2026 FINALISTS
Congratulations to Our 2026 Finalists!
Additional coverage of the Finalists will be available on CRN.com on September 14.
Celebrate the Finalists in Person
The Women of the Year Awards Gala brings together the most influential leaders, innovators, and changemakers across the IT channel for an unforgettable evening of recognition, networking, and celebration. Join us as we honor this year's finalists and announce the winners live on stage.
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Show your support for the women shaping the future of the IT channel.
8
Alliance Marketing Executive of the Year
Brittany Phillips, SHI International
Dolores Garreton, Netrix Global
Kelly Nuckolls, Jeskell Systems
Kelsey Gipe, People Driven Technology
Melissa Bourdon, Nexora
Mishel Fletcher, Fortinet
Rosie Huth, New Relic
Taylor Wiggins, Axonius
10
Ally of the Year
Dan Campbell, Palo Alto Networks
Darren Gottesmann, Ingram Micro, Inc.
Ed McNamara, SHI International
Erik Wischhusen, Blend360
Francisco Criado, TD SYNNEX
James Hwang, Visual Edge IT
Jeff Dugan, Arctic Wolf
Larry Frazier, Colossal
Steven Feldstein, Ivanti
Tony Thompson, Seemplicity
8
CEO of the Year
Kristin Russell, CBTS
Lisa Spelman, Cornelis Networks
Lynn Smurthwaite-Murphy, Plugable Technologies
Maryann Pagano, BlackHawk Data
Melissa Di Donato, Kyriba
Michelle Accardi, Liongard
Prerna Goja, Zensa, LLC
Kate Johnson, Lumen Technologies
7
Channel Innovator of the Year - Solution Provider
Ashley Simms, Bluum
Brenda Hudson, Insight Enterprises
Heather Connally, SoftwareOne
Lei-Lei Leon, SHI International
Sara Blengeri, Netrix Global
Shannon Sigmon, SoftwareOne
Vanessa Simmons, Pythian Services Inc.
14
Channel Innovator of the Year - Vendor or Distributor
Alix Douglas, ServiceNow
Anja Bernardy-Raab, SAP SE
Bhargs Srivathsan, Amazon Web Services
Brook Lee, Rev.io
Elisabeth De Dobbeleer, Cisco
Heidi Gigler, Fortinet
Jackie Steinberg, Legacy Investing Data Centers
Julie Peoples, Telarus
Julie Rosenberg, Nozomi Networks
Laura Falko, Broadcom
Louise McEvoy, Keyfactor
Nina Harding, Microsoft
Shannon Lynch, Wasabi Technologies
Zuzana Piling, Microsoft
8
Community Impact Award
Blend360
D&H Distributing
Epoch Concepts
Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA)
MicroAge
Microserve
TD SYNNEX
Televerde
11
Employer of the Year
AgileBlue
Agiloft
Blend360
Cribl
D&H Distributing
Microserve
People Driven Technology
PIER Group
ScalePad
TD SYNNEX
Vtech Dealer IT
9
Executive Mentor of the Year
Christina Nairn, Sophos
Christy Anderson, TD SYNNEX
Kerry Shaw, Bluum
Kristen Rank, Sentra
Lisa Cowley, SHI International
Maryam Mohammadi, ITMC
Robin Wolf, NVIDIA
Vanessa Simmons, Pythian Services Inc.
Wendy Ripley, Epoch Concepts
7
Hidden Gem of the Year - Solution Provider
Grace Knotts, Colossal
Helene Martinelli, Visual Edge IT
Karina Gonzalez, SHI International
Kimberly Primeaux, Global Data Systems, Inc.
Mistie Bittancourt, EVOTEK
Robin Albarran, Future Tech Enterprise, Inc.
