BOSTON – May 4, 2026 — NWN, the leading AI powered‑ technology solutions provider, proudly announced today that CRN^®, a brand of The Channel Company, has recognized Gracen Sessoms, Business Reporting Analyst, and Tawni Hooker-East,  Supervisor, Inside Account Manager, 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.  
 
Gracen Sessoms is an emerging channel leader at NWN who drives measurable impact through data-driven insights, reporting automation, and vendor analysis support for the Operations organization. In her role, she partners with sales, procurement, and leadership teams to improve visibility and accuracy across channel and vendor processes, including direct participation in bid evaluations and vendor selection for nine key partners. Her work has helped automate forecasting and reporting workflows, eliminating manual efforts and saving an estimated 95 hours per week while enabling faster, more informed channel decisions. Through her analytical rigor and process improvements, Gracen strengthens vendor alignment, supports ethical partner engagement, and contributes to scalable channel growth. 

Tawni Hooker-East is a seasoned channel leader with nearly 20 years of IT channel experience and a critical leadership role within NWN Federal. As Supervisor of the Federal Inside Account Manager team, she guides her team through complex federal contract environments while serving as a trusted partner to manufacturers and internal stakeholders. Over the past year, Tawni successfully led her team through a major tier-level shift with NWN’s largest manufacturing partner, maintained deal momentum across 90% of active opportunities, and strengthened relationships with key federal agencies through new contract vehicles and Blanket Ordering Agreements. Her expertise in federal compliance, partner strategy, and talent development directly drives channel growth, deal acceleration, and long-term customer trust. 

“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.” 

The 2026 Women of the Channel will be featured online beginning May 4 at crn.com/wotc.