2019 Partner Program Guide: 5-Star Networking And Unified Communications Vendors
CRN designated the partner programs of these networking and unified communications companies as 5-Star.
Making The Partner Connection
Who knew networking would be such a hot technology area in 2019? With software-defined networking and unified communications providing significant growth opportunities for the channel and 5G wireless on the horizon, solution providers more than ever are looking to IT vendors for technical, marketing, sales and financial assistance.
Th 2019 Partner Program Guide offers information solution providers need to evaluate IT vendors they work with or are considering working with. The guide is based on detailed applications vendors submitted outlining all aspects of their partner programs.
As part of the Partner Program Guide, CRN designates some programs as 5-Star Partner Programs. Here we present the 5-Star designees in the networking and unified communications space.
Other slide shows in the 5-Star Partner Program Guide series running this week include companies that provide systems and data center, cloud, software, storage, peripherals and security technologies.
AlgoSec
Program Name: AlgoSec Channel Program
Year Program Established: 2018
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver Bronze
North American Channel Chief: E.J. Easton, Regional Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=102
Array Networks
Program Name: Array A-Team Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2011
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver
North American Channel Chief: Paul Andersen, VP of Sales & Marketing
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=103
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
Program Name: Partner Ready for Networking
Year Program Established: 2016
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Service Provider, Gold, Silver, Business
North American Channel Chief: Jim Harold, VP, North American Channels
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=3
Avaya
Program Name: Avaya Edge
Year Program Established: 2016
Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Sapphire, Emerald
North American Channel Chief: Frank Ciccone, SVP Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=4
Barracuda Networks
Program Name: Barracuda Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2004
Partner Program Tiers: Barracuda Partner Program
North American Channel Chief: Ezra Hookano, VP, Channels
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=54
BlackBerry
Program Name: BlackBerry Enterprise Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2016
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Authorized, Registered
North American Channel Chief: Richard McLeod, VP, Global Channels
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=57
BMC
Program Name: BMC Partner Advantage Program
Year Program Established: 2012
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze
North American Channel Chief: Sanjay Gupta, VP, Global Ecosystem Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=5
Cambium Networks
Program Name: ConnectedPartner Program
Year Program Established: 2019
Partner Program Tiers: ConnectedPartner, ConnectedPartner Plus
North American Channel Chief: Ron Ryan, SVP, Global Channels
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=58
CenturyLink
Program Name: CenturyLink Channel Partner Program
Year Program Established: 1998
Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze
North American Channel Chief: Garrett Gee, VP, Indirect, Strategic Partnerships & Alliances
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=6
Ciena Corporation
Program Name: Ciena Partner Network
Year Program Established: 2018
Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Professional
North American Channel Chief: Sandra Glaser Cheek, VP, Global Partners & Alliances
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=7
Cisco Systems
Program Name: Cisco Channel Partner Program
Year Program Established: 1996
Partner Program Tiers: Global Gold, Gold, Premier, Select
North American Channel Chief: Rick Snyder, SVP, Americas Partner Organization
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=8
Cisco Systems
Program Name: Cisco Cloud and Managed Services Program
Year Program Established: 1996
Partner Program Tiers: No Tiers
North American Channel Chief: Rick Snyder, SVP, Americas Partner Organization
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=9
Citrix Systems
Program Name: Citrix Partner Program
Year Program Established: 1989
Partner Program Tiers: Citrix Solution Advisor – Platinum, Citrix Solution Advisor – Gold, Citrix Solution Advisor – Silver, Citrix Solution Advisor – Authorized, System Integrator – Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Efrem Stringfellow, VP, Partner Sales – Americas
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=10
Comcast Business
Program Name: Comcast Business Solutions Provider Program
Year Program Established: 2011
Partner Program Tiers: Pinnacle Master Agent, Diamond Master Agent, Master Agent, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Solutions Provider
North American Channel Chief: Craig Schlagbaum, VP, Indirect Channels
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=11
DataCore Software
Program Name: DataCore Certified Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2013
Partner Program Tiers: DataCore Certified Partner Program
North American Channel Chief: Michael Chadwell, Director of Americas Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=109
Dell Inc.
