ST. PETERSBURG, FL--(Marketwire - Sep 11, 2012) - The [ Global Technology Distribution Council ] (GTDC) hosts its 12^th annual [ U.S. Vendor Summit ], Sept. 12-13, at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach, Calif. The conference brings together distribution CEOs and other leaders with top vendor channel executives for two days packed with strategic value and executive interaction. Topics on the agenda range from distribution's role in the cloud to market category developments and shifting economic trends. More than 200 participants join their partners and peers at the Summit, which includes approximately 70 vendor companies and 10 distributors driving billions of dollars in annual sales.

"We're very enthused about the turnout we expect at this year's Summit," commented GTDC CEO Tim Curran. "It's not just that we reached record-breaking capacity faster than ever; the level of attendees and their focus areas are equally inspiring, as vendors seek to leverage distribution in unprecedented ways, including in the cloud and to support other emerging business models."

Distribution's Role in the Cloud
The GTDC is unveiling new cloud-focused research that reveals expanding opportunities for distributors and vendors across private, public and hybrid segments. Summit attendees will participate in instant polls to gauge up-to-the-minute views and outlooks relative to current developments and the overall U.S. business climate. The fastest-growing vendors in U.S. distribution sales will also be announced at a dinner awards event held on the evening of Sept. 12. {See related press announcement on the 2012 "Rising Star" winners in multiple revenue categories, scheduled for release at 8 a.m. Sept 13.}

Stable, Strong & Strategic: Summit "Connections³" Theme Reinforces Partnership Focus
"Tech distributors consistently deliver solid financial performance in conjunction with increasingly diversified value-added services to support strong vendor and channel partnerships," Curran pointed out, noting that he'll present on the state of the industry on Thursday morning, Sept. 13. "The vendor community now fully embraces distribution industry advantages. Instead of increasing interest in going direct, we're seeing much more strategic engagement. Distributors and vendors are revolutionizing how they work together to grow overall opportunities."

This year's Summit highlights include panels and sessions focused on aggregated sales data, vendor issues and new initiatives. Brocade CEO Michael Klayko will address attendees as keynote speaker on Wednesday night, and CDW President and CEO Tom Richards speaks Thursday morning. 

Leadership from the industry's foremost distributors will share their insights during the panel, "A View from the Top: Maximizing Growth in an Uncertain World." During Thursday's "Four by Five" panel, leading analysts will provide their research-based outlooks for the next 12 months with recommendations for maximizing sales. "Peer into Tomorrow" delivers a two-part interactive experience that will allow attendees to first provide their thoughts on key issues via an instant polling system, then discuss the results during subsequent breakout sessions.

Visit the GTDC website for additional information on the [ 2012 GTDC U.S. Vendor Summit ].

About The Global Technology Distribution Council
The Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC) is a worldwide industry association dedicated to defining and promoting the role of wholesale distribution in a successful and healthy information technology channel. The Council is comprised of the computer industry's top wholesale distributors dedicated to serving "the channel," a network of skilled value-added resellers and retail stores focused on providing hardware, software, and services to businesses and consumers around the globe. GTDC members include AB S.A (WSE: [ ABPL ]), ABC Data, ALSO-Actebis (SIX: [ ALSN ]), DCC SerCom, Arrow Electronics (NYSE: [ ARW ]), Avnet (NYSE: [ AVT ]), Brightstar, Computer Gross Italia, Computerlinks, Copaco N.V., D&H, Esprinet (PRT.MI), Ingram Micro (NYSE: [ IM ]), Intcomex, Magirus AG, Officer Distribuidora, Redington (BSE: [ REDI ]), SiS Technologies (HKSE: [ 0529 ]), ScanSource (NASDAQ: [ SCSC ]), SYNNEX (NYSE: [ SNX ]), Tech Data (NASDAQ: [ TECD ]), 20:20 Mobile Group, Westcoast LTD and Westcon.