Ingram Micro's New SMBA Peer Groups Give Solution Providers and Vendors a Real Business Advantage

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Leading distributor teams with Heartland Tech Groups to provide business-focused peer groups to SMB Alliance (SMBA) community

SANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Helping IT solution providers strengthen their business models, Ingram Micro Inc., (NYSE: IM) today announced it has teamed with Heartland Tech Groups (http://www.heartlandtechnologies.com) (HTG) to launch and manage its new SMBA Peer Groups.

Available to IT solution providers within Ingram Micro's SMB Alliance (SMBA) partner community, these new peer groups offer participants access to an organized network of like-minded IT solution provider professionals who support and challenge each other in an effort to improve business metrics and develop personal leadership qualities. Vendor sponsorship is also available for Ingram Micro's SMBA Peer Groups. With more than twenty peer groups already underway, Ingram Micro and HTG have hit the ground running and are eager to build upon their success in 2009.

"Ingram Micro is always pursuing new ways to help IT solution providers, especially those who are active in our four communities, drive more business growth and establish business excellence," says Ryan Grant, director, channel marketing, Ingram Micro U.S. "Together with HTG's leadership, we developed the SMBA Peer Groups to provide members of SMB Alliance with a trusted advisory board that helps them run their business smarter and process issues and resolve challenges more effectively. HTG has a proven track record for successfully managing peer groups and establishing the camaraderie, leadership and business development resources channel partners need to grow their business. We are thrilled to be working with them to bring such a valued resource to our SMB Alliance community."

Starting January 2009, Ingram Micro's new SMBA Peer Group members will meet four times annually to discuss their top business issues with the group for support and business advice. Founding leader Arlin Sorensen and CEO of HTG says the value IT solution providers receive from joining the groups is priceless.

"We run our Peer Groups using active listening, mirroring and skills such as 'focusing' to support each person and drive higher accountability," says Sorensen. "We've seen great success, not only in building these groups, but more importantly in helping individual members achieve personal and professional accomplishments they didn't think were possible. At times, business owners can feel all alone with overwhelming responsibilities -- especially in today's challenging economy. These Peer Groups help them to realize others are facing the same challenges and together, they will find creative ways to manage through and create more efficiency within their business."

"Ingram Micro's SMBA Peer Groups are exactly what we've been looking for," says SMBA member Ben Rife, president and CEO, Integrity Networks in Troy, MI. "It's tough to run a business, much less grow it. As a business owner, there has been no greater impact on growth for my business than this group."

"There are obviously other peer groups out there you can join, but none offer you the same in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities we tackle everyday as an IT service provider," says SMBA member Bobby Welch, president, ACCI in Birmingham, Al. "These peer groups are worth their weight in gold and bring tremendous value to me as a business owner."

To join, SMBA members must meet the membership qualifications, pay a $100 monthly membership fee, and adhere to the operations code established among the SMBA Peer Groups.

"There is an absolute field of growth and opportunity within the SMB Alliance membership," says Grant. "Our partners are eager to learn more and poised to deepen their technology solution expertise. These new SMBA Peer Groups will be a catalyst for even more value shared among the members and vendor partner sponsors."

For more information about Ingram Micro's SMB Alliance community or the new SMBA Peer Groups, contact your Ingram Micro sales representative or check out http://www.ingrammicro.com/smb. IT vendors who are interested in sponsoring the SMBA Peer Groups can contact their Ingram Micro sales representative. For more information on HTG, details are available at http://www.htgmembers.com.

About SMB Alliance

As one of Ingram Micro's fastest growing customer communities, SMB Alliance was established to encourage partnering and business growth within the small-to-midsize business sector. Members attend annual invitational meetings and regional meetings to network, share business experience and exchange views on ways technology enables small business advancement. SMB Alliance membership currently boasts 4,000 members with more than 40 manufacturer sponsors who are committed to driving technology and business growth among the member base.

About Ingram Micro

As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial services, and product aggregation and distribution. The company serves 150 countries and is the only broad-based global IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit http://www.ingrammicro.com.

SOURCE Ingram Micro Inc.

Released December 15, 2008