Tech Data Hits The Road With Technology Solutions Tour

Tech Data is in the middle of a Technology Solutions Tour (TST), a series of events to showcase both vendors' products as well as the different services and offerings available through the Clearwater, Fla.-based distributor.

Thus far, the tour has stopped in Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C., this year and has scheduled more events in San Francisco (Sept. 18-19), Orlando (Oct. 23-24) and Los Angeles (Jan. 12-13, 2009).

Each event has attraced more than 160 solution providers and been very successful for the distributor, said Katie Dumala, vice president of marketing services at Tech Data.

"Tech Data has taken a page from the tremendous success of TechSelect to offer similar business-building services and support to even more of our customers through the Technology Solutions Tour," Dumala said. "Since kicking off the Technology Solutions Tour, hundreds of VARs have had the opportunity to engage one another, as well as vendors and Tech Data experts to share best practices and establish new and stronger channel partnerships."

The following are some scenes from TST's first three stops.

Tech Data's director of credit for SMB accounts, Scott Tillesen, and Derek Hallock, vice president of SMB sales, talk with a VAR about financing options at the Technology Solutions Tour stop at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago, April 17-18.

Murray Wright, senior vice president of U.S. sales for Tech Data, gives his pep speech to the solution providers in Chicago. Murray talked about the distributor's technology and market focus areas included in the tracks at the inaugural TST event.

Marty Bauerlein, Tech Data's vice president of central and west sales, leads a session explaining the mission of the TST for Chicago-area VARs.

Bob Shouse, Tech Data's senior manager of client systems, left, helps Axis Communications talk about the vendor's physical security offerings during a vendor roundtable in Chicago.

Tech Data held a Casino Night for Chicago attendees where solution providers had a chance to win prizes. Resellers gambled with chips, which they redeemed for tickets that were put into a drawing for prizes.

Tech Data's Sharon Dindal, senior events planner, announced the prize winners through a raffle, held at the end of the casino night. Winners received a Hewlett-Packard notebook, LCD monitors, an Apple iTouch, and more.

Many components vendors were on hand to showcase their products for systems builders. Manufacturers included AMD, Antec, Intel, Kingston and Seagate. The TST show in San Francisco next week will include a dedicated track for system builders.

The format of the show allowed solution providers to have one-on-one time with vendors, intended to allow more intimate conversations to establish new partnerships.

Solution providers walk the floor of Tech Data's technology showcase in Chicago. Each TST stop includes an up-close look at offerings from dozens of vendors. The distributor awarded door prizes every 15 minutes including Nikon digital cameras, Toshiba laptops, a Panasonic digital camera, a Tom Tom GPS, $500 in Amex checks, an Apple iPod, computer privacy filters and two Florida vacation packages.

Tech Data senior product sales champion (Microsoft) Patrick Duroseau (right) and Raamel Mitchell, local government sales and partner engagement manager for Microsoft U.S. Public Sector, explain some of the vendor's channel programs to solution providers in Chicago.

Linksys was a popular booth in Chicago for solution providers interested in SMB networking equipment.

One solution provider shares a laugh at the Plantronics booth, where he was learning about the vendor's Bluetooth offerings.

Fujitsu's table in Chicago featured LifeBook notebooks, convertibles and Stylistic Tablet PCs.

Mary A. Burns, a TechSelect business development representative, talks with solution providers about the organization. Other staff from Tech Data's TechEDG, credit and e-business groups also were in attendance to recruit VARs.

Ken Lamneck, president of the Americas at Tech Data, was a featured speaker at the tour's Boston stop, held June 12-13 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers. His presentation, "The Evolving Channel" explored the changing role of the solution provider, including peer-to-peer networking and selling services.

A fife and drum core led solution providers down a Boston street toward The Castle at Park Plaza, a historic building that held Tech Data's technology showcase for the TST show.

Nortel executives explain some of the company's integrated voice offerings to VARS at the Boston TST show. The Boston show featured tracks from Tech Data's Advanced Infrastructure Solutions division, document imaging, networking and SMBAccess.

Novell supplied avian accessories to Boston attendees.

A couple of VARs check out a state-of-the-art video conferencing solution from LifeSize at the Boston show. Video conferencing was a hot topic of discussion at the Boston show.

A Targus representative, left, explains her company's accessories offerings to some interested attendees.

The most recent event, August 25-26 in Washington D.C., attracted 170 solution providers, the biggest event to date. Technology and market tracks included professional display, networking, SMBAccess and TechEDG.

Not to be outdone by Novell in Boston, Panda Security also gave away monochromatic animals to D.C. solution providers.

Barb Miller, vice president of government, technical and integration services, and Tim Orselli, manager of systems engineering, discuss how Tech Data can help VARs capitalize on the demand for IT solutions among various federal government agencies.

Solution providers watch the roulette ball spin in Washington as part of Tech Data's Casino Night.

Poker was also a popular table during Casino Night.

A Wasp Barcode Technologies representative explains his company's offerings in Washington.

Tech Data's Technology Solutions Tour continues Sept. 18-19 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport. The Orlando show (Oct. 23-24) will be held at The Peabody Orlando and the Los Angeles show in early 2009 has not finalized its location.