Meet the Chiefs: Eric Webster, Accelerite
This week The VAR Guy chatted with Eric Webster, chief revenue officer and resident channel chief for Accelerite, an endpoint management, cloud and mobility vendor. As his main duties entail managing Accelerite's global sales, business development and marketing operations, Webster is heavily involved with the company's channel sales.
Webster: I bagged groceries at Star Market, a local grocer in my hometown of Waltham, Massachusetts. I was 14. I learned early that if I wanted something I had to work for it. I ended up getting bagger of the year, competing at a regional conference, winning and getting a boom box. While I was bagging groceries, I always interacted with the customer and made sure the eggs and bread were stacked on top.
The VAR Guy says: We wish the people working at our local grocery store cared half as much as you did! It’s also cool to meet an award-winning speed bagger—we bet you’re still unbeatable when you go on your weekly shopping runs.
Webster: The Lamborghini Aventador LP 750
The VAR Guy says: While we’ve only ever seen one of these in pictures, this Italian beauty is one of the sleekest-looking rides on the planet. This would also be our choice too, but we doubt we could even afford the insurance!
Webster: I was in Thailand for over two weeks with my family. We visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Ko Samui. We rode elephants in Chiang Rai, which was very cool. The people of Thailand are amazing. It really is the land of smiles. Everyone there was amazing.
The VAR Guy says: What a cool trip! If real Thai food is as good as the kind they serve over here in the states, we’re already jealous.
Webster: "The Hard Things About Hard Things," by Ben Horowitz. Throughout my career, I have worked in four startups, all early-stage. It is really hard building a company—there are a lot of unforeseen things that come up that can’t be anticipated. If you are starting a company, launching a new product or simply running a company, this is a great book and should be on your must-read list. A great quote from the book: “Build a culture that rewards—not punishes—people for getting problems into the open where they can be solved.”
The VAR Guy says: As the co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz and a lifelong entrepreneur, Horowitz's tale of the trials and tribulations of running a startup is definitely a great read for anyone who wants to know what it's really like to own your own business.
Webster: I’ve been waiting to splurge on some new tech for a while, and I’m thinking the Apple Watch will be my next purchase. I can’t wait to pay with my watch and answer my phone from my wrist. I am also a fitness junkie, so I am excited about the health and fitness features.
The VAR Guy says: Definitely a good choice for a splurge item. Unfortunately, you’ll probably have to wait a few months to finally get your hands on one, since it seems most of the watches won’t ship until later this summer.
Webster: I’ve been watching the new season of "House of Cards." Kevin Spacey is the perfect villain, and the show really gets under your skin. I’ll need to find a new show after I binge watch the rest of season three. One other show to check out is "The Honorable Woman." The acting is amazing.
The VAR Guy says: Binge-watching is one of The VAR Guy’s favorite activities, when he isn’t wading through channel news and getting to know resellers. We’ve been saving up "House of Cards" for a while, too, so it should make for a good watch once we finally get some free time.
Webster: A doctor. My mother works in the medical field and as a kid I was always surrounded by nurses and doctors. I thought it would be really cool to be a doctor, but I never pursued it—probably because I was really bad in science.
The VAR Guy says: "Doctor Webster" has a great ring to it—but we're glad you ultimately decided to join the channel instead.
Webster: "The Godfather." It’s an American classic and is as relevant today as it was when it was released in 1972. The focus on money, power, control, lust and social status are all things American’s struggle with in their lives.
The VAR Guy says: It's easy to see why so many channel chiefs choose "The Godfather" as their favorite movie of all time, considering it is one of the best films ever made. Marlon Brando truly gave a career-defining performance as the ruthless and overly likeable Don in a role that has become Hollywood legend.
Webster: "The Godfather." It’s an American classic and is as relevant today as it was when it was released in 1972. The focus on money, power, control, lust and social status are all things American’s struggle with in their lives.
The VAR Guy says: It's easy to see why so many channel chiefs choose "The Godfather" as their favorite movie of all time, considering it is one of the best films ever made. Marlon Brando truly gave a career-defining performance as the ruthless and overly likeable Don in a role that has become Hollywood legend.
This week The VAR Guy chatted with Eric Webster, chief revenue officer and resident channel chief for Accelerite, an endpoint management, cloud and mobility vendor. As his main duties entail managing Accelerite's global sales, business development and marketing operations, Webster is heavily involved with the company's channel sales.
Prior to his appointment at Accelerite in January 2014, Webster served as chief revenue officer for Doyenz, a company which was purchased by Persistent Systems, Accelerite's parent company. Webster has also served as vice president of Sales and Marketing at Intronis and has executive experience with companies including Oracle and NetBrowser.
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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