Sarah Brown, Bluum
13
Hidden Gem of the Year - Vendor or Distributor
Amber Sepulvado, ServiceNow
Amy Just-Cullinane, Schneider Electric
Blythe Zacheis, Logitech
Chessie Huber, Liongard
Christie Lambert, Inforcer
Ciera Broberg, Telarus
Dawn Woodward, Fortinet
Florence Platt, Check Point Software, Inc
Kelly O'Brien, Check Point Software, Inc
Kelsey Slavich, Exabeam
Margaux Martin, TD SYNNEX
Meggan Fenton, Telarus
Taukia O'Donnell, Nexora
11
Marketing Executive of the Year - Solution Provider
Amy Gregory, ANM
Becky Linahon, Netrix Global
Caroline Caldwell, Blend360
Crystal Conkle, The 20
Jessica Strandquest, Bluum
Kate Willse, SHI International
Kimberly Boynton, Epoch Concepts
Laura Muysenberg, People Driven Technology
Laurel Burton, Visual Edge IT
Madison Benfield, Edge Solutions LLC
Mary Catherine Wilson, Future Tech
16
Marketing Executive of the Year - Vendor or Distributor
Ana Lucia Amaral, Anecdotes
Ashley Huntley, TD SYNNEX
Brooke Cunningham, LogicMonitor
Colleen Tyler, Microsoft
Corey Cohen, Exabeam
Deb Wolf, Dataminr
Jane Tran, Nexora
Jenn Jakubowicz, Logitech
Justine Adams, Sherweb
Kate Canestrari, Red Hat
Lauren Duda, Extreme Networks
Meaghan Moore, ServiceNow
Natascha Lee, Cloudera
Shawnae McKown, Fortinet
Stephanie Weagle, Liongard
Terra Bastolich, GetWireless LLC
7
Rising Star of the Year - Solution Provider
Angela Jajko, NexusTek
Krystal Klein, Epoch Concepts
Maddie Light, Visual Edge IT
Meghan Brown, Bluum
Paige Gunning, Colossal
Srishti Ellson, Insight Enterprises
Veronica Gawish, SHI International
18
Rising Star of the Year - Vendor or Distributor
Alison Wong, Fortinet
Allissia Romero, Check Point Software
Amanda Mecutchen, Nexora
Anna Sarnek, Terra Security
Annie Lawrence, SentinelOne
Ashley Wurstner, Arctic Wolf
Chetali Agarwal, Amazon Web Services
Christine Prisco, Yubico
Darien Maples, HackerOne
Emily Cloutier, Schneider Electric
Iryna Konstantinova, ThreatLocker
Kaitlin Waite, Expel
Kelcye Blankenship-Lackland, Hatz AI
Margaret Good, Meter
Olivia Peets, Balata Data
Shannon Lightfoot, Ping Identity
Tatum Treadwell, Petra Security
Tram Nguyen, Sherweb
10
Role Model of the Year
Caroline Granja, SHI International
Christine Gassman, OpenText Cybersecurity
Crystal Ferreira, Logitech
Karen Castano, Nexora
Kim Carlton, Intel Corporation
Maggie Bauer, Arctic Wolf
Regina Vignone, Sophos
Rita Barry, Ensono
Sara Verri, Nozomi Networks
Sheri Stuckey, Fortinet
14
Sales Executive of the Year
Ariel Hayes
Bryce Grow
Carol Singletary
Dangvy Keller
Karen Goodman
Kaye McMillan
Kelly Sander
Kelsey Besser
Lacey Wean
Lee Moser
Rachel Tucker
Sara Saber
Sarah Cancellare
Tina Franchi
15
Woman of the Year - Enterprise Vendor or Distributor
Amy Kodl, Snowflake
Anna Lawler, Dynatrace
Beata Reimer, Dayforce
Dani Foutz, Epicor
Denise Millard, Dell Technologies
Florence Sollo, Avaya
Gabie Boko, NetApp
Jas Sood, Palo Alto Networks
Jennifer Odess, ServiceNow
Johnna Bowley, Omnissa
Julia Chen, Amazon Web Services
Mary Beth Walker, HP Inc.
Michelle Hoover, Cloudera
Nancy Sperry, Sage
Tara Fine, Broadcom
15
Woman of the Year - Growth Vendor or Distributor
Addie Finch, Cato Networks
Barb Huelskamp, SolarWinds
Beth Johnson,Veracode
Breanna Kuhl, Talkdesk
Brittney Ames, Elisity
Dawn Ringstaff, Dataminr
Erin Skoch, Techmate
Jenna Dennis, Dropzone AI
Jennifer Axt, Tanium
Jennifer Dimas, Telarus
Julie Peoples, Telarus
Larissa Crandall, 1Password
Laurelle Roseman, Nebius
Michelle Hodges, Barracuda Networks
Yvonne Patterson, Hyperion Partners
17
Woman of the Year - Solution Provider