Top Independent Technology Distributor Sandler Partners’ 2026 National Summit Concludes with Awards Recognizing Top Industry Professionals and Organizations at its Closing Gala & Dinner.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Provider Channel Managers and a Channel Executive received recognition at the 2026 Sandler Partners National Summit in San Diego, California. This year’s event brought together more than 1,100 members of the Sandler Partners community for a mix of educational panels, a keynote, and sessions across the Technology, Sales, and Growth tracks. Attendees also connected with 65+ leading technology Providers in the Exhibit Hall, making it a week of both recognition and opportunity.

Sandler Partners congratulates the following award winners:

Channel Executive of the Year Award Recipient: 

Chad Townes, AT&T

National Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

Kevin Bednarz, GraniteStevie Heap, Comcast Business Patrick Cupp, CallTowerJennifer Rutherford, ZayoSarah Manley, AT&TBrett Harman, AT&TNikki Beck, FrontMatt Winterburn, Lumen

East Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

New England | Kyle Michaels, VonageNew York/New Jersey | Tom Mezzapella, Comcast Business Mid-Atlantic | Connor Cook, Comcast BusinessGeorgia & The Carolinas | Kristina Pagano, Five9Florida | Henry Cruz, Telesystem

Midwest Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

Great Lakes | Sarah Macdonald, Five9Central | Peter Gasparro, ZultysMidwest | Kirsten Bonnesen, AT&TMountain | Mark Merritt III, SpectrumMountain | Nicole Brungardt, Comcast BusinessPacific Northwest | Chris Risse, Comcast Business

Southwest Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

Southwest | Kelsey Laycock, TierPointSouthwest | Kaycee Mikeska , NHC

West Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

SoCal | Yvette Bratt, BroadvoiceNorCal | Brad Pepper, GTTAZ/NV/UT | Max Howell, NHC

“Channel Managers are often the first point of contact for our Partners,” says Managing Partner Alan Sandler. “What sets them apart is how much they care about the outcomes they help create. You see it in the extra effort, the collaboration, and the drive to find the right solution for every customer. This year’s winners work side by side with our Partners to build trust, solve problems, and make the experience better from start to finish. That’s what the Sandler Partners community is all about.”

This year’s National Summit also featured The Surfrider Foundation as Sandler Partners’ designated charity partner, with an on-site exhibit sharing their mission to protect the world’s oceans and coastlines—and ways for attendees to get involved through personal action and support.

About Sandler Partners
Sandler Partners helps empower its network of leading independent Sales Partners to deliver a comprehensive range of technology solutions to organizations worldwide, including Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Connectivity, Cloud, Colocation, Mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), and Continuity. Its community-focused approach enables Partners to identify the right solutions for customers quickly and objectively from a diverse portfolio of 220+ Providers. Partner sales agents, VARs, and MSPs gain access to an innovative suite of sales tools within the Sandler Portal—including SCOUT, Solutions Finder, Scout for Solutions, and the Marketing Center—several of which are AI-powered, all backed by a robust support network, dedicated Sales Engineering expertise, and rich marketing resources. Together, these tools and resources empower Partners to focus on what they do best: delivering quality, value, performance, innovative solutions, unmatched expertise, and exceptional service to their clients. Members of the Sandler Partners community also benefit from the industry’s strongest negotiated agreements and a dedicated team committed to ensuring commissions are accurately identified, tracked, and paid. For more information, visit www.sandlerpartners.com.

Sandler Partners – Media Contact

Tina S. Dyksterhouse

tina@sandlerpartners.com

310-861-2295

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New TMA Power Amplifiers, Rockford Fosgate App and Adventure Series RV speakers headline a wide-ranging slate of automotive, off-road and marine launches.

TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rockford Fosgate will bring a major slate of new audio products to the 2026 SEMA Show, led by its TMA Adaptive Power Series Amplifiers, the Rockford Fosgate app and the brand’s entry into purpose-built RV speakers with its new Adventure Series Speakers. The launches bring together powerful performance, simplified tuning and rugged, installation-focused design for life on the road, trail and water.

