XChange Government Integrator Awards Gala: Meet The Winners

XChange Government Integrator returned to the Gaylord National Hotel in National Harbor, Md., last week for two-and-a-half days of stimulus discussion, vendor world premieres, summits with state CIOs and other key public sector decision makers, and a few backs slapped with friends old and new. On Thursday night came the annual much-anticipated awards gala, where vendors and public sector integrators alike were honored in nine categories for achievement in public sector channel business. Here's a look at the winners' class of 2009.

"It has been a wild year so far," said Robert DeMarzo, Everything Channel's senior vice president and editorial director (pictured left), kicking off the 2009 XChange Government Integrator Awards. "We've had a year of change, and it is a testimony to those of you sitting in this audience that many of you are not only surviving, but thriving."

Oracle's Vice President of North American Public Sector Alliances and Channels Dennis Morgan and Samsung's Senior Channel Marketing Manager Richard Hutton (pictured) offered wit and wisdom to kick off the awards dinner. Both Oracle and Samsung were XGI Awards Gala sponsors.

The award for Federal Solution Provider of the Year went to Reston, Va.-based DLT Solutions. Senior Vice President Ed Jones (right) was on hand to accept the award from Everything Channel Assistant Managing Editor Chad Berndtson (left).

The award for State and Local Solution Provider of the Year went to Kansas City, Mo.-based FishNet Security. Accepting for FishNet was Dave Gilden, executive vice president for public sector and formerly of Acuity Solutions, which was acquired by FishNet in March 2009. Gilden accepted the award from Everything Channel Assistant Managing Editor Chad Berndtson.

The award for Education Solution Provider of the Year went to Kittery, Maine-based GreenPages. Vice President of Operations Glen Jodoin (right) accepted the award from Everything Channel Assistant Managing Editor Chad Berndtson.

Everything Channel Editor, News, Steve Burke presented the award for the best Vendor Channel Program Of The Year -- State And Local to Microsoft, emphasizing Microsoft's stimulus-geared business intelligence tool, Stimulus360. Accepting for Microsoft was Vince Menzione, general manager for U.S. Public Sector Partner Group.

Calling the winners the "maestros of virtualization," Everything Channel Editor, News, Steve Burke awarded best Vendor Channel Program Of The Year -- Federal to VMware. Accepting for VMware was Alex Hart, director of public sector channel sales.

Everything Channel Managing Editor/Technology Jennifer Follett presented the award for best Vendor Channel Program Of The Year -- Education to Hewlett-Packard. Accepting for HP was Mike Humke, vice president/Public Sector for HP's Solution Partner Organization.

Emphasizing the vendor's Toughbook H1 as a true health-care product, Everything Channel Managing Editor/Technology Jennifer Follett awarded Vendor Channel Program Of The Year -- Health Care to Panasonic. Accepting for Panasonic was Stoney White Jr., channel business development manager.

When it was time for "the big one," Robert DeMarzo, Everything Channel's senior vice president and editorial director, returned to the stage to honor Dennis Morgan, Oracle's vice president of North American Public Sector Alliances & Channels, as the Vendor Public Sector Channel Executive of the Year. In bestowing XGI's most prestigious award, DeMarzo described Morgan's even-keeled, no-panic approach to problem solving and his tireless commitment to public sector channel partners.





"He's adaptable," DeMarzo said of Morgan. "And while it's true that the more things change in the Beltway, the more they stay the same, this gentleman has proven to partners and the broader channel community alike that he'll stay ahead of the curve no matter what the curveball -- stimulus, omnibus or otherwise."

Accepting the award, Morgan (second from right, surrounded by Burke, Berndtson, Follett and DeMarzo) reiterated that it was a "great time to be in public sector" and thanked DeMarzo and the Everything Channel team for helping to foster the public sector channel community.

Bob, you've got moves we've never seen. DeMarzo cuts a rug while bringing comedian Peaches Rodriguez to the stage to wrap up the awards gala.

Oh, Peaches. We had a lot of fun, but wow, did you push the envelope for a corporate event! Riffing on everything from tall Latinas to why certain clothing stores have unintentionally scatological names, Peaches had 'em laughing ... and squirming, plenty.