If you could recognize one individual for their accomplishments in IT, who would it be?
Few of today’s creators and innovators gain the level of fame and respect that Einstein or Edison did during their heyday. In an era when anyone with a reality television series can be a star, those who make significant contributions to mankind are often overlooked or their names get lost among the members of large corporate work teams. True innovators often shy away from the accolades, deferring the credit to peers, team members and others in the industry. That makes it extremely difficult to acknowledge the real masterminds. That’s one reason CRN magazine founded the IT Hall of Fame in 1997 and why CompTIA decided to assume stewardship of the honors program last year.
The next class of innovators and channel icons will be inducted April 11th at the CompTIA Annual Member Meeting (AMM) in Chicago. Attendees can expect an entertaining luncheon ceremony, with a bit of technology history and interesting tales from the early days of the IT channel. Based on previous inductees’ actions, the new class is sure to enlighten and amuse the crowd with details of their successes, as well as the challenges they faced along the way. While we recognize their accomplishments, most innovators are reluctant to accept accolades without first acknowledging the problems they encountered and the teamwork required to achieve their goals.
The deadline for nominations is almost here—January 17th. It just takes a few minutes to submit a qualified candidate for the IT Hall of Fame but, if selected, their accomplishments will be noted for a lifetime. The current members are an elite collection of innovators and entrepreneurs and the standards for induction remain high for both sections: the IT Channel and IT Innovator wings.
IT Channel candidates:
- Have significant experience in the IT channel
- Created an innovative product/service or marketing program
- Serve in an important capacity in the IT channel (e.g. volunteer board position)
- Have an unimpeachable record of integrity and respect in the channel
- Play a prominent role in promoting the public's awareness of the IT channel
IT Innovator candidates:
- Created or contributed significantly to major IT innovations
- Have an unimpeachable record of integrity and respect in the industry
Additional qualifications for both wings:
- No current voting member of the CompTIA Board of Directors may be nominated for induction into the Hall of Fame during their board tenure.
- Candidates must be retired from the position for which they are being nominated for at least two years, but may continue to be active in the industry
Nominees don’t have to be as well known as Steve Jobs or Bill Gates (though both are in the IT Hall of Fame), but they must be true innovators and “game changers.” The previous 100+ inductees run the gambit of the channel and greater tech community, including the pioneers of the indirect sales models and a number of industry founders, as well as scores of inventors and computer scientists. What each has in common is their significant contribution to the IT industry, with demonstrable results and respect from their peers—not only for what they’ve done, but for how they did it.
Who fits that description and hasn’t been recognized? Nominate them today and, if they are chosen by the IT Hall of Fame selection committee, come see them honored at AMM!
