Inc. Magazine Unveils Its Annual List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies—the Inc. 5000

August 12, 2020 | 210 views

Inc. magazine today revealed that San Antonio-based STIRISTA is on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

Spotlight

PPG Industries

We work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.4 billion in 2018. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets.

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CHANNEL PARTNERSHIPS

Kentucky Teen Once Subject of Viral Video Warns Republicans of 'Outrage Mob'

Article | July 11, 2022

A Kentucky teen who became the subject of a viral video after an incident during a class field trip to Washington, D.C., warned viewers of the Republican National Convention Tuesday of an "outrage mob" that threatens to silence conservative viewpoints. After Nick Sandmann attended the March for Life anti-abortion rally with his former classmates from Covington Catholic High School in January 2019, a cellphone video of a close, face-to-face interaction between the students and a Native American demonstrator spread quickly online.

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CHANNEL PARTNERSHIPS

How Community Coalitions Are Bridging the Digital Divide

Article | July 29, 2022

Across the country, local networks known as Education Innovation Clusters (EdClusters) are bringing together partners and resources to meet urgent needs and envision a new future for teaching and learning. Many of these efforts are rooted in long-standing partnerships across sectors and institutions. As COVID-19 disrupted the lives of students, educators, and families earlier this year, EdClusters sprang into action, leveraging their capacity and reach in ways their networks were uniquely ready to do. Their collective efforts are meeting a range of needs—from internet access to devices to social-emotional supports. As schools prepare for uncertain and complex reopenings, we turn to Kansas City and Rhode Island for powerful examples of community in action.

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CHANNEL PARTNERSHIPS

How Educators Kept Students on Track During Remote Learning

Article | August 5, 2022

This spring, COVID-19 led administrators across the country to close school buildings and support students learning from home. We asked three educators about how they handled this disruption and found creative solutions to keep students motivated and engaged using the online literacy program, Reading Plus. We looked at what we had at our disposal that would help with reading, the overall environment, and engagement. In the past, we used Reading Plus as an intervention. We considered how we could utilize it with more students during distance learning.

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THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SEO 2020

Article | February 10, 2020

We all are surrounded by Artificial Intelligence. From Siri to Alexa to Google Home, it’s influencing the age we live in and giving higher prospects to execute every task smartly. Most of us nowadays rely on voice search for help even in the simplest tasks. So, how Artificial Intelligence is competent in SEO? How can it manipulate Search Engine Rankings? Have you ever come across the use of Artificial Intelligence in SEO?

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Spotlight

PPG Industries

We work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.4 billion in 2018. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets.

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MARKETING STRATEGY

Lauren Gottsacker of CyberPower Named on CRN's 2023 Women of the Channel List

Business Wire | June 01, 2023

Cyber Power Systems (USA), Inc., a leader in power protection and power management products, announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Lauren Gottsacker, channel account manager at CyberPower, to the Women of the Channel list for 2023. Every year, CRN recognizes women from vendor, distributor, and solution provider organizations whose expertise and vision are leaving a noticeable and commendable mark on the technology industry. The CRN 2023 Women of the Channel honorees bring their creativity, strategic thinking and leadership to bear in a variety of roles and responsibilities, but all are turning their unique talents toward driving success for their partners and customers. With this recognition, CRN honors these women for their unwavering dedication and commitment to furthering channel excellence. Gottsacker joined CyberPower in 2019 following channel account and business development roles at Carbonite, a data backup solutions provider. At CyberPower, she has focused her efforts on developing best-in-channel partnerships, partner enablement and creating new sales pipelines at her accounts which include CDW, among other major direct market reseller partners. “Lauren brings a talent for both strategy and execution. She is a true connector and has developed a number of channel outreach programs that not only enrich the customer’s product knowledge but brings people together such as monthly ‘women of the territory’ and sector-specific events,” said Scott Koller, vice president of channel sales at CyberPower. “Her contributions to CDW include creating a sales incentive program for their inside sales agents and developing a custom a dashboard for their representatives to view product inventory in real time which has accelerated the sales-to-delivery process.” Gottsacker said: “I’m honored to be recognized by CRN as channel leader. Whether it’s learning about an organization or new product offerings, or seeking a better understanding of an audience, I have a never-ending desire to be curious and learn. I look forward to continuing to create meaningful connections in the channel.” “We are ecstatic to announce this year’s honorees and shine a light on these women for their significant achievements, knowing that what they’ve accomplished has paved the way for continued success within the IT channel,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. “The channel is stronger because of them, and we look forward to seeing what they do next.” The 2023 Women of the Channel list will be featured in the June 2023 issue of CRN Magazine, with online coverage at www.CRN.com/WOTC. About Cyber Power Systems (USA), Inc. CyberPower designs and manufactures uninterruptible power supply systems, power distribution units, surge protectors, remote management hardware, power management software, mobile chargers and connectivity products. The company serves customers in enterprise, corporate, government, education, healthcare and small office/home office environments. CyberPower products are available through authorized distributors and sold by value-added resellers, system integrators, managed service providers, select retailers, and online resellers. For more information, visit https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end-users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com