Power Redefined: TMA Adaptive Amplifiers
Leading the 2026 product introductions is the all-new TMA Adaptive Amplifier Series, engineered to redefine how power, performance, and control come together. Designed to adapt across automotive, marine, powersports, and other custom audio applications, TMA delivers unmatched versatility with the highest power-to-size density in Rockford Fosgate history. The lineup includes four models: the 600-watt TMA-600X4, 750-watt TMA-750X6, 1,000-watt TMA-1000X1, and 1,200-watt TMA-1200X5. Each combines powerful output with advanced adaptive technology, patented Constant Power 2.0™, and rugged IPX7-rated Element Ready™ construction to deliver exceptional performance across a wide range of installations and environments.

More than just amplification, TMA serves as the foundation of the Rockford Fosgate connected audio ecosystem. With integrated digital signal processing, Bluetooth® connectivity, and RF Link 2.0 technology, TMA amplifiers are designed to work together as one intelligent, expandable system. From a single-amplifier installation to a complex multi-amplifier setup, RF Link 2.0 allows users to connect up to four TMA amplifiers within a network of up to 16 compatible devices, simplifying system integration while providing the flexibility to expand as audio needs evolve.

At the center of the experience is the Rockford Fosgate app, putting advanced system tuning and control directly in the user’s hands. Through an intuitive smartphone interface, users can configure and optimize their system with precise control over gain, crossovers, time alignment, 32-band parametric EQ, and Punch EQ+. Guided C.L.E.A.N. 2.0 calibration and available vehicle-specific Load + Go Tunes further simplify setup, while connected diagnostics, saved presets, and firmware updates provide ongoing control and customization. Together, TMA, RF Link 2.0, and the Rockford Fosgate app introduce a new level of adaptability, scalability, and intelligent performance to the Rockford Fosgate audio experience.

Connected Sound: Rockford Fosgate App and RF Link 2.0
The app brings compatible Rockford Fosgate devices together in one interface for setup, personalization and ongoing system management. Users can access Load + Go vehicle-specific tunes on supported kits, save and recall presets, protect settings with a four-digit PIN, review supported system diagnostics and install compatible firmware updates. Available for iOS and Android, the app can manage an RF Link 2.0 network through a single Bluetooth Low Energy connection, without requiring an account for initial setup or tuning.

Powering that experience is RF Link 2.0, Rockford Fosgate’s new connected-audio network. It supports up to 16 compatible devices, including as many as four TMA amplifiers, and lets connected products communicate as one system. New bidirectional RF Link cables streamline installation by carrying data, power, ground and turn-on signals in a single connection. The DRLC-10 Digital Remote Level Controller expands physical control with a 40-step rotary interface, customizable RGB illumination and multiple mounting options.

Adventure Series Opens a New RV Speaker Category
Rockford Fosgate is also expanding into dedicated RV audio with its 6.5-inch Adventure Series speakers, purpose-built for the demands of recreational vehicles. Rather than adapting a conventional car speaker, the new design accounts for RV wall construction, exposed locations and the need for an integrated look inside and outside the coach.

Available in black or white, the speakers fit both 5.25-inch and 6.5-inch openings, with a shallow 1.25-inch mounting depth that minimizes installation challenges. A compression-style rear gasket helps seal against flat or corrugated surfaces, while the UV-stable frame and grille, Santoprene surround and Element Ready™ construction are engineered to handle moisture, dust, UV exposure and vibration. Each speaker pairs a 6.5-inch driver with a grille-integrated 1-inch tweeter and concealed crossover, delivering 50 watts RMS power handling and a clean, OEM-style appearance.

Additional SEMA Launches Span Off-Road, Marine and Automotive
New vehicle-specific Stage-6 systems bring TMA power and app-based tuning to select side-by-sides. The new Can-Am Maverick R Stage-6 system for select 2024-and-newer models is a 1,200-watt, eight-speaker package with dual 10-inch subwoofers, Color Optix™ lighting and Rockford Fosgate’s first aftermarket side-by-side front-door speaker pods. For select 2020-and-newer Polaris RZR PRO models with Ride Command, the RZR20PRORC-STG6 delivers a 1,200-watt, seven-speaker system with a 10-inch subwoofer and vehicle-specific integration.

