Faletra Named To IT Hall Of Fame

The Channel Company CEO Robert Faletra was named to the IT Hall of Fame by CompTIA this week.

CompTIA's IT Hall of Fame honors technology industry veterans who are responsible for outstanding technology innovations and contributions to the IT industry. Faletra, who began his career as a journalist in the IT industry more than 25 years ago, is recognized as one of the most influential authorities in the IT industry and reseller channel.

"I'm honored and humbled by the recognition and to be a member of such a prestigious group," he said.

Faletra covered the IT channel as a reporter and then editor of CRN since 1989 and now leads The Channel Company (formerly UBM Channel), the publisher of CRN. Faletra last year led a management team buyout of UBM Channel from parent company United Business Media. The Channel Company touches 150,000 solution provider organizations throughout North America via its media, events and services arms.

Faletra joins such industry icons as Michael Dell, John Chambers and Bill Gates in CompTIA's IT Hall of Fame.

Frank Vitagliano, vice president of North American channel sales at Dell and a member of CompTIA's Hall of Fame selection committee, praised Faletra's selection.

"Bob has been a major part of our industry and our community for more than 25 years, and the truth is he's been a big part of building and sustaining that community because of his advocacy of the channel," Vitagliano said. "He's worked tirelessly to make the industry a better place for solution providers, so this recognition is well-deserved."

Vitagliano said Faletra has been an invaluable resource for both solution providers as well as vendors and distributors, both as a journalist and as a business leader. "He's made CRN the predominant media source for the channel," he said. "And it's not just CRN. It's everything The Channel Company does, from events to training and everything in between."

Jane Cage, COO of Heartland Technology Group, also a member of CompTIA's Hall of Fame selection committee, said Faletra's selection showed just how valuable he's been to the solution provider community.

"I was delighted to find his name on the Hall of Fame list this year and felt he was such an obvious choice," Cage said. "His commitment to the channel and to solution providers is so long-standing, and this recognition is symbolic of that."

Faletra was inducted to the IT Hall of Fame along with Susan Kare, an artist and graphic designer. Kare helped design many of the interface elements for the original MacIntosh operating system, as well as several typefaces, icons and marketing materials for the MacIntosh.

Faletra will be honored at the CompTIA Annual Member Meeting April 1-3 in San Diego.

PUBLISHED MARCH 7, 2014