Synnex VARs In Vegas: Scenes From Varnex

Scenes From Varnex

Synnex recently held its Varnex Fall conference at the Venetian in Las Vegas, an event that gathered more than 200 VARs and a number of stars too.

Here's a look at what went on. Here, Las Vegas Elvis (Bob Stegner, Synnex's senior vice president of marketing, North America) riles up the audience after a magician made him appear out of thin air.

Stars and VARs

Steve Gay (left), a Varnex Advisory Council Member from Strategic Sourcing, joins his wife Erin for a photo with Rice at Lagasse Stadium at The Venetian.

Hall Of Fame Material

Jim McArdle (left) of North Shore Computer Outlet and Bob Stegner, senior vice president of marketing, North America, for Synnex, pose with NFL Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Jerry Rice.

Meet'n'Eat

Kyle Russell, Varnex Business Development for Synnex (left), catches up with Erbs Business Machines' Mike Brogan (center), the incoming Varnex Advisory Council president, and Paul Whalley, immediate past president of the council from Whalley Computer Associates.

Welcome To Vegas

At left, Synnex President and CEO Kevin Murai talks with Mark S.A. Smith and Molly Smith of Outsourced Channel Executives.

CEO Message

CEO Murai offered his insights into how Varnex members can make the most of the new economy and create a competitive advantage by leveraging the power of the Varnex community. Murai also talked about the big opportunities that cloud and green computing will offer in 2011.

Place Your Bets

"The channel is now about specialization and wisely selecting technologies and solutions in which to invest," said Peter Larocque, president of U.S. distribution for Synnex, while sharing where the company made its bets in 2010. For next year, Larocque advised VARs that Synnex will focus on solutions, converged infrastructure, audio/video; SID design and manufacturing; managed print services; large format print; unified communications; health care and AIDC/POS.

SMB Focus

After showing some talents in an introduction video, Chris Frey, Lenovo's North America channel chief, reminded the crowd of VARs that his company's products are specifically made for the 25 million SMB customers that they target.

Velocity Program

Linda Connly, vice president and general manager of EMC's SMB division and inside sales, Americas, explains changes to the EMC Velocity Program and what they will mean to Varnex members.

Gridiron Great

Guest Speaker and NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice discusses his winning strategies on and off the field in an entertaining speech that had the audience engaged.

Big Ten Rivalry

Mike Brogan of Erbs Business Machines (center), a University of Iowa fan, presents an Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling singlet to Synnex's Bob Stegner, right, an Ohio State alumnus, while Steve Gay of Strategic Sourcing cheers on.

All About Relationships

HP's Stephen DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager, PSG Americas, described how HP's client computing is transforming from a transactional model to one based on relationships. He also talked about the company's vision of connected devices becoming a reality in 2011.

Cloud Talk

Microsoft's Cindy Bates highlights how her company and Synnex are enabling solution providers to compete in the many opportunities in the cloud today. VARs should step up their focus in that area, she said.

It's Personal

Motivational speaker and New York Times Best-Selling Author Don Yaeger shared inspiring and funny stories about former NFL running back Warrick Dunn, UCLA coach John Wooden and more to show how adversity can shape you to be better, not bitter.

Vendor Panel

Bob Stegner of Synnex, center, moderated a vendor executive panel with Mark Bartig of Symantec, Marc Monday of Microsoft, Chris Frey of Lenovo and Meaghan Kelly of HP. Varnex attendees shared through audience response technology a positive outlook for 2011, with top challenges and opportunities in breaking into new vertical markets and the cloud.

Vendor Showcase

Dave Caldwell of Lexmark (left), one of 66 different vendors exhibiting in the vendor pavilion, explains the benefits of using his company's printers to resellers Michael Lambert and Paulette Lambert of Reliable Technologies in Manchester, N.H.

Advisory Council

This year's Varnex Advisory Council members pose with Synnex executives. From left to right: Synnex's Bob Stegner; Mont Phelps of NWN; Paul Whalley of Whalley Computer Associates; Jeff Bohlig of Compar; Steve Gay of Strategic Sourcing; Dave Strickland, vice President of sales for Synnex; Mike Brogan of Erbs Business Machines; and Chris Phillips, director of channel development of Synnex.

Varnex Winner

Synnex's Dave Strickland (left) and Bob Stegner (right) congratulate one of the Varnex award winners, Kelli Tolzman of SMTi.

Varnex Winner

Vito Legrottaglie of Wayside Technology Group (center) receives an award from Dave Strickland and Bob Stegner.

Watch Your Watch

Using sleight of hand, magician Apollo Robbins takes the wrist watch right off the wrist of Karen Hughes of Brother while pretending to admire her ring. Robbins "pickpocketed" several VARs and vendor executives in front of hundreds of laughing witnesses.