Sandler Partners Announces 2026 Channel Manager and Executive of the Year Award Recipients
Top Independent Technology Distributor Sandler Partners' 2026 National Summit Concludes with Awards Recognizing Top Industry Professionals and Organizations at its Closing Gala & Dinner.
REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Provider Channel Managers and a Channel Executive received recognition at the 2026 Sandler Partners National Summit in San Diego, California. This year's event brought together more than 1,100 members of the Sandler Partners community for a mix of educational panels, a keynote, and sessions across the Technology, Sales, and Growth tracks. Attendees also connected with 65+ leading technology Providers in the Exhibit Hall, making it a week of both recognition and opportunity.
Sandler Partners congratulates the following award winners:
Channel Executive of the Year Award Recipient:
- Chad Townes, AT&T
National Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:
- Kevin Bednarz, Granite
- Stevie Heap, Comcast Business
- Patrick Cupp, CallTower
- Jennifer Rutherford, Zayo
- Sarah Manley, AT&T
- Brett Harman, AT&T
- Nikki Beck, Front
- Matt Winterburn, Lumen
East Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:
- New England | Kyle Michaels, Vonage
- New York/New Jersey | Tom Mezzapella, Comcast Business
- Mid-Atlantic | Connor Cook, Comcast Business
- Georgia & The Carolinas | Kristina Pagano, Five9
- Florida | Henry Cruz, Telesystem
Midwest Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:
- Great Lakes | Sarah Macdonald, Five9
- Central | Peter Gasparro, Zultys
- Midwest | Kirsten Bonnesen, AT&T
- Mountain | Mark Merritt III, Spectrum
- Mountain | Nicole Brungardt, Comcast Business
- Pacific Northwest | Chris Risse, Comcast Business
Southwest Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:
West Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:
- SoCal | Yvette Bratt, Broadvoice
- NorCal | Brad Pepper, GTT
- AZ/NV/UT | Max Howell, NHC
"Channel Managers are often the first point of contact for our Partners," says Managing Partner Alan Sandler. "What sets them apart is how much they care about the outcomes they help create. You see it in the extra effort, the collaboration, and the drive to find the right solution for every customer. This year's winners work side by side with our Partners to build trust, solve problems, and make the experience better from start to finish. That's what the Sandler Partners community is all about."
This year's National Summit also featured The Surfrider Foundation as Sandler Partners' designated charity partner, with an on-site exhibit sharing their mission to protect the world's oceans and coastlines—and ways for attendees to get involved through personal action and support.
About Sandler Partners
Sandler Partners helps empower its network of leading independent Sales Partners to deliver a comprehensive range of technology solutions to organizations worldwide, including Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Connectivity, Cloud, Colocation, Mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), and Continuity. Its community-focused approach enables Partners to identify the right solutions for customers quickly and objectively from a diverse portfolio of 220+ Providers. Partner sales agents, VARs, and MSPs gain access to an innovative suite of sales tools within the Sandler Portal—including SCOUT, Solutions Finder, Scout for Solutions, and the Marketing Center—several of which are AI-powered, all backed by a robust support network, dedicated Sales Engineering expertise, and rich marketing resources. Together, these tools and resources empower Partners to focus on what they do best: delivering quality, value, performance, innovative solutions, unmatched expertise, and exceptional service to their clients. Members of the Sandler Partners community also benefit from the industry's strongest negotiated agreements and a dedicated team committed to ensuring commissions are accurately identified, tracked, and paid. For more information, visit www.sandlerpartners.com.
Sandler Partners – Media Contact
Tina S. Dyksterhouse
310-861-2295
SOURCE Sandler Partners
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