The 2026 Channel Partners Conference & Expo is featuring a new special track designed to help CEOs of technology advisor companies (TA) navigate one of the most tumultuous periods in recent history. The educational track has something tech advisors clamor for — the unvarnished perspectives of their peers who are in the trenches every day closing deals, managing their businesses while working with partners and tech services distributors.

The industry is being reshaped by AI and the changing business models of the large service providers who dominate the landscape. That means leaders of tech advisors and agents need peer perspectives to make strategic decisions to avoid losing ground to rivals, upstarts, or IT services firms looking to make inroads in the communications industry. There is no doubt that the stakes are high today for these individuals.

To help these leaders, the Channel Partners Conference & Expo has assembled a diverse group of high-level executives who will share their wisdom on four key areas:

• Strategic growth and market expansion.
• Building high-performance sales teams.
• Financial management and profitability optimization.
• Succession planning and business continuity.

Each session will feature the views of at least two senior leaders in moderated, interactive sessions hosted by Bana Qashu Young, who is serving as the TA CEO Track Chair for the 2026 event. Young will bring her unique energy and views from her time working at technology services distributors and large TA firms to the conversation.

Bana Qashu Young

Prominent leaders of TA companies will participate in the four panel discussions to share advice with their peers. More TA leaders are expected to be added to the panels in the coming weeks. Confirmed speakers include:

• Bill Patchett, CEO of P2
• Ty Smith, President, Optical Diversity Telecom
• Willow Pfahler, CEO, WX Technology
• Catherine Ripley, CEO, Symplicity Communications
• Mack Slaughter, Co-Owner, Trust Technology Consultants Inc.
• Cynthia Ferrell, Founder, TeamKC Telecom
• Alexis Pomierski, Exec. Dir., John Alexander Consulting.

“This industry is at an inflection point,” said Young, who is the managing partner and founder of BanaTech Consulting. “CEOs can’t rely on legacy models or old assumptions. The TA CEO Track brings people who are actively redefining how technology advisors grow, scale, and stay profitable. If you’re leading in this market, you need to be part of this dialogue—a mindshare with other CEOs.”

The Technology Advisor CEO Track at Channel Partners Conference & Expo 2026 represents a ground-breaking addition designed exclusively for senior-level C-Suite executives leading TA and agent organizations. This premium track addresses the unique strategic challenges facing CEOs in today's rapidly evolving channel landscape.

Unlike generic business sessions, the Technology Advisor CEO Track delivers content specifically engineered for technology advisor leaders. Each session focuses on the distinct operational, financial, and strategic challenges unique to channel businesses—from managing complex commission structures and optimizing technology stacks to scaling sales teams and navigating market expansion in the advisor space.

“We are entering a cycle where CEO decision-making will determine whether a TA firm grows or stalls out. The leaders who have clarity on market shifts, speed in technology performance and innovation, financial discipline, and new revenue strategies will separate from the pack,” Young said.

The Channel Partners TA CEO Track is designed to provide the clarity leaders need to position their firms to succeed in 2026. In the coming weeks, the Channel Partners website and social communities will begin featuring interviews with CEOs, founders, and high-level leaders of TA firms who will share their advice, the hard lessons learned, and insights to grow the business.