Sharpening Their Skills: The 2016 CRN Tech Elite 250
Expanding Skill Sets
Some serious tectonic shifts are under way in the channel. Solution providers are evolving into strategic service providers, for example, while IT purchasing authority is shifting to line-of-business managers. All the while the pace of technology change continues to accelerate.
For solution providers, the key to keeping up with these changes --– and profiting from them -- is maintaining and expanding their skill sets. That means staying abreast of the latest technologies, not just on how to implement, integrate and operate them, but also on how to help clients get the most out of their IT to be competitive and successful.
One way solution providers and strategic service providers can maintain their technology edge is by taking advantage of the training and certification programs offered by the IT vendors they partner with. Such certifications not only help secure a solution provider's bond with IT vendors, and reap higher levels of benefits and incentives, but they serve as a badge of a solution provider's expertise in specific technologies and business practices.
CRN's annual Tech Elite 250 list honors an exclusive group of North American IT solution providers that have earned the highest number of advanced technical certifications from leading technology vendors. Here is a sampling of the solution providers on this year's list. The complete list is available for purchase by contacting Laurie Condon on the East Coast ([email protected]) or Nora Uriarte on the West Coast ([email protected]).
Business IT Source
Bob Frauenheim, CEO
Vernon Hills, Ill.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Select, Infrastructure; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Premier, Preferred, Storage, Infrastructure; EMC: Advanced, Storage, Velocity SP; HP: Gold, Silver, Business, Infrastructure/Storage Specialist, PartnerOne; IBM: Member, Premier; Symantec: Registered; VMware: Professional
Continental Resources (ConRes)
Mary Nardella, CEO
Bedford, Mass.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Advanced DC Architecture Specialization, Advanced Routing and Switching, Advanced UC, Advanced Security; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Preferred; EMC: VCE, Velocity SP; HP: Platinum, HP Software/Networking/Printing/Server/Storage Specialist; IBM: Premier, System x; NetApp: Platinum; Symantec: Platinum; VMware: Premier, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization
Corus360
Steve Johnson, President
Norcross, Ga.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Premier, Communication Services, Software Defined Data Center, Infrastructure; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Premier, Registered, Storage, Infrastructure; EMC: Advanced, Storage, Velocity SP, Affiliate Elite; HP: Platinum, Infrastructure/Storage Specialist, Virtualization/Networking Elite, PartnerOne; IBM: Cloud & Smarter Infrastructure, Premier, SoftLayer; NetApp: Gold, Software-Defined Data Center; Symantec: Silver; VMware: Enterprise, Professional, vCloud Air, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization
Derive Technologies
Kirit Desai, CEO
New York
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Premier, Registered, Communication Services, Infrastructure, Express Foundation, Advanced Wireless LAN, Advanced Routing and Switching; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Registered; HP: Platinum, Infrastructure/Storage Specialist; IBM: Premier; NetApp: Star; Symantec: Registered; VMware: Premier, Enterprise, Academic Specialization, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization
Ergonomic Group
Kim Girards, President
Westbury, N.Y.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Premier, Express Foundation, Advanced Wireless LAN, Advanced Routing and Switching, Advanced DC Networking Infrastructure, Master Unified Communications; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Premier; EMC; Velocity SP, Service Implement, VCE Coalition Partner; HP: Platinum; IBM: Premier, System x; NetApp: Platinum; Symantec: Platinum; VMware: Enterprise, Infrastructure Virtualizaiton
ESI Information Technologies
Greg Rokos, President, CEO
Montreal, Quebec
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Silver, Communication Services, Infrastructure, Master Security, Advanced Unified Computing Technology, Cloud Application Integrator, Advanced DC Networking Infrastructure; Citrix: Member; Dell: Registered, Storage; EMC: Platinum, Storage, Velocity SP; HP: Gold, Infrastructure/Storage Specialist; IBM: Advanced, Premier SoftLayer; NetApp: Platinum, Software-Defined Data Center, SolidFire; Symantec: Gold; VMware: Enterprise, vCloud Air, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization
Forsythe
William Brennan, President, CEO
