What were solution providers talking about with CRN last week? There was a lot to talk about, starting with a big decision by Dell EMC that reaffirmed the company's commitment to its channel.

Michael Tanenhaus (pictured), CEO of Dell EMC partner Mavenspire, of Annapolis, Md., after Dell EMC Channel Chief John Byrne fired an unspecified number of salespeople who allegedly violated deal registration, emphasizing the company's commitment to the channel.

"Having leadership in place that is willing to hold the line is the only way to make a culture change. You have leadership in place that is absolutely committed, and a workforce that has different levels of commitment. When you test somebody's resolve, you're waiting to see if they'll react, so it's interesting to see it."