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MARKETING DATA

Appian Selected for 2023 CRN® Partner Program Guide

PR Newswire | June 01, 2023

Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) has been recognized by CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2023 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide offers essential information to members of the IT channel ecosystem as they explore technology manufacturers' partner programs to find the vendors that will best support their business needs. Appian's inclusion is based on the recently-announced Appian Partner Program, a new partnership framework designed to enable partner success and accelerate customer value. The new program, launching in July, supports Appian's partner-driven growth strategy by fostering collaborative partnerships that strengthen Appian's position as a vendor of choice for end-to-end process automation. For solution providers such as managed service providers (MSPs), value-added resellers (VARs), systems integrators, and strategic service providers, a critical factor when assessing which IT manufacturers, service providers, and distributors to team with in building world-class technology solutions is the breadth and depth of the partner programs those companies offer. Strong elements such as financial incentives, sales and marketing assistance, training and certification, technical support and more can set a vendor apart and play a key role in boosting partners' long-term growth. In the 2023 CRN Partner Program Guide, vendors were evaluated based on program requirements and offerings such as partner training and education, pre- and post-sales support, marketing programs and resources, technical support, and communication. "We are committed to the success of our partners and are constantly looking for ways to better enable them," said Mark Dillon, SVP of Global Partnerships at Appian. "Our new program is designed to give our partners the resources and tools they need to develop effective joint go-to-market strategies with us. We are honored that our efforts are recognized by CRN." "In today's world, the need for innovation is greater than ever," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "Solution providers seek vendors that can keep pace with their developing business and evolving client needs. CRN's 2023 Partner Program Guide delivers deep insight into the strengths of each program, spotlighting the vendors dedicated to supporting their partner community and pushing positive change throughout the IT channel." The 2023 CRN Partner Program Guide is available online at www.CRN.com/PPG. Learn more about the Appian Partner Program at https://ap.pn/3pBNdZZ. Learn more about the Appian Platform for process automation at https://ap.pn/3LZLzc6. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by nearly 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com About Appian Appian is a software company that automates business processes. The Appian Platform includes everything you need to design, automate, and optimize even the most complex processes, from start to finish. The world's most innovative organizations trust Appian to improve their workflows, unify data, and optimize operations—resulting in better growth and superior customer experiences. For more information, visit appian.com.

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MARKETING DATA

ZINFI Releases Latest "Feet on the Street" Video Podcast on Partner Ecosystems Featuring Asher Mathew, CEO and Co-Founder of Partnership Leaders

PR Newswire | May 31, 2023

ZINFI Technologies, Inc., the leader in Unified Channel Management (UCM) solutions that include affiliate marketing management (AMM), partner relationship management (PRM), partner marketing management (PMM) and partner incentives management (PIM), today announced the release of its latest "Feet on the Street" educational video podcast focused on partner ecosystems. "Elevating Partnership Leaders and Pioneering the Science of Partnering" features special guest Asher Mathew, CEO and co-founder of Partnership Leaders, and ZINFI CEO and founder Sugata Sanyal engaged in a lively discussion of partner leadership as well as industry trends and strategies for building high-functioning partner networks. The four-chapter video podcast series – which is now available on demand from the ZINFI website – begins with an account by Mathews of the history of the origins of Partnership Leaders, an international team and ecosystem of more than 1,800 members whose mission is to elevate the role of partnership professionals and strengthen partnership teams. "We view ourselves as a platform for success rather than just a community," says Mathews. "We really take this seriously." Chapter 1 of the series, "Pioneering the Science of Partnering: Rethinking Operations & Strategies for Success," builds on research Partnership Leaders conducted in collaboration with HubSpot and Canalys on the current state of partner operations. An important insight that emerged from that research is that most organizations, even some of the smallest companies, are managing multiple partner types. This means, according to Mathews, "a partner organization needs to be dialed in on what their ideal partner profile is and do that research work upfront, and then really go into defining why they're partnering and what value they can generate." In Chapter 2 of the series, "Scaling SaaS Companies: When & How to Build a Partner Network for Optimal Growth," Mathews and Sanyal discuss how organizations can determine when they are ready to begin establishing a partner network and what to consider as they begin to identify potential recruiting targets and develop a framework for partner programs. Chapter 3, "Community-Based Learning Model to Empower Next-Gen Partnership Leaders," features an in-depth exploration of Partnership Leaders' work to understand in detail the characteristics of great partner leaders, great partner programs and high-functioning strategic partnerships. In the final chapter of the video podcast series, "Empowering Partner Ecosystems through Collaboration, Loyalty and Automation," Sanyal and Mathews wrap up the discussion with a vision for success in partner operations where partner leaders are held accountable, just like other members of the leadership team, and where vendor organizations have a detailed understanding of what motivates their partner base, how to build loyalty among partners, and how to use automation, AI and analytics to ensure long-term growth. About ZINFI Technologies ZINFI Technologies, the leader in Unified Channel Management (UCM) innovation, enables vendors and their channel partners to achieve profitable growth predictably and rapidly on a worldwide level. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, USA and founded by channel veterans with extensive global channel management experience, we at ZINFI see an immense opportunity to build high-performing sales channels by deploying an easy-to-use, comprehensive and innovative state-of-the-art SaaS Unified Channel Management automation platform that streamlines and manages the entire partner lifecycle through three core state-of-the-art SaaS applications—partner relationship management, channel marketing management and channel sales management. In 26 countries, these three core UCM SaaS applications are locally supported by ZINFI's global marketing services team members. About Partnership Leaders Partnership Leaders is a leading industry association for partnership, channel and business development leaders. As the industry's premier community, Partnership Leaders empowers partner teams at top technology and services companies worldwide through an online community of over 1,000 professionals worldwide actively engaging in virtual events and insight sharing to drive personal and professional success.

