Top 15 Channel Manager Kristin Peterson, Integra Telecom

Title: Agent Channel Manager

Years in position: 10

Years in channel: 14

Main channel goal: “My goal is to provide agents with the ability to drive revenue from the products Integra Telecom provides. It is critical to understand each partner’s business goals, and educate and align them on how to best profit from the Integra model while meeting the needs of the end user. We work hard to respond quickly to questions, keep the agents engaged and updated and know each agent’s business intimately. Bottom line, we are committed to success.”

Biggest challenge: “It is a challenge to find an agent who is willing to be educated and have a thorough understanding of the pricing, paperwork and order process. If the agent does not buy into the process, it is my experience that they do not reach the income goal they desire. By not getting an agent to buy into the process, it not only limits revenue but it costs the channel as well. Other agents suffer unfairly because the channel manager now becomes the administrator and nobody wins.”

What traits do you exhibit that you think make a top channel manager? “Consistency in how I respond to my agents and my knowledge of the industry.”

Brush with fame: Once was in a Bud Light commercial.

What agents say about Kristin:

“I have worked with her for over 10 years and in that time, she has helped me grow my business to well over $1 million in sales. Her training techniques are some of the best I have seen in the industry. She is always available for me or my clients and never lets me down when in customer service situations.”

— Mary Jaco, Owner, ICANHOOKUUP.com

“I have been an agent in the Phoenix market for over 10 years with several carriers. We have never received this kind of help and service before Kristin became our channel manager. She is always dependable, thorough, cheerful and just fun to work with.”

— Curt Corkern, Sr., President, The Amanda Group LLC