Skokie, Ill.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Master Security, Cloud Builder Infrastructure, Advanced Wireless LAN, Advanced Routing and Switching, Master Unified Communications, Advanced Security; Citrix: Gold; Dell: Premier; EMC: Converged Infrastructure, VSPEX, Velocity SP, VCE Coalition Partner; HP: Platinum, Computer/HP Software/Infrastructure/Networking/Server/Storage Specialist; IBM: DI Elite, Virtualization & Consolidation, Premier, System x; NetApp: Star; Symantec: Platinum; VMware: Premier, Professional, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization, Cloud IaaS
High Performance Technologies
Victor Smith, CEO
Charlotte, N.C.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Premier, Select, Software Defined Data Center, Infrastructure, Master Security; Citrix: Gold; EMC: Silver, Software Defined Data Center, Storage, Velocity SP; HP: Platinum, Infrastructure/Storage Specialist; Symantec: Registered; VMware: Enterprise, Professional, vCloud Air, Software-Defined Data Center
ISG Technology
Ben Foster, President, CEO
Lenexa, Kan.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Premier, Communication Services, Infrastructure, Master Security, Advanced Unified Computing Technology, Advanced Wireless LAN; Advanced Routing and Switching, Advanced Unified Communications, Advanced Security; Citrix: Gold; Dell: Premier, Storage; EMC: Advanced, Storage, Velocity SP; HP: Platinum, Infrastructure/Storage Specialist, Services Sales Elite, Networking Elite; IBM: Member, Premier, SoftLayer; NetApp: Gold, Silver, SolidFire; Symantec: Distribution Partner; VMware: Premier, Professional, vCloud Air, Software Defined Data Center
Logicalis
Vince DeLuca, CEO
New York
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Master Security, Master Collaboration, Master Cloud Builder, Advanced DC Architecture Specialization, Advanced Routing and Switching, Master Unified Communications; Managed Service Master; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Preferred; EMC: Converged Infrastructure, VSPEX, Velocity SP, VCE Coalition Partner; HP: Gold, Cloud Builder/Computer/Software/Infrastrucure/Networking/Printing/Server/Storage Specialist; IBM: DI Elite, Information Infrastructure DI Elite, Virtualization & Consolidation, Premier; NetApp: Star, Platinum; Symantec: Platinum; VMware: Premier, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization
Mavenspire
Michael Tanenhaus, CEO
Annapolis, Md.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Registered; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Premier, Storage, Infrastructure; HP: Business; VMware: Enterprise, vCloud Air, Software -efined Data Center
Netsync Network Solutions
Diane Gonzales, CEO
Houston
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Communication Services, Software-Defined Data Center, Infrastructure, Master Security; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Preferred, Registered; EMC: Silver, Storage, Velocity SP; HP: Platinum, Infrastructure/Storage Specialist, PartnerOne; IBM: Member; NetApp: Gold, SolidFire; VMware: Professional, Desktop Virtualization, Software-Defined Data Center
OnX Enterprise Solutions
Mike Cox, CEO
Thornhill, Ontario
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Advanced DC Architecture Specialization, Advanced Unified Computing Technology, Cloud IaaS, Advanced Routing and Switching, Advanced DC Storage Networking, Cloud and Managed Services Master, Advanced Security; Citrix: Gold; Dell: Premier, Registered; EMC: Cloud Service Provider, Converged Infrastructure, VCE, Velocity SP; HP: Platinum, Computer/Software/Infrastructure/Networking/Printing/Server/Storage Specialist; IBM: Cloud & Smarter Infrastructure, Premier; NetApp: Star; Symantec: Platinum; VMware: Premier, Enterprise, Business Continuity, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization
Paragon Development Systems
Asif Naseem, President, CEO
Brookfield, Wis.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Advanced Collaboration Architecture, Advanced Unified Computing Technology, Cloud Builder-Infrastructure, Advanced Routing and Switching, Advanced Unified Communications, Advanced Security; Citrix: Gold; Dell: Preferred; EMC: Cloud Service Provider, VSPEX; HP: Virtualization Elite, PartnerOne, Scalable Computing Solutions Elite, Networking Elite, Converged Infrastructure Elite, Enterprise Storage Elite; IBM: Premier; NetApp: Platinum; Symantec: Gold; VMware: Premier, Enterprise Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization, Cloud IaaS, Hybrid Cloud
PCM
Frank Khulusi, Chairman, CEO
El Segundo, Calif.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Advanced Collaboration Architecture, Advanced DC Architecture Specialization, Advanced Unified Computing Technology, Advanced Routing and Switching, Cloud and Managed Services Master, Advanced Security; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Premier; EMC: VSPEX, Velocity SP; HP: Platinum, Office Printing Elite, Services Sales Elite, Virtualization Elite, Scalable Computing Solutions Elite, Software Elite, Network Security Elite; IBM: Cloud & Smarter Infrastructure, Premier; Symantec: Gold; VMware: Premier, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualizaiton, Cloud IaaS, Hybrid Cloud
