CISCO PARTNER SUMMIT 2004, HONOLULU, February 11, 2004 - In an effort to highlight its top channel partners, Cisco Systems Canada, recognized fifteen Canadian partners as its 2003 annual Channel Partner award winners. One Canadian partner, The RAM Group, also received a global award for Cisco's Silver Partner of the Year.
"Our channel partners are an extension of our sales force and we want to recognize and reward our top performers," said Steve Simmons, vice-president, Canadian Channel and Commercial Operations at Cisco Systems Canada. "Our Canadian award winners have all demonstrated the ability to develop innovative solutions and execute with the highest levels of customer satisfaction. I am delighted to present these fifteen organizations as the winners of the 2003 Cisco Channel Awards."
Cisco Systems Canada recognized the top national and regional channel partners in the following categories: Top Customer Satisfaction, Win of the Year, Advanced Technology Solutions Success, and Commercial Success of the Year.
The 2003 Cisco Canada Channel Partners of the Year Award Winners are:
| Canadian Partner of the Year | IBM Canada |
| Silver Certification (Global Award) | The RAM Group |
| Top Customer Satisfaction - National | Infostream Technologies |
| Top Customer Satisfaction - National | The RAM Group |
| Top Customer Satisfaction - National | SINC - Solution & Intégration De Nouveaux Concepts Inc. |
| Win of the Year – Western Region | Long View Systems |
| Win of the Year – Central Region | Bell Canada |
| Win of the Year – Eastern Region | Hewlett-Packard (Canada) |
| Advanced Technology Solution – National | TELUS Communications |
| Advanced Technology Solution – Western Region | Bell West and The RAM Group |
| Advanced Technology Solution – Central Region | IBM Canada |
| Advanced Technology Solution – Eastern Region | Bell Canada |
| Commercial Success of the Year – National | Ingram Micro |
| Commercial Success of the Year – Western Region | Boardwalk Communication |
| Commercial Success of the Year – Central Region | GE IT Solutions |
| Commercial Success of the Year – Eastern Region | ExpraCom |
The Cisco Global Awards are based on specific set of requirements, designed to identify the best global channel partner in each category. Cisco has also built a formalized nomination and selection process that begins with each theater identifying and nominating a channel partner for each category. These nominations are reviewed and a collective group that includes Cisco worldwide channels and theater channel executives makes final selections. With the exception of the Global Distribution Award, which evaluated value creation and operational excellences, all the other global awards used compliance with the Cisco Channel Partner Program and customer satisfaction as its foundational requirement.
The Cisco Canada Awards are also based on a specific set of requirements, and are reviewed, evaluated and selected by the Cisco Canada executive team.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco Systems Canada Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc, has offices across Canada dedicated to customer support, sales, and service.
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