Sharpening Their Skills: The 2018 CRN Tech Elite 250

The Tech Elite 250 is comprised of solution providers in the U.S. and Canada who have the highest partner levels from AWS, Cisco, Dell EMC, Google, HPE, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Salesforce, Verizon and VMware. Here is a sampling of that list.

Making The Grade, Meeting The Demands

Solution providers don't just sell technology, they use information technology to solve problems for their customers. That means the installation and break-fix skills that solution providers traditionally offered just don't cut it anymore.

"You have to have the technology chops to solve the customers' problems," said Bay Young, president and chief operating officer at vCore Technology Partners, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based solution provider and MSP, in an interview with CRN. "If you can't bring that technical expertise to the customer, then you'll become irrelevant."

Businesses and organizations today are looking for solution providers with deep skills in the technology IT products they sell to ensure they derive the maximum business value from those technologies.

That's why training and certifications are so critical. As solution providers evolve into strategic service providers, they must continuously elevate their skill sets to meet their clients' demands. Training and certifications are also crucial for ensuring that solution providers' engineers and technical sales specialists are up to date on vendors' rapidly evolving IT product portfolios.

CRN's annual Tech Elite 250 list honors an exclusive group of North American IT solution providers that have earned the highest number of advanced technical certifications and partner program levels from leading IT vendors.

The following is a sampling of 25 of the solution providers on this year's Tech Elite 250 list, with the list of companies available to view here. For information on purchasing the complete list with all collected firmographic data, contact Laurie Condon on the East Coast ([email protected]) or Nora Uriarte on the West Coast ([email protected]).

AEC Group

Cathy Mary, President

Oakdale, Penn.

www.aecgroup.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Gold

HPE Partner Level: Platinum

Intel Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Gold

VMware Partner Level: Enterprise

ArcSource Consulting

Dave Monk, CEO

Berkeley, Calif.

www.arcsource.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Dell EMC Partner Level: Authorized

Google Partner Level: Partner

HPE Partner Level: Business

Microsoft Partner Level: Network Member

Salesforce Partner Level: Registered

VMware Partner Level: Professional

Business IT Source

Robert Frauenheim, CEO

Vernon Hills, Ill.

www.bitsinc.com

Cisco Partner Level: Select

Dell EMC Partner Level: Titanium

HPE Partner Level: Platinum

Intel Partner Level: Platimum

Microsoft Partner Level: Action Pack

VMware Partner Level: Professional

Computer Design & Integration (CDI)

Trish Bakker, CEO

Teterboro, N.J.

www.cdillc.com

AWS Partner Level: Advanced

Cisco Partner Level: Gold

Dell EMC Partner Level: Titanium

HPE Partner Level: Business

Microsoft Partner Level: Gold

VMware Partner Level: Premier

DH Tech

Devin Henderson, CEO

Leesburg, Va.

www.dhtech.com

AWS Partner Level: Premier

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Authorized

Google Partner Level: Premier Partner

HPE Partner Level: Gold

IBM Partner Level: Registered

Intel Partner Level: Gold

Microsoft Partner Level: Gold

Salesforce Partner Level: Cloud Alliance Partners Gold +

Verizon Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Premier

Emtec

Dinesh Desai, Chairman of the Board & CEO

Radnor, Pa.

www.emtecinc.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Registered

Dell EMC Partner Level: Authorized

HPE Partner Level: Gold

IBM Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Gold

Salesforce Partner Level: Cloud Alliance Partners Gold +

VMware Partner Level: Professional

Epic Information Solutions

Ryan Klassen , VP, Business Solutions & General Manager

Winnipeg, Manitoba

www.epic.ca

Cisco Partner Level: Gold

Dell EMC Partner Level: Gold

HPE Partner Level: Silver

IBM Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Silver

Salesforce Partner Level: Cloud Alliance Partners - RegisteredCloud Alliance Partners - Registered

VMware Partner Level: Enterprise

Groupware Technology

Mike Thompson, CEO

Campbell, Calif.

www.groupwaretech.com

AWS Partner Level: Advanced

Cisco Partner Level: Gold

Dell EMC Partner Level: Titanium

Google Partner Level: Partner

HPE Partner Level: Gold

IBM Partner Level: Registered

Intel Partner Level: Platinum

Microsoft Partner Level:

VMware Partner Level: Other

High Availability Storage Systems, Inc.

