Unified Communications Industry News

[February 28, 2013]

Integra Strengthens Partner Program With Veteran Leadership and Competitive Sales Tools

PORTLAND, OR AND LAS VEGAS, NV, Feb 28, 2013 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Integra, a provider of fiber-based, enterprise-grade networking, communications and technology solutions, reaffirms its commitment to the indirect sales channel with strengthened leadership, an enhanced Ethernet product portfolio and resources to encourage business growth for its partners. To lead the partner channel, Integra has appointed Tom Weaver as vice president, indirect channel. Integra has also implemented the MasterStream qualification and quoting platform to improve the sales process for channel partners.

"We're entering 2013 with a renewed focus on our indirect channel and are pleased to have someone like Tom to ensure Integra provides the resources, expertise and leadership our agents need to succeed," said Ken Smith, executive vice president of sales for Integra. "Integra's goal is to be an easy partner to do business with and to empower our agents to grow their business with us. With the addition of Tom, Integra's leadership team is stronger than ever and equipped to serve business customers with an even greater level of service." With the implementation of MasterStream, channel partners enjoy an enhanced sales process with service location tools and quoting capabilities that will enable Integra to cut response time fifty percent. Agents can now take care of business customers with greater ease, efficiency and automation, empowering business growth for the indirect channel. MasterStream is the first of many strategic investments Integra will make in 2013 to provide the indirect channel with tools and product resources that maximize sales opportunities and encourage long-term relationships with Integra.

"Integra's continued investment toward the indirect channel, from sales tools to dedicated channel managers, sets them apart from other service providers. MasterStream is just another example of their commitment to the channel," said Jon Foster of Fostar Telecom.

"Integra has been a trusted partner of Fostar for more than 10 years, because of their dedication to excellence and the ease with which they conduct business." Integra's Managed and Cloud Services, including Hosted Voice, Cloud Firewall and Collaboration & Messaging Services, enable channel agents to establish managed services and cloud-based programs to expand their business opportunities as customers look to move more of their voice and data services to hosted infrastructure. Paired with Integra's vast Ethernet portfolio, channel agents can offer business customers a full suite of communications and data solutions.

"I am excited to join Integra at a time of positive growth in the organization and significant investment in its channel program," said Weaver. "I look forward to supporting our channel partners by providing the tools, the support and the infrastructure that will help them maximize their sales results with Integra's fiber networks and Ethernet and cloud-based services." Weaver brings to Integra more than 20 years of communications and advanced networking services experience. He will report to Ken Smith, Integra's executive vice president of sales, and is responsible for directing the company's indirect channel strategy, including sales, revenue, expense and marketing objectives. Prior to joining Integra, Weaver held various director roles at Microsoft Corporation, responsible for unified communications, voice over Internet protocol and cloud sales and marketing. In addition, Weaver oversaw enterprise and channel sales during his more than 10-year tenure at Nortel Networks.

About Integra Integraâ ¢ is one of the largest facilities-based providers of communication and networking services in the western United States.

We connect businesses of all sizes with advanced networking, communications and technology solutions in 35 metropolitan markets.

Integra owns and operates an enterprise-class network consisting of a 5,000-mile long-haul fiber-optic network, 3,000-miles of metropolitan fiber and a nationwide IP/MPLS network. Our fiber network connects directly to more than 2,200 enterprise buildings and data centers.

Through our expansive Ethernet-over-copper footprint, we can deliver high-bandwidth services to more than 400,000 businesses. At Integra, we understand our customers need reliable, secure and flexible solutions delivered with unmatched expertise and quality of service.

For more information, visit www.integratelecom.com.

<strong>MEDIA CONTACTS</strong> Scenna ShipleyÂ 503-453-8808 scenna.shipley@integratelecom.comÂ James McIntyre 503-546-1016 integra@mcbru.com SOURCE: Integra mailto:scenna.shipley@integratelecom.com mailto:integra@mcbru.com

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