As the IT channel descends on Phoenix for ChannelCon 2014 — a smorgasbord of business insight, peer-to-peer learning and partner networking — one of the sometimes overlooked gems of the event is Community Day. For newcomers, joining and participating in a thriving CompTIA community can be intimidating. With that in mind, here’s some practical guidance on how to plan and get the most out of this action packed day.
Community Day, set for Aug. 4, is when CompTIA’s most engaged members gather to share insights, network with peers and build initiatives that drive the IT industry forward. CompTIA communities are comprised of channel professionals and thought leaders who have an interest in a particular topic, like cloud or managed services, or a demographic like women or techs in the United Kingdom. Run by CompTIA members and staff, our communities provide an ongoing platform for discussion, networking, learning and industry initiative development. Every community has a different flavor — check them out and discover what’s right for you.
If you haven’t already, register for ChannelCon! It’s a great place to explore all of CompTIA’s offerings and the only place you’ll hear from each of the eight community leaders as to why you should attend their meetings. That’s exactly what happens during the day’s lead off event, the Community Breakfast: 8 Nuggets to Start Your Day. Leaders from CompTIA’s eight communities will entice you to attend their meetings later in the day. It’s a great way introduce yourself to the community leadership and to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
CompTIA Community Day Highlights
Advancing Women in IT Community Meeting: 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Tour the recently launched AWIT Career Resource Center and hear about Dream IT, a new initiative to inspire women and girls to explore careers in information technology. If you’re willing to share your story, talk to Cathy Alper about being a Dream IT speaker in your area.
IT Security Community Meeting: 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Get a sneak peek of the IT Security Community’s Assessment Wizard and learn how this new tool will help you drive sales. It’s also a good time to discover the new CompTIA Security Trustmark and learn how it sets you apart from your competition. This Trustmark has been updated to address today’s security needs. Confused about security legislation? CompTIA’s IT Security Community will demystify it so you can make informed decisions to protect you and your customers.
Cloud Community Meeting: 10:30 a.m.– 12:15 p.m.
This community meeting will cover the latest in cloud trends — based on CompTIA’s in-depth research — and discuss how those trends are changing end-user behavior. Then, join an open research discussion with peers on channel perceptions, including end-user purchase drivers and inhibitors.
IT Services and Support (ITSS) Community Meeting: 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 a.m.
Howard M. Cohen, who has served as a senior executive in some of IT’s most highly respected channel partner organizations for more than 27 years, will speak on “Tomorrow’s Tech: Remaining Relevant & Profitable in the IT World of Tomorrow.” Learn and discuss with peers during the following roundtable discussions on warranties and the future of services.
Managed Print Services Community Meeting: 1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Are managed print and managed services converging? If so, who will win? Witness the debate between thought leaders and form your own business strategy. The group will also discuss the shrinking of print, what verticals are growing exponentially and how your business can profit.
Mobility Community Meeting: 1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Master the mobility market as CompTIA research presents its latest study on mobility. Afterward, engage in the Mobility 30 Minute Webinar initiative as the community discusses Mobility 101, BYOD, Enterprise Management and App Development.
Managed Services Community Meeting: 3 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
CompTIA research says there’s room for growth in managed services, so how do you market and sell to new customers? Garner practical insights as Chris Wiser of TechSquad IT shares how effective sales and marketing helped him triple his business in fewer than three years. Learn from leading vendors and managed service providers about best practices for remote monitoring and management and professional services automation. Walk away with ideas on improving efficiency in your own business.
Tech Convergence Community Meeting: 3 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Business process automation is making inroads in the industry. Learn how cloud computing, data analytics and emergent technologies helped create simple, user-friendly options for your customers. Struggling with how to transform your business? Join this lively discussion based on our highly popular webinar series, and leave with concrete ideas on how to best transform your business.
Advancing Women in IT Dinner: 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Join keynoter speaker Admiral Elizabeth A. Hight, retired, Vice President of the Cybersecurity Solutions Group at Hewlett-Packard Co., for an informative networking dinner. An RSVPto this event is required.
Top off a great day of activity by unwinding over a drink at the Communities and Councils reception at 5 p.m. Meet and share what you learned as you network with your fellow community and council members.
Get involved in your IT industry association through a community — there is something for everyone. CompTIA communities are built by members for members. We need you to help drive the IT industry forward. For more information on Community Day or CompTIA communities, contact me at [email protected].
Jim Hamilton is CompTIA’s vice president of member communities.
