Philadelphia Local Chapter, February 2023
Let’s Get to Know Each Other
Built by women, for women. Let’s make an impact in the channel together.
Philadelphia Local Chapter, February 2023
About ACW
Established in 2010, Alliance of Channel Women is a not-for-profit organization of women and their allies in leadership, ownership, revenue-generating, marketing, operations and technical roles in the indirect sales channel of the telecom and IT industry. The organization brings us together to empower and advance women’s careers and leadership roles in technology.
Our Story
The Alliance of Channel Women was formed at the 2010 Channel Partners Conference & Expo when channel sales pros Nancy Ridge and Jan Sarro began a conversation over dinner about how few women there were in the tech channel and how few there were in leadership, ownership or revenue-generating roles.
They were eager to find a community of like-minded women but found many existing groups for women in tech focused on females in technical roles who could not relate to them — women who generate revenue every month for their businesses or their companies.
The conversation grew to include two more channel sales leaders Karin Fields and Stacy Conrad. The four women agreed that rather than see each other only as competitors, they also could be collaborators. Teamwork began that very night! The Alliance of Channel Women was created.
Like so many good ideas, ACW ignited a movement within the telecom and tech channel, quickly becoming a welcome refuge for many channel women who were looking to network with their female peers in a male-dominated industry.
A decade later, ACW is home to hundreds of women and men in the channel who are focused on helping women to achieve greater success in their channel careers through education, mentoring and collaboration.
Let’s Make an Impact Together. Become an ACW Member Today!
Our Guiding Principles
Our Mission
Our mission is to advance careers and leadership roles for women at the highest levels in the technology channel by providing education, community, advocacy and opportunities for personal growth.
Our Vision
Our vision is to realize gender equality in the technology channel.
Our Purpose
Our purpose it to connect, elevate and empower women in the technology channel to achieve equal positions, at equal pay, and without harassment.
Our Values
- Creating a community for learning and collaboration for women in the technology channel
- Empowering women in the technology channel to lead through volunteerism
- Advocating for a healthy gender climate in the technology channel
- Recognizing the accomplishments of women in the technology channel
Help Us Expand Our Mission
Become Part of the ACW Community Today!
Our Leaders
Meet the 2026 ACW Board of Directors
Mel Kolinski
Senior Director of Sales & Partnerships, Ostra Cybersecurity
Kolinski joined the board in 2025 and was elected President in 2026. Previously, she served as the Chair of ACW Local Chapters Committee, Co-Chair of the ACW Events Committee and Co-Moderator for the ACW Local Chapter in Minnesota.
Mel Kolinski
ACW President
Staci Corbett
Director of Channel Marketing, Fusion Connect
Corbett joined the board in 2024 and was elected Vice President in 2026. Previously, she served as Chair of ACW’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) Committee.
Staci Corbett
ACW Vice President
Sommer Figone
Director of Field Enablement, RapidScale
Sommer has been an ACW member since 2020. She joined the board in 2024 and also serves as Secretary. Previously, she was Chair of the ACW Events Committee.
Sommer Figone
ACW Secretary
Madison Beedy
Director of Channel Sales, EarthLink
An ACW member since 2021, Madison joined the Board in 2024. She is the Chair of the ACW Sponsorship Committee and has been a member of the ACW Events Committee.
Madison Beedy
ACW Sponsorship Committee Chair
Laura Gibbs
Channel Sales and Marketing Expert
Gibbs joined the board in 2026 and currently serves as Co-Chair of the ACW Mentorship Committee. She has been a member of ACW for five years and previously served on the Local Chapters Committee.
Laura Gibbs
ACW Mentoring Committee Co-Chair
Tracy Hali
Executive leader in People, Partner and Customer Success
Tracy joined ACW in 2016 and became a board member in 2024. She serves as a Co-Chair of the ACW Mentoring Committee and is a member of the Membership Committee.
Tracy Hali
ACW Mentoring Committee Co-Chair
Holly B. Hunt
Senior Director of Channel Program Management, CyberMaxx
Hunt joined the board in 2025 and has been a member since 2020. Previously, she served as Chair of the ACW Communications Committee for 3 years.
Holly B. Hunt
Former ACW Communications Committee Chair
Shannon Orr
Senior Director of National Strategic Partners, AVANT
Orr joined the board in 2026 and has been a member of ACW for 10 years. She currently serves as Co-Moderator of the ACW Chicago Local Chapter.
Shannon Orr
ACW Chicago Local Chapter Moderator
Jackie Steinberg
Channel Chief, DartPoints
Jackie has been an ACW member since she joined the channel in 2012. She became a board member in 2024 and currently serves as Co-Chair of the ACW Awards Committee.
Jackie Steinberg
ACW Award Committee Co-Chair
Meg Thompson
Strategic Architecture Manager, CCI Systems
Thompson joined the board in 2026 and has been a member of ACW for four years. She serves as Chair of the ACW Events Committee and is also a member of the ACW Mentoring Committee.
Meg Thompson
ACW Events Committee Chair
Jen Waltz
Chief Information Security Officer, IMAJENATIVE
Waltz joined the board in 2026 and has been a member of ACW for two years. She also serves as a member of the ACW Membership Committee.
Jen Waltz
ACW Membership Committee
Our Work
ACW is an all-volunteer organization that relies on our members to roll up their sleeves and do the work to keep our mission going today and realize our vision tomorrow. In addition to the Board of Directors, a dozen committees develop, implement, sponsor and promote ACW programs and events.
Get Involved with ACW Today!
Advance your career. Build your business. Create opportunities for channel women.