Paul Foote
CEO & Founder
I started my career at a young age in a commission-based retail sales environment, learning that building a trusted rapport with customers—and listening, first, to their needs—was critical to my success. It is this philosophy that has earned me a series of increasingly responsible sales and business development leadership roles, multiple achievement awards, and success in an entrepreneurial venture. In my role as Director of Vendor Business Development at Exclusive Networks, I lead strategic relationships with technology vendors to drive revenue and market share growth through sales of technology solutions to end-user customers.
I began my career as a Sales Associate with Circuit City stores. Over the course of eight years, I would earn a series of promotions culminating in my role as Store Manager, leading teams of sales associates at retail store locations in Arizona, California, and Colorado. I was selected to participate in the District Manager Training program before leaving for a Field Sales position with a building supply company. And, here too, I was promoted quickly to Field Supervisor, where I managed relationships with retail home stores to drive sales through end-user customers.
In 2007, I decided to venture out on my own, launching Rakan Design to provide innovative web design services to individuals and corporations. Within two years, I ventured further and launched Rakan Systems—becoming a value-added reseller of data protection and enterprise storage solutions. For the next four years, I earned multiple licenses and certifications in key technologies—Cisco, EMC, Palo Alto Networks, etc. It is here that I not only honed my technology skills but my business-planning, marketing, and relationship management skills—driving 25% year-over-year growth, and achieving $1M in annual revenues at its peak. I established a loyal customer base, and built my business through outbound marketing programs, demand-generation campaigns, and the best signal of a successful business—word-of-mouth referrals.
Although the years of the entrepreneurial venture were rewarding, I was ready to make a change when I accepted a role as a Sales Operations Specialist with Westcon-Comstor. The move was a natural evolution, moving from my entrepreneurial role as a VAR to a value-added distributor of category-leading technology solutions in security, collaboration, networking, and data center. I excelled, and was instrumental in increasing overall productivity and effectiveness of three assigned vendor sales organizations. While in this role, I was recognized for his leadership, and was selected to participate in the Executive Leadership Program. From there, it wasn’t long before I was on a fast track to Product Sales & Business Development Manager and International Business Director.
As Product Sales & Business Development Manager with Westcon-Comstor, I partnered closely with F5 Networks to enhance the go-to-market value proposition to increase revenues and market share. Leveraging my early retail experience, and the importance of marketing and promotions, I created a tiered-partner development program that delivered $30M in pipeline opportunities within seven months. And, for three consecutive years, I overachieved my sales goals. This earned me my last promotion with Westcon—to International Business Director, where I served as the primary sales and business manager to named reseller accounts—across carriers, managed security service providers, and global system integrators. I spent about a year in this role and exceeded his sales goals when Westcon-Comstor was acquired by Synnex. Amidst the transition, I was recruited to Exclusive Networks where I was challenged to accelerate channel development and build brand awareness in the U.S. for this Europe-based value-added distributor.
After 6 years working with Distribution, and living on the road, I decided to take a role with Bridgestone’s Commercial Tier division GCR. This roll would get me out of airports and hotels and keep me closer to home with my family. As a Commercial Sales Rep for GCR I was Challenged with the growth and execution of sales opportunities—to accelerate growth of Bridgestone commercial product and services through existing customer base and net new logos—Developed account plans, managed contract negotiations, and serve as the primary point of contact for all sales, service and support for over 180+ accounts. Shortly after starting this role the COVID pandemic took captive of the world. This career change was a blessing in disguise as I now was a part of the accentual workforce. As I thrive in this major change from the world of IT to Commercial Tier sales driving +50% YoY growth, I was still drawn to the would of IT sales and was recruited by an old coulige to join a Feedback SaaS company, Alchemer.
As a Senior Enterprise Account Executive at Alchemer, I drove revenue sales and quota attainment through value-based selling of SaaS platform, including subscriptions, licenses, integrations, panels, and services through identifying and closing new opportunities, maintaining key relationships, reducing customer churn, and collaborating with internal teams to enhance the go-to-market strategy. I led the sales team in Quota attainment FY22—Achieving $2.7M in annual revenue, through relationship building, mitigating churn, and consistently excelling in strategic sales, collaboration, and problem-solving. He had a track record of meeting and exceeding goals—Demonstrated success in selling our complex feedback software solutions, meeting and exceeding sales quotas, and operating in a competitive environment and owned annual quotas ranging from $800K to $1M.
After 30-years of sales experience in several different verticals and markets, in 2024 I decided to start sharing my knowledge and experience by starting a consulting firm, PFC. Focused on shoring his expertise in Sales & Marketing Development, Customer & Employee Experience Enhancement, Leadership Training, Outbound and Prospecting, Partner Ecosystems, Project Management, Event Management and Planning , and being a Keynote Speaker.
I am a devoted husband, father, and active member of the Flatiron Community Church in Colorado. With his wife Melissa, I share a deep commitment to our faith, which has been the cornerstone of their 20-year marriage. Paul serves on the Safety Team at church and previously on the Production Team, broadcasting services to thousands of attendees across multiple locations.
In addition to my church involvement, I find great fulfillment in my role as a father to three boys. My eldest son is thriving at Arizona State University, while my identical twins are excelling in school and sports. I take immense pride in my sons’ accomplishments and values the opportunity to guide them toward making exceptional decisions, leading with integrity, and maintaining their faith. For me, being a husband, father, an active member of his community and helping people are central to his identity and source of immense joy and gratitude.
