VentureTech Network Reaches Out to Children in Need
When Hurricane Katrina ravaged the New Orleans area in 2005, members of Ingram Micro’s VentureTech Network (VTN) pulled together to help each other recover. At the recent VTN Invitational in New Orleans, they showed the same spirit of caring during the community's first-ever charity event.

Sponsored by Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Microsoft, and located at the New Orleans Sheraton, the Build-a-Bike event brought teams from VTN's regional chapters together to assemble 55 bicycles for donation to the Boys & Girls Club of New Orleans. Although its facility was badly damaged by Katrina, the club has remained a vital part of the community, offering programs that focus on teaching responsibility and providing recreational activities for local boys and girls. Children from the club were on-site at the Sheraton to personally receive their bicycles, and the impact on everyone present, from the bike-building teams to the audience, was intense.

"We have just seen the best example of teamwork VTN has ever done," said Kirk Robinson, vice president, channel marketing, North America, when he took the microphone after the bicycles were presented to their new owners.

Ingram Micro would like to thank all the participants in this event, and the sponsors who helped make it happen. Their cooperation not only touched the lives of children, but created memories that no one who witnessed it will ever forget.

VentureTech Network Reaches Out to Children in Need
Summer Invitational a first for the community
Building on the success of the wildly popular VTN Invitationals, Ingram Micro is planning to present the very first Invitational event aimed at members of its SMB Alliance community. The event, scheduled for August 24-27 in Chicago, will bring together as many as 250 SMB Alliance members from throughout the U.S. and Canada for interaction, technical training and business-education opportunities.

"It's a step toward further developing SMB Alliance's strength as a community," says Kristine Flor Lau, SMB Alliance marketing manager, Ingram Micro.

For more information, or to register for the event, SMB Alliance members should e-mail janice.savage@ingrammicro.com or call (800) 456-8000, ext. 67850. If you aren't a member, but are interested in learning more about the program, visit www.ingrammicro.com/smb.

Growth Through Diversity
Diversity Partner Network supports success in GovEd segment

If your technology business holds small or diverse business certifications, Ingram Micro’s Diversity Partner Network (DPN) can help you succeed in the government market with educational opportunities; business and support resources; and connections to technology manufacturers, prime contractors and government entities. In addition to the resources available through the GovEd Alliance, DPN members have access to specialized resources that enable small and diverse partners to grow their public-sector business

"We launched the DPN at last fall's GovEd Alliance Invitational, and we’re focused on the next steps, which include connecting members to vendor partners, prime contractors and system integrators looking for well-qualified diversity partners," says Jason Bystrak, senior manager, Ingram Micro channel marketing. How do you join the Diversity Partner Network? For GovEd Alliance members, it's easy: Simply register a profile in The GovEd Alliance Zone, the community's business networking portal, listing your diversity business certifications. E-mail govedalliance@ingrammicro.com for more information.