Avnet Technology Solutions, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. has announced that Lisa Friesenhahn received IBM Global Services’ Marguerite Butterworth Lifetime Achievement Award.

Friesenhahn, who serves as vice president of SMB solutions for Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, is only the second recipient of this award since its inception in 1997.The award is named in honor of Jack Henry’s Senior Vice President Marguerite Butterworth, who developed processes to assist IBM Global Services’ market expansion into the channel. It recognizes executives who have consistently demonstrated the highest levels of integrity, dedication and customer satisfaction.

“Throughout her career at Avnet, Lisa has dedicated herself to helping our suppliers and reseller business partners pursue new opportunities to accelerate their growth,” said Jeff Bawol, president, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. “Lisa’s business acumen and creativity have been a tremendous asset to our organization, and she has applied these skills to develop innovative processes and programs to increase channel efficiency.”

With 23 years of experience in the technology channel, Friesenhahn has led several strategic projects, which have significantly improved the efficiency of IBM Global Services’ channel and played a key factor in Avnet's being recognized as IBM Global Services’ number one global distributor eight times in the past 10 years. For example, Friesenhahn worked in conjunction with IBM’s Global Services team to develop an automated order processing system to decrease turnaround time, reduce errors, and improve customer satisfaction. She also created programs to provide consultation to partners to help them manage the complexity of solutions-based sales that include services and capture related renewal business opportunities, and programs that generate end-user demand on behalf of Avnet’s partners for service offerings.

“IBM Global Services’ Marguerite Butterworth Lifetime Achievement Award is an incredibly rare honor reserved for executives who have played significant roles in transforming our channel and the way we conduct business,” said Archie James, director of IBM Global Services’ channel services. “Lisa has been instrumental in helping us shape our product and services strategy for the channel, and she has been a driving force in creating programs that make it easier for our partners to do business and profitably target new market opportunities.”

Throughout her career at Avnet, Friesenhahn has held a number of key leadership positions, including serving as vice president of leasing, services and remarketing sales for Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. Friesenhahn was appointed to lead the organization’s SMB solutions group in September 2009. In this new position, Friesenhahn will develop Avnet’s SMB strategies, with responsibility for developing cost-effective programs to help resellers profitably grow in this market segment.

About Avnet Technology Solutions

Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. As a global technology sales and marketing organization, Avnet Technology Solutions has sales divisions focused on specific customer segments and a select line card strategy enabling an exceptional level of attention to the needs of its customers and suppliers. For fiscal year 2009, the group served customers in more than 30 countries and generated US $7.04 billion in annual revenue. The group’s Web site is www.ats.avnet.com.

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology in the world. Avnet accelerates its partners’ success by connecting the world’s leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 27, 2009, Avnet generated revenue of $16.23 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.