Channel Partners Conference & Expo Reports Strong Growth

Channel Partners Conference & Expo, held March 13-15, in Las Vegas, reported significant growth over the spring 2010 show. Total attendance was up more than 5 percent. Conference attendance was up 26 percent. Organizers credited the uptick to relevant content tied to emerging opportunities in the telecom channel.

“Our editorial team and industry advisory board created a tremendous program tied directly to the issues dominating the industry’s agenda,” said Group Publisher Larry Lannon of Channel Partners. Those issues include the accelerating convergence of the telecom and IT channels into a single channel, the transformative influence of the cloud computing model on the channel, the increasingly important role unified communications is playing in the industry and the clear need for a solutions-based sales strategy in the contemporary industry.”

With the increased attendance and attendee engagement, the activity on the show floor was intense.

Above and beyond the sheer volume of participation in the exhibit hall, what made this Channel Partners event such a stand-out was the number of new partners, and new types of partners, we engaged with,” said Mike Saxby, chief strategy officer of Telecom Brokerage Inc. (TBI), a longtime exhibitor at the event and a sponsor of the inaugural Women in the Channel Workshop. In addition to the exhibit hall, this years new, targeted workshops, like the Women in the Channel, did a fantastic job of bringing together niche communities within the channel to foster growth and success. It is commendable that Channel Partners continues to successfully bring new partners into the marketplace year after year.”

The experience and vibe conveyed will be one that keeps me coming back to each show,” said Amy Burke Freeman, president and owner of Global Communications LLC, a channel partner and attendee. I would not only recommend this event to others, but strongly insist that this is one of the best ways that one could network with their peers as well as better themselves on a personal level. We are all looking for a separating moment. This, in my opinion, is it.”

“Content, attendee experience and exhibitor value work hand-in-glove,” said John Siefert, CEO of Virgo Publishing, producer of the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. “We recognize the important relationship between the three elements, and the critical role the program plays in making those three elements work harmoniously for all Channel Partners Conference & Expo stakeholders. We will continue to work hard to make the program bigger and better and in the process make the event as a whole bigger and better.”

New innovations like the Cloud Convergence Council, produced in partnership with the 2112 Group; the Agent-VAR Partnering Workshop, produced in partnership with CompTIA; and the Women in the Channel Workshop distinguished the event.

In this evolving technological environment, channel partners are looking for direction,” said Editor-in-Chief Khali Henderson. Channel Partners is amping its investment in delivering guidance through partnerships with industry organizations like CompTIA and Women in the Channel, publishers like SMB Nation and consultants like The 2112 Group. Our collaborations have resulted in new and original programming that offers insight, analysis and actionable information on the channel’s most pressing concerns.”

“The channel is entering a new period of growth as communications consumers who have deferred investment for a few years begin to invest again,” added Lannon. “The cloud is critical to this surge of confidence. The cloud allows consumers to scale and manage risk better. Like our readers, advertisers, sponsors and exhibitors, we think the industry is entering a new and exciting period of opportunity.”

The next Channel Partners Conference & Expo will be held in Chicago, Aug. 24-26, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place.

About Virgo Publishing
Virgo Publishing is a dynamic information services company specializing in communications through print and electronic media, trade shows and special events, education and training, and value-added business services. www.virgopublishing.com  

About Channel Partners Conference & Expo
The Channel Partners Conference & Expo (www.channelpartnersconference.com) is the communications industrys only event exclusively for indirect sales organizations agents, VARs, systems integrators, interconnects and consultants focused on transforming their businesses to become converged solutions providers. Produced by Channel Partners (www.channelpartnersonline.com), the event is produced twice annually in the spring and fall and features future-proofing advice from thought-leading speakers and how-to courses on best practices, technology and strategy. Topics range from hot technologies and new opportunities to partnering, diversification, sales tips and skills building.