Zones Keynote: Hybrid Architecture The Long Term Solution?

Public Cloud continues to be on an explosive growth path - thanks to its unparalleled advantages. Does that mean it’s all in towards Public Cloud and away from on-premises architecture? Or, will the unique business model and commercial flexibility of the newly evolving On-Prem Private Cloud be an increasing choice for customers? What is the long-term solution clients will choose to support their dynamic business environment? Please join Jai Venkat and Deepak Purohit from Zones and hear them address this question in the keynote.

Jai Venkat

Senior Vice President and Chief Services Officer, Zones

Jai Venkat is the Senior Vice President and Chief Services Officer of Zones, LLC. He is responsible for leading, strengthening, and automating Zones' global services capabilities through an integrated approach to service delivery and solutions, providing increased value to clients through digital transformation. Venkat brings over 30 years of experience in sales, operations, service delivery, business transformation, and program management to Zones.

Deepak Purohit

Vice President and GM Solutions, Zones

Deepak Purohit was named VP and GM of Solutions and Services at Zones in October 2019. Purohit plays a strategic role in the services organization, where he focuses on leveraging Zones’ supply chain strengths to transform service delivery. Leading a team of highly talented architects, Purohit provides executive support for strategy and execution to streamline Zones’ solution offerings and simplify customer service, working with top OEM partners.

His background is deeply rooted in solutions, with a special focus on large global business transformation and service transformation. Prior to joining Zones, Purohit served as SVP for Strategic Engagements at Birlasoft, a consulting services firm working with Fortune 500 clients. Previously, he held several consulting positions in the IT industry, including Head of Enterprise Solutions Practice at Infosys. Purohit holds an MBA from XLRI, India, and a BE in Production Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, India.

Innovate Faster with a Hewlett Packard Enterprise Hybrid Cloud Design

Hybrid & Private cloud strategies are critical for the implementation of IT infrastructure to deliver new services to customers and change business processes. Explore how HPE GreenLake optimizes your hybrid cloud design with pay-per-use, Financial flexibility, scale-up-and-down freedom. Zones has partnered with HPE to develop a portfolio of Hybrid Cloud services and capabilities to solve the problem of a complex management environment and sets up processes to manage cloud resources. HPE GreenLake Central provides the customer centralized operations and insight across their hybrid Infrastructure from a single intuitive self-service platform. Get a unified view of resources, monitor usage, cost performance, compliance, and more.

Thomas Currey

Solution Architect, Zones

In the Information Technology world, Thomas Currey's specialty is observing processes, people, systems, and applications. He believes in designing better options to improve company productivity and make people's work-life easier. Thomas is a technology professional with 30 years of in-depth technology background in tailoring solutions to enterprise clients.  Personally, oversees customer-focused custom operational and technology solutions. Possess extensive training, knowledge, and certifications in multiple areas including virtualization, storage, backup, and infrastructure. Mentors Systems Engineers/Architects and Sales Executives to integrate technology or alternative operational methods to improve the line of business requirements.

Dominic Santo

Lead Technical Architect, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

As a lead Technical Architect at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dominic helps organizations in architecting Infrastructure Technology Solutions to achieve business outcomes.

With over 20 years IT experience, he has won numerous Customer Experience Awards as well as Tech Support and Product Marketing Employee of the Quarter awards. Dominic currently holds both HPE Server and Storage MASE Certifications as well as many industries and HPE technical certifications.

Phil Woudenberg

GreenLake Sales Executive Partner Business Manager, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Philip Woudenberg has been involved in the business of technology sales for the past 30 years. He started as a sales rep in a regional computer retail store in Michigan and moved into a full corporate sales role based in Chicago. Phil has had a long selling relationship with Hewlett Packard, starting with HP9000 and HP-UX solutions to corporate accounts while working for a large reseller also based in Chicago.

SASE: The Next Evolution in Cloud Convergence

With the digital transformation, security is moving to the cloud. This is driving a need for converged services to reduce complexity, improve speed and agility, enable multi-cloud networking, and secure the new SD-WAN-enabled architecture. Secure access service edge (SASE) is a network architecture that combines VPN and SD-WAN capabilities with cloud-native security functions such as secure web gateways, cloud access security brokers, firewalls, and zero-trust network access. These functions are delivered from the cloud and provided as a service by Zones. This session will detail Cisco's approach towards SASE for a secure cloud-delivered networking model for enterprises.

Stanley Leszczynski

Chief Architect – Networking, Zones

Stan Leszczynski is an information technology professional with extensive experience in diverse fields dating back to 1997. His work has centered on routing, switching, load balancing, and security. Stan has played a key role in directing major build-outs and upgrades for the NYISO, Onondaga County, New York Department of Tax and Finance, Office of Mental Health, Global Foundries, Key bank, Warner Media (Time Warner), Starbucks, Nike, and many others. A hardworking and dedicated team-player who designs, deploys, and troubleshoots complex network and security systems.  

