CompTIA Issues Call For IT ChannelChangers

New award program will recognize future IT channel leaders at ChannelCon 2014

CompTIA, the ICT Industry Trade Association, said recently it will recognize future leaders in the IT channel with its new ChannelChangers award program.

“Young entrepreneurs and innovators have always been a hallmark of the IT channel, and the present day is no exception,” said Kelly Ricker, senior vice president, events and education, “Our ChannelChangers awards will spotlight some of the up-and-comers who are already making their mark.”

Young professionals aged 23-29 years old as of August 2014 and who have two years’ experience in the IT industry are encouraged to enter. Nominees must be currently employed by a CompTIA member company. Nominations by a colleague are also accepted. Nomination forms are available online. All submissions must be completed by Monday, June 23.

Award winners will be recognized at CompTIA’s ChannelCon 2014, the premier partnering and training event for IT vendors, distributors and channel partners. The conference is set for Aug. 4-6 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix.

A selection committee of industry executives and experts will review the nominees and choose the winners. Committee members include:

• Robert Demarzo, senior vice president, strategic content, The Channel Company;
• Heather Murray, vice president, Tech Data Mobile Solutions, Tech Data Corporation;
• Larry Walsh, CEO and chief analyst, The 2112 Group;
• Barry Williams, senior director, indirect channel sales, Comcast; and
• Mark Williams, CEO, Pensar.

The committee will examine each nominee’s time of services in the industry, accomplishments and honors in making their selection.

“Nominees also have the opportunity to present their credentials as a ChannelChanger by articulating for the committee the reasons why they joined the IT industry,” Ricker said. “They’ll also be asked to identify some of the challenges facing our industry and demonstrate their creativity and strategic thinking by offering an approach to combat these challenges.”

Each ChannelChanger award winner will receive complimentary conference registration, airfare and hotel accommodations (four nights) to ChannelCon 2014. Honorees will be notified on Monday, July 7.

About CompTIA ChannelCon
ChannelCon 2014 features a power-packed agenda of educational sessions, networking opportunities, keynotes, executive panels and working groups. Attendees will explore the emerging markets, money-making solutions and innovative technologies that are transforming the IT industry.

Author and innovator Lisa Bodell, who advocates simplicity as a means to innovation, has been announced as a keynote speaker at ChannelCon 2014. Bodell, founder and chief executive officer of futurethink, will explore why winning innovators embrace change; and what holds us back from becoming better innovators.

With CompTIA’s open access membership model, premier members receive unlimited free registration to ChannelCon. Solution provider registered users and non-members can pay $250 to attend the conference and will receive a one-year premier membership at no cost.

All premier vendor, distributor and associate members receive a free booth – a $5,000 value – at the ChannelCon Technology Vendor Fair. They also receive unlimited passes for their staff. Exhibitors can offer complementary conference registration to their solution provider partners.

For more information, visit ChannelCon Registration (https://channelcon.comptia.org/registration) and CompTIA Membership (https://www.comptia.org/members.aspx?lg=false&bc=%2fmembers%2fdefault.aspx%3f).

About CompTIA
CompTIA is the voice of the world’s information, communications and technology (ICT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, visit CompTIA online (http://www.comptia.org/home.aspx).