Stegner Leaving Ingram Micro

Stegner, 53, said he plans to leave the Santa Ana, Calif.-based distributor Jan. 5 and is making the move to be closer to his family.

"It was a very difficult decision," he said. "When you're doing predominantly worldwide travel away from home and family, it's not something I could continue to do."

A 10-year veteran of the distributor, Stegner has spent the last two years developing international VentureTech Networks of solution providers to mimic Ingram Micro's VentureTech Network in North America. Before that role, he was a longtime leader of VentureTech and a popular figure among solution providers.

"He was a channel champion. He was part of the reason the program was so successful," said Steve Harper, president of Network Management Group, a Hutchinson, Kan.-based solution provider and VentureTech member. "The thing Bob was able to do was blend the vendor and reseller communities together as one."

Greg Starr, COO of IT Works, a Houston-based VentureTech member, said Stegner's work with the partner network helped grow the solution provider's business. "He was instrumental in bringing in the manufacturers and developing the camaraderie that goes on within the organization. You can see where the vision became a reality. VTN is the key to the evolution of our business over the years. We got to learn and share best practices to take us to the next level."

Stegner said VentureTech Brazil is up and running with a target of 50 solution providers, and networks in Chile and Mexico are under way.

He added that he hopes to land another position in the channel. "I want to be somewhere where I can use my focus on the strong relationships I have with the SMB VARs and vendors in North America," he said.