Who We Are: Meet The Tribe
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Diane Krakora
CEO
Work
As one of the original "Amazon's," Diane isn't shy about making her opinions heard and is known among her clients and colleagues as always offering sound counsel, creative ideas and aggressive, proactive models to elevate the impact of partnering. Diane's broad market experience covers all things technology-related, from chips to networking to enterprise software and everything in between. Her claim to fame is helping companies reach their highest partnering potential by applying the right model, creativity and passion to partnering strategies, operations and management. Diane believes partnering should be an integral part of every high technology company and through proper engagement and enablement partnerships of all types can return increased sales and profitability.
Diane's unparalleled mix of strategic counsel, sales perspective and partnering know-how come from her early years as a partnering operations executive and channel sales manager. Prior to founding Amazon Consulting 12 years ago, Diane held executive positions in channels, sales and marketing roles at several high technology companies. Diane holds a master's degree in Business Administration from Santa Clara University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Quantitative Economics from the University of California at San Diego.
Life
Secret Dream Job: Front for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. The audience has so much fun and they look like they have a great time. Sorry Scotty, I want your job (even though I can't sing or play guitar).
Food or Beverage Passion: I'm a food/wine fanatic. There's nothing better than a fine meal, paired with complex and well balanced wine in the company of good friends. Favorites: Echezeaux and an herb rubbed lamb.
A Saying I'm Famous for: "Excellent!"
Little Unknown Fact: I'm terrified of heights - I get a little dizzy when I look down at my feet.
What do you like to do for fun: Anything outdoors and sporty: Mountain biking, hiking, trail running, roller blading, golf.
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Beth Vanni
Director of Market Intelligence
Work
Beth brings over 25 years of experience in technology sales and marketing to Amazon Consulting, with a specialty focus on partnering strategies and supporting operational plans. Beth has led groups in Marketing, Market Development, Business Development and Sales Operations, responsible for the functional areas of marketing communications, product marketing, program development and administration, promotional & incentive plan development, alliance management and worldwide sales operations.
Beth's experience has involved working in the channel in North America at a management level for several leading commercial and technical distributors, including IngramMicro, Softsel and Merisel. Beth has also built and led an enterprise hardware and software distribution business focused on Sun Microsystems and related enterprise technologies (Arrow's MOCA division), created and led a market development team focused on the SMB market at Cisco Systems and lead a team focused on global channel sales operations for alliances and regional channel strategies at BEA Systems. Most recently, Beth has been leading Amazon Consulting's market intelligence group and deliverables. Here she is responsible for all primary market research, development of new channel development methodologies and intellectual property and staying on top of key industry trends which affect our vendor clients' partner engagement and development plans.
Beth offers unique insight and skills around the mapping of clear partnering vision to strategies, and ultimately to attainable execution plans.
Life
Secret Dream Job: Full time house restorer/"flipper" and interior designer
Food or Beverage Passion: Red Vines and Iced Tea
A Saying I'm Famous for: "Got It" and "What's the Net Net?"
Little Unknown Fact: Have a background in music and have sung professionally
What do you like to do for fun: First and foremost, playing with my two little boys. Then, if I have any time left over (usually not), listening to or playing music, camping and hiking, sewing, scrapbooking
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Sandra Glaser Cheek
Director, Client Services
Work
Sandra brings over 17 years of experience in high technology sales, business and channel development and channel marketing. Sandra has held executive positions in channel sales, enterprise sales, and partner marketing both as a consultant and employee. As director of channel sales. Sandra directed Adobe's multi-tier reseller channel sales and marketing strategies and led the channel sales team in over 65% growth. As an independent consultant, Sandra has worked with companies such as Adobe, Intel, Kofax Microsoft and Popstick where designed partner sales, marketing, implementation strategies and plans for new and existing products. Sandra holds a bachelors degree in Business Communication from Florida State University.
Life
Secret Dream Job: Home remodeler/designer
Food or Beverage Passion: A great cup of coffee and truffles - white or black on just about anything
A Saying I'm Famous for: "You live; you learn."
Little Unknown Fact: I've lived on four continents, and in seven different states. I don't have a quick answer to the question - "where are you from?"
