Synnex Storms Philadelphia: Scenes From Varnex Spring '09

Synnex brought more than 150 VARs and 35 vendors to the City of Brotherly Love in late April, kicking off the spring installment of the distributor's annual Varnex partner events. This year's theme? "The Power of Partnership."

During the opening night of Varnex, attendees gathered for an unusual team-building exercise: painting a mural for the City of Philadephia's Mural Arts Program. Teams of 10 each took detailed portions of the overall mural, which according to Synnex will combine to form a five-story mural on a city building in Philadelphia in May.

Synnex's Director of Channel Development Chris Phillips, (left), President of U.S. Distribution Peter Larocque (center), and Senior Vice President of North American Marketing Bob Stegner (right), don't see any numbers to paint by, but they're willing to give it the old college try.

There's a lot of painting to do, but a Varnex group reasons a little wine might help stimulate the creative process.

It wouldn't be a Bob Stegner event without some costume flair. True to the city and the "Power of Partnership" theme, Synnex's Chris Phillips (left), Stegner (center) and William Bailey (right) don Revolution-era garb, topping things off with tri-corner hats. Ben Franklin would be proud.

Synnex's Peter Larocque catches Synnex VARs up during the first morning of general sessions.

A discussion of PRINTsolv, Synnex's document management program, brought together (left to right) Erb's Business Machines President Mike Brogan; Compar Vice President of Operations Jeffrey Bohlig; Hewlett-Packard's Vice President for SMB Channel Development and Strategy, Americas Solution Partner Organization Meaghan Kelly; HP's Laura Honeycutt; and Synnex's Vice President of Document Management James Luquire.

Synnex's digital signage team puts its best face on.

Synnex CEO Kevin Murai checks in, assuring VARs that Synnex would continue to invest in technology and vertical-specific programs like PRINTsolv and its services arm.

Synnex's Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales, Steve Jow, catches VARs up on Synnex's new RDS reporting offerings and its Pipeline tool.

From the left, Varnex Advisory Council members Mike Brogan (Erb's) and Jeff Bohlig (Compar) along with Synnex's Vice President of Sales, Dave Strickland, and Rick Lowery, Business Development representative.

Vendors and VARs got a chance to catch up casually at Varnex's annual vendor reception.

No, it's not paint -- it's time to eat! Jim Preisinger, IT Sales Manager at Diskriter (right), doesn't plan to go hungry.

Synnex's Stegner (right) moderates a six-person vendor panel.

Varnex attendees were able to provide real-time audience responses during Varnex's general sessions, using auto-response keypads to generate instant results.

Among attendees in the vendor pavilion was New Age Electronics, a consumer electronics company purchased by Synnex in April 2008 for $54.3 million.

While at Varnex, Paul Whalley, Vice President of Whalley Computer Associates, was elected Advisory Council President by the Varnex Advisory Council.

The Varnex Advisory Council toasts Varnex attendees at the conference's farewell reception:(Left to right) Erb's Mike Brogan; SIGMAnet's Asif Hudani; Whalley Computer Associates' Paul Whalley; and Compar's Jeff Bohlig.

Synnex collected Varnex name badges at the end of the conference, the distributor saying it would reuse them at a later date.