CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TechSelect, Tech Data Corporation's (Nasdaq:TECD) community of IT solution providers dedicated to supporting the technology needs of small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in North America, hosted its Fall TechSelect Partner Conference on October 23-26, 2014 at the Green Valley Resort and Spa in Henderson, Nevada. Approximately 400 channel partners from TechSelect's U.S. and Canadian communities were in attendance to share leadership strategies and new ways to optimize business opportunities in the IT channel.
"The Fall TechSelect Partner Conference provided channel partners with in-depth learning and leading experts all in one place," said Pete Peterson, senior vice president, U.S. Sales at Tech Data. "As Tech Data celebrates its 40th year in business and TechSelect's 15th anniversary, we will continue to enable our channel partners' business growth and success, while coming together as a community to share ideas and raise funds for a worthy cause."
"With each conference, the TechSelect community continues to grow and demonstrate their ability to work together," said Rick Reid, president at Tech Data Canada. "This most recent conference in Las Vegas gave the members even more opportunities to discuss strategies with industry leaders to accelerate their business and enable them for further success."
The event included business development sessions and business-building opportunities focused on four of TechSelect's pillars: Wealth, People, Sales and Finance. Identified by the TechSelect Advisory Council, the pillars are focused around enabling business growth in the key areas. At the event, TechSelect community members had the opportunity to engage in strategic networking opportunities with vendor partners, peers, and Tech Data representatives, including a visit to the Innovation Experience Center where partners had the opportunity to discover new technologies. The conference offered hands-on technology training, marketing and sales strategies, and financial planning tips.
The TechSelect Partner Summit featured keynote speaker Robert Herjavec, Founder and CEO of Herjavec Group and personality on the ABC series Shark Tank. During his keynote, Herjavec explored the advancement of technology trends, its effects on communication, and the rise of cyber security threats we face on a daily basis. Additionally, the conference featured Tim Curran, CEO of the Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC), who addressed the latest industry trends, the pulse of the channel business, and how to sell across industry segments.
During the final general session at TechSelect, the community recognized its outstanding and fastest-growing members, as voted on by Tech Data and its channel partners in the community. Winners of the 2014 TechSelect Member and Vendor Achievement Awards are:
| TechSelect US Award Winners | TechSelect Canada Award Winners |
| -- Outstanding Member: Infinit Technology Solutions | |
| -- Fastest Growing: Arraya Solutions | -- Rick Uhrich Community Award: Next Digital |
| -- Best Newcomer: Kambrian Corp. | -- Best Newcomer: Contava |
| -- Most Engaged Vendor: Cisco | -- Best Year/Year Performer: Scalar Decisions Inc. |
| -- Fastest Growing Vendor: IBM | |
| -- Most Creative Vendor: Microsoft and Lenovo |
The TechSelect community also heard from leading vendor partners including representatives from Cisco, IBM and Lenovo, discussing the latest technologies and business opportunities in the IT channel. Featured speakers included Carlos Dominguez, senior vice president, Office of the Chairman & CEO at Cisco; Jay Burrell, vice president, IBM Global Cloud Services; and Stephen Miller, Lenovo Sales Ambassador.
Through TechSelect's Partner Conference charity fundraiser, the TechSelect community has historically partnered with charitable organizations in the host cities of its events to give back to the local communities. For its fall Partner Conference, TechSelect raised $8,100 for Spread the Word Nevada, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy by placing books into the hands and homes of children within Southern Nevada's at-risk, low income communities. Since 2008, the TechSelect community has raised more than $239,000 in monetary and product donations to help various charities that benefit special needs children, abuse survivors, children's education and advancement, humanitarian causes and more.
"The TechSelect Fall Conference had it all—great venue, exceptional keynote speakers, top level Tech Data executives, best of breed vendors, engaged partners, and focused breakouts to improve our business," said Audrey V. Levi, partner at IT Pointe. "TechSelect conferences give me the time to disengage from the day to day challenges of running a business and instead focus on how to grow and to improve by learning from the best in the industry. Congratulations on TechSelect's 15th anniversary—looking forward to the next 15."
"This TechSelect conference provided all of the participants with invaluable industry insights as well as community networking opportunities to help grow our business," said Wade Ball, manager, BC Operations. "I am happy to be part of the Canadian TechSelect community and utilize conferences like this to further network with solution providers across the country and build upon our relationships with the vendor partners and Tech Data executive team."
To learn more about TechSelect, please call (800) 237-8931, ext. 84529.
About Tech Data
Tech Data Corporation is one of the world's largest wholesale distributors of technology products, services and solutions. Its advanced logistics capabilities and value added services enable 115,000 resellers to efficiently and cost effectively support the diverse technology needs of end users in more than 100 countries. Tech Data generated $26.8 billion in net sales for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2014. It is ranked No. 119 on the Fortune 500® and one of Fortune's "World's Most Admired Companies." To learn more, visit www.techdata.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.