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MARKETING STRATEGY

Lauren Gottsacker of CyberPower Named on CRN's 2023 Women of the Channel List

Business Wire | June 01, 2023

Cyber Power Systems (USA), Inc., a leader in power protection and power management products, announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Lauren Gottsacker, channel account manager at CyberPower, to the Women of the Channel list for 2023. Every year, CRN recognizes women from vendor, distributor, and solution provider organizations whose expertise and vision are leaving a noticeable and commendable mark on the technology industry. The CRN 2023 Women of the Channel honorees bring their creativity, strategic thinking and leadership to bear in a variety of roles and responsibilities, but all are turning their unique talents toward driving success for their partners and customers. With this recognition, CRN honors these women for their unwavering dedication and commitment to furthering channel excellence. Gottsacker joined CyberPower in 2019 following channel account and business development roles at Carbonite, a data backup solutions provider. At CyberPower, she has focused her efforts on developing best-in-channel partnerships, partner enablement and creating new sales pipelines at her accounts which include CDW, among other major direct market reseller partners. “Lauren brings a talent for both strategy and execution. She is a true connector and has developed a number of channel outreach programs that not only enrich the customer’s product knowledge but brings people together such as monthly ‘women of the territory’ and sector-specific events,” said Scott Koller, vice president of channel sales at CyberPower. “Her contributions to CDW include creating a sales incentive program for their inside sales agents and developing a custom a dashboard for their representatives to view product inventory in real time which has accelerated the sales-to-delivery process.” Gottsacker said: “I’m honored to be recognized by CRN as channel leader. Whether it’s learning about an organization or new product offerings, or seeking a better understanding of an audience, I have a never-ending desire to be curious and learn. I look forward to continuing to create meaningful connections in the channel.” “We are ecstatic to announce this year’s honorees and shine a light on these women for their significant achievements, knowing that what they’ve accomplished has paved the way for continued success within the IT channel,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. “The channel is stronger because of them, and we look forward to seeing what they do next.” The 2023 Women of the Channel list will be featured in the June 2023 issue of CRN Magazine, with online coverage at www.CRN.com/WOTC. About Cyber Power Systems (USA), Inc. CyberPower designs and manufactures uninterruptible power supply systems, power distribution units, surge protectors, remote management hardware, power management software, mobile chargers and connectivity products. The company serves customers in enterprise, corporate, government, education, healthcare and small office/home office environments. CyberPower products are available through authorized distributors and sold by value-added resellers, system integrators, managed service providers, select retailers, and online resellers. For more information, visit https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end-users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com

