Tiffani Bova is a Gartner Research Director covering the topics of IT channel sales, programs and alliances. Ms. Bova has responsibility for research, analysis, consulting and publishing on the topics of channel sales, programs and alliances for the information technology leaders that Gartner serves. In addition, Ms. Bova conducts significant public speaking and publishing in industry periodicals on these topics.

Prior to Gartner, Ms. Bova spent 10 years in channel sales and marketing roles and most recently as the channel chief at Gateway Computers. Ms. Bova has also been recognized by industry leading publications, CRN and VARBusiness, as a leading channel advocate heading up innovative campaigns and driving effective strategy and execution for leading IT providers in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Charles Smulders is a managing vice president running Gartner's End User Client Computing Group. In his previous positions with Gartner, Mr. Smulders led Gartner's distribution channel and hardware analysis. Mr Smulders worked at Dataquest Inc Europe at the time of Gartner's acquisition of the company in 1997 and shortly after transferred to the U.S. Before that Mr. Smulders held positions at Romtec plc., a U.K.-based information technology company and in the retail sector.

Laura McLellan is a Research Vice President focused on the business strategies of hardware, software and IT services providers. She performs research and offers consultative advice on marketing and go-to-market strategies and tactics. Ms. McLellan presents frequently on major trends and best practices in IT provider marketing. She is currently involved in the marketing implications of business model innovations such as the acquisition of technology as a service or for free.

Ms. McLellan was formerly with Gartner Consulting's Marketing & Business Strategies' IT services practice. She joined Gartner in 1996 after 20 years in the IT services industry, where she worked in IT services strategic planning, marketing, sales and services business management. Before joining Gartner, she worked at Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM and Coopers & Lybrand

David Willis is chief of research for the communications area. Mr. Willis sets the direction and framework for worldwide integrative research across all aspects of networking and telecom equipment and services. He is responsible for research and advisory services in communications planning, metrics, infrastructure and sourcing strategies. He is an advisor in the planning of IP networks for some of the largest enterprise customers in the world, including those in the financial services, government, pharmaceutical, medical, retail and IT outsourcing sectors.

Prior to joining Gartner, Mr. Willis was networking research practice lead at the META Group. Prior to META, he served as managing editor for Network Computing Magazine; he continues to serve as a member of its Editorial Advisory board. Mr. Willis was previously responsible for systems integration at the American Red Cross, serving as chief technology advisor to the CIO and leading the organization's technology standardization and transformation efforts.

Jennifer Vessels, CEO of Next Step, maximizes clients' revenues and profits through proven sales, marketing and management techniques. Her practical approach is derived from over 25 years experience in executive roles with Tandem Computers, Ungermann-Bass, Tandberg Telecom, and small manufacturing or service companies. Jennifer holds an MBA from San Jose State and a Masters of Occupational Psychology from the University of London, as well as being a Certified Management Consultant (CMC).

Due to the hands-on nature of her presentations for small or large groups, Jennifer is a sought after speaker for the Institute of Management Consultants, Renaissance Executive Forum, PRSA, AMA, and other organizations nationwide. She and the Next Step team has maximized results for companies ranging from Cisco Systems to Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich and Rosati and Goodwill Industries - as well as many smaller technology, manufacturing and service companies.

Fred Diamond is the go-to, marketing consultant to high-tech and professional services firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. His tagline, “Marketing that doesn’t lead to revenue reward is a HUGE waste of time and money” has resonated with CEOs and business owners for the past decade. Mr. Diamond knows that it’s about sales, and has developed and implemented marketing strategies for dozens of firms that have hastened their road to revenue.

Since founding DIAMOND Marketing in 2001, he has worked with numerous small-to-midsized firms, including off-shore firms to help them figure out and implement smart, sound, and effective sales and marketing programs into public sector and other markets. Many government contractors have employed his services to help them grow sound marketing and sales programs. Many of his clients are international firms looking to make a presence in the US market. He has had success helping firms from Korea, Singapore, Canada, and the Middle East develop their US market presence. His domain expertise in public sector and other vertical markets, including financial services, transportation, and professional services, has made him a “go-to marketing consultant for vertical market development.”

