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Exclusive Networks Spotlighted on the 2026 Women of the Channel List

Sheridan Haider

04 May 2026

CRN Spotlights Exclusive Networks North America on the 2026 Women of the Channel List

Exclusive Networks proudly announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has recognized Ruth Parker, Carrie Hopkins, Heather Allen, Cristina Hibbs, and Aida Jaganjac on the prestigious Women of the Channel list for 2026.

This annual CRN list celebrates women from vendors, distributors, solution providers and other channel-focused organizations who make a positive difference in the IT ecosystem. The CRN 2026 Women of the Channel honorees are innovative and strategic leaders committed to advancing channel excellence and supporting the success of their partners and customers.

“It’s a privilege to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these women who are driving meaningful change across the IT channel,” said Jennifer Follett, VP of U.S. Content and Executive Editor, CRN at The Channel Company. “Each honoree has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to bold, innovative strategies that fuel transformation, growth, and success for their organizations and the broader channel. We’re proud to recognize their impact and look forward to seeing how they continue to shape the future of our industry.”

Please join us in recognizing and congratulating Ruth, Carrie, Heather, Cristina, and Aida for their contributions to the channel and be sure to read more about their accomplishments and fun facts on the CRN website:

Ruth Parker, Sr. Director,
Vendor Management &
Business Development,
View on CRN.com >

Ruth Parker is a dynamic business leader with extensive expertise in strategic business development, vendor alliances and sales leadership. With a proven track record of driving significant revenue growth and building high-performing teams, Ruth excels at fostering strong alliances with OEMs and partners to deliver measurable results. She is highly skilled in P&L management, process optimization and executing initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and market expansion. Ruth is deeply passionate about identifying and mentoring new talent empowering individuals to reach their full potential while building resilient and collaborative teams. Her commitment to leadership development and talent cultivation has consistently driven innovation and long-term success within her organizations. Combining strategic vision with a hands-on approach, Ruth leverages her expertise to create sustainable growth and drive impactful business outcomes.

Carrie Hopkins, Sr. Director, Business Development and Sales, Canada
View on CRN.com

With more than 20 years of experience in the IT industry, Carrie Hopkins has proven her ability to drive growth and innovation in the security marketplace. From distribution to system integration to MSPs, to vendors and SaaS solutions, Carrie has found ways to exceed expectations and build profitable playbooks for MSPs in the channel. At Exclusive Networks, she has accelerated efforts throughout Canada to support managed service providers with solutions, services, and training opportunities as we continue to grow our line card and presence as a cybersecurity expert across North America.

Heather Allen, Sr. Director,
Vendor Management,
Marketing
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Heather Allen is an accomplished senior executive with more than two decades of experience shaping channel success and driving transformative growth in the technology sector. Known for her ability to turn vision into execution, Heather has led strategic initiatives that redefine vendor partnerships, accelerate revenue, and set new standards for go-to-market excellence across cybersecurity, networking, and cloud technologies. As Senior Director of Vendor Management and Marketing, Heather spearheads programs that scale North American vendor relationships, launch joint GTM strategies, and deliver integrated marketing campaigns that generate measurable pipeline impact. Her leadership extends beyond execution -- she champions account-based marketing (ABM) and persona-driven strategies that align sales and marketing, optimize buyer engagement, and improve conversion throughout the customer journey. Recognized by CRN's Power 100 and multiple Women in the Channel awards, Heather is widely regarded as a catalyst for change and a mentor who inspires teams to exceed expectations. Her expertise in executive strategy, demand generation, and channel development positions her as a trusted advisor and a model for success in an evolving marketplace. Heather's commitment to innovation and empowerment continues to pave the way for future leaders in the channel.

Cristina Hibbs, Regional Sales Manager, Cloudrise, An Exclusive Networks Company
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Cristina Hibbs is a natural born salesperson with over twenty years of experience, who has found success by being genuine and reliable. Her high energy and positive attitude make her colleagues, partners and customers want to work with her and feel at ease in doing so. Her positive energy is contagious and memorable making relationship building in the channel appear effortless.

Aida Jaganjac, Partnership
Manager, Cloudrise, An
Exclusive Networks Company
View on CRN.com >

Aida Jaganjac is a Strategic Partner Manager at Cloudrise with 8+ years of experience in channel and partner management across cybersecurity and technology. I specialize in building trusted partner relationships, driving focused services through distribution, and creating collaborative GTM motions that deliver real outcomes. Passionate about connecting people, strategy, and execution to help partners grow together.

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