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MARKETING DATA

Appian Selected for 2023 CRN® Partner Program Guide

PR Newswire | June 01, 2023

Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) has been recognized by CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2023 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide offers essential information to members of the IT channel ecosystem as they explore technology manufacturers' partner programs to find the vendors that will best support their business needs. Appian's inclusion is based on the recently-announced Appian Partner Program, a new partnership framework designed to enable partner success and accelerate customer value. The new program, launching in July, supports Appian's partner-driven growth strategy by fostering collaborative partnerships that strengthen Appian's position as a vendor of choice for end-to-end process automation. For solution providers such as managed service providers (MSPs), value-added resellers (VARs), systems integrators, and strategic service providers, a critical factor when assessing which IT manufacturers, service providers, and distributors to team with in building world-class technology solutions is the breadth and depth of the partner programs those companies offer. Strong elements such as financial incentives, sales and marketing assistance, training and certification, technical support and more can set a vendor apart and play a key role in boosting partners' long-term growth. In the 2023 CRN Partner Program Guide, vendors were evaluated based on program requirements and offerings such as partner training and education, pre- and post-sales support, marketing programs and resources, technical support, and communication. "We are committed to the success of our partners and are constantly looking for ways to better enable them," said Mark Dillon, SVP of Global Partnerships at Appian. "Our new program is designed to give our partners the resources and tools they need to develop effective joint go-to-market strategies with us. We are honored that our efforts are recognized by CRN." "In today's world, the need for innovation is greater than ever," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "Solution providers seek vendors that can keep pace with their developing business and evolving client needs. CRN's 2023 Partner Program Guide delivers deep insight into the strengths of each program, spotlighting the vendors dedicated to supporting their partner community and pushing positive change throughout the IT channel." The 2023 CRN Partner Program Guide is available online at www.CRN.com/PPG. Learn more about the Appian Partner Program at https://ap.pn/3pBNdZZ. Learn more about the Appian Platform for process automation at https://ap.pn/3LZLzc6. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by nearly 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com About Appian Appian is a software company that automates business processes. The Appian Platform includes everything you need to design, automate, and optimize even the most complex processes, from start to finish. The world's most innovative organizations trust Appian to improve their workflows, unify data, and optimize operations—resulting in better growth and superior customer experiences. For more information, visit appian.com.

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MARKETING DATA

ZINFI Releases Latest "Feet on the Street" Video Podcast on Partner Ecosystems Featuring Asher Mathew, CEO and Co-Founder of Partnership Leaders

PR Newswire | May 31, 2023

ZINFI Technologies, Inc., the leader in Unified Channel Management (UCM) solutions that include affiliate marketing management (AMM), partner relationship management (PRM), partner marketing management (PMM) and partner incentives management (PIM), today announced the release of its latest "Feet on the Street" educational video podcast focused on partner ecosystems. "Elevating Partnership Leaders and Pioneering the Science of Partnering" features special guest Asher Mathew, CEO and co-founder of Partnership Leaders, and ZINFI CEO and founder Sugata Sanyal engaged in a lively discussion of partner leadership as well as industry trends and strategies for building high-functioning partner networks. The four-chapter video podcast series – which is now available on demand from the ZINFI website – begins with an account by Mathews of the history of the origins of Partnership Leaders, an international team and ecosystem of more than 1,800 members whose mission is to elevate the role of partnership professionals and strengthen partnership teams. "We view ourselves as a platform for success rather than just a community," says Mathews. "We really take this seriously." Chapter 1 of the series, "Pioneering the Science of Partnering: Rethinking Operations & Strategies for Success," builds on research Partnership Leaders conducted in collaboration with HubSpot and Canalys on the current state of partner operations. An important insight that emerged from that research is that most organizations, even some of the smallest companies, are managing multiple partner types. This means, according to Mathews, "a partner organization needs to be dialed in on what their ideal partner profile is and do that research work upfront, and then really go into defining why they're partnering and what value they can generate." In Chapter 2 of the series, "Scaling SaaS Companies: When & How to Build a Partner Network for Optimal Growth," Mathews and Sanyal discuss how organizations can determine when they are ready to begin establishing a partner network and what to consider as they begin to identify potential recruiting targets and develop a framework for partner programs. Chapter 3, "Community-Based Learning Model to Empower Next-Gen Partnership Leaders," features an in-depth exploration of Partnership Leaders' work to understand in detail the characteristics of great partner leaders, great partner programs and high-functioning strategic partnerships. In the final chapter of the video podcast series, "Empowering Partner Ecosystems through Collaboration, Loyalty and Automation," Sanyal and Mathews wrap up the discussion with a vision for success in partner operations where partner leaders are held accountable, just like other members of the leadership team, and where vendor organizations have a detailed understanding of what motivates their partner base, how to build loyalty among partners, and how to use automation, AI and analytics to ensure long-term growth. About ZINFI Technologies ZINFI Technologies, the leader in Unified Channel Management (UCM) innovation, enables vendors and their channel partners to achieve profitable growth predictably and rapidly on a worldwide level. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, USA and founded by channel veterans with extensive global channel management experience, we at ZINFI see an immense opportunity to build high-performing sales channels by deploying an easy-to-use, comprehensive and innovative state-of-the-art SaaS Unified Channel Management automation platform that streamlines and manages the entire partner lifecycle through three core state-of-the-art SaaS applications—partner relationship management, channel marketing management and channel sales management. In 26 countries, these three core UCM SaaS applications are locally supported by ZINFI's global marketing services team members. About Partnership Leaders Partnership Leaders is a leading industry association for partnership, channel and business development leaders. As the industry's premier community, Partnership Leaders empowers partner teams at top technology and services companies worldwide through an online community of over 1,000 professionals worldwide actively engaging in virtual events and insight sharing to drive personal and professional success.

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Events