VentureTech VARs Learn To Partner, Prosper, Repeat

The theme of this week's VentureTech Network Invitational conference is "Partner. Prosper. Repeat," a familiar credo for many longtime VTN solution providers but still a message that many successful companies rely on their peers, said John Fago, senior director of channel marketing, Ingram Micro North America.

"What's made this community great is the repeatable value that happens from these guys getting together and helping each other out. The handshake within the community is a recurring gift," said Fago from the conference in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The power of partnerships will be illustrated Thursday morning by one of the main speakers, Buddy "The Cake Boss" Valastro. Valastro, who runs Carlo's Bakery, the scene for the "Cake Boss" TV show, will talk about the challenges of running a small business and what he looks for in business partnerships, Fago said.

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Carlo's Bakery is a customer of Exigent Technologies, a VentureTech VAR, which ties in with the "Partner. Prosper. Repeat." theme, Fago said.

Ingram Micro helped Exigent market its "Cake Boss" connection to attract other new business, Fago said.

"We pulled together a conversation and the next thing we're out in Hoboken recording a video to publicize the work they're doing. It's a really cool journey but [Valastro] will also talk about a set of points that is relevant to people in the audience."

Also scheduled to speak to the VTN audience of more than 300 VARs this week is Keith Ferrazzi, author of the business partnership book "Who's Got Your Back." He'll speak to sales skills and relationships, including the "currency of relationships," Fago said. "That's the buying and selling of success based on who is in your network and how you establish trust. It comes down to a lot we're doing in the community," Fago said.

VTN also plans to honor three of its current members: Jane Cage of Heartland Technology Solutions, Steven Harper of Network Management Group and Ted Warner of Connecting Point of Greeley, Colo., who along with retired reseller Myles Schacter were recently inducted into Comptia's IT Hall of Fame.

"They'll come up and talk about the history of VTN and what inspired them back in the early '90s and what the journey has been and why they keep coming back," Fago said.

Additionally, vendor executives including Harris Warsaw of IBM, Alison Gleeson and Kerry McDonough of Cisco, Mike Parrottino of Hewlett-Packard and Chris Frey of Lenovo will share industry insights and business growth opportunities, Fago said.

Next: Charity Work

Finally, VentureTech will host a casino night with the goal of raising money for the Livestrong foundation, Fago said.

"We've already got a feeling we'll be over $30,000 in charitable contributions as a result of activities this week. We've got about $6,000 or $7,000 earmarked from chapters and then support from vendors too," Fago said. VentureTech's Pacific West chapter donated more than $21,000 to Livestrong last year, according to Ingram Micro.