CRN Honors Park Place Technologies’ David Gonzalez and Jean Plank as 2024 Inclusive Channel Leaders

CLEVELAND, July 8, 2024– — Park Place Technologies, the leading global data center and networking optimization firm, is honored to announce that Park Place’s very own David Gonzalez, Director of Partner Sales, and Jean Plank, Director of Customer Success, have been named by CRN® as 2024 Inclusive Channel Leaders.

In its second year, CRN’s Inclusive Channel Leader list recognizes executives from vendor, distributor, and solution provider organizations who are dedicated to making a positive impact across the IT channel through inclusive leadership.

The CRN 2024 Inclusive Channel Leaders honorees are passionate about advancing equity and diversity within their organizations, the channel, and across the greater technology industry. With this recognition, CRN highlights these executives for their desire to foster inclusion and belonging.

David Gonzalez:
Since 2011, Gonzalez has amassed a wealth of experience in the IT industry, spending 13 years at CDW in diverse roles ranging from Account Manager to Sales Operations Supervisor. Joining Park Place Technologies in 2016, he initially served as a Field Channel Representative before advancing to a managerial position within the CDW Tier 1 Team. In 2022, his exceptional leadership skills led to his promotion to Director, overseeing Tier 1 operations with both CDW and SHI, marking a significant milestone in his career trajectory.
“I am truly humbled to be recognized on CRN’s prestigious Inclusive Channel Leaders list,” shared Gonzalez, Director, Partner Sales at Park Place Technologies. “It’s a great honor to be acknowledged among other leaders who share the same values, vision, and passion for fostering collaborative teams. This recognition is a testament to my team, whose trust and belief in cultivating inclusiveness alongside me have made this possible. It also acknowledges the fellow leaders I engage with who drive diversity initiatives forward.”
“To me, inclusive leadership means intentionally leading with a growth mindset, fostering an environment that allows for different perspectives and ideas,” Gonzalez continued. “Creating a space where people feel valued, respected, and that every member on the team has an impact. An inclusive leader craves diversity while leading with empathy, a sense of community, and compassion without bias. They are self-aware of personal biases, inviting healthy dialog from a team consisting of varying viewpoints. And they empower others to be creative and innovative to help drive individual and team development.”

Jean Plank:
During Plank’s tenure at Park Place Technologies, she has held various positions within the Sales organization and received several internal awards including Channel Operations Team Lead and President’s Club. She has also been honored with several other accolades from CRN over the past few years, including 2023 and 2022 Women of the Channel, 2021 Rising Female Star of the IT Channel, and Women of the Week. In her current role, Plank leads the Customer Success department for North America. Her team focuses on ensuring that partners and customers achieve their desired outcomes and derive maximum value from Park Place’s products or services; this involves proactively managing partner and customer relationships, understanding their needs and goals, providing ongoing support and guidance, and addressing any issues or challenges they encounter. Plank is a 20+ year veteran of the United States Marine Corp, serving her country in multiple capacities and leadership roles during her time on active duty. She is the President of Park Place’s veteran resource group, known as the Veteran Engagement Team (VET). Plank is also the Chairwoman for Park Place’s Women in Tech business resource group, and a dedicated mentor for several women within the Park Place organization.

“Receiving the Inclusive Channel Leaders award is a testament to our commitment to diversity and inclusion, reflecting our dedication to creating an environment where every voice is heard and valued,” shared Plank. “It honors our organization’s efforts to build inclusive channels that empower and support diverse communities, driving innovation and growth through unity.”

“Inclusive leadership is vital for organizational success, fostering innovation, creativity, and improved decision-making,” Plank continued. “Leaders who prioritize inclusivity create environments where diverse perspectives contribute to enhanced problem-solving. This approach boosts employee engagement, job satisfaction, and organizational agility. Inclusive leadership is key to attracting and retaining top talent, strengthening an organization’s reputation, and aligning with ethical standards. Overall, it establishes a positive workplace culture that not only embraces diversity but also drives innovation and long-term organizational success.”

“We are proud to recognize this year’s honorees for their commitment to inclusivity across the channel. With their transparent leadership, they help create welcoming environments where employees can bring their best selves to work to help their business succeed,” said Jennifer Follett, VP, U.S. Content, and Executive Editor, CRN, The Channel Company. “Congratulations to these leaders for their deep dedication to bringing greater equity to the channel. We look forward to learning from their inclusive leadership and seeing what they achieve next.”

The 2024 Inclusive Channel Leaders honor serves as a testament to Gonzalez’s and Plank’s exemplary leadership and commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the technology landscape. Park Place Technologies remains dedicated to advancing these very same principles and building a more inclusive industry where everyone can thrive.

The 2024 Inclusive Channel Leaders list will be featured in the August issue of CRN Magazine, with online coverage starting July 8 at www.CRN.com/Inclusive-Leaders.

About Park Place Technologies
Park Place Technologies is a global data center and networking optimization firm. We help more than 21,000 clients optimize data center budgets, productivity, performance, and sustainability so they can think bigger – and act faster. From procurement to decommissioning, our comprehensive portfolio of services and products helps IT teams optimize IT lifecycle management. This frees time and spend so they can focus on transforming their businesses for the future.

Park Place’s industry-leading and award-winning services portfolio includes Park Place Hardware Maintenance™, Park Place Professional Services™, ParkView Managed Services™, Entuity Software ™ and Curvature Hardware sales. For more information, visit ugif.0531-it.com. Park Place is a portfolio company of Charlesbank Capital Partners and GTCR.

Park Place Technologies Media Contact

Michael Miller | Director of Global Communications
Main 877-778-8707 | Direct 440-991-5509