Sharp’s Laura Blackmer Honored As Industry’s Best Woman Executive For Second Consecutive Year

MAHWAH, N.J., Oct. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America (SIICA), a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation (SEC), is pleased to announce that Laura Blackmer, Senior Vice President, Sales, was awarded “Best Woman Executive” at the Frank Awards, The Cannata Report’s annual awards event. This is the second consecutive year Blackmer has received this distinction, which the publication introduced in 2015 to highlight excellence in business technology.  

“It’s a great privilege to receive this prestigious honor for the second straight year for doing what I love–building relationships with great people,” said Blackmer. “My job is so much easier and enjoyable because I have access to a great team of professionals who want to work together effectively to solve our customers’ most pressing business problems.”

Winners of the 2016 Frank Awards were determined by a survey of the independent dealer community. Blackmer accepted the award at the 31st Annual Awards & Charities Dinner at the Winchester Hotel, in Livingston, N.J. She was honored alongside other industry executives at the event.

“We initiated the Best Woman Executive award three years ago because women have long been overlooked in our industry,” said Frank G. Cannata, President and CEO, The Cannata Report. “The selection of Laura Blackmer for the second year in a row from our annual dealer survey more than confirms the tremendous contributions she has made to our industry. It is our pleasure and privilege to have presented this well-deserved award to Laura.”   
In addition to The Cannata Report’s recognition, earlier this year Blackmer was named to the prestigious 2016 Women of the Channel list by CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company. Those honorees were selected based on their professional accomplishments, expertise and dedication to the IT channel.

One of the company’s most dynamic leaders, Blackmer joined Sharp as Senior Vice President of Sales in 2013, making a formidable impact with her extensive channel and sales knowledge. She leads SIICA business sales teams for multifunction printers and professional displays. Blackmer has 28 years of experience in the industry, and prior to Sharp, held senior roles with top technology companies such as Intermec, Onforce and Hewlett-Packard.  

The Cannata Report Annual Awards & Charities Dinner raised $180,000 to benefit the Jacki Ritschel Memorial Endowment for Cancer Research and Treatment at Hackensack University Medical Center.