Board of Directors
RSM
Jamie is a visionary channel leader serving as the National Leader of Risk Consulting for RSM. Her 22-year leadership track record of building collaborative teams around innovative solutions has yielded back-to-back fiscal years of double digit revenue and margin growth propelling Risk Consulting to be the largest consulting service line at RSM. While exhibiting commitment to the development of future leaders, including the advancement of RSM’s professional women, Jamie has led the development of new services, built out new locations, integrated industry specialized services and introduced market convergence.
Jamie has also lent her leadership excellence to drive client growth in the North & Central Florida markets. She consistently leverages her critical thinking to synthesize multiple inputs and delivers best-in-class solutions to some of the firms largest and most complex clients. She has led enterprise initiatives to enhance overall client and talent experiences resulting in double digit growth through new service offerings and enhanced delivery channels to clients. Previously, as the private equity risk consulting leader, she developed a cross-functional solution vertical optimizing C-suite initiatives.
Jamie is a founding member of RSM’s Consulting Women’s Advisory Council.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
Tashua Case
Director of Business Intelligence
Bluum
Tashua began her career in Cognition and Developmental Psychology, presenting at major Canadian conferences and contributing significantly to the science community. Transitioning to business, she leverages scientific methodologies in corporate strategy, providing innovative data delivery approaches to drive organizational growth and success.
Recognized as a “corporate athlete” by Fortune 500 companies, Tashua excels in transforming data into strategic assets and empowering teams. She quickly rises from underdog to MVP in complex situations, solving problems and enhancing collaboration. As a mother of three, Tashua is dedicated to closing the gender gap in IT. Her direct reports often describe her as a passionate leader and friend who empowers individuals to unlock their potential.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
Sarah Collier
Sr. Director of Corporate Learning & Development
SHI International
Driven by a natural curiosity combined with a well-respected management style and unparalleled communication skills, Sarah Collier has gone wherever SHI needed her most. From Sales to Learning and Development - "Sarah" has been known by a single first name at the highest levels of SHI for over two decades.
After graduating West Chester University, Sarah first joined SHI as an Inside Sales Rep where she quickly became lobal Team lead supporting Pfizer. Sarah's 17-year sales career eventually culminated with Sarah serving as the Enterprise Division District Manager for the Philadelphia metro area.
As SHI emerged from COVID lockdown, SHI's CEO - Thai Lee - asked Sarah to lead a new Learning & Development organization that could quickly train all employees on a new set of data and AI-driven sales tools that would make the entire organization more efficient, streamlining manual processes and drastically reducing response time to customers.
Today Sarah's top responsibilities include:
• Collaborating with business leaders at all levels to build and managing a variety of L&D programs and trainings
• Developing intellectual property that advances the impact for employees and creates a competitive advantage for SHI
• Mentoring and developing junior staff members
Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
Jenny Desrosier
VP of OEM partnerships
Qumulo
Jenny Desrosier is VP of OEM Partnerships at Qumulo. She has over a decade of executive experience in the enterprise software, transportation & logistics, and retail industries. Prior to Qumulo, Jenny worked at Convoy in their product organization and Bain & Company as a consultant. She holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and a BA from Brown University.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
Amanda Dziszuk
Senior Marketing Manager
Advanced Network Management (ANM)
Amanda is a graduate at Arizona State University with a bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on Creative Writing and Communications.
She has a varied background in marketing tactics and strategy spanning four companies. Her skills range from detailed event planning to digital marketing campaign strategy and execution.
Her most recent role as Senior Marketing Manager at ANM has her leading our event strategy and execution in the Arizona marketing, as well as several other marketing roles. She leads ANM's social and PR execution, as well as drives many of the data strategies for the marketing team, such as marketing automation and martech integrations.
As a rapidly growing organization with a rapidly growing marketing team, Amanda is an integral part of driving that success and continued evolution that marketing must embody.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
Mary Jane Munsell
Partner Success Manager
Net at Work
MJ is a self-motivated individual driven by a passion for continued learning and experiencing all that life has to offer. She has been a lifelong learner and embraces her role as a mentor to staff and partners alike.
MJ’s academic achievements reflect diverse interests and commitment to growth. She earned an AA degree in Business and Accounting, followed by a BS degree in Chemistry and another BS degree in Education with a Minor in Math.
