Channel Chief: Gary Grimes

At this year's iForce Partner Conference in Orlando, Fla., Gary Grimes and other Sun executives reinforced the vendor's commitment to lead with products and let channel partners provide services.

Unlike some competitors, "Sun hasn't had a strategy to build a large-scale integration business," said Grimes. "We need partners to help us round out a complete solution."

Grimes, who took over Sun's channel last year, worked his way up the company's ranks. Among his past titles: district manager, region director and area vice president.