Brian D. Wiser is senior vice president of sales for Ingram Micro North America. In this role, he is responsible for all sales functions in Canada and the U.S. including direct marketer, consumer/retail and corporate accounts (DCC), in addition to government and education and value-added reseller sales. He also oversees separate sales-based functions such as the Ingram Micro Logistics business unit, as well as business operations, customer service, sales training and technical support.

As part of his role, Wiser also maintains close working relationships with the North America marketing and vendor management departments. Together, these teams build and maintain strategic relationships with the company's reseller customers and vendor partners.

Prior to being named senior vice president of sales in May 2005, Wiser served as the vice president of marketing for Ingram Micro U.S. Under his leadership, the marketing organization rolled out new services, expanded partnerships and more effectively aligned resources to drive demand in the channel.

Earlier in his career, Wiser also served as vice president and general manager of VAR sales, Ingram Micro U.S. In that role, he was responsible for leading the overall sales and support efforts targeting Ingram Micro's value-added reseller (VAR) solution providers in the United States. Under his direction, the region increased market share, expanded customer and vendor partnerships, and developed enhanced solutions and capabilities for their solution providers.

A 20-year veteran of Ingram Micro, Wiser has held a variety of sales positions, including vice president and general manager, custom solutions; vice president, global major accounts; vice president, telesales; and senior director, government and education sales.Wiser earned a bachelor's degree in business from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Frank De Lucia, President and CEO of the Abilities foundation
back to top

Frank De Lucia is the president and CEO of the Abilities Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has helped thousands of Floridians with disabilities obtain mainstream employment and affordable housing. Prior to being named president, he served as executive vice president and executive director of the Foundation, and vice president of development, marketing, and communications for Abilities of Florida.

He is responsible for fund raising, grant writing, special events, capital campaigns, media relations, and planned giving. De Lucia is a member of Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Pinellas County Estate Planning Council, and Tampa Bay Estate Panning Council. He has served on the St. Jude Cathedral School Foundation and Very Special Arts Council. He has held certifications as a rehabilitation counselor and rehabilitation insurance specialist. He has a Master’s Degree in Special Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Welfare from the University of Southern Connecticut, and has 21 years of fund raising experience.

Timothy Curran, Chief Executive Officer of Global Techonology and distribution Council
back to top

Timothy J. Curran has more than 25 years of experience in high-tech sales, strategic planning and reseller channel management. He is the Chief Executive Officer of the Global Technology Distribution Council, and international trade association representing the $75 Billion distribution industry.

From 1997 to 2002, Curran served as the senior vice president of sales at Tech Data, the world's second-largest provider of IT products and logistics services, where he led an organization with more than 1,100 sales, technical support and customer service representatives strategically aligned in dedicated divisions focused on specialized reseller needs.

A recognized leader in the channel, Curran has served as Vice Chairman of CompTia, a reseller trade group and he has been a member of the CRN Editorial Board. He is currently on the Board of Directors of SmartDisk, a provider of digital storage and media products Prior to joining Tech Data in April 1997, Curran was vice president and group general manager of Panasonic Computer Peripherals Company headquartered in Secaucus, NJ. Curran was instrumental in developing Panasonic's overall channel strategy and in building the start up division's sales to nearly one billion dollars.

Curran earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame, a master's degree from Columbia University in 1975, and he completed his doctorate in international political economics also at Columbia University. His extensive international business experience includes having worked in Japan and Southeast Asia on economic issues relative to the computer industry. Prior to Panasonic, Curran worked in Washington D.C. as a White House economic consultant on US international economic policy pertaining to the high-technology market.

Patrick Sheppard, Managing Partner of Robel Investments
back to top

Patrick Sheppard, a Florida native, is managing partner of RoBEL INVESTMENTS, LLC, a single-source provider for development services including architectural, engineering, design, construction and management for local and international companies. He is a visionary that has provided strategic direction and financial guidance, including direct equity participation, in more than 25 highly successful West Central Florida residential, commercial and industrial developments over the past two decades, including Trump Tower Tampa.

Sheppard has served on the board of several public and private companies, including his current roles as a managing director of Occular Technologies LLC, Dynasales International, Robel Realty, Aljinon Corporation and Vertical Health Solutions. Sheppard is an active member of the prestigious Explores Club, an international expedition organization based in New York.