IT Channel leaders from across New England braved the elements and turned out in large numbers on May 23rd for the inaugural New England IT Channel Executive Forum & Golf Tournament.
Seizing the opportunity to gain BOTH a current perspective about Microsoft technology and its impact on IT Channel businesses with the Professional Sales Training services of Sandler in Marlborough, MA, the event drew more than 100 attendees. Of the 100, approximately 80 are owners or executives from IT service companies from New England and as far away as Rochester, NY.
The morning sessions included passionate peer-to-peer networking and animated discussions among channel executives and their vendor partners including Microsoft, Nuance Communication, i365, Sonicwall, and Polycom. The primary topics focused on finding ways to leverage technologies to help channel business grow and prosper including using Cloud Computing to provide essential IT Services to New England’s Mid-Market businesses. Tech Data, a leading distributor and service provider to New England IT Channel companies co-sponsored the event.
The Keynote presentation by Keith Keeler, Microsoft Partner Engagement Manager, focused on Office 365 and Lync opportunities as they relate to helping channel companies meet their bottom line and growth objectives. Keith was supported by his Microsoft colleagues addressing questions regarding the Microsoft Partner Community.
The Microsoft Partner Community engages the IAMCP (International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners) as its association charged to foster growth and partner-to-partner business development opportunities. It provides Microsoft partners with a connection and voice into Microsoft and to the local IT communities at large. The IAMCP - Boston Chapter recently elected Erik Frantzen as President. Erik is leading a membership drive. IAMCP members benefit by connecting with Microsoft-certified peers coast to coast and worldwide. (www.iamcp-us.org/joinus)
Frantzen also unveiled the launch of a new technology services partnering community called VARportal. (www.varportal.com) This community helps channel companies locate, connect, and collaborate with one another to better address the large-scale IT needs of their clients … especially when the end customer has needs beyond the geographic or technical reach of the prime channel business.
Building on the purposes of the event, Sandler Training’s (www.salefish.sandler.com) Pete Oliver and his team led discussions on how to leverage technologies and selling systems to uncover opportunities that will enable growth specifically for Technology Providers and Channel Organizations.
Even though the sun did not make an appearance, the rains held off in the afternoon and many of the attendees enjoyed the beauty, challenges, camaraderie and history of the Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy, Massachusetts. Site of the old Quincy Quarry the source of the granite used in the Bunker Hill monument and the site of the first railroad in the United States, the 27 hole semi-private course is picturesque, surprisingly large and open, and very close to Boston.
After golf a reception was held and related activities raised approximately five hundred dollars for the American Cancer Society and the Jimmy Fund. For information on next year’s invitation only event contact Erik Frantzen, at efrantzen@b2bcontact.com or Peter Oliver at poliver@sandler.com.