PKA Technologies
Felise Katz, CEO
Suffern, N.Y.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Premier, Select, Cloud Provider; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Registered; HP: Platinum, Infrastructure/Storage Specialist, Vertica; Symantec: Silver; VMware: Enterprise, Professional, Infrastructure Virtualization, Software Defined Data Center
Pomeroy
Chris Froman, President, CEO
Hebron, Ky.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Communication Services, Software-Defined Data Center, Infrastructure, Master Security, Advanced DC Architecture Specialization, Cloud Provider, Advanced Unified Communications, Advanced Security; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Premier, Preferred, Storage, Infrastructure; EMC: Advanced, Software Defined Data Center, Converged Infrastructure, VCE, VSPEX, Velocity SP; HP: Platinum, Computer/Software/Infrastructure/Networking/Printing/Server/Service/Storage Specialist; IBM: Cloud & Smarter Infrastructure, Premier, SoftLayer; NetApp: Gold, Silver, SolidFire; Symantec: Platinum; VMware: Premier, vCloud Air, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization, Software-Defined Data Center
ProSys
Michelle Clery, Founder, President
Norcross, Ga.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold; Cloud Builder-Infrastructure; Citrix: Platinum; Dell: Premier; EMC: VCE, VSPEX, Velocity SP; HP: Platinum, Infrastructure/Networking/Server/Storage Specialist; IBM: Premier; NetApp: Star; Symantec: Registered; VMware: Premier, Business Continuity, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization
Rolta Advizex Technologies
Fred Traversi, President,& CEO
Independence, Ohio
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Premier, Select, Advanced DC Networking Infrastructure, Advanced DC Storage Networking; Citrix: Gold; Dell: Registered; EMC: Platinum, Software-Defined Data Center, Converged Infrastructure, VCE, VSPEX, Velocity SP; HP: Platinum, Cloud Builder/Computer/Software/Infrastructure/Networking/Printing/Storage Specialist, Vertica; Symantec: Gold; VMware: Premier, Enterprise, Professional, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization, Software-Defined Data Center
SHI
Thai Lee, President, CEO
Somerset, N.J.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Advanced Collaboration Architecture, Advanced DC Architecture Specialization; Dell: Premier; EMC: Cloud Service Provider, VSPEX, Velocity SP; HP: Platinum, Cloud Builder/Computer/Software/Infrastructure/Networking/Printing/Server/Storage Specialist; IBM: Cloud & Smarter Infrastructure, Premier; NetApp: Star; Symantec: Platinum; VMware: Premier, U.S. Federal Specialization, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization, Cloud IaaS, Hybrid Cloud
Sysorex
Nadir Ali, CEO
Palo Alto, Calif.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Registered, Master Security; Dell: Premier, Storage, Infrastructure; EMC: Advanced, Storage; HP: Platinum, Infrastructure/Storage Specialist, Vertica; NetApp: Silver, Software-Defined Data Center, SolidFire; Symantec: Distribution Partner; VMware: Enterprise, Software Defined Data Center
United Data Technologies (UDT)
Henry Fleches, President, CEO
Doral, Fla.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Gold, Cloud Provider, Advanced Routing and Switching, Advanced DC Storage Networking, Advanced Unified Communications, Advanced Security; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Premier; EMC: Silver, Velocity SP, VCE Coalition Partner; HP: Platinum, Virtualization Elite, PartnerOne, Healthcare Elite, Scalable Computing Solutions Elite, Networking Elite, Converged Infrastructure Elite, Enterprise Storage Elite; IBM: Advanced; NetApp: Gold; Symantec: Gold; VMware: Premier, Enterprise, Academic Specialization, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization, Elite
Valcom
Rich Linton, CEO
Salt Lake City
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Dell: Premier, Storage, Infrastructure; HP: Platinum; VMware: Premier, NSX, vCloud Air, Academic Specialization, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization, Hybrid Cloud, Software-Defined Data Center
Vology
Barry Shevlin, CEO
Oldsmar, Fla.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Citrix: Platinum; Dell: Premier, Preferred; HP: Platinum, PartnerOne, ASP; NetApp: Gold; VMware: Premier
Zunesis
Steve Shaffer, President, CEO
Lone Tree, Colo.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTIFICATIONS:
Cisco: Premier; Citrix: Silver; Dell: Registered; EMC: Advanced, Storage, Affiliate Elite; HP: Platinum, Cloud Builder/Computer/Software/Infrastructure/Networking/Printing/Server/Storage Specialist, Vertica; IBM: DI Elite, Business Resiliency, Premier, System x; VMware: Premier, Enterprise, Academic Specialization, Desktop/Infrastructure Virtualization, Cloud IaaS, Hybrid Cloud, Software-Defined Data Center