Program Name: Dell EMC Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2017
Partner Program Tiers: Titanium, Platinum, Gold
North American Channel Chief: Gregg Ambulos, SVP, North America Channels
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=13
Extreme Networks
Program Name: Extreme Partner Network
Year Program Established: 1996
Partner Program Tiers: Diamond, Gold Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Gordon Mackintosh, VP, Worldwide Channels
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=66
F5 Networks
Program Name: F5 Unity Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2008
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Lisa Citron, VP, North America Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=15
Fortinet
Program Name: Fortinet Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2000
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Jon Bove, VP, Americas Channel
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=16
Fuze
Program Name: Fuze Global Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2016
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Referral/Silver
North American Channel Chief: J.P. Dundas, Director, North America Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=69
Gigamon
Program Name: Gigamon Catalyst Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2013
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Elemental
North American Channel Chief: Larissa Crandall, Director, Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=70
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Program Name: HPE Partner Ready Program
Year Program Established: 2002
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Business
North American Channel Chief: Terry Richardson, Americas Channels and Alliances Leader
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=18
Hitachi Vantara
Program Name: Hitachi Vantara Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2018
Partner Program Tiers: No Tiers
North American Channel Chief: Kimberly King, VP, Partner Programs and Strategy
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=19
IBM
Program Name: PartnerWorld
Year Program Established: 1999
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered
North American Channel Chief: Dorothy Copeland, VP, IBM Partner Ecosystem, North America
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=21
Igneous
Program Name: Igneous Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2018
Partner Program Tiers: Gold, Silver
North American Channel Chief: Shaun Walsh, VP of Alliances
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=149
iland
Program Name: iland Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2006
Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Professional
North American Channel Chief: Koorosh Khashayar, Director, Channel
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=118
Infoblox
Program Name: BuildingBlox
Year Program Established: 2017
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Kelly Miller, Director, Americas Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=72
Infovista
Program Name: Infovista Global Partner Network
Year Program Established: 2016
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Bob Dell, VP, Americas Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=73
Ingram Micro
Program Name: Ingram Micro Trust X Alliance
Year Program Established: 1998
Partner Program Tiers: Velocity, Affinity, Community
North American Channel Chief: Paul Bay, Executive VP and Group President of the Americas
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=22
Intel Corp.
Program Name: Intel Technology Provider Program
Year Program Established: 1980
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Registered
North American Channel Chief: Jason Kimrey, General Manager, U.S. Channel Scale & Partners
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=23
Intermedia
Program Name: Intermedia Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2006
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Registered
North American Channel Chief: Jonathan McCormick, COO/Head of Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=74
Ivanti
Program Name: Ivanti Partner Program
Year Program Established: 1985
Partner Program Tiers: National Sales Providers, Expert Solution Providers, Managed Service Providers, Distribution
North American Channel Chief: Reza Parsia, VP, Channel
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=75
Juniper Networks
Program Name: Juniper Partner Advantage Program
Year Program Established: 2012
Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Select, Reseller (VAR), Distributors
North American Channel Chief: Brian Rosenberg, Corporate VP, Global Partners and Alliances
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=24
Legrand Data Center Power & Control
Program Name: Legrand Data Center Power and Control Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2018
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Mike Johnston, VP, Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=78
Lenovo Intelligent Device Group
Program Name: Lenovo Partner Engage Program
Year Program Established: 2018
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Rob Cato, Channel Chief
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=25
Micro Focus
Program Name: Micro Focus Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2019
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Phil Rayment, VP, North America Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=27
Microsoft Corporation
Program Name: Microsoft Partner Network
Year Program Established: 2010
Partner Program Tiers: Gold Competency, Silver Competency, Program Members
North American Channel Chief: David Willis, Corporate VP, U.S. One Commercial Partner
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=28
Mist
Program Name: Mist Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2016
Partner Program Tiers: Gold, Silver, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: Mike Anderson, VP of Worldwide Channels