Beyond academics, her journey has been marked by a dedication to teaching and safety in various capacities. As a PADI IDC Staff Instructor and Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor for Wounded Warriors, MJ empowered others through scuba diving. Additionally, as a US Power Squadron Boating Safety Instructor and Emergency First Responder/First Aid and CPR Instructor, she has contributed to community safety and well-being.
MJ started her career as a Controller and in 1993, alongside her husband, co-founded a technology firm that evolved into a full-service Managed Service Provider (MSP). For the last 5 years MJ has been the anchor of our growing Alliance program leading all aspects of our operations as it evolved to support 320 partners.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
Beatrice Tanlapco
Business Manager
ITMCX
For almost half a decade, Beatrice has been a dynamic force at ITMCX. Starting as an analyst, she has stepped up in multiple areas within the company, showcasing her ability to adapt and excel across various domains and projects. Currently, she oversees operations in marketing, sales, billing, and customer and partner experience, turning data into actionable strategies.
A UC Davis alumna with a Master’s in Business Analytics, Beatrice excels in applying quantitative methods to drive effective business decisions. Her notable achievements include a comprehensive catalog rework, spearheading a company-wide rebrand, partner program, and leading digital asset management and workflow system projects.
In her role, Beatrice guides her team to transform complex contexts into concrete strategies, leveraging both external and internal data to drive business outcomes. She plays a crucial role in creating workflow processes that empower the entire company, especially the sales team and partner management portal.
As a business manager, Beatrice mentors her analysts in strategic and contextual thinking. Outside of work, she is a passionate dancer and artist, actively performing and volunteering in her studio and community.
Beatrice's innovative contributions and leadership at ITMCX have made a significant impact, driving success and empowering her colleagues and partners alike.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Merav Ammar
Partner Enablement Director
SentinelOne
Merav excels in driving collaborative success, cross-functionally and globally. Leading diverse initiatives at SentinelOne showcases her commitment to inclusivity and empowerment. Her innovative strategies and dedication make her a prime contender for the Women of the Channel Hidden Gem of the Year award, embodying leadership and empowerment in cybersecurity. She directly contributed to the continuous hyper-growth of SentinelOne's revenue and her dedication and proficiency have earned praise from colleagues and peers alike.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Rebecca Campbell
Vice President, Channel Managed Solutions Business, HP
HP
Rebecca currently leads the newly formed Channel Managed Solution business at HP. Armed with a passion for pushing the boundaries of what's possible, her experience across multiple customer segments and routes-to-market has led her to spearhead numerous initiatives aimed at revolutionizing existing business paradigms and introducing cutting-edge service solutions & enablers.
Boasting a rich background spanning engineering, product marketing, operations, service delivery and business management, Rebecca has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to delivering unparalleled value to customers and channel partners.
Central to Rebecca's approach is a deep-seated belief in the power of partnerships to drive mutual success. By fostering open lines of communication, providing partners with the tools and resources they need to succeed, and aligning incentives to shared objectives, Rebecca has cultivated a network of channel partners who are not just collaborators, but true advocates for HP's vision and values.
She and her family currently live near Atlanta, GA having enjoyed living internationally in Spain for 4 years. An active sponsor for diversity and female talent in the technology community, Rebecca has served as executive sponsor and founder of several women in technology organizations.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Daniela Falcusan
Director of Engineering
N-able
With a Computer Science degree, Daniela Falcusan has 25 years of experience in creating and leading growth initiatives from the ground up to enterprise software companies. Beginning her career as a Software Engineer, she has built upon her professional journey through many diverse roles and businesses. Daniela, along with a small team of developers, contributed to new architecture and development of the technology that enabled customers to manage their domain portfolio, including multi-domain transactions. She also has held titles at Microsoft, HP, and Everseen, with experience ranging from Azure BigData, end-to-end IT Process Automation Product, and emergent technologies.
Daniela has a passion for innovation, technology, and building products that create value and bring a positive difference to the world. She loves working with people and growing teams, all while making a powerful impact on business, society, and local communities. Daniela is involved in the promotion of women in technology and academic initiatives.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Anjani Kava
Sr. Director of Professional Services
StructuredWeb
Anjani Kava is a dedicated professional in the IT channel marketing industry, currently serving at StructuredWeb. With over a decade of experience, she excels in strategizing, executing, and optimizing marketing campaigns that drive results. At StructuredWeb, Anjani focuses on providing exceptional customer service by building efficient processes, managing the implementation and support team, and streamlining operations.
