Inacom Information Systems
608-661-7848
maria.schafer@inacom.com
Madison, WI, September 19, 2008 – Inacom Information Systems today announced that Laurie Benson, CEO, was named one of the most powerful women in the technology channel by Everything Channel’s VARBusiness Magazine, the leading source of channel intelligence and strategic insight for IT Solution Providers.
The third annual VARBusiness Power 50 Women of the Channel awards honor the female executives making the biggest impact in the IT channel. The list celebrates outstanding female leaders and role models for other women in the traditionally male-dominated IT industry.
As CEO of Inacom Information Systems for the past 24 years, Laurie has helped the business grow into one of Wisconsin’s largest IT solutions providers while working tirelessly to promote Wisconsin’s emerging technology industry and technology education, particularly for females both locally and nationally. Laurie currently serves on the following advisory boards: Hewlett Packard, Wisconsin and National Girls Collaborative, STEM Pipeline Champions, ITAWi (Wisconsin’s IT Association), the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Henry Vilas Zoo, and Visicom. She was selected as the 2004 Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year, CRN’s “Top 25 Most Influential IT Executives” in November 2004, and VAR Business “Power 50 of the Channel,” 2006-2008. Laurie was inducted into the Ingram Micro North America VentureTech Network Hall of Fame in 2006.
Laurie’s philosophy is centered on the Golden Rule, living our core values, enabling others to realize their potential, and giving back to our communities. She was also a driving force behind Wisconsin’s 2007 participation in the “Make Mine a Million $ Business” program of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence. The program was designed to inspire one million women entrepreneurs to reach the $1 million revenue mark by 2010 and provides money, mentoring, marketing, and technology tools for program winners.
“We at Everything Channel are very proud to honor the women in the Channel, such as Laurie, whose commitment to excellence continues to drive growth and profitability in today’s fast-paced technology market,” said Robert C. DeMarzo, senior vice president and editorial director, Everything Channel.
The Power 50 Women of the Channel were chosen by Everything Channel editors who combed through a large number of candidates in order to identify the most outstanding and influential female channel executives. The entire list appears in the August 25 issue of VARBusiness magazine, and online at http://www.ChannelWeb.com.
About Inacom Information Systems (http://www.inacom.com)
Inacom Information Systems is an award-winning Wisconsin-based provider of technology solutions specializing in consulting, education and procurement for business and education clients throughout Wisconsin and across the country. Founded in 1984, Inacom has grown to over $80,000,000 in revenue and over 150 employees who live and work throughout the state of Wisconsin. Inacom Information Systems is a statewide women owned business specializing in technology consulting, education and procurement and holds top tier partnership with leading global technology manufacturers including Cisco Systems, Microsoft and EMC. Inacom is headquartered in Madison, WI, with offices in Appleton, WI and Brookfield, WI.
About VARBusiness (http://www.channelweb.com) For the past 21 years, VARBusiness’ strategic resources have been the gateway to the commercial and public sector (or government) Solution Provider community. The VARBusiness integrated platform of media opportunities provides strategic insight for technology integrators through industry-defining research, in-depth editorial, channel events and innovative Web services, enabling these IT professionals to make educated decisions for their businesses, partnerships and customers. VARBusiness offerings lead vendors and distributors to unprecedented access to the most powerful strategic Solution Providers in the market. VARBusiness has been the recipient of numerous industry awards for both editorial content and design.
About Everything Channel (http://www.everythingchannel.com, http://www.channelweb.com) Everything Channel is the Global Leader in Technology Sales and serves as the one stop shop for Solution Providers and the hardware and software suppliers that engage with the indirect sales Channel, which drives 75 percent of all technology sales throughout the world. Solution Providers turn to Everything Channel for product information, business guidance, and market intelligence and management tools. IT suppliers use Everything Channel to gain access to and influence the Solution Provider audience, develop strategy, obtain market intelligence and execute sales, recruitment and Channel enablement objectives. Everything Channel provides for the wide range of business needs for both Solution Providers and IT suppliers to run their business.
Everything Channel is the number one source for the Channel market, helping businesses run more profitably and effectively. Through use of its portfolio of channel solutions which include the ChannelWeb online network, magazines (CRN and VARBusiness), events (XChange and Vision), workflow tools (MTC and eXalt), tele-recruiting, sales support, marketing services, research and education (IPED), technology sellers are able to rapidly accelerate sales. Everything Channel provides the answer to strategy and branding, online marketing, market intelligence, lead generation, branded and custom events, education and workflow tools targeted to those who buy and sell through the Channel.