Dominic Middleton

US National Cybersecurity Partner Specialist, Cisco

Dom has been with Cisco's Global Security Sales Organization for almost 4 years. He has been in both technical and sales roles, including on-site partner business development and Security Operations, with a background in National Security.

Dom is passionate about helping Cisco partners and customers understand the threat landscape, and how to strengthen their security posture against the latest cyber-attacks.

Chris DeWit

Consulting Systems Engineer, Channel Partner Duo Security, Cisco

Chris DeWit is a Consulting Systems Engineer - Channel Partner at Duo Security, a Cisco Company. He is a Network Security Architect/Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. Chris has an extensive background in professional engineering and sales for Enterprise Architecture, IP Security, IP networking, Active Directory, and Data Center.

Lenovo TruScale: Modern, Flexible Infrastructure

Technology moves fast, making traditional IT hardware, software, and support options a challenge for some companies and industries. Lenovo TruScale Infrastructure Services helps to ensure maximum uptime, ROI, and achievement of your business goals and frees your internal staff to focus on more relevant business needs. Zones has partnered with Lenovo to offer this subscription-based as-a-Service offering that will enable customers to use and pay for Data Centre hardware and services, on-premise or at a preferred location, without having to purchase the equipment. Meet our TruScale Infrastructure Services expert and see firsthand the benefits of the Pay-For-What You-Use Data Center.

Mike Harsch

Solutions Architect, Zones

Hunter Dawson

Global Contracting & North America Business Lead, Lenovo

Chuck Cunningham

Senior Storage Channel Executive, Lenovo

Chuck brings over 25 years of industry experience to Lenovo Data Center Group as the Senior Sales Account Executive with a specialized focus on Software Defined Infrastructure. He currently leads customer engagement for the US Central region, including State & Local Government and Education.

Chuck supports customers’ hybrid cloud goals through developing strategic roadmaps while tailoring innovative solutions to the customer’s specific needs. Chuck lives in Chicago, IL with his wife. He enjoys traveling, sailing with friends in the summer, and attending as many Chicago Cubs games as possible.

Flex on Demand: Agility Where You Need It

Justin Brown

Solutions Architect, Zones

Justin has tackled client projects relating to Data Center Transformation and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure for over 10 years. He has undertaken numerous challenges in his career, including a 24,000-user VDI solution for one of the nation's largest department stores and the implementation of two remote data centers for a large national sporting goods distributor. In his role at Zones as a Solutions Architect, he adeptly handles a wide range of IT initiatives, including large undertakings that require years of work across many disparate locations.

John Mannix

Sales Enablement Consultant, Dell

John Mannix is a usage-based payment specialist with Dell Financial Services and manages sales enablement and field support programs for Dell Technologies’ pay-per-use solutions. He joined the company in 2010 and has over 20 years of experience in information technology, sales, and marketing.

Apple's Next Generation of Computing

Welcome to the future of Mac. Apple M1 is here. The M1 is the first chip designed specifically for Mac. M1 brings incredible performance and revolutionary power efficiency. Combined with macOS Big Sur, it’s a breakthrough moment for Mac. That’s not all – the best tech deserves the best support, and that’s something Zones can offer. We provide wide-ranging services to simplify the adoption and integration of Apple products into your company’s environment, including those powered by the M1. Please join us and learn how to empower your organization with Mac.

Presented by Apple

Josh McLaughlin

Solutions Architect II, Zones

Josh McLaughlin is a Digital Transformation Solutions Architect at Zones with more than 10 years of experience modernizing workplace operations in Retail, Utility, Hospitality, and Commercial business units.

You’re in Control with Rack and Roll

Many organizations are turning to custom-built infrastructure to give their data the power, security, and flexibility it needs. With our Rack and Roll services, our engineering, integration, and logistics teams ensure that your compute, storage, and networking components — as well as power and cooling equipment — arrive built to your specifications and are thoroughly tested for turnkey convenience. Whether you’re breaking ground on a new data center or upgrading a server room, our fully integrated racks fast track the design, purchase, integration, and testing of your new data center infrastructure. In this way, we free up your valuable IT personnel to focus on other strategic projects. Attend this session and learn how to assess, design, configure and implement the complete infrastructure for your data center with Zones and Dell.

Anjali Fields

Lead Solutions Architect, Data Center & Cloud, Zones

Shawna Kennedy

Channel Services Account Executive, Dell

Shawna Kennedy is a channel services account executive and product specialist with a demonstrated history of building relationships and driving unprecedented sales growth in the information technology and services industry.

Secure your Microsoft 365 Data and Identities

Microsoft 365 provides a wide array of powerful services within Office 365; a comprehensive backup of your Office 365 data is not one of them. Zones backup as a service provides backup for Microsoft 365 consists of Microsoft Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Teams on cloud as a comprehensive solution from implementation to management. This session will highlight how to eliminates the risk of losing access and control over your Office 365 data including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft.

