CompTIA ChannelCon Focuses On Critical IT Channel Transitions, Strategies
CompTIA ChannelCon 2015’s focus, Aug. 3-5 in Chicago, is the evolving IT channel.
Kelly Ricker, SVP of CompTIA, points out, “The channel is undergoing transitions in general — line of business people are making business decisions, more managed services are going to the cloud — the channel is at a very critical point right now. There are a lot of things in motion.”
Ricker says featured speakers at ChannelCon, with the theme “Minds in Motion,” will discuss changes IT solutions providers are facing and how they must adapt. Author Adam Alter is the ChannelCon keynote. Alter, author of The New York Times bestselling book Drunk Tank Pink, And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave, will discuss the psychology of buying decisions. Kevin Murai, president and CEO of SYNNEX, will deliver the thought leader keynote on the future of the channel. In addition, ChannelCon will include a vendor summit for the first time this year, where Tiffani Bova, VP and distinguished analyst with Gartner Research, will deliver the keynote.
Another highlight of this year’s ChannelCon, will be CompTIA’s “channel version” of the television show Dragon’s Den, scheduled for Aug. 4. Tech start-ups will have the opportunity to present a 5-minute pitch to CompTIA’s panel of dragons and then receive feedback and tips from the panel on business best practices. The audience will vote on the winner of a cash prize.
A new sales toolkit for technology businesses will also be available to attendees. It includes templates and tools based on industry best practices that can help you with your sales operations. ChannelCon attendees will be eligible to download a free copy of the sales toolkit from Aug. 3 through 15. Afterward, the sales toolkit will be available exclusively to CompTIA Premier Members.
Again this year, attendees will have access to education and training materials including ChannelCon Executive Certificate in Cloud Success, Executive Certificate in Financial Management, Quick Start Guide to Managed IT Service, and Quick Start Guide to Managed Print Services (MPS).
Ricker says the Track4Techs program introduced last year will return, again offering education, networking opportunities, and insights into tech and trends that are impacting their jobs. Session topics include the Internet of Things’ effect on privacy, the future of help desk support, open source software, and building a mobility solution.
For those unable to attend ChannelCon in person, CompTIA has arranged access for online audience as well. See the ChannelCon Online schedule to plan virtual attendance at conference highlights such as the state of the industry speech by Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO, CompTIA; Alter’s and Murai’s keynotes, and Track4Techs sessions.
For more information on ChannelCon, click here.