Two Tech Data Gigs: Ready For Some Football? And Rock And Roll?

Pretty Good Party Planner

It's been a busy spring for Tech Data. The Clearwater, Fla.-based distributor held two big events for solution providers: TechSelect in Palm Springs, Calif., and Channel Link in Las Vegas. The shows featured solution providers and vendors as well as an appearance from a legendary musician and two NFL greats.

Pictured here, the Hyatt Grand Champion in Palm Springs, where TechSelect was held.

Microsoft Experience Counts

Before TechSelect officially opened, Tech Data and Microsoft host a pre-event where they set up a Microsoft Experience Center to let solution providers test-drive the Microsoft business productivity platform in a real-world environment.

Be Sure To Check This Out

Heidi Cruciana and Lawrence Cruciana of Corporate Information Technologies, Charlotte, N.C., compare notes after checking in at the TechSelect conference.

Stars Of Their Own Cooking Show

The Hewlett-Packard team members at the TechSelect conference are confident they have the right recipe for building new relationships.

Team Cisco: Go, Technology

Cisco employees pose for a shot while manning the booth during the technology fair being held at TechSelect.

Wait, Is That The Avengers?

Symantec's Beth Kroll, channel marketing manager, and Tully Cento, distribution account manager, do their best Hulk and Thor impersonations at TechSelect.

Put Me In, Coach

Longtime college football and NFL coach Lou Holtz speaks to solution providers at TechSelect about transformation, positive thinking and goal-setting. Holtz shares his personal philosophy in a five-point plan -- attitude, passion, purpose, dreams and relationships -- that he says he used for professional and personal success and tells solution providers how they can apply it to their own lives.

A Worthy Cause

Helene Galen, president of the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center (center), accepts an $18,440 check from TechSelect resellers. Also pictured here is Tech Data's Pete Peterson (left) and Tech Select Advisory Council President Allan Walters from Saratoga Technologies. TechSelect members contributed cash, and the distributor held a charity auction and raffle of donated items.

It's Veterans Day

The final event at TechSelect was held at the Palm Springs Air Museum, where attendees toured vintage World War II planes and got to speak with World War II veterans about the history of the aircraft.

Get An Inside View

A group of TechSelect solution providers pose by one of the World War II planes, which they got to tour from the inside as well.

Meeting Mrs. Sinatra

A few TechSelect team members get to meet Barbara Sinatra at the Children's Center graduation event. From left to right are Meghan McGuire, Sharon Knight, Barbara Sinatra and Tina Patel. The Barbara Sinatra Children's Center graduates teen girls from the organization's Self-Esteem program, whose goal is to provide a peer-supported process to girls who have been abused, according to Tech Data.

Welcome To Channel Link

Prior to TechSelect, Tech Data hosted a Channel Link conference, a show targeted at helping younger SMB solution providers find ways to grow their business. Here, the Channel Link team is ready at the registration booth.

The Cloud Conversation

Dave Sampson of Cloud Provider USA talks cloud (what else?) with Tech Data's Andra Rivera (center) and Kathie Atherholt (right) at Tech Data's TDCloud booth at Channel Link.

Mike On The Mic

Hewlett-Packard's Mike Parrottino addresses solution providers, offering insight into new partner incentive programs and sales tools from the vendor.

On The Right (Cell) Track

Tech Data's Charles Kriete details Tech Data's TDMobility program and gives a demonstration of the distributor's CellManage offering, which lets solution providers manage multiple cellular lines from a single portal to track billing, deployments and assets.

More Mobility, Please

Mobility solutions are a popular subject at most IT conferences these days, and the TDMobility booth is a popular spot at Channel Link.

Hey, Who's Got A Badge?

"We do," says this group of VAR and vendor executives at a party at Tao. From left to right are Provantage's Chelsea Neeb; DYMO's Amy Ciardiello and Keith Lanson; Cyber Power's Pete Miesen; and Provantage's Diane Smith.

Hey, Who's Got A Lady On Stilts Standing Behind Them?

"We do," says this group of Channel Link attendees. From left to right are Virtual Communications Specialists' Roland Evans; TDAgency's Jason Liggitt; TDMobility's Carolyn Ruby; and AVI-SPL's Zoran Visnjic.

Empowering Women In The Channel

Loretta Calvin, senior human resources manager at Tech Data, opens the Women In The Channel session at Channel Link and speaks to attendees about Tech Data’s Diversity & Inclusion Council.

Channel Link Goals

Pete Peterson, senior vice president of U.S. sales at Tech Data, talks about the distributor's sales outlook and initiatives. More than 350 solution providers are at Channel Link, he says, adding, "The key focus areas for us are how to build a practice or how to manage an SMB, how to leverage what a distributor has to offer."

Secrets To My Success

Terry Bradshaw, winner of four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, talks about inspiration and staying positive. Enjoying life, he tells solution providers, will breed success.

Getting Ready To Rock

Tech Data’s HP team is all ears and more than ready for a performance by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder.

Let's Band Together

Felder, now fronting his Don Felder Band, gives a rockin' performance at Channel Link.

Says Tech Data's Pete Peteson: "We think [Channel Link] is the right mix of entertainment and business content, especially for encroaching on folks' weekends."

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