Get to Know Paul, Partnerships Development Manager
Paul van der Salm, Partnerships Development Manager
Paul van der Salm joins us this year as Partnerships Development Manager. Having spent the last decade building partnerships that support local businesses and nonprofits, Paul truly gets what it takes for local companies to thrive. Paul boasts twelve years’ experience in commercial banking. His time in community banks, specifically, give him a comprehensive understanding of what Northwest businesses need to succeed.
One crucial ingredient in the recipe: technology that drives them forward.
A longtime friend of Portland Internetworks, Paul’s found himself fascinated by the dynamism of the Managed Services business — including the operational impact that the right technology can create for an organization. Always curious and with a voracious appetite for learning, he finds the ever-changing nature of technology super appealing.
As Partnerships Development Manager, Paul works to expand our community of managed services clients. Paul really gets to know an organization, understanding their operational challenges, then recommending the right managed IT solutions to elevate their business. And, with his breadth of expertise and delight in helping others, he’s the perfect person for the job.
A true connector, Paul is “the person who knows a person”. He’s known to run into a friend or colleague pretty much everywhere he goes. He has a true knack for connecting with others, asking the right questions, and finding creative ways to help others solve problems — whether that’s in his professional life, or with friends over a cocktail and Expatriate cheeseburger. (In his book, the best burger in town.)
Whether helping others solve challenges in their businesses or pitching in out in the community, you can always count on Paul to be there with a helping hand. Paul is passionate about local nonprofits, working to bolster their impact however he’s able. He’s held board seats for both small and large nonprofits and isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and get involved to support organizations that serve the voiceless or underserved.
Paul holds his Dutch heritage near and dear, but his love for the Pacific Northwest runs deep. He grew up on his parents’ Clark County tulip farm, then later moved to Portland. While there’s a lot to love about Portland, his favorite thing is being close to the things that he loves most — his family, an amazing community, opportunities to explore, and of course, an epic microbrew scene. While he’s planted some roots of his own here in Northeast PDX with his wife, Brittany, and the littlest van der Salm, Casper, he still makes the drive to the farm every week for Monday family dinner — a years-long tradition and the highlight of his week.
Outside of the office, Paul’s interests are as well-rounded as they are plentiful. He loves to nerd out over history (“I could wax on painstakingly”, he professes) or a complicated board game, especially with a locally crafted pint in hand. When he’s not gaming with friends or poring over a good book, you’ll likely find him out on the soccer pitch or on the sideline of Providence Park, cheering on the Timbers.
With Paul’s passion for problem solving, business prowess, and genuine love for building meaningful relationships, he’s the perfect person to help us grow our community of managed services clients. Paul’s excited to hit the ground running, and we’re thrilled to have Paul sporting our kit.
Welcome to the team, Paul!
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