Opening Day of CompTIA ChannelCon 2014 Focuses on New Business Opportunities

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Aug 05, 2014, 11:54 ET

PHOENIX, Aug. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New business opportunities in cloud computing, mobility, security and other areas highlighted the opening day sessions at ChannelCon 2014, the premier partnering and training event for information technology (IT) channel produced annually by CompTIA, the IT Industry Association.

Eight CompTIA member communities and three advisory councils met here Monday, with much of the focus on the current state of business in the IT channel; the challenges channel facing companies; and where to look for new business opportunities.

"What customers want is business relevance, technology solutions that are relevant to making their business operate better," Howard M. Cohen, a 30-year veteran of the IT industry, told members of the CompTIA IT Services and Support Community. "Business relevance comes in the form of intellectual property, your intellectual property. That's your differentiator, your expertise."

During a joint meeting of the CompTIA Partner, Telecom and Vendor Advisory Councils attendees explored the evolution of the traditional "value added reseller" into a new hybrid VAR. The hybrid VAR does business in many different areas, according to Paul Cronin, senior vice president and director, Atrion Networking. These areas can include cloud, storage, mobility, social media, information management, analysis, telecom and network connectivity.

Superheroes Wanted

At the Advancing Women in IT Community meeting, attendees were encouraged to be a superhero and help girls and women get into an IT career. Through its Dream IT program, the community wants to reach 10,000 girls and woman, communicating about careers in IT. The community rolled out two new websites to support Dream IT earlier this year.

The Dream IT message is that IT is a great place for women and girls. The project goes hand-in-hand with the new AWIT Career Resource Center, which features tips, links, testimonials and information for women interested in entering IT. The site breaks down various careers and salaries available in IT — both in core IT careers like consulting and systems integration, as well as IT jobs in other industries, like retail, creative arts and hospitality.

ChannelCon continues through Aug. 6 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. Some 1,000 executives and owners from many of the top companies in the IT channel are in attendance. Visit http://topics.vpoinc.com/events/ChannelCon14.html for the latest news from ChannelCon.

CompTIA is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. For more information, visit CompTIA online and on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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