What do you like to do for fun: Spending time with my husband and our three children. In the event that there is free time: cooking elaborate non kid-friendly meals, landscaping & gardening
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Chris Smith
Director of Technology
Work
Chris Smith started his career as a credit risk manager building complex scorecard models used in evaluating a billion dollar credit portfolio. Transitioning into programming and technology was a natural progression and he has been able to use the knowledge he gained from years of working on the business and finance side to create user-centric web applications. He has had exposure to a variety of programming technologies including Enterprise Java, JSP, struts, PHP, MySQL, Javascript, DHTML, and CSS. He most enjoys implementing good design with an eye toward usability and aesthetic appeal.
Chris enjoys encouraging others to think creatively and problem solve complex programming problems. Motivating and teach others to excel and catch the vision of a product or solution is his passion.
Life
Secret Dream Job: I want to be Steve Job's toady. Oh wait, did you say secret?
Food or Beverage Passion: Spicy Mexican, spicy Indian, homemade pizza!
A Saying I'm Famous for: "Interesting...BUT STUPID!"
Little Unknown Fact: I recorded a vocal album in a professional studio when I was 15.
What do you like to do for fun: Take my two boys for donuts on Saturday mornings, romance my wife, and spend too much in the iTunes App Store.
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Bill Marcus
Director, Client Services
Work
With a track-record of success, over the last dozen years in Channels, Sales, and Business Development, Bill brings knowledge, experience and relationships to Amazon Consulting. Whether it has been at start-ups like VKernel, growth companies like Exodus Communications, or established companies like Silicon Graphics or EMC, Bill has a knack for driving new streams of revenue through partnerships. While at Exodus Communications, Bill lead the global partnership[ with EMC, that generated over $100 million dollars in 15 months. And while working for EMC, created and implemented a strategy for a new set of partners that were instrumental in the growth of a new product line.
Bill loves to help people and has coached people on a professional level to reach their goals. This passion is evident in his personal life as he coaches both his children's sports teams. Bill also takes pride in his achievement as an Eagle Scout and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Marketing from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
Life
Secret Dream Job: Teacher and soccer coach
Food or Beverage Passion: BBQ ribs, with beer served in a frosted mug. My beer preference New Castle Brown Ale or Shiner Bock.
A Saying I'm Famous for: "Awesome!"
Little Unknown Fact: Worked for a minor league baseball team right out of college.
What do you like to do for fun: Coach my children's sports teams.
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Sue Redmore
Senior Consultant
Work
Sue Redmore brings to Amazon Consulting over 20 years experience working in the high tech industry in North America and EMEA as a specialist in partner programs and partnering strategy design and development, partner marketing and communications planning and execution.
Sue's partnering experience in the industry covers a wide range of technologies, channel players and partnering models. Consulting projects have included the design and implementation of go-to-market strategies, partner program frameworks, conducting partner program audits and partnering gap analysis, development and execution of partner promotions, support programs, tools & materials, project management of product partner program introductions, events, and recruitment initiatives worldwide. Recent consulting engagements have been completed for clients such as Apple, Symantec, Oracle, Motorola, Cisco, Kofax, Altiris and Zebra.
Before joining Amazon Consulting Sue was an independent channel marketing consultant for 6 years assisting high tech companies to identify, build and maintain profitable sales channels and partner affiliations. Clients included HP, Cisco, 3Com, Sun, Polycom, Nvidia and 3DLabs. Prior to working as a consultant Sue held senior marketing positions at high technology companies in the US and in the UK managing the channel marketing and marketing communications functions. This work included the design and implementation of channel partner strategies, partner programs and support initiatives that resulted in increased sales and development of partner relationships; re-engineering a training center from a loss making operation into a profit center; design and implementation of product, partner program launches and partner events in the US and internationally.
Sue has a BA Honors in Art History & Architecture, Reading University (UK), and is a Certified Business Communicator (CBC) with the Business Marketing Association (USA).
Life
Secret Dream Job: Forensic pathologist or jazz singer/pianist.
Food or Beverage Passion: Cheese addict!
A Saying I'm Famous for: Fascinating!
Little Unknown Fact: As a native of Wales can pronounce the Welsh town of "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch" - yes it really is one word!
