Poly

 

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Jun 18, 2013: Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), the global leader in open, standards-based unified communications, today announced that four members of its global channel organization – Deandra Cassidy, Lana King, Barb Huelskamp and Kandyce Tripp – were chosen by UBM’s CRN Magazine as “Women of the Channel” in 2013. In addition, Tripp was honored by the magazine as one of its “Power 100” Women of the Channel.  

 

CRN’s 2013 “Women of the Channel” designation honors those who have notable accomplishments during the year and the potential to positively impact the future of the technology industry. CRN also awards the “Power 100” designation to an elite subset of its “Women of the Channel” honorees for their prominent positions in leading channel programs in their organizations and exceptional achievements.

 

Tripp, senior director for Polycom global channels operations and a two-time “Power 100” honoree, led efforts that successfully integrated disparate systems and automated internal processes. Her efforts enhanced deal registration, partner recruitment and global partner enablement programs. As a result, Polycom’s channel business managers can better track and manage partner rewards, incentives and compliance requirements.

 

Cassidy, director of Polycom global channel programs, has appeared on the list three times, once as a “Power 100” designate. She successfully implemented a global partner relationship management system that enhances engagement, sales and business collaboration processes among Polycom’s channel partners. The new “Partner Business Portal” has increased partner revenues through joint collaboration and management of opportunities.

 

Huelskamp, Polycom’s director for national channels, introduced strategies and methodology within her sales team that increased leading channel partners’ revenues by an average of 30 percent in a $100-million market segment. Overall, she increased every national partner’s returns by 5 percent when compared against competitors.  

 

King, director of Polycom channel strategy and programs, enhanced Polycom’s certification and specialization program to improve channel partners’ sales and technical proficiencies. Through competency development, Polycom channel partners earn their customers’ confidence and are prepared to take advantage of new opportunities that come with a mastery of unified communications technology.

 

“We honor and congratulate this list of influential women from Polycom who are dedicated to supporting the mission of the channel,” said Robert Faletra, CEO, UBM Tech Channel. “For years, we have identified and celebrated the women who have made an indelible mark on the technology industry through unmatched innovation and razor focus on meeting the needs of the IT channel community.” 

 

“Kandyce, Deandra, Barb and Lana have been instrumental in leading initiatives that are expanding opportunities and opening the door to new markets for thousands of our partners,” said Ron Myers, senior vice president of Global channels for Polycom. “Their leadership and creative approaches prepare our channel partners to provide the best solutions to meet their customers’ goals and needs.”

 

To date, Polycom’s channel program has won numerous awards, including four consecutive wins of CRN's respected 5-Star Rating for the Polycom Choice Partner Program.

 

A special feature on the “Women of the Channel” is in the June issue of CRN magazine and expanded coverage of the Power 100 will be featured online at www.crn.com.

 

CRN Magazine editors selected this year’s honorees based on nominations and applications from a field of channel organizations, distributors and solution providers. Selections are also based on the role each applicant played during the past year in driving revenue and the steps taken to evangelize the IT channel.