Anjani has successfully launched a partner enablement program that significantly improved partner performance and satisfaction. Her ability to analyze market trends and translate them into actionable tactics has made her a valuable asset.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Anjani is committed to fostering young talent. She runs a summer camp for girls aged 13-15, teaching them nail art and promoting creativity and entrepreneurship, reflecting her belief in empowering young women and promoting diversity.
Anjani holds a degree in Marketing and has enhanced her skills through various certifications. She coordinates monthly leadership meetings with the C-level executives at StructuredWeb, playing a pivotal role in shaping the company's strategic direction.
Anjani's dedication, innovative mindset, and commitment to excellence make her a deserving candidate.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Alexandra Kehayas
Head of Marketing
Cavelo
Alexandra Kehayas is an accomplished marketing professional with extensive experience in event marketing, marketing strategy, and leadership within the cybersecurity sector. As the Head of Marketing at Cavelo, Alexandra has designed and steered the company's marketing efforts from day one, particularly through a major re-branding initiative. Her vision, top-of-funnel initiatives, and leadership of both the marketing and sales development business units have been integral to Cavelo's go to market strategy in the competitive cybersecurity space.
Beyond her professional achievements, Alexandra is known for her unique blend of creativity, leadership, and warmth. She has embraced the role of the 'office mom,' providing support and mentorship to her team, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
When she's not at work, Alexandra can be found cuddling with her cat, Humphrey, or drinking a craft cocktail on a patio with friends.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Carolyn Pater
Senior Manager, Channel Programs
Schneider Electric
As Senior Manager of IT Channel Programs at Schneider Electric, Carolyn is committed to simplifying and accelerating Schneider Electric's channel programs to propel the success and growth of its valued partners. Throughout her 12-year, channel-centric career at Schneider Electric, Carolyn has held roles in field sales, management, marketing, and program management, a testament to her versatile and dynamic expertise within the industry. Fueled by her visionary leadership, Carolyn has spearheaded pivotal marketing, program, and sales initiatives across Schneider Electric’s partner network, contributing to record-breaking growth and multiple accolades for the company. Carolyn is honored to have been personally recognized as a CRN 2023 Woman on the Rise, as well as one of CRN's Women of the Channel in 2023 and 2024. Her commitment to excellence and innovation continues to set new standards within her organization. Outside of her professional endeavors, Carolyn resides in the northwest Chicago suburbs with her husband and two daughters.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Tracy Sheridan
Director, Channel Marketing
Security Compass
Tracy Sheridan brings demand generation and partner management experience together to launch the first Channel Partner Marketing strategy at Security Compass. She has designed plans to deliver tactical programs, tools, and resources to grow channel business and is instrumental in the development of the company’s first Partner Portal.
To drive demand at scale, Tracy is establishing Partner Marketing campaigns, as well as an MDF program to increase the overall contribution to business from partner co-marketing and establish metrics to capture Partner Marketing ROI.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Christy Strickland
Partner Education Manager
ScalePad
Christy Strickland, ScalePad's dedicated Partner Education Manager, brings over two decades of expertise to the Managed Service industry. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in education, Christy's career journey has been marked by significant achievements, including her instrumental role in scaling multiple MSPs, being a Partner in an MSP building it from the ground up and growing it to 6M in 4 years, and facilitating successful company exits. Joining Cogntion360, (now Scalepad) almost 4 years ago, Christy's passion for numbers and driving efficiency found its match with the innovative Cognition360 platform. As the Partner Education Manager, she channels her broad experience in operations, account management, finance, client satisfaction, and more to empower partners in understanding and leveraging their business data. Her engaging educational style draws in audiences and seamlessly connects conversations to the practical applications of data, helping MSPs manage teams effectively. Actively engaged in industry trends through conferences, peer groups, user groups and daily reading, Christy is not just a professional but a community builder, involved in both MSP and local outreach activities. Her love for the Scalepad team and a genuine passion for assisting Partners make her a driving force in the company's success.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Pam Vitale
Director, Strategic Initiatives US Platform Business and Transformation
Ingram Micro
Pam has an innate love for solving problems and making things run better. She has worked within technology distribution for a total of 25 years, interrupted briefly in the early 2010s while doing business consulting and owning a Physical Therapy clinic.
