OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — The GlobalTechnology Industry Association (GTIA) today announced the finalists for the 2026 North America Spotlight Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to advancing the IT channel.
Award winners in 10 categories will be announced and recognized at the upcoming GTIA North America Community & Councils Forum in Chicago. Winners will be honored at a reception and dinner on March 11.
“Recognizing outstanding members, the GTIA Spotlight Awards highlight those who have made a real impact in the GTIA Community, and the IT channel as a whole. It’s especially meaningful that the winners are selected by their peers around the globe, exemplifying their dedication and commitment to GTIA’s mission,” said MJ Shoer, chief community officer of GTIA. “We congratulate our 2026 North America finalists and are excited to have the opportunity to celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of our honorees next month in Chicago.”
Recognizing individual and organizational impact
A judging panel evaluated all award nominees for their positive impact on the IT channel; contributions that support GTIA’s mission to empower IT channel professionals and organizations; and actions and initiatives that demonstrated leadership in their respective award category.
Executive councilmembers of the GTIA UK and Ireland, DACH, ASEAN, Benelux, and ANZ Communities served as judges for the North America Spotlight Awards to ensure the integrity and objectivity of the selection process.
North America Spotlight Award finalists are:
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Individuals |
Organizations |
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Kris Blackmon, AvePoint Kelcye Blankenship-Lackland, Hatz AI Tiana Bosnjak, Sophos Steve Brining, Acronis Wayne Chow, Nucleus Networks Tina Cicinelli, TD SYNNEX Crystal Conkle, The 20 Amanda Doucette-Lachapelle, Auvik Duygu Erden, Timus Networks Zack Finstad, Logically Tim Golden, Compliance Scorecard Carrie Green, The CanITCon Collective Corey L. Kirkendoll, 5K Technical Services Sean Lardo, ConnectWise Kathleen "Kass" Lawrence, Blumira Brook Lee, Rev.io Nett Lynch, Kraft & Kennedy, Inc. West McDonald, GoWest.ai Tanja Omeragic, ConnectWise Jennifer Roy, Nucleus Networks Cynthia Schreiner, Pax8 George Smith, Rewst Eric Torres, Pax8 Ola Witukiewicz, Pax8
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Petrozzi Coaching & Consulting
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The 2026 North America Spotlight categories are:
The Future Leader Award recognizes an exceptionally young professional, aged 35 or under, who has demonstrated standout innovation, achieved entrepreneurial success, or contributed meaningful industry impact in the last 12 months at a GTIA member organization.
The Advancing Women in Technology Leadership Award recognizes a GTIA member who has spent the past 12 months championing women in technology, serving as an influential role model, and driving meaningful change that positively affects both people and organizations.
The Community Leadership Award honors an individual whose leadership and service have made a measurable, positive impact —strengthening the GTIA North America Community by bringing people together, creating opportunities for others, and helping to build a more connected, resilient, and innovative IT channel.
The Cybersecurity Leadership Award recognizes a GTIA member who demonstrates exceptional dedication, expertise, and leadership in strengthening the cybersecurity resilience of our community, while elevating awareness and deepening member participation of GTIA’s cybersecurity programs.
The Advisory Council Leadership Award celebrates a GTIA advisory council member whose exceptional service and passion have propelled GTIA's mission forward, igniting greater collaboration, expertise, and leadership that make a real difference for the organization and its members.
The Advancing Diversity in Technology Leadership Award recognizes an organization that champions a more inclusive, equitable, and forward-looking technology channel, while creating a measurable, positive impact on the lives and careers of individuals across the channel ecosystem.
The IT Service Provider Award recognizes a solution provider, MSP or other technology service organization that delivers high-quality solutions that strengthen customer operations and support long-term growth, while serving as trusted advisors that optimize technology infrastructure, enhance productivity, and ensure organizations thrive in a digital-first world.
The Innovative Vendor Award honors a GTIA vendor member that has introduced a product, service, approach, or advancement that meaningfully improves customer experiences, elevates operational outcomes, or shifts the wider channel forward in a measurable way—empowering partners, strengthening businesses, and unlocking value across the IT channel.
The Innovative Distributor Award recognizes a GTIAdistributor member whose creativity, leadership, and forward-thinking approach have driven meaningful transformation in shaping the direction of the global IT channel. This honor celebrates a company that has embraced innovation through new services, improved operational models, and uplifted customer experiences.
The Associate Member Award recognizes a GTIA member company that provides financial, legal, sales, marketing, business consulting, academia, training, media, or other services, as well as other not-for-profit technology organizations. Over the past 12 months, the winner has demonstrated outstanding engagement in GTIA activities and made a meaningful, positive impact on the lives and careers of channel professionals.
About the Global Technology Industry Association
The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) is the only vendor-neutral, 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership community connecting and representing the worldwide IT channel. We set our members up for success by providing benefits that include trusted resources and networking opportunities. In addition, the association sets industry standards that enable companies to build sustainable, secure and profitable businesses in an ever-changing technology landscape. Internationally, GTIA represents hundreds of thousands of professionals from more than 2,400 ITSPs, vendors, distributors and other companies serving the IT channel.
For more information, visit gtia.org.
Mediacontact:
SuzanneCollier
WhiteFox Marketing for GTIA
suzanne@whitefoxpr.com