ChannelTrends: The Most Valuable Best Practice Forum for Solution Providers

When sitting amongst attendees at IT channel events, I typically ask which sessions are “must see” on the meeting agenda. Whether looking for real takeaways for their business or attempting to gauge future opportunities, the panel discussions are often at the top of their schedule. After attending a number of these interactive group discussions, I began to understand their appeal—especially when the topic is pertinent and the panelists are willing and able to share valuable business insight.

Of course, planning an educational speaker panel for the IT channel isn’t as easy as it seems. The topic has to be important enough to garner an interested and interactive audience. The panelists need to have the credentials, experience and ability to communicate tangible information—and answer a variety of questions on the spot. Conference organizers also need to select a moderator who can pull it all together: asking the most important initial and clarifying questions, keeping the speakers on track and adding in their own industry observations.

Organizers of this year’s CompTIA Breakaway have meticulously followed this formula, creating a number of high powered, IT channel-focused and expert-led panel sessions. Each of the three discussions on the agenda is focused on a topic that solution providers and their channel partners care about – with tangible best practices and suggestions that attendees can immediately apply in their businesses.

The Breakaway expert panels have been designed to enlighten members of the IT channel community on a wide range of topics. The discussions range from a look at realistic cloud opportunities and trends from the industry’s most influential channel champions, to the changing role of distribution in today’s IT channel. Attendees can use these forums to pose questions related to their specific business model or customers, and gain valuable feedback from a community of experienced industry professionals. The Breakaway 2012 agenda sessions include:

 

1. Cutting through the Fog of the Cloud
   Is the hype overshadowing the real channel opportunities in the cloud? This panel of respected journalists will provide their own “fair and balanced” observations and assessments related to cloud services. Attendees will receive detailed perspectives from the business executive community, hear about the most realistic cloud opportunities in mobility and security, and learn how to keep user expectations in check.Channel editors and writers have a full-time focus on IT businesses, and each brings a unique and objective perspective on the cloud—with a vendor-neutral approach and laser-like focus on the needs of the solution provider community. Attendees to this session also will gain insight to the available channel-specific education and training programs, as well as other tools and resources that can help them build a successful cloud services practice.

 

2. Channel Chief Power PanelReady for a thought provoking and lively discussion with some of the IT channel’s most influential executives? Then you’ll want to join Nine Lives Media’s EVP and Co-Founder and panel moderator Joe Panettierias he leads a discussion with some of the industry’s top decision makers, including:
   
   
   
   • Ken Archer, Americas vice president, channels and alliances for the technology services business, Hewlett-Packard
   
   
   • Janet Schijns, vice president, Business Solutions Group (BSG), Verizon Wireless
   
   
   • Doug Smith, vice president, partner strategy and operations, VMware
   
   
   • Raja Sundaram, VP, worldwide services partner organization, Cisco
   
   
   
   Why should you attend? These executives can share insight into their own channel programs, observations on the areas where their partners are achieving the greatest success, and highlight key industry research trends that solution providers need to watch.

3. The Role of Distribution in the New Channel
   While much of the industry discussion remains focused on the latest managed services and cloud offerings, the distributor role in the IT channel often gets overlooked. Many of these organizations have undergone a steady transition in their business model; revamping traditional reseller programs while developing new services and support options for their partner communities.The Breakaway panel will explore the strategic role that distribution can play in the “new” channel. Expect to hear insight on the latest programs and offerings that solution providers can employ to improve their business, and get advice on how to best leverage their distributor relationships. Executives from Avnet Technology Solutions, Ingram Micro, SYNNEX and Tech Data Corp. are listed on the line up, so attendees can expect to hear a comprehensive and educational conversation.

If you’d like to attend one or all of these sessions, register for Breakaway today—and don’t forget to reserve your room at the ARIA Resort and Casino for just $139.00 per night before they’re sold out!Brian Sherman is founder of Tech Success Communications, specializing in editorial content and consulting for the IT channel. His previous roles include chief editor at Business Solutions magazine and industry alliances director with Autotask. Contact Brian at Bsherman@techsuccesscommunications.com.