Verizon Partner Recognition Program Celebrates Those Going ‘Above And Beyond’

‘This recognition program is unique because we have very specific categories where we can show off where our partners excel and really encourage them to lean in on these areas,’ says Sarah Marsh, Verizon’s director of channel strategy and sales enablement.

Telecom heavyweight Verizon is shining a light on partners that are excelling in next-generation technology solution building and making an impact in their communities.

The Verizon Partner Network Recognition Program, part of the Verizon Partner Network, will include awards that partners can apply for across six categories: Operational Excellence, Social and Community Impact, Marketing excellence, Innovation, Client Business Impact, and Business Internet Excellence, Sarah Marsh, director of channel strategy and sales enablement for Verizon, told CRN.

“One of the opportunities that we recognized with our partners was how we could give them a platform to get more visibility across our very large Verizon Business sales organization, and externally, how they could leverage the Verizon brand,” she said. Marsh added that she and the channel team worked on the new recognition program in collaboration with partners.

[Related: Verizon CEO Calls For Digital Inclusivity Through 5G]

The new program comes just four months after Verizon relaunched its partner program with a new brand, portal, and podcast series for partners, Wendy Taccetta, Verizon senior vice president of nationwide small business and channel chief, told CRN exclusively at the time. The freshly revamped Verizon Partner Network is “radically simple” and is inclusive of more than 13 different Verizon partner programs and the carrier’s more than 5,000 partners, Taccetta said.

The recognition program is a sign of continued investment in the channel. Verizon has spent the last two years evolving its indirect business and putting partners at the center of its business strategy, Marsh said. Verizon has made more of its products channel-friendly and has been working to put partner distribution first for new offerings, such as business 5G. The carrier last year brought 47 new products into the channel.

“This recognition program is unique because we have very specific categories where we can show off where our partners excel and really encourage them to lean in on these areas,” she said.

Winning partners will be awarded with a comprehensive press package to enhance their organizations visibility within Verizon, as well as externally. Partners will gain access to Verizon channel executives and the Verizon sales team. The carrier will also expand its co-branding as well with those partners with new award winner badges that partners can display, Marsh said.

“We do want to celebrate the best-in-class partners, the ones who go above and beyond every day, the ones who are collaborating with us, serving our customers, and delivering results,” she said. “We really wanted to ensure that this was a special award to elevate and recognize partners for their significant achievements.”

Marsh predicts that the Innovation and Business Internet Excellence will be among the sought-after awards to win, especially as the need for business transformation has been accelerated as a result of the pandemic and partners have stepped up to the plate with brand-new solutions.

Direct Verizon partners are eligible to apply for one or more of the award categories. Verizon this week issues eligible partners a guidebook explaining the criteria for each category. The application process will include a 300–500-word submission and the option for visual aids, such as co-branded assets in the case of the Marking Excellence award, Marsh said.

The submission window for partners to apply for the six awards will be open from November 1-December 15, 2022. Verizon will be selecting and announcing the winners of each category in January 2023, according to the carrier.