The Global Technology Industry Association is expanding its efforts to connect channel professionals locally while giving members a larger role in charitable initiatives and responsible artificial intelligence development.
The programs, outlined during GTIA’s ChannelCon 2026 conference in San Diego, are part of the association’s broader strategy to combine member services with initiatives designed to benefit the technology industry and wider society.
“Even in the era of AI, trust, standards, and community remain the grounding elements of success,” GTIA CEO Dan Wensley said. “The initiatives announced this week will help the industry lead responsibly, create new opportunities for our members, and keep the IT channel at the center of helping businesses adopt and manage emerging technologies with confidence.”
Local chapters put GTIA members in control
GTIA is launching member-led local chapters that will give technology professionals more opportunities to meet, exchange knowledge and build partnerships between the association’s larger events.
Chapters are already underway in locations including Adelaide, Sydney, Auckland, Toronto, Arizona, Utrecht and Singapore.
During a press briefing, GTIA executives said 10 members can come together as “chapter champions” to establish a group. Chapters can cover a city, state, region or entire country, depending on the size and needs of the local membership.
“It’s GTIA funded, but it’s member-led,” Nancy Hammervik, GTIA’s channel chief, said during the briefing.
The association initially announced approximately 16 prospective chapters, but executives said interest had already pushed that number above 20 following additional requests during ChannelCon.
Chapters will also have considerable freedom to evolve or dissolve according to local demand. GTIA executives described the initiative as an organic model rather than a tightly governed chapter system.
Members guide GTIA’s charitable giving
GTIA is also using a portion of its endowment to support charitable organizations, with members playing a central role in deciding where the funding goes.
The association’s board established a charitable giving policy and committee following the sale of GTIA’s certification and training assets. Members can identify causes in their local communities and propose organizations for financial support.
Kelly Ricker, GTIA’s chief operating officer, said the model is intended to create a ripple effect across the association by helping members support causes that matter to their employees and communities.
Members do not need to serve on the charitable committee to participate. GTIA is encouraging companies to consult their employees, identify local priorities, and use their association membership to seek funding for those causes.
UN initiative could elevate channel-built AI
GTIA also announced its intention to collaborate with the United Nations’ AI for Good platform, which identifies and showcases technology solutions addressing global challenges.
The proposed partnership would support AI for Good Innovation Factory activities in the United States and United Kingdom. GTIA expects to hold three virtual or hybrid events where members and other technology companies can submit AI-based solutions aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Top solutions from the U.S. and U.K. programs would advance to the annual AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva.
GTIA said the initiative could give smaller MSPs and technology innovators access to an international platform they would be unlikely to reach independently. It could also give channel practitioners a voice in broader discussions about AI governance, ethics and responsible deployment.
The initiative remains under development, with GTIA and the UN still finalizing program dates and contractual details. GTIA executives said the association has cleared the UN’s due diligence process but intentionally characterized the announcement as an intention to collaborate until the remaining steps are completed.
For GTIA, the initiative links its community-building efforts with a larger goal: keeping solution providers involved as AI standards and use cases develop globally.