First reseller to enter CRN Fast50 announced

CRN reveals Fast50's first entrant

CRN is delighted to announce the first entrant in its Fast50, recognising the hard work and entrepreneurial success of Australia's best and brightest resellers.

With a $75,000 prize package up for grabs, the channel's No.1 awards list will put together 50 of the fastest growing resellers in the Australian channel.

Chris Marshall, managing director of Blue Apache Information Systems, a managed services provider, was the first company to fill out CRN's online entry form.

The company has developed a managed service solution called Empower Managed Services for small to medium sized businesses consisting of 50-250 users.

Clients include Icon film distribution, owned by Mel Gibson, IGC Dorel and Vaughan Constructions.

"The Fast50 seems like an excellent idea and it's a great way to judge ourselves against our peers," said Marshall.

"We've had a great year and executed our strategy well. We have identified who our core vendor partners are and we make sure we are working closely with them and selecting partners aligned with our goals.

"In light of the global financial crisis we are pretty keen to see how our competitors have fared in the same space."

Marshall said the Fast50 was an opportunity to measure how Blue Apache is 'travelling in the market'.

"We spend a lot of time building our market strategy and we're pleased with the performance of the business. We have got a great team and it's an opportunity to measure our success."

The Australian IT systems integrator is headquartered in Melbourne. Founded over 11 years ago, it employs 14 people.

CRN's Fast50 will be the cover story of the December issue. The Fast50 microsite and magazine will list the channel players at the height of their games, feature interviews with the top resellers and the distributors who backed them.

Answer the 10-question online form to be in the running for the $75,000 prize which includes a $60,000 advertising package and a $15,000 consulting program.