Spider Johnk, who has been described as the creative force behind Stampede when that former Great Plains conference was the best in the business, has decided to leave The Partner Channel to concentrate on other interest, including Spider & Co. The Partner Channel provides sales and marketing services and publications to the Dynamics channel. Johnk, who has been working with VARs since 1989 when he was at Great Plains, said it was time to step away. Johnk, who founded the company seven years ago, said he will be transitioning over the next 90 to 120 days and is turning it over to Jennie Davis, managing editor of the quarterly Partner Channel magazine, and Jane Olsen, who heads sales. The organization also holds an annual fall conference in Fargo, N.D., for Dynamics resellers. Whether you have an interest in the contents of the The Partner Channel magazine or not, I recommend it as one of the best-looking business publications on the market. Its approach to graphics is often stunning.