Annual Partner Event Fosters Partner Education and Best Practices to Promote Sales and Marketing Success in Public Sector
SANTA ANA, Calif., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), the world's largest technology distributor, kicks off its annual GovEd Alliance Invitational -- an exclusive, interactive, education, marketing and sales-focused conference that joins Ingram Micro's top public sector solution providers with today's leading and emerging government and education technology vendors. With attendance expected to reach a record high, this year's partner event will be held Nov. 2 - 4 at the Rancho Las Palmas Marriott Resort in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Packed with valuable education, sales, and training sessions, as well as keynotes, technology and public sector experts and industry executive panels, Ingram Micro's GovEd Alliance Invitational is a proven event that solution providers and vendors attend to learn more about the trends, current events and business opportunities impacting technology sales within the public sector. It also serves as the primary venue for Ingram Micro to share best practices, solicit customer feedback and debut new services and support offerings to its GovEd Alliance customer community.
During the conference, Ingram Micro will announce its first GovEd Alliance Advisory Council -- compromised of 10 GovEd Alliance members across key market segments including federal government, state and local government, higher education, and K-12 education. The company will also recognize the GovEd Alliance partner community's continuing efforts to re-establish IT services for Public Sector and Commercial end-users in the Gulf Coast Region impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
In addition, T.C. Doyle, senior executive editor of award-winning GovernmentVAR Magazine and VARBusiness Magazine returns for the second-year in a row to moderate a tier-one vendor panel and present research from CMP's 2005 "State of the GovEd Market" findings. Other featured guests and speakers will include:
* Ryan Morris - Institute for Partner Education & Development (IPED)
* Kurt Friedmann - Impact Learning Systems
* Pamela-Smith Cressel - Office of Small Business Utilization, GSA
* Ken Schmidt - Former Harley-Davidson Executive and Communications Expert
* Neal Fox - Former Assistant Commissioner for Commercial Acquisition, GSA Federal Supply Service
* John D. Harrington - Funds for Learning
* Paul Dippel - Service Leadership Inc.
* Nancy Fisher - The Sage Team, Inc.
* Colonel Dave Spataro - Former Deputy Dir. for Programs & Operations, National Reconnaissance Office's Communications Systems Acquisition and Operations Directorate
"The public sector is one of the few markets that VARs can look to for consistent technology sales and business opportunities," said Bob Laclede, vice president and general manager, government and education sales, Ingram Micro U.S. "But selling into government and education takes investment and requires specific sales and technology expertise and resources. That's where GovEd Alliance comes into play. Through our events, program resources and ongoing partner support, we help partners understand and navigate the intricacies of the public sector while keeping them aware of growth technologies and new business models like remote managed services."
Outside of annual partner events, Ingram Micro's GovEd Alliance community members also receive the following benefits and services:
* Access to a peer group of 2,500 Solution Providers for networking and best practice sharing
* Go-to-market services tailored to the public sector: GovEd technology assessment program (TAP), marketing plans and programs, GovEd Insider monthly eNewsletter covering trends and hot topics
* Discounted business resources: lower-cost shipping, telecommunications, training programs, trade memberships
* Access to community specialized vendor programs, promotions and contests
* Community website with vendor opportunities, new program offerings, networking opportunities and upcoming events
* Exclusive extended finance options for public sector deals: 60-Day revolving and purchase order financing
* Extended sales and support hours for peak government and education buying periods
* Discount program with over 300 participating vendors
* GovEd contract support services: GSA Support and Bid/Proposal consulting
About GovEd Alliance
GovEd Alliance launched in June 2002, as a customizable program offering targeting solution providers who focus their core business in Federal, State/Local, Higher Education and K-12. GovEd Alliance was an enhancement to Ingram Micro's long-standing government/education offering Partnership America established in 1994, which was primarily a vendor discount program with dedicated GovEd sales support. Until recently, the program was only offered to Solution Providers residing within the GovEd division of sales (approximately 2000 accounts). In 2005, the customer base was expanded to include the top 500 Solution Providers outside of the GovEd division (DCC and VAR) based on GovEd flagged sales. The total base of customers has since reached 2,500.
About Ingram Micro
As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial services, and product aggregation and distribution. The company serves 100 countries and is the only global IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit http://www.ingrammicro.com.
Ingram Micro and the registered Ingram Micro logo are trademarks used under license by Ingram Micro Inc. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Ingram Micro Inc.
11/01/2005
CONTACT: Chris Kelly of Ingram Micro Inc., +1-714-382-3355,
chris.kelly@ingrammicro.com; or Media Relations, Marie Meoli of WhiteFox
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Ingram Micro Inc.
Web site: http://www.ingrammicro.com
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