What do you like to do for fun: Painting, playing piano, reading, and getting into the outdoors gardening, cycling and sailing in Monterey Bay.
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Tim Lowe
Senior Consultant
Work
Tim brings over 20 years of management experience in identifying and executing core business strategies which include channels as a fundamental element. Tim has expertise in revenue generation, key account development, managing P&L, client retention, and positioning product/service offerings designed to drive market and earnings growth. Tim's channel specific experience includes extensive direct and channel sales management expertise with companies such as Apple, Plumtree, TechData and Compaq Computer Corp. He held the position of Vice President of Sales with TechData where he ran a large division of the global distributor and was responsible for 150+ sales, marketing and operational staff. At BEA systems he ran channel sales and operations management for the Business Interaction Division (Plumtree acquisition) and helped drive the channel program and operations integration of those two companies' VAR and SI communities. Tim also has extensive manufacturing management experience, holding management positions with both R.R. Donnelly and Sons and Texas Instruments Electro-Optical Division.
Tim holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Virginia.
Life
Secret Dream Job: Book Reviewer
Food or Beverage Passion: My Momma's cooking
A Saying I'm Famous for: "Hey everybody! Watch this!"
Little Unknown Fact: I own the log cabin my great great great grandfather built.
What do you like to do for fun: Read.
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Charla Bunton-Johnson
Consultant
Work
Charla brings over 20 years of channel marketing and sales experience holding positions at several technology companies like SanDisk, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Symbol, Quantum, Samsung Electronics, and Ingram Micro. She has consulted at industry leaders including Plantronics, i365, A Seagate Co.,Cisco, and Zone Labs/Checkpoint. Charla has worked in market spaces that are in the forefront of technology today like SaaS, Unified Communications, Security, WLAN, and storage solutions.
Her expertise includes strategic marketing, channel program architecture, communications, alliances, vertical markets and market development initiatives. She has a proven track record of designing and delivering innovative strategies and go-to-market framework.
Charla holds a MBA and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.
Life
Secret Dream Job: Famous pop or blues singer
Food or Beverage Passion: 007's Martini - shaken, not stirred; coffee anything
A Saying I'm Famous for: "Fabulous!"
Little Unknown Fact: I memorize numbers easily.
What do you like to do for fun: International travel, camping, playing with my dogs.
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Cecilia Valdes
Consultant
Work
Cecilia Valdes has been a marketing professional for over ten years. Her experience includes client and partner program development and event management in a variety of industries.
She has managed and implemented MDF programs, delivered marketing tools for demand creation, developed web-based and e-newsletter communication, organized partner education series, and managed joint marketing initiatives.
Prior to joining Amazon Consulting, Cecilia was an independent consultant providing clients with marketing services including the design and maintenance of web sites, the creation of presentations, the coordination of events, and the delivery of complete program management. She also managed a customer visit center for a major networking corporation.
Cecilia has a Bachelor degree in Marketing from California State University, Northridge.
Life
Secret Dream Job: A chef
Food or Beverage Passion: Chocolate
A Saying I'm Famous for: "Really"
Little Unknown Fact: I used to teach ballroom dancing.
What do you like to do for fun: Spend time with friends and volunteer in community events.)
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Amanda Sills
Consultant
Work
Amanda Sills is a marketing professional, with more than 10 years of experience in a variety of industries. These have been on both agency and client-side and have spanned publishing, consumer finance, IT and most recently distribution in the European IT security market. She was at RSA Security from 1998 for 5 years, leading to the position of EMEA Marcom's Director. Responsibilities there included lead generation, brand building and channel development. Her experience includes every element of the marketing mix, including conferences, seminars, direct response TV, direct mail, telemarketing and online marketing.
Amanda lives in the UK, and as well as working for Amazon Consulting on international projects she works for a leading European specialist security distributor. Her role there mainly involves working with companies such as Nokia, Check Point, Symantec and NetScreen to help execute and develop their company strategy through the channel.
Amanda has worked on several of Amazon Consulting's international projects including the Verisign Global Program Strategy and the Symbol Program Audit and Competitive Assessment.
