ChannelCon 2014, CompTIA’s premier partnering and training event for IT vendors, distributors, and channel partners, is taking place this week, August 4 to 6, in Phoenix at the JW Marriot Phoenix. ChannelCon 2014, “Connect to a Smarter Future,” features high-level executive panel discussions as well as executive certificate training courses on business agility, channel management, cloud, mobility, and IT security.
More than 145 exhibitors are showcasing channel products, solutions, and partner initiatives at the three-day event, and hundreds of attendees are expected, including a number of the nearly 10,000 new CompTIA registered users, according to CompTIA.
Also, for the first time, select CompTIA ChannelCon sessions will be available online to registered users and premier members. These include a variety of main stage sessions and channel training, as well as the complete portfolio of CEU-eligible Track4Techs.
On the opening day, CompTIA announced the election of new leaders and members to the CompTIA Telecom Advisory Council. Mike Saxby, president, Communications ManagementServices, was elected a co-chair of the CompTIA Telecom Advisory Council. Saxby joins Jeffery Ponts, executive vice president, Datatel Solutions, as council co-chairs. Selected as the council’s new vice chair is Bryan Schroder, founder and managing partner, Juvo Technologies.
Joining the CompTIA Telecom Advisory Council are Dave Dyson, chief executive officer, Eclipse Telecom; and Craig Schlagbaum, vice president, indirect channels, Comcast Business.
On Day 1 there are a variety of community meetings, including Advancing Women in IT, IT Security, Cloud, IT Services and Support, Managed Print Services, Mobility, Managed Services, Tech Convergence.
Exhibitor events/sessions are being held by AT&T, Autotask, Cosentry, FiberCloud, Fiberlink, ihiji, Ingram Micro, Instant Housecall, Ipswich, Itronis, QuoteWerks, RingCentral, SaneBox, StorageCraft, and WD.
There is a technology vendor fair and reception in the evening, as well as the CompTIA Advancing Women in IT Community Dinner (preregistration required) keynoted by Elizabeth A. Hight, vice president, Cybersecurity Solutions Group, U.S. Public Sector, Hewlett-Packard Company.
On Day 2, Todd Thibodeaux, President and CEO of CompTIA, offers the “State of the Industry” address and keynote, and Lisa Bodell, founder and CEO, futurethink, provides the opening keynote: “Kill the Company: End the Status Quo, Start an Innovation Revolution.” There is a book signing afterward open to CompTIA Premier Members who will receive a complimentary copy of Bodell’s book Kill the Company.
Day 2 sessions include:
- Building Financial Strength: The Art of the Deal, Frank Coker, CEO, CoreConnex and CompTIA Faculty
- Generate More Leads Through Social Media, Jeff Mesnik, Founder and President, ContentMX
- Building Financial Strength: Building Cash IQ, Frank Coker, President and CEO, CoreConnex, Inc. and CompTIA Faculty
- Creating an Effective Mobile Marketing Campaign,Tim Pepper, Managing Partner, Pepper Blue
- Quick Start to Digital Signage, Gary Bixler, Principal, Bixler Enterprises and CompTIA Faculty
Track4Techs include: Why Being a Geek is More Important Than Ever, Not Your Father’s A+, and Unleash the Sales Person in You & Boost Your Career.
Day 3 starts with a CompTIA research roundup breakfast, followed by a Channel Chiefs Power Panel with leading channel chiefs. It will be moderated by Rauline Ochs, senior vice president, IPED & CRN Columnist, The Channel Company. Panel participants are Doug Erickson, vice president, worldwide partner programs and development, Juniper Networks, Inc.; Dave Maffei, vice president, global channel sales, Carbonite; Brooks L. McCorcle, president, emerging business markets, AT&T Services, Inc.; and Jeff McCullough, VP, worldwide channels organization, Indirect RTM and SMB Segment, Hewlett-Packard Company.
Sessions and Track4Techs continue throughout the day. Closing reception is 4:30-5:30 pm.
