ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bluum, an edtech solutions provider, is proud to share that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named five Bluum leaders as finalists across multiple categories of the 2026 CRN Women of the Year Awards: Kerry Shaw, chief human resources officer, as a finalist for Executive Mentor of the Year; Ashley Simms, sales director, as a finalist for Channel Innovator of the Year – Solution Provider; Jessica Strandquest, director of marketing, as a finalist for Marketing Executive of the Year – Solution Provider; Meghan Brown, VP of operations, as a finalist for Rising Star of the Year – Solution Provider; and Sarah Brown, VP of finance, as a finalist for Hidden Gem of the Year – Solution Provider.

Five Bluum Women Leaders Named Finalists for the 2026 CRN Women of the Year Awards

This honor recognizes each of their individual contributions to channel innovation and excellence, spanning people leadership, sales growth, brand strategy, operations, and finance.

Kerry Shaw has spent more than two decades building people-first cultures that help organizations and their teams thrive. As Bluum’s CHRO, she has led the company’s culture work while mentoring and advocating for women navigating career transitions, helping them build the confidence and visibility to lead.

Ashley Simms has spent more than 16 years building trust across the channel, turning that trust into new business and stronger customer relationships. Her leadership this past year earned the confidence of one of Bluum’s most mature teams, helping customers embrace solutions they had never tried before.

Jessica Strandquest has spent more than a decade sharpening the connection between strategy, sales, and customer experience. As Bluum’s marketing director, she has reshaped the company’s brand and digital presence, driving more than 300% year-over-year growth in AI-driven search traffic.

Meghan Brown has brought 17 years of operations expertise into a role she stepped into just over a year ago. As Bluum’s VP of operations, she has unified teams that once worked in silos, building the trust and structure needed to scale the business.

Sarah Brown has spent her career strengthening the financial foundation of the organizations she serves. As Bluum’s VP of finance, she has transformed the finance function into a strategic partner for the business, improving reporting, controls, and cross-team alignment along the way.

This is the fourth annual CRN Women of the Year Awards, which spotlight extraordinary women, companies, and allies who demonstrate dedication to advancing the IT industry through their leadership and initiatives each day.

“Having five finalists recognized for the CRN Women of the Year Awards speaks to the incredible talent we have here at Bluum,” said Robert Gag, chief commercial officer at Bluum. “Kerry Shaw, Ashley Simms, Jessica Strandquest, Meghan Brown, and Sarah Brown are remarkable leaders who live our values, elevate everyone around them, and show up for our people, our partners, and our customers every single day.”

“The finalists for the CRN Women of the Year Awards represent some of the most accomplished and influential leaders across the IT channel,” said Jennifer Follett, VP of U.S. content and executive editor at CRN, The Channel Company. “Their accomplishments reflect the talent, determination, and forward-thinking approach that continue to strengthen our industry. We are honored to recognize their achievements and celebrate the meaningful impact they are making throughout the industry.”

The winners of the Women of the Year Awards will be announced at the Awards Gala on Dec. 8, 2026 in New York City. The Women of the Year Awards Finalists can be viewed online at www.crn.com/women-of-the-year.

About Bluum
Our mission is to improve learning and make it more accessible. By empowering educators and students with the right technology, we’re creating a future where every child is equipped with the knowledge to reach their highest potential. Learn more at bluum.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.

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.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/214ebfec-2f26-48ca-a2d7-0537031d6333


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