Employee Spotlight:
David Traxler

How long have you worked at Pinnacle and why did you choose to become a partner?

I’ve been at Pinnacle since August 2016! I came on board as VP of Sales because of my relationship with Rob Anderson. I really enjoy supporting and encouraging the sales reps and doing everything in my power to help them make sales. I firmly believe that dealing with customers trumps everything else. After 3 months at Pinnacle, I felt like I was having a big impact on the company. Rob asked me to become a partner to help grow Pinnacle, I believe in Pinnacle so I agreed! It wasn’t an economic or financial decision, I just loved the company and the people. I like the house I’ve moved into.

Why did you choose the IT industry?

I went to college at Ol’ Miss, played football, and majored in accounting. During my junior year, I interviewed with Peat Marwick, Mitchell & Co (Now KPMG), 0ne of the big 8 accounting firms at the time, as a practice interview. I was offered a job and I took it! My starting salary was $14,500, I was traveling all the time and worked long hours for about 2 years. I moved to Memphis, TN and continued working Saturdays and Sundays, always traveling, and started really hating my job. It was on a Barge in Boston on December 31st, when I decided the job wasn’t for me. As I worked alone in the freezing cold counting logs I decided I couldn’t do it anymore. My friend’s dad worked as a sales manager for IBM. He got me an interview and IBM offered me $25,000, a rental car, and to pay for my apartment for a year. Already so much better than my last job! I became president of my class and had a great career at IBM. During this era, the IT education they provided and the accounting experience made for a rewarding combination.

If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day and why?

Michael Dell because he has assimilated the most formable collection of technologies in the marketplace today and no one saw it coming!

What is your motto or personal mantra?

I try to live my life never quitting, never giving up, always believing and leading by example. You cannot, you will not lead effectively absentee. You must be present and that takes commitment! Good leaders lead by example. Be a “Doer!” So, as George Patton said, A good plan VIOLENTLY EXECUTED today is far better than a perfect plan executed next week! “If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near!” – Jack Welch. So true in our business!

What are your top three life highlights?

I would have to say my God, Wife, and Children! But I do love what I am doing at Pinnacle, I believe I am having an impact.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Gosh, I don’t know! I’m “transparent!” I have a high tolerance for pain! I love to push myself!

What do you consider to be the best invention of all time?

Short of any cure for a deadly disease would be the cell phone. It changed our whole world and it will continue to change it.

What is your least favorite food?

Butterbeans and cornbread are my favorites! Eel and asparagus are my least favorite. When I’m looking at a menu, if asparagus is on an entree I move on to the next!

If you could be anywhere in the world at this exact moment where would it be? Why?

I want to be able to be in Charlotte, NC, and Atlanta, GA at the same time to see our kids! I’d really like to have a “transporter” like they have on Star Trek so I could be in OKC every Monday morning, then Tulsa and Dallas and San Antonio…

Would you rather go back in time or in the future? Why?

Go back for sure! I would have loved to be someone like Dave Crocket.