Partner Reality
Understand what makes capable partners invest—and what causes them to disengage.
REID COOPER CHANNEL GROWTHPARTNER ECOSYSTEM ARCHITECTRequest a consultationWhy Reid
Experience from both sides of the channel changes the strategy.
With 30+ years in technology channel leadership and 15 years owning and operating a reseller, I bring vendor and partner perspectives to channel fit, partner economics, enablement, and long-term commitment. My experience spans cybersecurity, networking, Avaya and VoIP, GoGrid cloud infrastructure and hybrid environments, and SaaS.
Vendor Economics
Support margins, acquisition costs, recurring revenue, and profitable growth.
Commercial Models
Tailor economics to VARs, MSSPs, SIs, distributors, and other partner types.
Ecosystem Architecture
Align partners, alliances, enablement, and measurable pipeline.
I build channel programs that partners want to invest in and vendors can profitably scale.
Where the perspective began
A business owner before becoming a vendor channel executive.
My technology career began at Computer City in 1979, where I helped open 12 locations and later led the wholesale division as Vice President of Sales. In 1983, I founded Tech Computer Store and built it into a multi-location reseller generating approximately $15 million in revenue and serving organizations including Harvard, Polaroid, Lotus, and Hazeltine Manufacturing.
I served on Apple and Epson advisory councils and became a founding member and president of the Apple Reseller Association. Partners frequently told me that my understanding of their business differentiated my programs from competing vendors.
That experience gives me the financial discipline of an owner: every program must create a reason for the partner to invest while meeting the vendor’s revenue and profitability goals.
Channel innovation through technology transitions
A consistent record of helping partners sell what was next.
From Macintosh storage and VoIP to networking, cloud, identity, cybersecurity, and SaaS.
Tech Computer Store
Built a multi-location technology reseller generating approximately $15 million in revenue; served on Apple and Epson advisory councils and became a founding member and president of the Apple Reseller Association.
Spirit Technologies
After selling my reseller business, became Director of Channels and built the company’s first structured reseller program. Hired manufacturers’ representatives across eight North American territories and recruited 50 resellers and VARs within one year.
Octel · Lucent · Avaya
Beginning in 1996, spent six years developing channels as Octel was acquired by Lucent and the business evolved into Avaya. Mentored IT VARs in telecom and telecom VARs in IT to sell unified messaging, unified communications, and emerging VoIP solutions.
Juniper Networks
Formed partnerships with complementary technology vendors to create differentiated combined solutions and new market opportunities in networking.
GoGrid · Cloud Infrastructure
Built experience with GoGrid cloud infrastructure and IaaS, including hybrid environments that connect on-premises systems with cloud services.
Blue Coat Systems
Recruited more than 20 MSSPs, rebuilt cloud channel positioning for SaaS security, and exceeded growth objectives.
SMS PASSCODE
As the first North American employee, built the indirect channel for a SaaS identity security solution, recruited more than 40 partners, generated 50%+ quarter-over-quarter channel revenue growth, and exceeded a $1 million quota.