NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 17, 2025--
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions and Managed IT Services, announces today its recognition on the 2025 Tech Elite 250 List by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company. This win comes as their second CRN Award win of the year, following placement on the 2025 CRN MSP 500 list earlier this year.
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This annual list highlights solution providers based in the U.S. and Canada that are committed to excellence and distinguish themselves by attaining top-tier certifications and specializations from leading technology vendors in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), infrastructure, cloud, and security.
To support customers through the growing complexities of IT and the rise of cutting-edge technologies like AI, the solution providers on this list uphold rigorous levels of training and certification from strategic IT vendors, often aiming for the pinnacle tiers within these vendors' partner programs. Whether they are strategic service providers, systems integrators, managed service providers, or value-added resellers, these elite solution providers are committed to their clients’ success.
Over the past year, Align Managed Services has continued to demonstrate its dedication to providing best in class managed services and cybersecurity solutions to its clients. From the addition of two new features to Align Guardian, its Managed Detection and Response (MDR) tool, to the implementation of Microsoft Copilot 365 as an integral part of its Managed Services offering, these constant improvements ensure that clients of Align Managed Services have all the tools they need for their businesses to thrive.
“We are honored to once again be recognized on the CRN Tech Elite 250 list,” says Vinod Paul, President of Align Managed Services. “At Align, we remain committed to investing in both our people and our solutions to deliver best-in-class managed services and cybersecurity. Over the past year, we have made significant enhancements to our Managed Threat Protection and SOC services, reinforcing our leadership in defending clients against an ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.”
"Congratulations to the solution providers on CRN’s Tech Elite 250 for this recognition of their dedication to achieving top-level certifications and comprehensive proficiency in these critical technologies," said Jennifer Follett, VP, U.S. Content, and Executive Editor of CRN at The Channel Company. "These companies are committed to expanding their expertise so they can consistently deliver outstanding IT solutions that help their customers thrive."
Coverage of the Tech Elite 250 will be featured in the April issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/techelite250 beginning March 17.
About Align
Align is a premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions. For over 37 years, leading firms worldwide have relied on Align to guide them through IT challenges, delivering complete, secure solutions for business change and growth. Align is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and has offices in New York City, London, Virginia, Arizona, New Jersey, Chicago, San Francisco, Salt Lake City & Portland. Learn more at www.align.com.
About The Channel Company:
The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world's top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers, and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com.
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© 2025 The Channel Company, Inc. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
Align Named to the Prestigious CRN Tech Elite 250 for 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's proposed White House ballroom is “ugly,” “grossly out of scale” and a “gold gilded edifice to one man's ego,” according to members of the public who oppose the project and got a chance to speak their minds Thursday to a federal panel that's reviewing it.
Others characterized the project as an “invitation for corruption” because Trump said he'll pay for it with money donated by rich people and corporations, some of which do business with the federal government. And a few people suggested to the National Capital Planning Commission that the Republican president build the ballroom underground if he wants one so badly.
The public's overwhelmingly negative assessment appeared to be a minor bump in the road for Trump's plan for a new 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-meter) addition, including a ballroom, on the east side of the White House. Trump had the East Wing demolished in October.
The commissioners on the panel — one of two that play a role in advancing the project — showed little sign that their approval process could be delayed. A final vote was set for April 2.
A separate federal panel, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, has already signed off on the project while the National Trust for Historic Preservation lost its federal court bid to force the White House to temporarily halt the construction.
A total of 31 people offered their views at the commission’s meeting Thursday, but only one panel member spoke up during the session, which went on for more than two hours — and those inquiries went to a duo that beamed into the online session from Caracas, Venezuela, to discuss an alternative to the ballroom. They did not praise or condemn Trump’s plan.
“It's ugly. It's just ugly. It's too much,” said Kye Rowan, who described herself as an “ordinary citizen” with no architectural background.
Other speakers asked the commission to properly deliberate before making a decision, or openly wondered if the commissioners would treat their comments seriously.
“I urge you to send this back to the drawing board,” said Diane Marlin, who recently retired as mayor of Urbana, Illinois. “Take the time to get this right.”
Concerns also were raised about Trump's plan to pay the estimated $400 million construction cost with money donated by wealthy people and corporations, many of whom have business before the government. Will Scharf, a top White House aide named by Trump to chair the commission, noted that such concerns were beyond the panel's scope.
Abigail Bellows, senior policy director for anti-corruption and accountability at Common Cause, a nonpartisan grassroots group, called the arrangement a “golden invitation for corruption.”
The lone voice in support of the project invoked Trump's background in construction, saying the public should be “thankful and blessed” that he decided to build the ballroom.
“I think this is great that our president is giving us a gift, this incredible ballroom that is much needed, especially for his security and allowing him to have a place that he can have people come together and have it safe,” said Tara Brown.
Jon Golinger, an attorney who represented Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, used his testimony to challenge the credentials of Scharf and two other White House officials Trump appointed to the commission last year. Presidents get to name three of the 12 commission members.
Golinger said only people with city or regional planning experience should serve and he asserted that Trump put Scharf, White House deputy chief of staff James Blair and Stuart Levenbach, the government's chief statistician, on the panel to “rubber stamp” his pet projects.
He called on all three to recuse themselves from voting on the ballroom and to resign from the commission.
Scharf responded by directly telling Golinger, “you're just completely wrong.” Scharf, an attorney, cited his experience in real estate law and his past work for the Missouri governor. He said he was involved in a rewrite of the state's historic preservation tax credit program and served on state boards dealing with housing and development.
“So to say that I lack the credentials to serve on this commission is, frankly, insulting,” Scharf said.
Rebecca Miller, executive director of the DC Preservation League, criticized Trump's proposal as “disproportionately large and impersonal” and said he can use the Mellon Auditorium, which is owned by the federal government on Constitution Avenue a few blocks away from the White House. The auditorium has a meeting room that can seat 2,500 people, according to a government website. Trump delivered remarks there at an event in January.
More than 100 people had signed up to comment at Thursday's meeting, which Scharf said was being conducted online to ease that process. But about two-thirds of the people didn't show up. Scharf initially had said he expected the public comment session to extend into Friday.
The panel also received written comments submitted by more than 35,000 people, according to the commission, with the majority opposed to Trump's plans.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a private, nonprofit group, asked a federal judge to temporarily halt construction until the White House submitted the plans both to federal panels and to Congress for approval, and allowed the public to comment.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon rejected the request last week, and the trust has said it plans to file an amended lawsuit.
President Donald Trump speaks about the new ballroom construction before a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington, where the East Wing once stood. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
The White House is viewed from the Old Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
The White House and the West Wing is seen Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
The White House, including the West Wing and construction of the new ballroom, is seen from the Old Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
