Top executives will gather at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo to discuss the changing competitive landscape, carrier channel engagement strategies and expectations for the evolving role for the channel.

The Carrier Roundtable will be held March 4 from 2:10 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.

Senior executives, including Michael Hassett, senior vice president of business solutions sales for the Retail Markets Group at Verizon Communications Inc.; Jim Delis, president of business services sales of XO Communications Inc.; Dennis Kyle, senior vice president of indirect channels of Level 3 Communications Inc.; and Steve Rowley, vice president of indirect partner channels for Sprint Nextel Corp., are scheduled to participate.

“Although the competitive and channel landscape is changing, one thing remains certain: carriers understand that channel partners are the key in helping them build relationships with high-value customers,” said consultant John Macario, president of Savatar Inc. and moderator of the roundtable discussion.

Macario intends to cover a wide range of topics, including:

How channel partners are helping carriers crack the market for new products

How carriers see industry consolidation changing their partner programs

How they are addressing channel integration

What they are doing to engender loyalty from partners

What carriers need from partners

Also from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on March 4, youre invited to join the TMC/Channel Partners 10-year Agent Celebration. TMC Communications and the Channel Partners Conference & Expo both are celebrating a decade of supporting the agent channel.

Visit the PHONE+ (310-312) and TMC (314-316) booths for cake and champagne. Get there early to receive a commemorative 10th Anniversary champagne flute.

The Channel Partners Conference & Expo is set for March 4-6 at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. The spring event is expected to draw more than 3,000 participants and more than 140 exhibitors.