In 2015, Pam rejoined Ingram Micro, and is now leading the US team’s Strategic Initiatives group, bringing her passion for collaborative partnership to the business. Under her leadership, the individual initiative managers have become a team of trusted advisors to Ingram Micro leaders, providing business insights and partnering to successfully achieve business goals. Pam and her team apply a range of project management and analytical skills to accomplish business strategies designed to remove friction from our customers’ businesses, creating efficiencies and mutual profitable growth.
Pam lives in a charming historic area of Orange County, with her partner of 21 years, their rescue pup Millie, and a giant avocado tree.
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Lauren Wolff
Global Channel Marketing Manager
Menlo Security
With over 21 years in cybersecurity marketing, E. Lauren Wolff is a luminary, currently serving as the Global Channel Marketing Manager & North America Field Marketing Manager at Menlo Security. Renowned for her 'shoot for the moon' marketing style, Lauren has crafted a distinguished career at Alexander Open Systems (ConvergeOne), FishNet Security, Optiv, and ExtraHop Networks prior to joining Menlo Security.
At Menlo Security, Lauren orchestrates global partner programs and leads North America field marketing team, showing her flair for impactful and creative campaigns. Her legacy in the industry is marked by flashy events and a track record of high-visibility marketing success.
Residing in Kansas City, Missouri, Lauren balances her professional life with a passion for literature, home improvement, and indoor cycling. However, her true joy lies in spending time with her family, building Lego creations and playing soccer with her 7-year-old son. She is working on creating a harmonious blend of professional achievement and personal fulfillment.
E. Lauren Wolff stands as a testament to the convergence of marketing brilliance and a rich personal life, leaving an enduring impact on the cybersecurity landscape.
Ally of the Year
Jack Lodge
EVP, Customer Success
NWN Carousel
Jack Lodge is the Executive Vice President of Customer Success for NWN Carousel, responsible for leading the Customer Experience, Professional Services, and Managed Services organizations. With over 25 years of leadership in technology and managed service solutions, Jack brings a proven record of successfully growing and scaling technology companies for private equity and venture investors.
Before joining NWN Carousel, Jack served as President of Global Capacity, a data connectivity marketplace platform where he increased revenue from $50M to $250M prior to its acquisition by GTT Communications (NYSE: GTT). Prior to Global Capacity, Jack held leadership positions at CentrePath, GiantLoop, Nortel Networks, Bay Networks and Wellfleet Communications. Jack holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross, and a Master of Business Administration from Northeastern University.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Ally of the Year
Wayne Hanewicz
Senior Vice President, Legal
TD SYNNEX
Wayne Hanewicz is Senior Vice President, Legal at TD SYNNEX Corporation (“TDS”), a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. TDS is a Fortune 100 company with over $57 billion in revenues in fiscal 2024.
Wayne leads a team of over 60 lawyers and professionals that provide legal support for the following areas: Americas business and operations; global tax, treasury, and finance; corporate subsidiary maintenance; commercial transactions globally; and legal operations. Wayne also serves as an executive sponsor of TDS’ Women’s Business Resource Group, Elevate. Wayne is a strong advocate and ally for the TDS commitment to DEI.
Wayne has over 30 years of legal and management experience, including with a national law firm, other private and publicly traded companies, and as a professor at the University Florida College of Law. Wayne is a member of the Florida Bar and received his B.A. from Amherst College and his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Wayne is extremely involved in his community, serving on boards for the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, and St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation.
Ally of the Year
Frank Roso
Director of Engineering
Yorktel
Frank Roso is an accomplished Engineering leader with over two decades of experience in the Audio/Visual Integration and Collaboration industry. In his current role as Director of Engineering, he has been instrumental in driving significant revenue growth to help make Yorktel one of the more recognized and respected companies in the industry.
Previously, Frank Roso served as the Director of AV Engineering at ConvergeOne, further solidifying his expertise in the field. His leadership spans across various roles, where he has led diverse teams of Architects, Engineers, and Technicians.
