CHANNEL PARTNERS CONFERENCE & EXPO — The nonprofit Alliance of Channel Women honored a number of successful channel leaders with awards Monday night. The group dedicated to accelerating the growth of female channel leaders in technology did so at its traditional Channel Partners Conference & Expo preconference event in Las Vegas.

Ridge Innovative’s Nancy Ridge

ACW presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to founder and past president Nancy Ridge. The founder of Ridge Innovative was instrumental in creating the Alliance of Channel Women – then called Women in the Channel – in 2010.

“Nancy is the epitome of leadership, as evidenced by her resolve to create a place like ACW to help others to be successful,” said ACW president Amy Bailey, senior vice president of marketing at Telarus. “ACW is honoring Nancy Ridge for her dedication to empowering women to be leaders and innovators in our industry, along with her extensive personal success in the channel.

Bailey called Ridge a trusted friend and colleague, and “a pillar of our organization.”

ACW also named Kathy Flick, senior director, national partners, Nextiva, its Big Impact Winner for the third quarter. The group chooses the winner from nominees submitted by the channel community who are living the ACW Advocacy Pledge: Women Supporting Women.

ACW’s Advocacy Pledge Program, created last year, stems from its diversity, equity & inclusion committee.

But the group wasn’t done. Alliance of Channel Women also recognized the winners of its 2021 LEAD Awards. They go annually to exceptional female leaders in the technology channel. They celebrate women who are courageous, creative, collaborative and confident in advancing channel careers.

This year’s LEAD winners are Vivian Chavez, senior director, channel programs, Comcast Business; Kelly Danziger, general manager and VP – channel, Informa Tech (Channel Futures’ parent company); Theresa Garner, director, North America – cloud partner growth, activation and enablement, Avaya; and Alicia Steward, strategic channel manager, Zoom.

Finally, ACW honored outstanding volunteers with its 2021 ACT Awards. Taking home hardware were Erin Knese, senior director, channel sales and training, Vivial; Kandi Philips, loyalty program manager, Telarus; and Michelle Young, VP, sales, CrossRoad Technologies. All either chair or are members of select ACW committees.