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Ingrid Krivin
Consultant
Work
Ingrid is a seasoned channel sales and marketing executive with over 18 years of deep, proven, global experience in marketing strategy, and channel and alliance enablement, with a focus on internet security, networking/communications and enterprise software technologies. Ingrid has spent much of her career, both from a manufacturer and consultant perspective, focused on determining the ideal mix of indirect and direct distribution structures, and implementing go-to-market plans that include heavy elements of channel and alliances teaming. Ingrid has held the position of General Manager of North American operations for Intuition Channel Associates, a global consulting firm specializing in channels and alliances strategy and partner profitability, where Cisco was a leading client. Prior to that, Ingrid held global leadership roles at Computer Associates in the areas of Partner Readiness, Field Enablement and Worldwide Alliance Programs. Ingrid also has held Director of Strategic Alliances roles with Access360 and Rainbow Technologies. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Ingrid spent over four years with IBM Australia in a marketing management role, followed by a three year role with SCITEC Australia, a network equipment manufacturer focused on unified communications.
Ingrid holds a B.A. from the University of Sydney and a Masters of Arts from California State University at Fullerton.
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Mary Beth Angin
Consultant
Work
Mary Beth Angin brings over 20 years high-technology industry experience to Amazon Consulting in the areas of channel strategy and implementation plans; alliance management, solution and brand marketing; and marketing communications. She utilizes her extensive high-tech partner and marketing experience to deliver success-driven brand, solution and communications strategy and execution.
Before joining Amazon Consulting, Mary Beth worked as an Alliance Programs Manager for Informatica Software and as a Platform Marketing Manager for VERITAS Software. Mary Beth also has a strong background in integrated marketing communications working for companies such as IBM, AOL, Network Associates and Logitech. Recent Amazon consulting engagements have been for VMware, EMC, NetApp and BEA.
Mary Beth holds a degree in English and Humanities from San Jose State University.Life
Secret Dream Job: Winemaker
Food or Beverage Passion: Maytag Blue Cheese
A Saying I'm Famous for: "No worries."
What do you like to do for fun: Exploring wine regions around the world, visiting museums and galleries, theater, cooking, and attempting to get through a three foot stack of reading material!
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Mary Lee Shalvoy
Consultant
Work
Mary Lee Shalvoy has been writing professionally for more than 18 years. Since 1984, she has written extensively about the computer industry. As part of the Amazon Consulting team, Mary Lee uses her experiences to write a wide range of marketing materials for our clients, including newsletters. She also conducts market and competitive research.
Mary Lee has extended experience in market research, marketing, and editorial consulting. Her client roster includes 365java.com, Acer America, Ascend/Lucent Technologies, Cahners Publishing, Computer Intelligence, CMP, eVanta Corp., Hewlett-Packard, IDG CSG, IDC Consulting, Interex, and MSI Consulting. During her career, Mary Lee has been a staff member and editorial consultant for several industry trade publications, including Computer Reseller News, Reseller Management and HP World.
Mary Lee has written just about every kind of business material that exists, including but not limited to: press releases, abstracts, articles, letters, brochures, corporate backgrounders, annual reports, newsletters, white papers, speeches, as well as a wide range of research reports and analysis and has conducted all levels of market research.
Mary Lee has worked on various aspects of research and collateral production for Amazon Consulting clients including Mercury Interactive, and Symbol.
Life
Secret Dream Job: Shamu trainer at SeaWorld
Food or Beverage Passion: Anything with sugar in it--especially champagne!
A Saying I'm Famous for: "It's a good thing."
Little Unknown Fact: I was a DJ for my college radio station.
What do you like to do for fun: Any of these: hang out with my kids and with friends, watch movies, make films, cycle, and anything having to do with the beach or ocean.
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Mary Tate
Consultant
Work
Mary Tate is a sales and marketing professional with over fifteen years of experience in channel and alliance development, marketing programs and business development. At iPass, Mary was the Director of Channel Marketing where she and her team recruited and managed channels as well as built marketing programs to support resellers, ISPs and technology partners. She also was responsible for building the Strategic & Technology Alliances Program which consisted of 70+ security, authentication and wireless technology partners. Prior to iPass, Mary was the Hewlett Packard Global Business Manager for the iPass/Cisco alliance and was a Sales Account Executive for Digital Equipment Corporation where she utilized the channel to reach her quota. Mary holds a BS in Economics from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Life
Secret Dream Job: Professional ballroom dancer
Food or Beverage Passion: Wine, cheese and Freddie steaks
A Saying I'm Famous for: "Really?"
