CRN 2024 Women of the Channel List Recognizes Five Critical Start Channel Executives

PLANO,TX, May 14, 2024 – Today, Critical Start, a leading provider of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) cybersecurity solutions and pioneer of Managed Cyber Risk Reduction (MCRR), announced that five of its channel leaders have been named to CRN’s Women of the Channel List for 2024: Allie Stevens, senior director of channel and field Marketing, Meredith Dishman, director of channels, Kate Darby, channel and field marketing manager, Katie Pollaro, senior channel marketing manager, and Victoria Milligan, channel and field marketing manager – East. 

This annual list by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, honors outstanding women from vendor, distributor and solution provider organizations whose remarkable contributions and leadership have made a significant impact on the technology industry. The inclusion of these accomplished female executives further demonstrates Critical Start’s commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech community.   

“We are honored to have multiple female leaders named to CRN’s Women of the Channel list for 2024 as it serves as a testament to the hard work and innovation these women bring to Critical Start and our customers,” said Rob Davis, CEO, and founder of Critical Start. “It is vital that we never stop celebrating these individuals whose dedication and innovative thinking is driving industry growth.”    

Stevens manages a team of professionals who define Critical Start’s channel and field marketing strategy across North America. Over the past year, she has helped advance the company’s channel business by crafting and implementing a robust Partner Journey framework for their channel marketing programs. 

Dishman holds responsibility for channel activities as the Director of Channels, South Central, at Critical Start. With over 17 years of experience, she has honed her expertise in cybersecurity distribution, culminating in her pivotal role at Critical Start since 2021. Meredith focuses on nurturing and empowering channel partners across the South-Central US market, ensuring sustained growth and success. 

Darby plays a key role in shaping the company’s channel strategy and uses marketing activities to connect with potential customers, aiming to impact the pipeline and boost revenue. She collaborated with Critical Start’s focus partners, driving the creation and execution of targeted marketing plans for the central region, and through her efforts, they have successfully cultivated new business and established impactful connections with clients. 

Pollaro is a seasoned marketing and channel professional and is instrumental in shaping marketing strategies aimed at boosting partner mindshare and engagement to drive pipeline growth. She has led the transformation of Critical Start’s partner portal, emphasizing strategic thinking and a focus on improving the user experience. Her work fosters collaboration among diverse teams and engages external stakeholders. 

Milligan is responsible for the market strategy for the Eastern region including all of Canada, with her goals being to increase brand awareness, create events with Critical Start’s partner community along with company hosted events to increase pipeline and customer opportunities. This year, she has managed the way prospects see and understand Critical Start by organizing and running over 25 unique events. 

The honorees of CRN’s 2024 Women of the Channel list bring a wealth of creativity, strategic thinking, and leadership to their respective roles and responsibilities. Whether in vendor, distributor, or solution provider organizations, these exceptional women are using their unique talents to drive success for their partners and customers. CRN’s recognition of these outstanding leaders is a testament to their unwavering dedication and commitment to achieving channel excellence and their vital contributions to the technology industry.  

The 2024 Women of the Channel list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine, with online coverage starting May 13 at crn.com/wotc. 

About Critical Start 

Organizations today face the challenge of aligning their cyber protection measures with their risk appetite. CRITICALSTART®, a pioneer of the industry’s first Managed Cyber Risk Reduction solutions, provides holistic cyber risk monitoring via its Cyber Operations Risk & Response™ platform, paired with a human-led risk and security operations team, combined with over 8 years of award-winning Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services. By continuously monitoring and mitigating cyber risks, Critical Start enables businesses to proactively protect their critical assets with a measurable ROI. The company’s platform provides maturity assessments, peer benchmarking, posture and event analytics, and response capabilities. Its risk and security operations team evaluates and actions threats, risks, vulnerabilities, and performs comprehensive threat intelligence research. Critical Start enables organizations to achieve the highest level of cyber risk reduction for every dollar invested, allowing them to confidently reach their desired levels of risk tolerance. 

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About The Channel Company 

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end-users. Backed by over 40 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com  

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