Frank Roso is known for his ability to understand business requirements and develop effective solutions to meet those needs. His strong technical and analytical problem-solving skills have been key in resolving complex issues. He is also adept at building relationships, developing employees, and delivering impactful presentations.
Outside of his professional life, Frank Roso is an avid golfer and enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures and experiences around the world. His journey reflects a balance of technical acumen, leadership, and a passion for life beyond work.
Ally of the Year
Tony Safoian
In his former role as CEO of SADA, Tony Safoian built one of the world’s leading technology consulting and cloud services firms. Under Safoian’s leadership, SADA was frequently recognized for its innovative, diverse, and inclusive culture and for transforming some of the world’s leading brands. SADA’s expert teams remain committed to helping customers in health care, media, entertainment, retail, manufacturing, and the public sector solve their most complex challenges so they can focus on achieving their boldest ambitions.
SADA is a 7x Google Cloud Partner of the Year award winner with 10 Google Cloud Specializations and a proven track record of offering customers best-in-class service. SADA is a 15x honoree of the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies and has been named to Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces three years in a row. Additional accolades include being named a 2021 Executive of the Year by Business Intelligence Group, a 2022 Channel Influencer Award Winner by Channel Futures, and a 2023 finalist for CRN’s Women of the Year: Ally of the Year award. Tony earned his BA in Philosophy and Management from the University of California at Irvine and an MBA from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.
Ally of the Year
Eric Torres
Vice President of Channel and Community Engagement
Pax8
Eric Torres is the VP of Channel and Community Engagement at Pax8, renowned for his expertise in MSP solutions and channel strategies. With a rich background at ScalePad, Datto and a Milwaukee-based Managed Service Provider, River Run Computers, Eric has significantly impacted the IT services industry. He is a three-time honoree on CRN's Channel Chiefs list and has been recognized on CRN's Most Influential Channel Chiefs and formerly recognized on 100 People You Don't Know But Should lists. Eric's dedication to empowering partners with innovative tools and his strategic vision have earned him widespread respect. He is also a sought-after speaker, sharing his insights at industry events to help MSPs excel.
Ally of the Year
Pete Trizzino
President, North America Sales
Dell Technologies
As President of North America Sales, Pete leads a high-performing and collaborative sales team that partners across the Dell ecosystem to help customers achieve their desired business and IT outcomes. He is an ardent believer in the power of teamwork and is committed to fostering an engaging, high-trust culture, infused with healthy competition and fun.
His guiding principle is simple yet powerful: “Work together, win together.” He has carried this mindset throughout his 30 years in the technology sales industry, 24 of them at Dell, to forge a proven track record of building and leading large revenue-generating sales teams.
As a longtime mentor and sponsor, Pete actively champions diversity and inclusion. He serves as the North America Co-Executive Sponsor for the Women in Action employee resource group, as well as the Global Co-Executive sponsor for GenNext, a group supporting those newer to their careers.
Pete also gives back to his community as a member of the board of directors at NPower, a nonprofit organization that provides veterans and underrepresented groups with foundational IT skills and pathways to prosperity.
When he’s not working, Pete enjoys outdoor sports and spending time with his wife of 28 years and their four children.
Gender Parity
ArmorPoint
ArmorPoint, LLC provides proactive solutions for cyber resilience, not just reactive tools. Specializing in integrated cybersecurity program management, ArmorPoint delivers deep expertise fused with their innovative technology to continuously assess and mature your security posture, transforming cybersecurity from a defensive necessity to a strategic asset driving competitive advantage.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Gender Parity
Bluum
At Bluum, our vision is to create a future where every child has access to an exceptional education. By equipping educators and students with cutting-edge technology, we are paving the way for a world where every child can achieve their highest potential. We believe that educators hold the key to leaving the world a better place. Teachers inspire human potential, fostering curiosity and confidence, and giving students the tools they need to build a brighter future. This creates a ripple effect that can transform generations. Bluum was founded on the belief that access to education is the catalyst for human progress. Our mission is to improve learning and make it more accessible. We are dedicated to harnessing the natural synergies between education and technology to nurture a passion for learning, promoting lifelong growth both in the classroom and beyond. Together, we can empower every child to change the world for the better.