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=151
Mitel
Program Name: Mitel Global Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2018
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: John Lindsley, VP, Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=29
NetMotion Software
Program Name: NetMotion PartnerConnect
Year Program Established: 2015
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Ninja, Community
North American Channel Chief: Jason Turner, Director, Channel Sales, North America
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=120
Nutanix
Program Name: Nutanix Channel Charter
Year Program Established: 2018
Partner Program Tiers: Master Partner, Scaler Partner, Pioneer Partner
North American Channel Chief: Rodney Foreman, VP, Global Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=31
Opengear
Program Name: Opengear Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2015
Partner Program Tiers: Opengear Premier Partners, Opengear Partners
North American Channel Chief: Bryan Keepers, Director of Channel Sales, Americas
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=122
Palo Alto Networks
Program Name: NextWave Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2011
Partner Program Tiers: Diamond Innovator, Platinum Innovator, Innovator
North American Channel Chief: Anar Desai, VP, Americas Channels
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=32
Pax8
Program Name: Wingman Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2015
Partner Program Tiers: Wingman
North American Channel Chief: Ryan Walsh, Chief Channel Officer
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=154
Polycom
Program Name: Polycom Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2009
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered
North American Channel Chief: David Angel, Sr. Director, Channel Sales Americas
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=34
RingCentral
Program Name: RingCentral Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2010
Partner Program Tiers: RingCentral Partner Program
North American Channel Chief: Zane Long, SVP Global Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=85
Riverbed Technology
Program Name: Riverbed Rise
Year Program Established: 2018
Partner Program Tiers: Elite, Premier, Authorized
North American Channel Chief: John Machonis, VP, Americas Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=37
Ruckus Networks
Program Name: Rusckus Ready Channel Program
Year Program Established: 2017
Partner Program Tiers: Elite Partners, Select Partners, Distribution Partners
North American Channel Chief: Raelyn Kritzer, Channel Chief, VP of Worldwide Channels
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=87
Schneider Electric
Program Name: EcoXpert Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2015
Partner Program Tiers: Master EcoXpert, Certified EcoXpert
North American Channel Chief: James Mylett, VP, Channel Management
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=40
ServiceKey
Program Name: Independent Service & Maintenance Organization
Year Program Established: 2004
Partner Program Tiers: N/A
North American Channel Chief: Danielle Lee, Director of Business Solutions
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=128
Star2Star Communications
Program Name: Star2Star Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2006
Partner Program Tiers: N/A
North American Channel Chief: Michelle Accardi, President and Chief Revenue Officer
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=130
Sungard Availability Services
Program Name: Sungard AS Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2008
Partner Program Tiers: N/A
North American Channel Chief: Darren Thomas, SVP, Global Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=43
Synnex Corp.
Program Name: Synnex CloudSolv Community
Year Program Established: 2016
Partner Program Tiers: Premier Level, Standard Level
North American Channel Chief: Rob Moyer, SVP, Cloud Services, Mobility, IoT
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=45
Tech Data
Program Name: Tech Data Recon Security Suite
Year Program Established: 2017
Partner Program Tiers: Tech Data Recon Security Suite
North American Channel Chief: Joe Quaglia, President
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=4
Tripp Lite
Program Name: Tripp Lite Partner Program & Premier Partner Program
Year Program Established: 1998
Partner Program Tiers: Premier Partner, Tripp Lite Partner Program, Channel Partners Group
North American Channel Chief: Shane Kilfoil, SVP, Global Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=92
Veeam Software
Program Name: Veeam ProPartner Program
Year Program Established: 2006
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum ProPartner, Gold ProPartner, Silver ProPartner, Registered ProPartner
North American Channel Chief: Kevin Rooney, VP, Americas Partner Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=96
Verizon
Program Name: Verizon Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2013
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Member
North American Channel Chief: Pete Leuzzi, Global VP and Head of Worldwide Channels and Alliances
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=47
Vertiv
Program Name: Vertiv Partner Program
Year Program Established: 2014
Partner Program Tiers: Diamond Platinum, Gold
North American Channel Chief: Bob Nahorski, VP, Channel Sales
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=48
VMware
Program Name: VMware Partner Network
Year Program Established: 2003
Partner Program Tiers: Premier, Enterprise, Professional
North American Channel Chief: Bill Swales, VP, Americas Partner Organization
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=49
WatchGuard Technologies
Program Name: WatchGuardONE
Year Program Established: 2015
Partner Program Tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Registered Reseller
North American Channel Chief: Bryce Hjalseth, Senior Manager, Partner Experience
Partner Program Details: /partner-program-guide/ppg2019-details.htm?c=98