Today is Data Innovation Day, an annual event held on May 11 to celebrate the pivotal role of data in driving innovation and growth in business, government, and society. It is a day we recognize data professionals’ achievements and raise awareness about data innovation’s crucial role in shaping the modern world.
As we commemorate Data Innovation Day, Robert Renzoni, Director of Technical Sales, Federal at Hammerspace, the high-performance data platform for AI, shares his unique perspective on its significance to the U.S Federal Government and why mobilizing data is the key to empowering the future of AI and government modernization:
“Every year, Data Innovation Day invites us to reflect on how data shapes our world—and to reimagine how we manage, access, and use it to drive societal progress. The celebration is more than symbolic for government leaders, federal system integrators, and IT modernization strategists. It’s a call to action.
As artificial intelligence and machine learning have become central to national security, public services, and policy execution, the ability to mobilize and share data securely and efficiently is now a strategic imperative. But there’s a challenge: most federal agencies are still grappling with legacy IT systems not built for today’s distributed, data-intensive demands.
At the heart of modernization lies a fundamental question: Can data be moved as fast as the mission requires?
AI Is Starving Without the Right Data Infrastructure
AI doesn’t just need data —it requires the correct data in the right place and time. Whether it’s training large language models, performing real-time inference at the edge, or deploying predictive analytics for public health or defense, AI workloads demand:
- High-performance access to diverse, often siloed data sources
- Rapid, policy-based orchestration of data across hybrid and multi-cloud environments
- Data provenance, governance, and compliance in every step of the pipeline
Yet federal data often resides in legacy storage systems, scattered across geographically separated locations, air-gapped environments, and cloud enclaves. This fragmentation makes it incredibly difficult, sometimes impossible, for agencies to leverage AI’s potential fully.
Data Innovation Is More Than a Buzzword—It’s a Modernization Mandate
Data Innovation Day isn’t just about technology—it’s about creating the conditions for innovation to flourish. In government, that means breaking down systemic data barriers to support faster, smarter, and more secure decision-making.
Data mobilization—the ability to move and access data transparently across environments—is no longer a “nice to have.” It is a foundational requirement for AI-readiness and a cornerstone of initiatives like:
- Executive Order 14110 on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development of AI
- Federal Data Strategy and the Federal Data Maturity Model
- The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Modernization Goals
- Zero Trust Architecture mandates, which require dynamic access and control
On this Data Innovation Day, we applaud bold thinkers who push boundaries and incorporate cutting-edge technology to advance their data strategies. While AI, hybrid cloud, and edge computing constantly improve, one fact remains unchanged: true innovation relies on providing optimized access to data.”
Tanya Steele and Samara Halterman of Myriad360 Spotlighted on the 2025 Women of the Channel Power 80 Solution Provider List
Posted in Commentary with tags Myriad360 on May 12, 2025 by itnerdMyriad36 proudly announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has recognized Tanya Steele, Chief Experience Officer, and Samara Halterman, Chief Marketing Officer, as two of the 2025 Women of the Channel Power 80 Solution Provider list. This prestigious honor highlights an elite subset of influential solution provider leaders chosen from the CRN® 2025 Women of the Channel list.
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 2025 Women of the Channel honorees are innovative and strategic leaders committed to supporting the success of their partners and clients.
The annual Power 80 Solution Provider list honors the most influential women in leadership at some of the country’s most prominent IT integrators, managed service providers, value-added resellers and consultants for their channel advocacy and dedication to helping their clients and technology partners thrive.
This year CRN recognized Tanya Steele, Chief Experience Officer, and Samara Halterman, Chief Marketing Officer, of Myriad360.
Tanya has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing the company’s channel business through strategic innovation and operational excellence. As a seasoned executive leading the Client Experience Organization, she oversees delivery engineers, pre-sales engineers, project management, account management, sales operations, and service operations teams, driving remarkable results including an 80% improvement in services utilization over the past year.
Under Tanya’s leadership, Myriad360 achieved an impressive Net Promoter Score of 89 while establishing a dedicated Service Operations department that helped to reduce order error rates by over 60%. Her client-first approach has transformed the company’s speed-to-quote capabilities and pricing strategies, creating scalable processes that support growing channel demands. Tanya’s commitment to delivering exceptional client outcomes while fostering team collaboration positions Myriad360 as a trusted partner providing comprehensive 360-degree technology solutions.
Samara Halterman, Chief Marketing Officer at Myriad360, has been recognized for her transformative impact on the company’s channel strategy. A six-time CRN Women of the Channel honoree (2018-2023), Samara has leveraged her extensive experience across global solution providers to architect innovative co-marketing frameworks that empower partners, expand pipeline opportunities, and enhance revenue growth. Her leadership has revolutionized Myriad360’s partner engagement framework while implementing comprehensive enablement programs that accelerate market readiness.
Drawing from her impressive track record, including delivering double digit ROI at A10 Networks and leading a world class global team across 15 countries at Pure Storage, Samara combines strategic vision with tactical execution to drive measurable business outcomes. Her human-centered approach balances client-first obsession with pragmatic innovation, while her dedication to mentoring emerging female leaders strengthens both Myriad360’s culture and the broader channel ecosystem. Under her guidance, Myriad360 is focused on deepening relationships with strategic partners, developing joint solutions, and expanding national presence to better serve enterprise clients across new territories.
The 2025 Women of the Channel will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine, with online coverage beginning May 12 at www.CRN.com/WOTC.
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