When HP’s partners from around the Americas gathered for the company’s partner conference this time last year, Stephen DiFranco was still getting used to the job.

DiFranco had just joined HP as its new channel chief for the Americas, but it was his job to host the event, and host it he did.

A year later, DiFranco has settled into the job a little bit more, and this week hosts his second Americas Partner Conference. Just hours before DiFranco hits the main stage in front of more than a thousand HP partners, ChannelBuzz.ca caught up with him to discuss his assessment of the first year at HP, the company’s growing software business, opportunities in the cloud, his (and the channel’s) interactions with new CEO Leo Apotheker, and his goals and priorities for year two.

Check out the video after the jump.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueO44ZYv37A