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Toronto - Compugen, Conamex International, Ingram Micro Canada, little known Infusion Development and Dell Canada were two-time winners of Impact Awards last night at Microsoft Canada's annual partner celebration.

Microsoft Canada uses 75 staffers to manage and put on the Impact Awards, held here last night at the Granite Club. More than 200 submissions were considered in areas such as enterprise, SMB and OEM.

Microsoft president Phil Sorgen, said the Impact Awards focus on designations and within those it demonstrates partner capabilities, while maintaining consistency and predictable representation in the market place.

“The awards program is in place to drive success. It starts with a great innovation pipeline and our channel is successful when we have valuable products to drive that pipeline. The day we stop innovating is the day partners start to question if we are a valuable business,” Sorgen said.

Harry Zarek, president and CEO of Compugen, a double award winner, said he “loves it.”

”The Impact Awards provides a boost for us and really for the customers. It sends a message that Microsoft acknowledges excellence in creativity, customer satisfaction and success.

Another two time winner, Conamex International's Elizabeth Vanderveldt, vice-president of business development, said the Impact Awards is the culmination of a lot of hard work with Microsoft. “It is a partnership in obtaining the best solutions for clients. They are always the real winners especially when you see their business take off in ways they could only imagine.”

She added that the Microsoft partnership is amazing and it is about imagination and fun.

“Microsoft gives us the recognition that a lot of partner really deserve,” she said.

In a sign of what may come, Dell Canada won two awards last evening. The former direct-only PC vendor took home awards in Community Leadership and Marketing Innovations for SMB.

Zarek, a long time competitor of Dell, said Dell Canada has been working hard to be a part of the channel. “I tip my hat to them.”

Lora Gernon, director of the partner group at Microsoft Canada, said the Impact Awards recognizes success in the market place. “I think there is a place to recognize Dell, if they win, for their success.

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