Telecom Master Agent and technology distributor TBI highlights Woman of the Channel Holly Spitzer from TBI

As a Senior Proposal Specialist in TBI's Operations Department, Holly works directly with dedicated TBI partners to find the right solution for their needs rapidly, efficiently, and most importantly, accurately.

Telecom Master Agent and technology distributor TBI Highlights Woman of the Channel, Nikki Beck from Talkdesk.

Nikki Beck is currently the Regional Channel Manager at Talkdesk. Her first job after college was selling pharmaceuticals and medical safety software before finding her way into telecom. 

Is your organization prepared? Is your security maturity advancing? Are you concerned with meeting compliance privacy regulations? At AT&T, we help organizations minimize risks, manage security operations effectively and work toward meeting compliance requirements.

TBI's Emily Ball and Bryan Reynolds deliver July Channel News.

No matter what type of business your company conducts, even if it is technology-based, your business can benefit from an outside set of eyes. The technology and data surrounding cybersecurity are constantly changing and evolving. This means that while you may have some of the most brilliant tech minds around grinding out your code, their focus is not necessarily security -- and the result is vulnerability.

CHICAGO, IL – July 1, 2019 -  TBI, the white-glove solutions delivery provider, continuing the tradition of positioning itself at the forefront of the IT landscape through new strategic partnerships added two new vendors in July. The addition of Coresite and Netfortris not only provides partners with new sets of solutions, but also offers additional resources for end-user engagement. As always, TBI’s solution engineers are accessible to help all selling partners confidently position, design and implement the new portfolio additions.

It’s interesting to note that device loss accounts for 41% of breaches, compared with 25% that derived from hacking and malware, according to Trend Micro. Overall, there has been a 300% increase in mobile device OS vulnerabilities since 2011, and businesses are realizing the increasingly critical need to protect company—and customer data. As networking environments have evolved, IT departments have adapted to growing security threats in mobile devices. Cabir, the first virus that infected smartphones, reared its ugly head in 2004, and by the time iPhones and other smartphones emerged, a whole new generation of security woes had been born.

Telecom Master Agent and technology distributor TBI highlights Woman of the Channel Morgan Kulpinski from TBI

As a Financial Analyst, Morgan works directly with TBI’s Senior VP of Finance and Director of Finance, as well as other executives, to increase overall efficiency at TBI by developing new ways to better internally report for each department.

Telecom Master Agent and technology distributor TBI Highlights Woman of the Channel, Tina Smith of 8x8.

Tina Smith is the Senior Director of Channel Marketing at 8x8. She has more than 28 years of sales and marketing experience in the IT/communications industry. 

CHICAGO - June 17, 2019 - TBI, the largest privately-owned master agent and technology distributor, announces the opening of their new headquarters in Chicago. The nearly 28,000 square-foot, single-floor office space enables TBI’s Chicagoland team to work more collaboratively.

The 230-person master agency relocates its Chicago headquarters to accommodate the more than 20 open positions across the sales, marketing, support, finance and engineering departments. The new space features a more open floor plan and several unique architectural elements the firm has spent the last six months selecting.

“TBI has experienced incredible success over the last few years, and we need more space to accommodate our growing workforce,” said Geoff Shepstone, President of TBI. “We secured a bigger space and spent the last several months building it out to our specifications. It’s modern and functional where TBI employees can enjoy the most up-to-date amenities and technology in an atmosphere that lends itself to creativity, productivity and fun.”

The office boasts several new features including the Technology Evaluation Center (TEC), a lab showcasing technology solutions, hands-on training, and a place to perform proof-of-concept solution testing. Another highlight of the new office is a fully equipped video studio that enables TBI to professionally produce in-house video content for both vendors and partners. The new studio is staffed by a full-time videographer to spearhead everything from customer testimonials to training videos and handle both pre and post-production. Additional features of the office include floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the Chicago skyline, vending machines with fresh food options, beverages including cold brew coffee, a game room, and more.

With its legacy ShoreTel voice solution reaching end of life, TBI selected 8x8 for its UCaaS solution company wide. 8x8 meets TBI’s operational requirements including constant communications with our mobile workforce via telephony anywhere in the world. TBI recently deployed softphones throughout the organization with 60 legacy handsets; employees are able to utilize 8x8’s X Series platform to take their office lines with them wherever they go and connect with vendors, partners and customers via phone, video and chat, effortlessly.

The new office is located at 8550 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 900, Chicago, Illinois. The building is minutes from O’Hare International Airport, adjacent to two interstates, and is a short walk from the CTA’s Blue Line.

“TBI is successful because of our people. We need a convenient location for both city and suburban employees, an atmosphere that fosters creativity and teamwork, and an environment that inspires all of us to do our best work. I think we’ve built it. I am certain that the new office space gives all our employees—current and future—an opportunity to prosper,” added Shepstone.

TBI officially moves into their new location on June 21, 2019. A grand opening ceremony will take place on July 17, 2019. In addition to their Chicago headquarters, TBI operates their Omni Call Center in Beaverton, Oregon.

TBI is currently hiring for several positions at their new Chicago headquarters. For more information on a career at TBI visit www.tbicom.com/about/careers-in-technology.

TBI Highlights Woman of the Channel Julia Gomulka from TBI

As a Support Manager for the cable team at TBI, Julia focuses on creating an environment for our partners to be successful by establishing best practices and lasting efficiencies.

Telecom Master Agent and technology distributor TBI Highlights Woman of the Channel, Bridgitt Rhodes of Verizon Wireless.

Bridgitt Rhodes is a Managing Partner with the Verizon Agent Channel. She has been with Verizon for 15 years in various leadership roles. 

TBI's Emily Ball and Bryan Reynolds deliver June Channel News.

TBI Highlights Woman of the Channel Megan Giarelli from TBI

As a senior commissions analyst at TBI, Megan analyzes revenue data from our carriers throughout the month and makes sure our partners are paid accurately and in a timely manner. 

This article was originally published on Mitel's Blog.

Whether you work in a multi-hospital healthcare system or a private dentist’s office, protecting personal health information (PHI) is essential. HIPAA’s rules and requirements are clear — no matter what, PHI must be kept completely confidential.

CHICAGO – June 5, 2019 – TBI announced a new member to its executive team with the addition of Scott Whalen as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships. The former CenturyLink sales executive joins the Master Agent to further align vendor programs and emerging solutions with TBI partners.

Although unified communications (UC) systems and contact center solutions have previously been thought of as separate entities, cloud technology has increasingly facilitated collaboration between the two. The Cloud removed the restrictions of on-prem hardware which enables the contact center solution's remarkable versatility and fluidity - both crucial strengths required to provide the increasingly personalized and convenient services demanded by customers in the digital age.  

As you continue to evolve your portfolio to keep up with the evolution of technology, learning how to bundle next-gen technologies, such as network and Unified Communication (UC), can help you make a more organic transition to selling digital transformation solutions, which can be easier to manage and scale as you grow your business.

Telecom Master Agent and technology distributor TBI Highlights Woman of the Channel, Carla Looper of CXT180. 

Carla is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of CXT180 with 20 years of IT professional experience.

TBI Highlights Woman of the Channel Sue Pero from TBI

Sue is currently an Omni Center Support Trainer at TBI. Sue came to Chicago about five and a half years ago to pursue better opportunities, thinking she may get a job in biotech and ended up getting a job in the call center instead as part of the old Time Warner team. She was in the call center for one and a half years before eventually working on the Leapfrog campaign (TBI’s old Inbound Team).