For marine audio, the PMX-6BB hide-away digital media receiver provides independent dual-zone control and NMEA 2000 connectivity for compatible multifunction displays. The PMX-HTML MFD Controller adds an Ethernet-based interface for compatible HTML5 multifunction displays, bringing source selection, volume, playback, album artwork and audio settings to the vessel’s screen when paired with supported PMX source units.

Rounding out the introductions are updated Prime coaxial and Prime component speaker families. With 50-watt RMS power handling and installation-friendly designs, the lineups offer straightforward ways to upgrade everyday vehicle audio, including vehicle-friendly coaxial mounting and flexible placement of separate component tweeters.

“We’re not just launching new products. We’re building a connected Rockford Fosgate ecosystem that redefines how customers experience audio,” said Zach Luke, President, Rockford Fosgate. “By bringing together powerful technology, intuitive app-based control, and expansion into exciting new categories like RV audio, we’re creating more ways for people to experience Rockford Fosgate performance. This is about pushing beyond traditional boundaries, and delivering an experience that grows with our customers, wherever their adventure takes them”

For more information visit: rockfordfosgate.com or visit an authorized dealer.

About Rockford Fosgate
Setting the standard for excellence in the audio industry, Rockford Corporation markets high-performance audio systems under the brand Rockford Fosgate® for the mobile, marine, motorsport, and motorcycle audio aftermarket and OEM market. Headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., Rockford Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Patrick Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: PATK).

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Recognition based on LeapXpert’s Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute

NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LeapXpert, the leader in Governed Communication Intelligence, today announced it has been named a Visionary in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Digital Communications Governance and Archiving Solutions, its third consecutive year in the report.

“Customers moved to consumer messaging apps long before most firms had a policy in place, and a memo was never going to move them back,” said Dima Gutzeit, Founder and CEO of LeapXpert. “We built governance around those conversations so employees keep working where clients are and the enterprise keeps a record it can defend. That was the starting point. Today every conversation on our platform is captured, fully governed, and can be understood in real time, so a client interaction becomes intelligence the business can act on, not just a record it stores. We believe being named in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for the third consecutive year reflects how far the category, and LeapXpert, have moved from archiving conversations toward making them useful.

A Year of Building

Since the last report, LeapXpert has:

Launched version 3.0 of its platform in December 2025, adding LeapXpert Signals and Communication Workflows.Partnered with Cisco to extend Webex beyond internal collaboration into governed client messaging on their channel of choice,Raised $180 million in growth funding from Riverwood Capital.Partnered with Knox Systems for FedRAMP certification, and with Carahsoft to expand in the public sector.Named in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 for a second year running.

“Every enterprise we work with has the same problem in a different uniform: the most important conversations with clients are happening on channels the business couldn’t see,” said Avi Pardo, Co-founder and CBO of LeapXpert. “Once those conversations are governed and retained, they become the richest dataset a company owns. Who’s engaged, what was promised, where a relationship is cooling, what the market is telling your front line before it shows up in a report. Compliance gets you in the door. The reason a bank, an agency, and a Fortune 500 manufacturer stay is that they’re now running the business on conversations they used to lose. Expanding our work with Microsoft and Meta, and partnering with Cisco, and Carahsoft means more of them get to that point faster.”

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Digital Communications Governance and Archiving Solutions, Michael Hoeck, Rizvan Hussain, and Apurva Singh, October 29, 2026.

Gartner and Magic Quadrant are trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. This graphic was published by Gartner, Inc. as part of a larger research document and should be evaluated in the context of the entire document. The Gartner document is available upon request from LeapXpert. Gartner does not endorse any company, vendor, product or service depicted in its publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s business and technology insights organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this publication, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About LeapXpert

LeapXpert is the leader in Governed Communication Intelligence. The LeapXpert Communications Platform brings enterprise-grade governance to the consumer messaging channels employees and clients already use. Every conversation is captured, governed, and understood in real time, turning client interactions into intelligence businesses can act on. Hundreds of the world’s most demanding enterprises across financial services, government, and the Forbes Global 2000 rely on LeapXpert daily. For more information, visit LeapXpert.com.

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SOURCE LeapXpert