Meet the Chiefs: James Foxall, Tigerpaw
This week we sat down with James Foxall, the president and CEO of Tigerpaw Software, to learn about the man behind the automation software provider's channel efforts. Although he isn't a channel chief in name, Foxall is heavily involved in his company's channel business, and is also an accomplished author and international speaker.
![Meet the Chiefs: James Foxall, Tigerpaw Meet the Chiefs: James Foxall, Tigerpaw](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt10e444bce2d36aa8/blt1c273e6bcbd700bf/652470bfeb58caec44dd7fa4/James_(3)_BW_0.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
James Foxall, President and CEO of Tigerpaw Software
Foxall: My first job was at 15—I was a dishwasher for a new local Greek restaurant. They let me go because of “too many broken glasses.” I think I broke one glass the entire time I worked for them, but I was slow as hell and I think that’s the real reason they let me go. My short stint scrubbing giant pans taught me the value of an education. I do miss the free gyros …
The VAR Guy says: Free gyros are a pretty great perk, but it doesn’t sound like the pros outweighed the cons in this situation. The real lesson here is that if you get a good job you can afford all the gyros you like.
Foxall: A Jeep Wrangler, lifted high with monster tires—and a winch; it has to have a winch! Take the doors off and leave on a safari top, and you’ve got the perfect vehicle. Yeah, it’s an easily attainable car, but what’s missing for me now is the appropriate climate to drive it in.
The VAR Guy says: This sounds like something that would be perfect for barreling across the Sahara or through the western part of the United States. But probably not the kind of car you would want for driving the kids to school or getting groceries.
Foxall: I just got back from taking my family to Beaches in Negril, Jamaica. We had lots of sun, a little scuba diving, and quite a bit of rum. I’m already looking forward to going back.
The VAR Guy says: We just hope you didn’t mix the rum with the scuba diving! All in all, this sounds like a great trip. We hope you got a nice, even tan as well!
Foxall: “Lure the Tiger out of the Mountains,” by Gao Yuan. It’s hard to describe this book, as it truly is what you make of it. For me, it’s an amazing book and I get new insights each time I read it as I get to apply the principles to new situations. Plus, it has a tiger on the cover!
The VAR Guy says: You had us at "tiger on the cover." But seriously, “Lure the Tiger out of the Mountains” isn’t just a cool title for a book, it’s also a guidebook to dozens of ancient Chinese practices and strategies, many of which can be applied to the modern business world.
Foxall: I play guitar and have a home recording studio. I recently purchased two Atomic CLR Monitors so that I can play guitar through my Fractal Axe FX II in luscious stereo. Yum!
The VAR Guy says: With that kind of power you can hold a concert for the whole neighborhood! It seems like you’re the type of channel chief who not only shreds in the boardroom but also on the main stage—kudos to that.
Foxall: I was going to say that I just finished binge watching nine seasons of "Supernatural" and that I’m shunning TV for a while. However, since I received these questions, I just burned through the latest season of "Archer"!
The VAR Guy says: Sam and Dean Winchester are the coolest monster hunters in TV history! "Archer," on the other hand, is a great spoof on the classic James Bond films, and has been running on FX for six seasons.
Dream Job as a Kid: Karate-expert jet pilot. Beating up bad guys, getting the girls and airplanes? YEAH!
The VAR Guy says: This is probably the most rock-and-roll dream job we’ve ever heard of. Plus you supplied us with this great picture, which is pretty amazing. Is there a specific flight school you have to go to in order to get a black belt, or does it come standard?
Foxall: There are a lot of movies I LOVE (such as "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the original "Matrix"), but I judge a favorite by whether I’d abandoned what I’m doing on a Sunday when it comes up on cable—even though I’ve seen it countless times. By that standard, my all-time favorite movie is "Big Trouble in Little China." A close second is "Idiocracy"—AWESOME movie!
The VAR Guy says: "Big Trouble in Little China" is yet another classic '80s movie that The VAR Guy regrettably hasn’t seen yet. But if it's got karate and stars Kurt Russell, you can count us in. As for "Idiocracy," that movie is a classic sendoff of how relying too heavily on advertising and commercialism can easily rot your brain.
Foxall: There are a lot of movies I LOVE (such as "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the original "Matrix"), but I judge a favorite by whether I’d abandoned what I’m doing on a Sunday when it comes up on cable—even though I’ve seen it countless times. By that standard, my all-time favorite movie is "Big Trouble in Little China." A close second is "Idiocracy"—AWESOME movie!
The VAR Guy says: "Big Trouble in Little China" is yet another classic '80s movie that The VAR Guy regrettably hasn’t seen yet. But if it's got karate and stars Kurt Russell, you can count us in. As for "Idiocracy," that movie is a classic sendoff of how relying too heavily on advertising and commercialism can easily rot your brain.
This week we sat down with James Foxall, the president and CEO of Tigerpaw Software, to learn about the man behind the automation software provider's channel efforts. Although he isn't a channel chief in name, Foxall is heavily involved in his company's channel business, and is also an accomplished author and international speaker.
Foxall's career spans more than 20 years in the enterprise IT and commercial software industries, and he currently is a board member on CompTIA's MSP Partners Executive Council.
What is Meet the Chiefs?
Meet the Chiefs shines the spotlight on the channel’s head honchos and offers an opportunity to learn a little bit about the person beyond his or her company profile. Click on each photo to learn more about the channel chief you’re viewing.
Want to be included in an upcoming Meet the Chiefs? Send an email to The VAR Guy Associate Editor Michael Cusanelli at [email protected] for more information. He’s really good at answering emails on time, we promise.
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