VentureTech Builds Bikes For Charity

An unidentified member of VentureTech Network's Lone Star chapter helps assemble a girl's bicycle as part of a team-building and charity event at the network's Spring Invitational in New Orleans Monday night. VTN members assembled 60 bikes, which were donated to children from the West Bank Boys and Girls Clubs.

A crack team including Dan Wensley from Level Platforms, fourth from left, put the finishing touches on their bike.

A pair of Lone Star chapter VARs quickly work to assemble the handle bars. The event marked the 10th anniversary for VentureTech under Ingram Micro. The first Invitational was also held in New Orleans.

Level Platforms' Wensley hopped on board after his team was the first to successfully assemble the bike.

Ron Cook, chairman of Connecting Point Las Vegas (middle), gets down and dirty working on his team's bike.

Most teams finished their bike-building exercise in under 30 minutes. Those that finished early helped other teams.

Ryan Grant, director of channel marketing for Ingram Micro, takes one of the bikes for a spin.

Meir Erani, president of DesignTech Services, a New York-based solution provider, tests out his handiwork.

All smiles after completing the project. Attendees had to sign waivers in order to be allowed to build a bike. After all, mixing alcohol and power tools can be a risky combination.

Greg Starr, COO of Texarkana-based IT Works and the president of VentureTech's U.S. council, also wanted in on some of the fun.

VentureTech members dance in celebration after completing all 60 bikes (and while some quality-control individuals ensure the bikes are safe for the kids to rid).

The children ran into the room, not knowing what was going to happen. Some children thought their "surprise" was just a visit to see the hotel.

VentureTech members donated money at a past event to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, but most in attendance said working together to build a bike and then getting the reward of seeing a child's smile was a lot more rewarding.

Another team, another job done, another happy child.

Salvatore Incardona, an IBM ITS channel account manager for Ingram Micro, poses with a lucky new bike owner.

Deidre Battiste of the West Bank Boys and Girls Clubs of New Orleans thanks the crowd for the bikes on behalf of the children. The children were told they were getting a surprise, but did not know they were getting bikes.

Batiste poses with Kirk Robinson, vice president of channel marketing, North America. "This is the best example of teamwork I've ever seen at VentureTech," he said.

The kids posed for one final group shot with VTN attendees before riding out the door.