Craig Schlagbaum: Channel Exec of the Year Finalist

Craig Schlagbaum, Level 3 Communications

Title: Vice President, Indirect Channels

Years in current position: 5

Years with current company: 5

Years in the indirect channel: 20

Past jobs in the indirect channel: channel sales, channel marketing, channel business development

Main channel goal: “Our main goal is to identify, recruit, train and reward the best-of-breed telecommunications agents and other solution providers who provide communication solutions to mid-market enterprises and regional service providers across the United States. Our top priority is to serve our partners well and make it easier to do business with us as we complete the integration of multiple companies.”

Biggest challenge: “Our greatest challenge is to complete the integration of the companies we acquired over the last few years and create a customer experience that is better than any competitor. We need to do this at the same time as we grow revenue.”

To what extent do you, personally, show leadership within the companies you have worked for, the business community at large, the communications industry and the channel? “I have personally led our partner and indirect channel strategy, programs and organizations for the past five years at Level 3. In this capacity, I have been a strong leader and advocate for the benefits of collaborating with technology industry partners, resellers, solution providers and agents. I led the effort to have our executive management team invest in and appropriately resource our indirect channel efforts. I also have [served as a keynote speaker and panelist] at channel events such as Channel Partners Conference & Expo, CMP events and the Baptie Channel Focus North America events. I have been a major advocate of indirect channels and have written blogs and articles for PHONE+, IP Business and much more. I am also a member of the board of the recently launched TCA group.”

Personal motto: “Never confuse activity with results.”

What others are saying about Craig:

“Craig is one of the biggest advocates of the channel. … After helping start one of the best channels in the industry, he has taken two other channels to the next level since that time. Most recently, he has been able to take a wholesale company who had eight acquisitions and make them an extremely viable channel program.”

— Vince Bradley, President & CEO, World Telecom Group, Master Agent