John Meeks 

Chief Architect, Zones

John Meeks is the Chief Architect for Microsoft 365 at Zones. In this role, he uses his 15+ years of IT experience to develop best-fit solutions for our clients, with a focus on Microsoft 365 and Azure.

Before joining the team at Zones, John worked at several technology companies where he was able to utilize his Microsoft 365 experience. He has earned recognition by Microsoft through the following certifications:

Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert

Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administration Associate

Microsoft 365 Certified: Security CIE Facilitator

Microsoft Certified Solution Expert: Productivity

Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate: O365

He’s had the pleasure of sharing success with major clients throughout his career, including The Results Companies, EZCorp, Hydradyne, and many more. Even before John decided to pursue an IT career, he knew his dream job was in the Microsoft 365 Collaboration space. Now that John is doing just that at Zones, he looks forward to applying his expertise to your workplace challenges.

Todd Carter

Director Cloud Services, Zones

As the Director of Zones Cloud Program and Platform Strategy at Zones Inc, I strive to stay two steps ahead of the market by looking toward what’s next in recurring revenue and subscription-based cloud business models. I have two decades of experience in the Information Technology world. Since joining Zones in 2018, I have focused on defining and realizing our cloud platform strategy, moving from inception to go-to-market through several Product Subscription Offer launches. By developing our Zones Cloud Program, defining our portfolio of products and attached services, increasing the number of SaaS and IaaS options for our customers, and publishing new subscription offers to our Zones Cloud Marketplace, I help put Zones Cloud at the forefront of our new digital engagement with our customers, drive cloud-delivery innovation, improve our operational efficiency, and increase customer satisfaction.

Before coming to Zones, I led the Global Sales Engineering team at Odin, a software business unit of Parallels focused on developing Operational and Billing solutions for the Hosting, Telecommunications, and Service Provider industries, where I worked to improve our technical sales programs, expand our sales engineering team globally, and support sales with highly skilled technical pre-sales experts. Prior to that, I served in multiple senior technical sales roles at Amazon Web Services, Blue Coat Systems, Symantec, Veritas, and 3COM, where I assisted in the development of our sales pipeline and closing deals through the delivery of compelling presentations, concise demonstrations, and successful Proof of Concept projects that established the company’s value to our prospects and customers. Such improvements to our technical sales programs resulted in globally accelerated pipeline growth, faster time to deal closure, and 10X growth in deal size. I’ve worked and studied throughout the Northwest and have traveled around the globe.

Born in Northern Idaho, raised in Alaska and Oregon, I completed my service in the Army in Washington. I returned to Alaska and obtained my electronics and computer systems degree from the University of Alaska, followed by studies in business management, consulting, accounting systems, and security systems (CISSP) adding multiple technical certifications and awards along the way. As a computer system engineer, consultant, and entrepreneur, my first big win was when I was hired to lead the Oregon Hill Sciences and Springfield School Districts AT&T Computer Systems implementations and their campus local area and wide-area network deployments. 

Did You Really Think Your Cloud Data Was Being Backed-up?

Microsoft 365 provides a wide array of powerful services within Office 365; a comprehensive backup of your Office 365 data is not one of them. Zones backup as a service provides backup for Microsoft 365  consist of Microsoft Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Teams on the cloud as a comprehensive solution from implementation to management. This session will highlight how to eliminates the risk of losing access and control over your Office 365 data including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft.

Alan Maddox

Chief Architect, Zones

Alan comes to us with 34 years of experience in the Information Systems/Datacenter and Managed Services spaces. He has held senior positions in the Manufacturing, Financial, Healthcare, and Non-profit verticals. In these roles with the American Cancer Society, Lowen Corporation, Gregory Graphics, and Network Management Group, Alan has developed expertise in many Service Delivery areas critical to the success of our Cloud & Datacenter growth mission Zones. Alan has been a Senior Systems Engineer at Zones since May of 2018 and has specialized in the Cloud, Hybrid Cloud, and Datacenter spaces.

Before joining Zones, Alan was a Senior Systems Engineer/Integrator for Network Management Group, Inc. He was responsible for many facets of pre-sales, physical delivery, and Managed Services for predominantly CPA firms and banks in this role. For almost four years, Alan was also an integral force in driving pre-sales growth initiatives and supporting an internal Managed Services team with 24/7 clients. The company saw a close rate of nearly 70% of deals, where they were averaging 20-25% close rate prior. He is eager to share his knowledge, real-world experiences, and technical expertise to help Zones create partnerships with our clients and create managed services engagements!

John Meeks

Chief Architect, Zones

John Meeks is the Chief Architect for Microsoft 365 at Zones. In this role, he uses his 15+ years of IT experience to develop best-fit solutions for our clients, with a focus on Microsoft 365 and Azure.