Mr. Diamond’s services are offered to members of the Ingram Micro GovEd Alliance. He has been a frequent speaker at Ingram events across multiple segments. He had also developed many strong relationships with companies in the DC metro region that provide services to technology companies including channel members and solution providers. DIAMOND Marketing has worked with technologies including: software, business intelligence, ERP, IT security, call center, hardware, and biometrics. Solution providers he has consulted to have partnerships with Microsoft, HP, IBM, Sun, Oracle, and many new and emerging technologies.

Prior to starting DIAMOND Marketing, he worked at Apple Computer, Compaq Computer and Compuware Corporation. He also worked at numerous pre-IPO firms in various marketing and channel development capacities where he establish marketing, sales lead generation programs, telesales, direct marketing, and corporate positioning strategies and programs.

Larry Kesslin is the president of 4-Profit, a highly focused advisory services company working exclusively within the IT and telecommunications channel. Over the past 20 years, Larry has worked with thousands of solution providers, and numerous vendors and distributors in the industry. Larry understands what makes solution providers tick and what they need in order to be successful and adaptive businesses. Larry is also a seasoned public speaker, having given several keynotes for companies including HP, Gartner, IBM, Cisco, Motorola and others.

Larry has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and had a corporate career with Westinghouse and GE before venturing out on his own in 1993. At GE, Larry was responsible for distribution management in the technology arena in the Northeast USA. Working with his partner Chris Winter, 4-Profit has written “Built 4-Profit: Mastering a Culture of Accountability” written to help solution providers in the IT and telecommunications space increase profitability and achieve the results they desire for their businesses.

Craig Zarley has been covering the IT industry for 31 years. For the past 18 years, he has followed the U.S. solution provider channel as a reporter and editor for Everything Channel's CRN magazine. He has won numerous national awards for his reporting and is considered one of the leading experts on the U.S. IT channel.

Shaun is responsible for driving SWG growth for IBM in the General Business customer segment and across the Business Partner Community. This involves leading the worldwide software marketing strategy, offerings and go-to-market plans through close working with the SWG brand and geography business units as well as other divisions across IBM

Particular emphasis in 2008 is being given to the mid market where strong revenue growth and new customers are planned for Software group through the effective combination of relevant offerings , motivated partners and visible demand generation.

Shaun graduated in Metallurgy from the University of Sheffield in the UK. His first job was in the foundries of Rolls Royce supplying turbine blades to the RAF. He joined IBM as a programmer in 1978 and has enjoyed a wide variety of roles during his career. These include Systems Engineering, Sales, Product management, Channels development , Web communications , SMB marketing and Program management leadership roles in WebSphere and Information Management.

Shaun is a qualified Soccer Coach . He remains a lifelong fan of Manchester United and will happily explain the rules of cricket to anyone prepared to listen.

With over 8 years of experience in the enterprise software space, Scott Quintal has been with Kaseya since August, 2005. As Vice President of MSP Sales, West Region, Scott oversees the team responsible for selling the Kaseya Managed Services Edition platform to IT service providers in the Western United States and Canada. He is committed to building a world-class team whose sole mandate is to provide IT service organizations the information and support they need to transition their business to a more proactive and, most importantly, profitable venture.

Scott was initially a Regional Sales Manager with Kaseya before assuming his current responsibilities. Before coming to Kaseya, Scott was Business Development Representative at Marimba, Inc. After Marimba was acquired by BMC Software, he joined Western Blue Corporation, a BMC Channel Partner, as a Sr. Account Executive.

Scott received a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University - San Luis Obispo.

Linda Braun joined Ricoh Corporation in 2001 and is the Senior Director of Sales for the Printing Solutions Division for Ricoh Corporation and she is located in Tustin, California.

Linda Braun is responsible for sales and customer relationships for Solution Provider and Direct Marketing partners for Ricoh's Printing Solutions Division. Her responsibilities include overseeing all marketing and sales activities focused on increasing unit sales, revenue and overall profit for this set of strategic customers. Her enhanced focus is on supporting these partners in their achievement of year-over-year growth and profitability on the Ricoh portfolio of printers, scanners and MFP products, software and services.

Previously, Linda Braun worked for 7 years at Xerox Corporation in various sales management, account management and marketing capacities centering on printing technology.

From 1992 to 1994, Linda Braun worked in Germany at both Kodak and Atlas Copco in market research and international channel marketing roles.

Linda Braun has a Master of International Management Degree from Thunderbird, American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, Arizona. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in both Business Administration and German from State University of New York at Oswego. She has also studied abroad at the University of Wurtzburg.