If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes CompTIA’s communities to shape the future of the IT industry. And that’s just how ChannelCon 2014 will kick off on Monday, Aug. 4. Beginning with a hearty community breakfast, the day features collaborative meetings open to anyone who has an interest in driving their particular niche of the IT channel. If you’ve never been to a CompTIA community meeting, don’t be shy. Check out the schedule and join us.
Advancing Women in IT Community Meeting: 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Attend this meeting and get a walkthrough of the new Career Resource Center and related Dream IT program, designed to encourage women to explore careers in IT. CompTIA’s AWIT Community is always looking for women and men who want to join the cause to empower women with the know-how and skills they need for successful careers in the industry.
IT Security Community Meeting: 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
With the threat level constantly evolving, this group monitors new security technologies to keep consumers and business safe. Get a sneak peak of the group’s new Assessment Wizard and learn how this new tool will help drive sales. If you want to help drive IT security initiatives, attend this meeting.
Cloud Community Meeting: 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
If you live and breathe cloud, or want to learn how innovations in cloud computing can benefit your channel business, this meeting is for you. Learn about the latest cloud trends based on CompTIA’s in-depth research and find out how they are changing end-user behavior. Then, join an open research discussion with peers on channel perceptions, including end-user purchase drivers and inhibitors.
IT Services and Support (ITSS) Community Meeting: 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Listen to Howard M. Cohen speak on “Tomorrow’s Tech: Remaining Relevant & Profitable in the IT World of Tomorrow.” ITSS members come together to develop best practices and initiatives and build effective networking channels between IT services and thought leaders. Join us and learn from your peers in our roundtable discussions: Services 3 to 5 Year Future.
Managed Print Services Community Meeting: 1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Calling all managed print service providers: This group serves as a dedicated resource center for anyone in the IT industry. Join us as we discuss possible convergence of managed print and managed services, and what verticals are growing and how your business can profit.
Mobility Community Meeting: 1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
For every benefit mobility brings to the table, it also brings a challenge. Attend this meeting to hear the latest CompTIA research and engage in the mobility 30-minute webinar initiative to discuss Mobility 101, BYOD, Enterprise Management and App Development.
Managed Services Community Meeting: 3 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Anyone who is passionate about managed IT services is welcome to attend this meeting. Hear Chris Wiser of TechSquad IT share how effective sales and marketing helped him triple his business in less than three years. Bonus: Learn RMM and PSA best practices from leading vendors and MSPs, and take home ideas that you can use today to be more efficient with your business tomorrow.
Tech Convergence Community Meeting: 3 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
What is tech convergence? If you know, we want you at this meeting. We’ll be discussing how business process automation (BPA) is making inroads in the SMB, as well as how cloud computing, data analytics and emergent technologies have helped create simple and user-friendly options for your customers.
More Than Just Meetings
After a long day of meetings, don’t forget to attend the Community and Councils Reception at 5 p.m. and remember to register for the CompTIA Advancing Women in IT dinner. The dinner features keynoter, Elizabeth A. Hight, Vice President of the Cybersecurity Solutions Group, U.S. Public Sector at Hewlett-Packard Company. To participate in the AWIT dinner, RSVP by Monday, July 28th.
And the community happenings don’t end on Monday. Attend the “powered by” community education sessions developed and delivered by our members on Tuesday and Wednesday:
- The Great Security Debate, Tuesday at 10:45 a.m.
- Leveraging Existing Customers to Find New Revenue Streams, Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
- Can The Internet of Things be Monetized? Wednesday at 10:15 a.m.
- You’re Hired! Recruiting the Right IT Talent, Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.
While each community is focusing on its own part of the channel, together we shape the future of the IT industry as a whole — and we can’t do it without you. With CompTIA’s new 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 premium membership at no cost. Register today!
Emily Matzelle is a freelance writer based in the Chicagoland area.
