Storage Networking's Heaviest Hitters

There will never be a World Series of Storage, or even a Storage All-Star Game. But if we had to assemble a team of the biggest hitters in the industry, we're confident this group could go head-to-head with anybody else out there and come out well ahead.

First, we need to clarify that this isn't our list of top celebrities in storage. What you see in this article is a list (in alphabetical order, by the way) of professionals we consider to be top influencers. To qualify, we required them to have the following:

• A track record of influencing the storage networking market
• Current influence with storage consumers, suppliers, pundits, and other industry constituents
• Prospects for continuing to influence the above in the future, through their work, words, and actions

As in years gone by, we have tried for a list that spans the various industry sectors – customer, supplier, analyst, and so forth.

In breaking our "Top Ten" template, we've found a figure that's a better fit. Nine is all you need to form a ball club. What better metaphor for the spunky industry that's gone from being the backend to the backbone of the enterprise data center market?

If we've missed a few, or if someone needs to be sent down to the minors, let us know. Without further ado, we present you with our list of storage notables. Enjoy – and swing for our message board with your feedback.