Steve Eisenhart, CEO

Eden Prairie, Minn.

www.hainc.com

AWS Partner Level: Standard

Cisco Partner Level: Gold

Dell EMC Partner Level: Gold

HPE Partner Level: Silver

IBM Partner Level: Registered

Intel Partner Level: Gold

Microsoft Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Premier

Infinite IT Solutions

Joe Ussia, CEO

Toronto, Ontario

www.infiniteit.ca

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Authorized

Google Partner Level: Partner

HPE Partner Level: Business

IBM Partner Level: Registered

Intel Partner Level: Gold

Microsoft Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Enterprise

InterVision Systems

Aaron Stone, President & CEO

Santa Clara, Calif.

www.intervision.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Gold

Dell EMC Partner Level: Gold

Google Partner Level: Partner

HPE Partner Level: Gold

IBM Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Gold

Salesforce Partner Level: Cloud Alliance Partners - RegisteredCloud Alliance Partners - Registered

Verizon Partner Level: Platinum

VMware Partner Level: Premier

IT By Design

Sunny & Kam Kaila, President & CEO

Jersey City, N.J.

www.itbd.net

AWS Partner Level: Advanced

Cisco Partner Level: Gold

Dell EMC Partner Level: Platinum

Google Partner Level: Premier Partner

HPE Partner Level: Gold

IBM Partner Level: Gold

Intel Partner Level: Gold

Microsoft Partner Level: Gold

Verizon Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Enterprise

Lincoln Computer Services

Teddy Cillis, CEO

Hicksville, N.Y.

www.lincolnit.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Titanium

HPE Partner Level: Silver

IBM Partner Level: Silver

Intel Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Silver

Verizon Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Enterprise

Mainline Information Systems

John McCarthy, President & CEO

Tallahassee, Fla.

www.mainline.com

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Gold

HPE Partner Level: Platinum

IBM Partner Level: Platinum

Intel Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Network Member

Salesforce Partner Level: Registered

Verizon Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Premier

MicroAge

Jeffrey McKeever, Founder & Principal

Tempe, Ariz.

www.microage.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Titanium

Google Partner Level: Partner

HPE Partner Level: Platinum

IBM Partner Level: Registered

Intel Partner Level: Gold

Microsoft Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Premier

MNJ Technologies Direct

Susan Kozak, President

Buffalo Grove, Ill.

www.mnjtech.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Titanium

HPE Partner Level: Gold

Microsoft Partner Level: Gold

VMware Partner Level: Enterprise

NetStandard

Jeff Melcher, CEO

Kansas City, Kan.

www.netstandard.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Gold

Google Partner Level: Partner

HPE Partner Level: Business

IBM Partner Level: Gold

Intel Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Gold

VMware Partner Level: Premier

Network Solutions Provider (NSP)

Phillip Walker, Customer Advocate Leader

San Pedro, Calif.

www.networksolutionsprovider.com

AWS Partner Level: Standard

Dell EMC Partner Level: Authorized

Google Partner Level: Premier Partner

IBM Partner Level: Silver

Intel Partner Level: Gold

Microsoft Partner Level: Action Pack

Verizon Partner Level: Platinum

VMware Partner Level: Professional

Open Systems Technologies (OST)

Meredith Bronk, President & CEO

Grand Rapids, Mich.

www.ostusa.com

AWS Partner Level: Standard

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Titanium

HPE Partner Level: Platinum

IBM Partner Level: Registered

Intel Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Gold

Verizon Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Enterprise

Power Consulting Group

Chris Power, CEO

New York

www.powerconsulting.com

AWS Partner Level: Advanced

Cisco Partner Level: Select

Dell EMC Partner Level: Platinum

HPE Partner Level: Business

Intel Partner Level: Platinum

Microsoft Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Enterprise

Scalar Decisions

Paul Kerr, President & CEO

Toronto

www.scalar.ca

AWS Partner Level: Advanced

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Titanium

Google Partner Level: Partner

HPE Partner Level: Silver

IBM Partner Level: Silver

Intel Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Gold

VMware Partner Level: Premier

Sterling Computers

Brad Moore, President & CEO

Dakota Dunes, S.D.

www.sterlingcomputers.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Titanium

Google Partner Level: Partner

HPE Partner Level: Platinum

IBM Partner Level: Silver

Intel Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Premier

Superior Support Resources

Sarit Singhal, CEO

Brookfield, Wis.

www.ssr-online.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Select

Dell EMC Partner Level: Authorized

Google Partner Level: Partner

HPE Partner Level: Silver

Intel Partner Level: Registered

Microsoft Partner Level: Silver

Salesforce Partner Level: Registered

VMware Partner Level: Professional

Tanches Global Management

Tanaz Choudhury, President

Sugar Land, Texas

www.tanches.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Select

Dell EMC Partner Level: Gold

Google Partner Level: Partner

HPE Partner Level: Business

Microsoft Partner Level: Silver

VMware Partner Level: Professional

vCORE Technology Partners

Steve Leavitt, Founder & CEO

Scottsdale, Ariz.

www.vcoretec.com

AWS Partner Level: Registered

Cisco Partner Level: Premier

Dell EMC Partner Level: Titanium

HPE Partner Level: Business

Microsoft Partner Level: Action Pack

VMware Partner Level: Premier