Gender Parity
Crayon US
Crayon is a partner and customer first consulting company that provides scalable services across licensing, cloud, modern work, data, and AI. We help organizations maximize IT investments, and identify cost savings, so they can find new ways to reinvest in tech innovation. Sitting on the partner and customers side of the table, we work closely to identify the right solution for their unique business needs, wherever they are in their digital transformation journey.
Gender Parity
Microserve
Microserve is a market leader in the delivery of a wide range of information technology solutions and services, to medium and enterprise organizations based in BC and Alberta. Our vision is to be the #1 IT service and solutions provider in Western Canada, delivering impactful IT solutions at speed and at scale, while driving positive change in on our communities. We exist to provide IT solutions that empower people to be successful and achieve their goals. Our company is a privately held, 100% Canadian owned and operated family business with a 35-year history. Founded in 1987, we are one of the largest IT service providers in Canada with more than 550 team members – including 183 in Alberta - and annual revenues over $230 million. We deliver exceptional, enterprise-class service to our clients. We pride ourselves on strong, long-term relationships with our clients, who work with us year after year (in many cases decade after decade), and together we grow and improve the use of technology for their operations. As a local business we are passionate about the responsibility and opportunity we have to contribute to our communities through job creation, providing professional and career development opportunities, philanthropy, community involvement and volunteerism, as well as through delivering service excellence to our clients across Western Canada that rely on our IT services to accomplish their own missions and objectives.
Gender Parity
NWN Carousel
AI-powered tech solutions from unified communications and intelligent infrastructure to robust cybersecurity, managed devices, visual collaboration, and AI-powered contact centers, we cover it all. Our Experience Management Platform (EMP) guarantees seamless service and exceptional results, driving success at every turn.
Diversity Employer of the Year
Almo Corporation
Since 1946, Almo Corporation has served as the largest independent distributor of appliances, consumer electronics, professional Audio/Video equipment, furniture and housewares in the United States. Meeting the needs of retailers across the country, Almo operates nine regional distribution facilities with over 2.5 million square feet of warehousing. Almo focuses on four major business segments: Major Appliance and Electronics, Premium Appliances, Professional A/V and e-Commerce Fulfillment. For more information, go to www.exertisalmo.com and www.almo.com. Exertis Almo is the largest value-added North American Professional AV distributor offering its reseller partners the most expansive range of products, managed services, technical support and training to drive business growth and generate profits. Formed in 2022 following Exertis’ acquisition of Almo Corporation, Exertis Almo harnesses the combined sales, service, marketing and subject matter expertise of Almo Professional A/V and Exertis Pro AV to deliver customized business development strategies, programs and educational events that enable partners to thrive. With a highly-accomplished joint leadership team, more than 300 employees, 12 distribution facilities, and 2.7 million square feet of warehousing space, Exertis Almo provides the specialization and resources its partners need while maintaining the personal distribution approach they expect.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Diversity Employer of the Year
Ingram Micro
Ingram Micro is a leading technology company for the global information technology ecosystem. With the ability to reach nearly 90% of the global population, we play a vital role in the worldwide IT sales channel, bringing products and services from technology manufacturers and cloud providers to a highly diversified base of business-to-business technology experts. Through Ingram Micro Xvantage™, our AI-powered digital platform, we offer what we believe to be the industry’s first comprehensive business-to-consumer-like experience, integrating hardware and cloud subscriptions, personalized recommendations, instant pricing order tracking, and billing automation. We also provide a broad range of technology services, including financing, specialized marketing, and lifecycle management, as well as technical pre- and post-sales professional support.
Diversity Employer of the Year
Intermedia Cloud Communications
Intermedia is the cloud communications company that helps over 140,000 businesses connect better, from wherever, through our AI-powered platform that includes voice, video conferencing, chat, SMS, contact center, business email and productivity, file sharing and backup, security, archiving, and more.
Diversity Employer of the Year
TanChes Global Management
Delivering US Based 360 IT services, Products and Solutions nationwide from Small Businesses to Enterprise to SLED since 1998
Community Impact
CDW Canada
CDW Canada Corp. is a leading provider of technology services and solutions for business, government, education and healthcare. Established in 2003, CDW Canada is the country’s trusted advisor for cybersecurity, hybrid infrastructure and digital transformation. CDW Canada experts design, orchestrate and manage customized services and solutions, making technology work so people can do great things. Through its services-led approach, CDW Canada simplifies complex technology to empower customers to focus on their business and thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. CDW Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation (Nasdaq: CDW), a Fortune 500 company.
