Sharpening Their Skills: The 2017 CRN Tech Elite 250

The Sharpest Tools In The Shed

Businesses expect strategic service providers to do it all. Having deep skills in, say, network technology, is nice and all. But to be successful today solution providers must go deep and wide in their areas of expertise.

In addition to being experts in traditional technologies such as servers, networking and storage systems, solution providers today are expected to have expertise in such demanding areas as security, converged systems and cloud computing. Coming up fast are demands for expertise in practices such as digital transformation and leading-edge technologies like Internet of things and artificial intelligence.

That's why training and certification are more important than ever. As solution providers evolve into strategic service providers, they need to continuously elevate their skill sets to meet their clients' demands.

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 IT vendors. The following is a sampling of 25 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]).

Aktion Associates

Scott Irwin, CEO

Maumee, Ohio

www.aktion.com

@AktionFigures

AWS: Registered

Cisco: Select

Google: Service Partner

HPE: Silver

IBM: Premier

Intel: Registered

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Silver

VMware: Enterprise

AtNetPlus

Jay Mellon, CEO

Stow, Ohio

www.atnetplus.com

@atnetplus

AWS: Registered

Cisco: Premier

Google: Service Partner

IBM: Premier

Intel: Registered

Microsoft: Silver

Trend Micro: Vantage

VMware: Professional

BlueBridge Networks

Kevin Goodman, Partner & Managing Director

Cleveland

www.bluebridgenetworks.com

@BlueBridgeLLC

AWS: Advanced

IBM: Premier

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Platinum

VMware: Enterprise

Burwood Group

Mark Theoharous, CEO

Chicago

www.burwood.com

@burwoodgroup

AWS: Registered

Cisco: Gold

Google: Service Partner

HPE: Gold

Intel: Gold

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Silver

VMware: Enterprise

CANCOM HPM Networks

Charles Miano, CEO

Fremont, Calif.

www.hpmnetworks.com

@HPMnetworks

Cisco: Premier

HPE: Platinum

IBM: Member

Intel: Platinum

Microsoft: Microsoft Network Member

Trend Micro: Silver

VMware: Premier

Carousel Industries

Jeff Gardner, CEO

Exeter, R.I.

www.carouselindustries.com

@Carousel_Ind

Cisco: Gold

HPE: Platinum

Microsoft: Gold

VMware: Enterprise

Corporate Technologies (MN)

Jim Griffith, CEO

Eden Prairie, Minn.

www.gocorptech.com

@gocorptech

Cisco: Premier

HPE: Gold

IBM: Premier

Intel: Registered

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Platinum

VMware: Enterprise

EDTS

Charles Johnson, CEO

Augusta, Ga.

www.EDTSolutions.com

@EDTSolutions

AWS: Standard

Cisco: Premier

IBM: Member

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Vantage

VMware: Enterprise

Force 3

Mike Greaney, CEO

Crofton, Md.

www.force3.com

@Force3

Cisco: Gold

HPE: Platinum

IBM: Premier

Intel: Registered

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Vantage

VMware: Premier

GuidePoint Security

Michael Volk, Founder & Managing Partner

Herndon, Va.

www.guidepointsecurity.com

@GuidePointSec

AWS: Advanced

Cisco: Select

Google: Service Partner

HPE: Business

IBM: Advanced

Intel: Platinum

Microsoft: Microsoft Network Member

Trend Micro: Silver

VMware: Professional

iCorps Technologies

Michael Hadley, President & CEO

Boston

www.icorps.com

@iCorps_Tech

AWS: Registered

Cisco: Select

HPE: Business

IBM: Member

Intel: Registered

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Vantage

VMware: Professional

InterWorks

Behfar Jahanshahi, CEO

Stillwater, Okla.

www.interworks.com

@interworks

AWS: Standard

Cisco: Registered

Google: Service Partner

HPE: Silver

Microsoft: Gold

VMware: Enterprise

Iron Bow Technologies

Rene LaVigne, President & CEO

Chantilly, Va.

www.ironbow.com

@Iron_Bow

AWS: Registered

Cisco: Gold

HPE: Platinum

IBM: Advanced

Intel: Platinum

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Silver

VMware: Premier

iVedha

Kumar Ratnam, President

Toronto

www.ivedha.com

@ ivedhainc

AWS: Advanced

Cisco: Gold

Google: Service Partner

HPE: Business

IBM: Advanced

Intel: Gold

Microsoft: Gold

VMware: Professional

Matrix Integration

Brenda Stallings, CEO

Jasper, Ind.

www.matrixintegration.com

@MatrixIntegrati

Cisco: Premier

Google: Service Partner

HPE: Platinum

IBM: Premier

Intel: Registered

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Silver

VMware: Premier

Microserve

David Matthews, President

Burnaby, B.C.

www.microserve.ca

@Microserve

Cisco: Select

Google: Service Partner

HPE: Silver

IBM: Premier

Intel: Registered

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Silver

VMware: Enterprise

Novisync Solutions

Rajesh Pericherla, CEO

Fishkill, N.Y.

www.novisync.com

AWS: Registered

Cisco: Select

Google: Service Partner

IBM: Premier

Intel: Gold

Microsoft: Silver

VMware: Enterprise

Phalanx Secure Solutions

Matt Johnson, President & CEO

Baltimore

www.phalanxsecuresolutions.com

@phalanx_ss

AWS: Advanced

Cisco: Select

IBM: Advanced

Microsoft: Silver

VMware: Professional

Quest

Tim Burke, President & CEO

Roseville, Calif.

www.questsys.com

@QuesTechUSA

AWS: Registered

Cisco: Gold

Google: Service Partner

HPE: Silver

IBM: Member

Intel: Registered

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Silver

VMware: Enterprise

Razor Technology

Jim Stillittano, CEO

West Conshohocken, Pa.

www.razor-tech.com

@_RazorTech

AWS: Registered

Cisco: Premier

HPE: Silver

IBM: Member

Intel: Registered

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Vantage

VMware: Enterprise

Sirius Computer Solutions

Joe Mertens, President & CEO

San Antonio

www.siriuscom.com

@SiriusNews

AWS: Standard

Cisco: Gold

HPE: Platinum

IBM: Premier

Intel: Platinum

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Gold

VMware: Premier

Softchoice

Vince De Palma, President & CEO

Toronto

www.softchoice.com

@softchoice

AWS: Premier

Cisco: Gold

Google: Premier Services Partner

HPE: Platinum

IBM: Premier

Intel: Platinum

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Platinum

VMware: Premier

Strategic Products and Services (SPS)

John Poole, CEO

Parsippany, N.J.

www.spscom.com

@spstechbeat

Cisco: Gold

HPE: Business

Microsoft: Gold

VMware: Enterprise

VeriStor

Ashby Lincoln, President & CEO

Duluth, Ga.

www.veristor.com

@veristor

AWS: Registered

Cisco: Silver

HPE: Platinum

Intel: Registered

Trend Micro: Platinum

VMware: Enterprise

World Wide Technology (WWT)

James Kavanaugh, CEO

Maryland Heights, Mo.

www.wwt.com

@wwt_inc

AWS: Registered

Cisco: Gold

Google: Service Partner

HPE: Platinum

IBM: Advanced

Intel: Platinum

Microsoft: Gold

Trend Micro: Gold

VMware: Premier