Many of you know me as Editor in Chief of PHONE+ magazine. Thats just one of my roles. I also am part of the team that produces the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. I recommend topics for the educational conference, moderate panels and support our marketing campaign.

I have been working on the show for eight years. The biggest challenge, I think, is to try to stay one step ahead of where the market is, bringing education and opportunities to partners when they are ready to use them. Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves (e.g., security although, I know someday thats going to be the hot button), and sometimes we are right on as we were with the end-user roundtable, which debuted to great success at the 2006 Vegas show.

So, youll be glad to know we are reprising the customer panel with a whole new set of end users. We are calling it the Telecom Town Hall. And, at your request, we are revisiting some back-office topics that weve not discussed in a number of years (see the agenda).

We do have a few new tricks up our sleeves, however. Heres one that I think has some legs: The State of the Channel address is a first for the Channel Partners Expo. Through PHONE+, I have been working with Texas Southern University and Vortel Inc. to support development of a market study on the agent channel (see story). 

I base my recommendations to the team on the feedback I get from you, so keep it coming. E-mail me at [email protected] or comment on this blog.

–Khali Henderson

My favorite Channel Partners Expo Moments: The OC192s playing at Chicagos Pier (Fall 2004) and Ken Mercer of TBI bending over backwards on Channel Partners TV (Spring 2006)

The OC192s

When I am not working on Channel Partners, I like to: Listen to iPod audiobooks. Its perfect for multitasking, which is great when you are the mother of four sons. Folding laundry was never so entertaining.

The last book I read was: Coincidentally, a thriller by Stephen King called Cell. I dont want to spoil the plot, but the villains are indeed cell phones the irony of which may not be lost on you telecom sales folks that wish on occasion to extricate yourselves from the always-connected society.

One of my favorite things is: Plays on words. Witness my costume for the 2005 Halloween Office Party. I had a wheel and a pie among other things pinned to my pajamas. Can you guess what I am?

With a sunny expression, Khali Henderson shows off her costume on Halloween.