2008 VARBusiness Annual Report Card Awards

The 2008 VARBusiness Annual Report Card awards event honored 17 vendors across 18 technology categories for earning high marks from solution providers in this year's survey. Some vendors received awards as sub-category winners for outstanding Product Innovation, Support or Partnership, while overall category winners were named ARC Company of the Year in their given technology area.

Everything Channel CEO Robert Faletra welcomes solution provider and vendor executives to the 2008 VARBusiness ARC awards event, held in Dallas, Texas, on August 18.

Everything Channel Senior Vice President and Editorial Director Robert DeMarzo (left) and Senior Vice President and Publisher Dan Dignam share a few laughs as they get ready to kick things off.

Microsoft nabbed the first trophy of the night, winning for Support and Partnership in the Middleware category. Microsoft Director of Partner Channel Strategy Eric Martorano (left) accepts the award from Everything Channel Senior Editor Kevin McLaughlin.

Oracle nabbed two awards, one for Product Innovation in the Data and Information Management category and the ARC Company of the Year award in Middleware. Oracle Group Vice President of North American Sales Technology Alliances John Gray (right) accepts the award from Everything Channel's Kevin McLaughlin.

Ricoh picked up the Partnership award in the Workgroup Color Printers category. Ricoh Senior Vice President Ann Moser (right) receives the trophy from Everything Channel Associate Editor Jennifer Lawinski.

Samsung continued a long-running tradition, winning the ARC Company of the Year award in Display Technologies for the sixth year running. Accepting for Samsung is Christopher Franey, vice president of marketing and commercial sales, who picked up the prize from Everything Channel's Jennifer Lawinski.

Xerox brought home the ARC Company of the Year award for Workgroup Color Printers. Xerox President of North American Sales Jerry Farmer (left) accepts the trophy from Everything Channel Vice President and Editor of ChannelWeb Larry Hooper.

Panasonic grabbed the prize for Product Innovation in the Notebooks and Mobile Computers category. Panasonic Vice President of Channel Sales Sheila O'Neil accepts the award from Edward Moltzen, Everything Channel's managing editor of the CRN Test Center.

Intel swept all 18 criteria in Client and Server Processors, earning the title of ARC Company of the Year in the category. Intel Director of North American Channels and Distribution Eric Thompson (right) accepts the award from Everything Channel's Edward Moltzen.

Everything Channel Industry Editor Craig Zarley donned a stylish cowboy hat and took a break from the action to get a few words from Xerox's Jerry Farmer.

Toshiba garnered the ARC Company of Year award for the Notebooks and Mobile Computers category. Toshiba Vice President of Channel Sales Jerry Lumpkin (right) and Jeff Barney, vice president and general manager of Toshiba's digital products division accept the trophy from Everything Channel Senior Editor Jennifer Bosavage.

Trend Micro won in two technology categories, picking up the awards for Partnership and Support in the Client Security Software and the ARC Company of the Year award in the Network Security Software category. Nancy Reynolds (left), vice president of North American channel and SMB sales, accepts the awards from Everything Channel's Jennifer Bosavage.

After a quick wardrobe change, Everything Channel's Craig Zarley chats with Toshiba's Jerry Lumpkin.

Kaspersky Lab made its debut in the ARC winner's circle, garnering the Company of the Year award in the Client Security Software category. Kaspersky President, The Americas, Steve Orenberg (right) and John Eddy, senior vice president of Americas sales, accept the trophy from Everything Channel Associate Editor Stefanie Hoffman.

SonicWall brought home the ARC Company of the Year award in Network Security Appliances. Vice President of North America Sales George Hlebak accepts the trophy from Everything Channel's Stefanie Hoffman.

IBM won awards for Support and Partnership in the Volume Mainstream Business Server category and was named ARC Company of the Year in the Data and Information Management category. IBM Global Vice President of Channels and Solutions Marketing Mike Gerentine (right) and Vice President of Worldwide Channel and General Business Marketing Shaun Jones (left) accept the awards from Everything Channel Senior Editor Joseph Kovar.

EMC was named ARC Company of the Year in two categories: Network Storage and Storage Management Software. EMC Vice President of Global Channel Marketing Peter Koliopoulos (left) and Vice Presidnet of Channel Sales Americas Gregg Ambulos (right) accept the awards from Everything Channel's Joseph Kovar.

Novell picked up the ARC Company of the Year award for Systems and Network Management category. Vice President of Americas Channel Katie McAuliff accepts the trophy from Everything Channel's Craig Zarley.

HP garnered two ARC Company of the Year Awards, one for Midrange Servers and the other for Volume Mainstream Business Servers. HP Vice President and General Manager of the Solutions Partners Organization Adrian Jones (right) and Frank Rauch, vice president, technology solutions group sales, Solution Partners Organization, Americas (left),accepts the award from Everything Channel's Craig Zarley.

Backstage, Everything Channel Editor/News Steve Burke gave HP executives an extra prize: the chance to throw a pie in his face. HP's Frank Rauch does the honors while Adrian Jones looks on.

Juniper won two awards, one for Partnership in the Enterprise Network Infrastructure category and the ARC Company of the Year award for Network Security Appliances. Senior Vice President of Worldwide Channels Frank Vitagliano accepts the award from Everything Channel Managing Editor of Technology Jennifer Follett.

Cisco came out the big winner of the night, earning ARC Company of the Year awards in four categories, the most of any vendor in the 2008 survey. The haul included trophies for Network Infrastructure -- Enterprise, SMB Networking Hardware, Voice-over-IP and Wireless Infrastructure. Vice President of U.S. and Canada Channels Wendy Bahr (left) and Luanne Tierney, director of U.S. channel marketing, accept the awards from Everything Channel's Jennifer Follett.

Panasonic's Sheila O'Neil reacts as Everything Channel's Robert DeMarzo presents her with a Channel Executive of the Year award.

Panasonic's Sheila O'Neil accepts her Channel Executive of the Year award from Everything Channel's Robert DeMarzo (left) and Dan Dignam.

HP's Adrian Jones (center) also received a Channel Executive of the Year award. He receives his trophy from Everything Channel's Robert DeMarzo (left) and Robert Faletra.

HP's Adrian Jones addresses the audience after receiving a Channel Executive of the Year Award.

U.S. President George W. Bush made a special guest appearance, sort of. Comedian and impersonator Steve Bridges actually performed the role.

The Fake George Bush waves to the crowd.