Image Gallery: Parties, Networking at Channel Partners Evolution

Who danced? Who rocked the mic? And who chilled with their friends at Channel Partners Evolution?

Channel Partners staff managed to attend the majority of the parties and networking events held at the show, Aug. 14-17, in suburban Washington, D.C. Naturally, we pulled out our phones and snapped some photos.

WTG, Avant, AB&T Telecom, Women in the Channel and AT&T were among those who invited you to rock out, cruise the Potomac or enjoy an evening of magic.

Miss one of these great events? Click through our image gallery for highlights. You’re bound to see someone you know.

Follow executive editor Craig Galbraith on Twitter.

Channel Partners Evolution kicked off with a trio of big networking events on Sunday, Aug. 14.

The cable giants held their traditional pre-show party at Granite City Food & Brewery, just down the street from the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland. The microbrews were flowing as friends got together to celebrate the start of another great show.

Another traditional start to a Channel Partners conference is the Women in the Channel event.

The group, dedicated to supporting women in the telecom and IT channels, invited members and special guests to their mixer and program. BET executive Michele Thornton was guest speaker.

Photo courtesy cSusie Soleimani Photography

Sponsored by AT&T – also the Channel Partners Evolution title sponsor – the always successful First-Time Attendee Reception welcomed guests to the Pose Lounge inside the Gaylord National on Aug. 14.

First-timers got to meet with members of the Channel Partners team, industry rock stars and show supporters, as well as other first-time attendees.

Now in its fifth year, the Channel Partners 360° Business Value Awards honor partner companies that provide holistic telecom and IT solutions to their customers.

We welcomed our most recent winners – recognized at our fall show for the first time – to a networking event in the atrium at the Gaylord on Aug. 15.

Want to join them at our Vegas show in April? Learn how here.

Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar in National Harbor was a popular spot for parties during Channel Partners Evolution.

Master agent/distributor WTG held a big bash there on Aug. 15. The confetti came down during a rousing rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.'”

Like the cable companies on Sunday night, AB&T Telecom held its event at Granite City Food & Brewery on Monday.

Here we see magician Bob Sheets, blindfolded and with knife in hand, with Rob Keres, Cogent channel chief. We didn’t see anything on the local news afterward, so we assume this trick turned out OK.

Photo courtesy Emmet Tydings, AB&T Telecom

The pub crawl on the second full day of a Channel Partners event is a tradition.

Sponsored by Digium, Five9, Jenne and Extreme Networks, attendees could grab a drink, stroll among the various booths and chat it up with friends and colleagues.

Invited guests got a spectacular view of the Potomac River and National Harbor on Aug. 16 as AT&T hosted a party cruise.

The warm, humid evening didn’t deter people from getting out on the deck and enjoying the view.

It’s back to Bobby McKey’s for a party held by Avant Communications, the master agent/distributor, on Aug. 16.

More dueling pianos, more socializing and more fun.

Photo courtesy Alex Danyluk (via Twitter)

We hope you didn’t miss this.

At the Avant party, Channel Partners’ own senior sales exec C.J. Foster took to the stage to perform the Humpty Dance — a staple in his arsenal of music from any era. It stands up to the original any day!