Channel Sales Association Announces 2026 Channel Sales Excellence Award Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Inaugural awards celebrate professionals building partner relationships, advancing co-selling and driving revenue

DALLAS – October 30, 2026 – The Channel Sales Association (CSA) has announced the winners of its inaugural 2026 Channel Sales Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding professionals across North America and EMEA whose work turns channel partnerships into sales opportunities and revenue.

CSA Co-Founder Kathryn Rose and Michelle Accard i, CEO of Liongard and CSA Strategic Advisor, announced the 2026 honorees during a LinkedIn Live presentation on Oct. 6. Watch the awards presentation or view the complete list of 2026 Channel Sales Excellence Award winners.

Winners also will be recognized in person at the Channel Leader Summit EMEA, Nov. 11-12, 2026, in London, and the Global Channel Growth Summit, April 13-15, 2027, in Addison, Texas.

Developed to spotlight the people behind partner-led growth, the awards honor leadership, innovation and business impact across career stages and roles. Honorees were selected from self- and third-party nominations in the following categories:

Icon Award — Honors industry veterans whose leadership and mentorship have shaped channel sales.
Visionary Award — Recognizes innovators who turn new ideas for partner sales into results.
Rising Star Award — Celebrates emerging professionals making an early impact on partner growth.
Channel Sales Association Excellence List — Recognizes professionals driving growth through strategic channel selling.

“The channel has always been built on relationships, but those relationships take tremendous skill and commitment,” said Rose. “These winners exemplify that commitment, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements and the standard they set for our profession.”

“As a CEO of a channel-driven business, I know how much success depends on exceptional people,” said Accardi. “These honorees build strong partnerships and turn them into business results. Their contributions deserve recognition.”

Recognizing the People Behind Partner Growth

CSA launched in April 2026 as a professional association built by and for people who drive revenue through partners. It grew out of Channel Leaders, a peer community founded in 2020 by Kimber Garrett, and Paul Laferriere that grew to more than 1,000 members globally.

CSA Co-Founders Garrett, Laferriere and Rose introduced the annual awards program as part of the association’s mission to provide professional recognition, peer connection and practical support for channel sales professionals across IT, technology, telecom, cybersecurity, cloud and software organizations.

“When we started the group, our focus was connecting peers who were solving the same challenges,” said Paul Laferriere, CSA Co-Founder. “Now we’re recognizing outstanding professionals across the world. It’s a meaningful milestone in CSA’s evolution and in our commitment to raising the profile of channel sales.”

“Channel sales takes more than strong relationships. It takes the ability to align competing priorities, navigate complex deals and turn partner strategies into revenue,” said Garrett. “These honorees have demonstrated the judgment, persistence and expertise that distinguish exceptional channel sales professionals. Their work is essential to the growth of the companies and partners they serve.”

For more information about the awards, visit channelsalesassociation.com/awards.

About Channel Sales Association

The Channel Sales Association (CSA) is a professional organization for the people who drive revenue through partners. Built by and for channel sales professionals, CSA offers membership, programming, resources, peer connection and tools designed to support partner-led growth across IT, technology, telecom, cybersecurity, cloud and software organizations. CSA is dedicated to advancing the channel sales profession through collaboration, insight and ongoing support. For more information, visit https://channelsalesassociation.com/.