Little Unknown Fact: Played on the Cal Poly bowling team during college
What do you like to do for fun: Travel, entertaining friends and family, movies, reading, playing with my dog
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Christine Braud
Consultant
Work
Christine Braud is a marketing professional with over 10 years of channel program and marketing communications experience in the Internet security industry. She has an extensive working familiarity with multi-tier distribution models and broad experience with all types of channel partners. Christine has designed new reseller partner authorization programs for both commercial and federal channels, including deal registration and renewal tracking elements. She has instituted internal and external global communication strategies, sales certification training programs, and ROI driven co-marketing activities. She is dedicated to implementing programs that drive sustainable revenue growth and prides herself on results-oriented initiatives.
Christine has a BBA degree from Loyola Marymount University and was named one of the "2007 VAR Business 50 Most Powerful Women in the Channel".
Life
Secret Dream Job: Soccer Coach
Food or Beverage Passion: Red wine, preferably from Napa
A Saying I'm Famous for: "Super."
Little Unknown Fact: I have a Barbie collection.
What do you like to do for fun: Play soccer, dance, snow-ski, play soccer, pilates, did I mention soccer?
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Dave Pashayan
Consultant
Work
David has over 20 years experience in high tech, focused in channel marketing and sales business development, program framework and partner enablement as well as developing and implementing channel strategies. Prior to rejoining Amazon Consulting this year David worked as Senior Product manager at Microsoft and as Director of the Enterprise Search Partner Program at Fastsearch & Transfer. David has a diverse background in channel sales & marketing, global program framework, partner recruitment, partner portal design as well as partner enablement. Amazon Consulting engagements have included working with SAP, Symobl Technologies, Citrix, Plumtree Software, and Liebert.
David has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
Life
Secret Dream Job: Guitarist in Paul Shaffer's band on the Late Show with David Letterman
Food or Beverage Passion: Sushi, hot sake and a tall, cold beer
A Saying I'm Famous for: "All the best."
Little Unknown Fact: I saw John & Yoko at JFK airport in 1972 and Paul McCartney leaned against my car at a beach in the Hamptons in 1995
What do you like to do for fun: Play gigs with my band and go and see bands in small clubs or theaters
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Kelly Brady
Consultant
Work
Kelly Brady is an alliance marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in the high tech industry. Speciality areas include:
- Design, development and execution of global partner programs across multiple partner types including Cloud Service Providers, Global System Integrators, Independent Software Vendors (ISV) and Distributors
- Define partner marketing strategy, develop marketing plan with activities and tactics and execution with supporting metrics and ROI analysis
- Develop channel communication strategy framework, messaging and executing various communications vehicles
- Project management with cross functional teams globally
Life
Secret Dream Job: Teacher for children with disabilities
Food or Beverage Passion: Chocolate - of course
A Saying I'm Famous for: "That's life"
Little Unknown Fact: I performed in the Sydney Opera House in Australia
What do you like to do for fun: Garden and read mystery novels
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Mary Rowell
Consultant
Work
Mary Rowell brings over fourteen years experience in high tech marketing with a specialty focus on market research and competitive intelligence. Mary's consulting work includes custom and primary research projects where her results have led clients to implement successful marketing and sales strategies, particularly channel sales. Mary has also headed up and managed competitive groups at EMC and VERITAS Software where she built and maintained competitive displacement programs. These efforts resulted in new pricing strategies, identifying new partners, creating new sales tools, and new completive product-level and business level messaging.
Mary has an MBA from Handelshøyskolen BI Norwegian School of Management, Oslo, Norway and a BA from UCSC where she did a double major in History and Political Science.
Life
Secret Dream Job: Would love to head up the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, distributing money to worthwhile programs, travel the world, own a chocolate factory, and/or participate in an anthropological dig.
Food or Beverage Passion: Coffee and cholocate
What do you like to do for fun: Spend time wiht my family, read, cycle, and run 10ks.
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