Image Gallery: Synnex Varnex Spring Conference

Image Gallery: Synnex Varnex Spring Conference

A lot has changed over the 10 years that Varnex – the peer-to-peer community of Synnex resellers – has been around.

At this year’s 10th Anniversary Varnex 2017 Spring Conference, held this week in Austin, Texas, the membership community still promotes leadership skills, business-success strategies and partnering. However, member businesses are changing, and so are their needs. 

Synnex’s Bob Stegner, senior vice president of marketing, North America, has had a front-row seat for the past 10 years.

“If you go back 10 years, pricing was still a big deal — a factor in a partners’ business. So, looking back, a goal for Varnex was to make the monthly costs of their business more affordable.”

Today, he says that adaptability is key to a partner’s business, whether that means changing their business model or expanding to new vertical industry sectors — that’s where Varnex focuses on helping partners today.

Channel Partners attended the Varnex Spring Conference. Click through our image gallery for a recap.

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Synnex Varnex Spring Conference: Opening Reception

About 400 Varnex partners gathered for the distributor’s 10th anniversary event. At the opening reception, attendees got together to eat, drink and have some fun — engaging in a rocking, competitive team-building experience.

Synnex Varnex Spring Conference: Microsoft’s Alyssa Fitzpatrick

Early risers got to listen to Microsoft’s general manager, worldwide sales SMB, Alyssa Fitzpatrick, discuss “The Art of Possible.” At the Synnex F@F breakfast, Fitzpatrick discussed some of life’s defining moments, embracing work and personal demands and understanding the impact of culture on your journey.

Synnex Varnex Spring Conference: Advisory Council

Synnex Varnex Advisory Council Members gave attendees the lowdown on its three key pillars for 2017: education, marketing and branding, and membership.

Two new education offerings are Virtual Sales Manager and Executive Leadership 201. Varnex members also will find an updated website, new content, customizable marketing materials, case studies and the Varnex Opportunity Playbook. Standing are: Bruce Enright, CEO of Tallgrass Technologies, and Mike Fritzler, partner at Powerland Computers.

Synnex Varnex Spring Conference: ‘Speed Dating’

Speed dating, or networking, gives Varnex members the opportunity to hear from each Silver Varnex sponsor. This new and invaluable hour-long session allows partners to get face time with key vendors.

Eight resellers and one vendor meet at a time with the goal of giving customers a chance to chat with vendors about their products and services. Then it’s onto the next table and/or vendor. The room was packed.

Synnex Varnex Spring Conference: Austin’s History

Austin is a much-loved conference destination, and then — there’s the music. But Austin has a whole lot of history.

Innkeeper Angelina Eberly fired the town cannon, blowing a hole in the Land Office building, roused the populace and the stopped Sam Houston’s men from stealing the government archives. Then president of Texas, Houston’s actions were an attempt, in 1842, to move the capital from Austin to his namesake, Houston. This statue honors Eberly’s bravery. She was later given the archives for safekeeping.

Synnex Varnex Spring Conference: Solutions Pavilion

The Solutions Pavilion opened its doors to Varnex attendees. More than 60 vendors set up shop on the Pavilion floor.

Synnex Varnex Spring Conference: Lenovo

This is the Lenovo booth on the Pavilion floor. Cliff Gumkowski, NA vice president and GM, Lenovo Data Center Group, addressed attendees earlier in the day to stress the company’s channel-first strategy and, in particular, selling its DCG solutions together with partners.

Synnex Varnex Spring Conference: Synnex Financial Solutions

Synnex Financial Solutions has a new offering — Device-as-a-Subscription (DaaS). The new program is available in the U.S. and Canada and includes a variety of devices, i.e. desktops, notebooks, tablets, 2-in-1s and handhelds, to which partners can wrap around services.

Synnex Varnex Spring Conference: Vertical Markets

Vertical markets are a key focus for Synnex and Varnex members. Conference attendees learned that vertical markets are the distributor’s largest business at more than $4 billion. Synnex revenue in verticals grew 10 percent year on year and the Varnex vertical business was up 24 percent year on year.

Synnex Varnex Spring Conference: Partner Appreciation Night

What’s a conference without a partner appreciation night? Varnex members got the Synnex Austin Experience on Rainey Street.

Synnex took over two locations: shown here, Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden with over 100 beers; and Lucille Patio Lounge next door.

Image Gallery: Synnex Varnex Spring Conference

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