Master agency Telarus Inc. announced Sunday its top agent and carrier performers for 2009 in an awards reception as part of its Annual Agent Conference at the Gold Coast hotel in Las Vegas prior to the Channel Partners Conference & Expo.

Top honors went to Zachary Schechter of ZCS Enterprises, who was named Top Agent of the Year for 2009 sales. Other President’s Club winners were Jeff Ott, Total Carrier Solutions; Charlie and Gala Gorman, GoTo Telecom; Tim O’Rourke, TelePointe Communications; and Jon Arnold, JA Communications.

Todd Birdsall was recognized for the most renewals and Peter Friborg for the biggest increase in sales for 2009.

On the supplier side, Telnes won the award for Top Sales Volume. Joining Telnes in the Carrier of Excellence Club, which includes the Top 5 by sales volume for 2009, are AireSpring, ACC Business, Nitel and XO.

Level 3 was recognized for Best Install Rate at 100 percent. TelePacific was honored for Highest Customer Retention. A special Momentum Award for largest growth (193 percent over 2008) went to tw telecom.

In addition, Telarus agents also cast ballots for Agent’s Choice Awards. The winners were Telnes for Best Carrier, Qwest for Most Improved, and Chris Shubert of NuVox as Top Channel Manager.