- Woman of the Year - Solution Provider
- Woman of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Channel Innovator of the Year
- Sales Executive of the Year
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
- Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Role Model of the Year - Solution Provider
- Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Solution Provider
- Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
- Rising Star of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
- Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
- Ally of the Year
- Gender Parity
- Diversity Employer of the Year
- Community Impact
Community Impact
ESET
For more than 30 years, ESET has developed industry-leading cybersecurity solutions to protect businesses, critical infrastructure and consumers worldwide from increasingly sophisticated digital threats. From endpoint to mobile security, vulnerability and patch management, EDR, encryption and multifactor authentication, ESET’s comprehensive cybersecurity solutions unobtrusively protect and monitor 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. This prevention-first approach is backed by ESET threat researchers and R&D centers around the world.
Community Impact
Microserve
Microserve is a market leader in the delivery of a wide range of information technology solutions and services, to medium and enterprise organizations based in BC and Alberta. Our vision is to be the #1 IT service and solutions provider in Western Canada, delivering impactful IT solutions at speed and at scale, while driving positive change in on our communities. We exist to provide IT solutions that empower people to be successful and achieve their goals. Our company is a privately held, 100% Canadian owned and operated family business with a 35-year history. Founded in 1987, we are one of the largest IT service providers in Canada with more than 550 team members – including 183 in Alberta - and annual revenues over $230 million. We deliver exceptional, enterprise-class service to our clients. We pride ourselves on strong, long-term relationships with our clients, who work with us year after year (in many cases decade after decade), and together we grow and improve the use of technology for their operations. As a local business we are passionate about the responsibility and opportunity we have to contribute to our communities through job creation, providing professional and career development opportunities, philanthropy, community involvement and volunteerism, as well as through delivering service excellence to our clients across Western Canada that rely on our IT services to accomplish their own missions and objectives.
Community Impact
TD SYNNEX
TD SYNNEX is a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. We’re an innovative partner helping more than 150,000 customers in 100+ countries to maximize the value of technology investments, demonstrate business outcomes and unlock growth opportunities. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and Fremont, California, TD SYNNEX’s 23,000 co-workers are dedicated to uniting compelling IT products, services and solutions from 2,500+ best-in-class technology vendors. Our edge-to-cloud portfolio is anchored in some of the highest-growth technology segments including cloud, cybersecurity, big data/analytics, AI, IoT, mobility and everything as a service. TD SYNNEX is committed to serving customers and communities, and we believe we can have a positive impact on our people and our planet, intentionally acting as a respected corporate citizen. We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer of choice for talent across the IT ecosystem.
Community Impact
ThreatLocker
ThreatLocker® is a global leader in Zero Trust endpoint security. The ThreatLocker® Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform combines Application Allowlisting, Ringfencing™, Network Control, Storage Control, Elevation Control, and Endpoint Detection and Response solutions in ways that make security simple for the IT professional. ThreatLocker® utilizes a deny by default approach that blocks all software, including ransomware, from running unless it is explicitly allowed. Since its founding in 2017, ThreatLocker® has been recognized as one of the best cybersecurity protection platforms that now includes EDR, MDR and compliance-friendly controls and monitoring.
Community Impact
Wave Welcome
Wave Welcome is a one-stop technology provider who partners with organizations to deliver digital transformation, IT modernization, cyber risk compliance, and strategic planning services for realizing increased efficiency through the practical application of data analytics, technology, automation, process improvement and people-centric solutions. These transformational strategies and solutions are based on successful engagements in multiple industry sectors and are designed to help organizations streamline, evolve, thrive, and achieve their enterprise level goals and objectives.
Community Impact
Women In Cloud
Women In Cloud is a global network of 100,000 Women Tech Founders, Executives, Tech Professionals, and Allies in 67 countries who are committed to inspiring the tech ecosystem to be an inclusive force for change and take collective action by providing a powerful platform to collaborate, build community engagement and unlock $1B in new net economic access by 2030. Women In Cloud empowers women in tech, focusing on Cloud Workforce Development, Policy Advocacy, AI Innovation.