SANTA ANA, Calif., Nov 06, 2006 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- Ingram Micro Inc., (NYSE: IM) today welcomed 300 members of its GovEd Alliance partner community to Atlanta, Ga. for the industry leader's annual government and education-focused Invitational. The three-day partnership event features a new business resource format and two key announcements, including:
* Exclusive GovEd manufacturer offerings from IBM, Lenovo, Planar
Systems, Symantec and TEAC America.
* New online GovEd Alliance Partner Locator designed exclusively for the
use of GovEd Alliance solution providers, prime contractors and
manufacturers.
Held at the Hyatt Regency, Ingram Micro's three-day GovEd Alliance Invitational is themed "Combine for Results" and packed with back-to-back breakouts, informative roundtables, instructional workshops and valuable member-to-member activities. The GovEd Invitational also includes several networking opportunities, including a technology fair and reception, as well as a Night on the Town event and Spotlight Awards dinner.
"The GovEd Alliance Invitational is the IT channel's leading training and education forum for solution providers servicing federal, state, local and education clients," says Kirk Robinson, vice president, channel marketing, Ingram Micro North America. "These partner events bring together the key manufacturers, solution providers and resources that influence the market and drive profitable business in the public sector."
With an expected attendance of more than 200 government and education-focused solution providers, Ingram Micro's GovEd Alliance Invitational attracts many of the industry's leading and emerging technology manufacturers, including Brother, Cisco Systems, Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, InFocus Corporation, Juniper Networks, Lenovo, Sony Electronics and Symantec. It also features special guests and keynote speakers, including:
* Capital Revenues: Cashing in on Government IT -- Larry Walsh,
GovernmentVAR and VARBusiness magazines
* How to Make a Giraffe Smile -- Hugh Gouldthorpe, Ownens and Minor
* The Government Market: Big Influential and Profitable -- Tom Temin,
Washington Technology
New GovEd Alliance Partner Locator Key to Driving Sales Opportunities
In addition to announcing several exclusive manufacturer offerings, the Invitational will also host the debut of the Ingram Micro GovEd Alliance Partner Locator. Designed to quickly identify GovEd Alliance partners who meet specific criteria determined by the user, the new Partner Locator is open to GovEd Alliance solution providers, prime contractors and participating manufacturer partners. It features business profiles of participating members and allows users to include details about government certifications, classifications, contracts held, and government and education entities supported. The locator can also be used to arrange meetings and form discussion groups to share best practices with other GovEd Alliance members. It is available online at http://ingrammicrogoved.leveragesoftware.com/.
"Due to the market's growing complexity and specialization, business in the public sector is often done through teaming agreements with solution providers who hold various contracts or business certifications. This new partner locator makes it easier for our GovEd Alliance community to partner with one another on RFPS and go after more business opportunities and win more contracts," concludes Bob Laclede, general manager and vice president of sales, public sector, Ingram Micro U.S.
"The GovEd Alliance Partner Locator means we don't have to walk away from business because we don't hold a particular contract or have a specific government certification," says Curt Vinson, president, Lyme Computer, a solution provider in Lyme, N.H. "This online partner locator will make it easy for us to find the qualified sub-contractors and business partners we're looking for and vice versa."
For more information about Ingram Micro's GovEd Alliance or the new GovEd Partner Locator, please visit www.ingrammicro.com/goved or email govedalliance@ingrammicro.com.
About GovEd Alliance
GovEd Alliance is an Ingram Micro community group consisting of solution providers, technology manufacturers, and Ingram Micro associates serving the government and education markets. GovEd Alliance connects members in order to share strategic information and best practices, improve business efficiencies, and increase revenue and profitability.
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 140 countries and is the only global broadline IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit www.ingrammicro.com.
SOURCE Ingram Micro Inc.
Marie Meoli of WhiteFox Marketing & Communications, +1-714-680-0335, marie.meoli@whitefoxpr.com, for Ingram Micro Inc.
http://www.ingrammicro.com/goved