About

Channel executive.
Founder. Pilot. Father.

Three decades of building, leading, and growing — in business and in life.

Professional

Built for the channel. Proven at scale.

Alex Thurber has spent three decades at the intersection of technology, cybersecurity, and global channel strategy. He started as an entrepreneur — founding one of the Northwest's premier network security companies at just 29 years old — and has since led channel and revenue organizations at some of the most recognized names in tech.

From co-developing Cisco's industry-defining VIP rebate program to serving as CRO at Pulse Secure and Channel Chief at Riverbed, Alex brings a rare blend of entrepreneurial grit and enterprise-scale execution to every organization he joins.

He holds a BA in International Relations from Knox College and brings a genuinely global perspective — shaped by international assignments including leading Cisco's Japan Channels business and founding a software company in São Paulo, Brazil.

30+
Years in Technology
10+
Executive Leadership Roles
1992
Founded First Company
🌎
Global Channel Strategy
Skills

Areas of Expertise

🤝
Global Channel Strategy
Designing and scaling partner ecosystems across North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM for enterprise technology companies.
🛡️
Cybersecurity & Identity
Deep domain expertise across network security, identity security, endpoint protection, and secure mobility.
📈
Revenue Leadership
CRO-level ownership of field operations, sales, and all revenue-generating functions in high-growth technology companies.
💰
Partner Program Design
Creating incentive-driven, profitable partner programs — including co-developing Cisco's industry-defining VIP rebate program.
🌏
International Business
Multicultural leadership experience spanning the US, Japan, Brazil, and global enterprise markets.
🔄
Business Transformation
Leading go-to-market pivots, SaaS transitions, M&A integrations, and company turnarounds at scale.
Recognition

Highlights & Achievements

🏆
Oregon Technology Entrepreneur of the Year
1999 — Recognized for founding and scaling Thurber Works into the Northwest's premier network security company.
📰
CRN Channel Chiefs 2024
Named to CRN's prestigious Channel Chiefs list while serving as Channel Chief at Riverbed Technology.
💼
Co-Creator, Cisco VIP Program
Co-developed Cisco's industry-defining VIP rebate-based channel profitability program — operational for over a decade after creation.
✈️
AOPA Millennium Mooney Winner
Won a $175,000 custom Mooney 201 aircraft in AOPA's 2000 sweepstakes — a fitting prize for a lifelong aviator.
Personal

Life outside the office

Alex has called Oregon home for over 30 years — and wouldn't have it any other way. Away from work, he's a devoted husband and father, an avid aviator, and someone who believes deeply in giving back to the community he loves.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Family First
Alex is married to Courtney and is a proud husband, father, and step-father to six children. His family is rooted in the Tualatin community, where they've built a life they love in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.
✈️
Licensed Pilot Since 16
Alex earned his pilot's license at age 16 and has accumulated over 1,000 hours of flight time. His passion for aviation led to a memorable win — AOPA's 2000 Millennium Mooney sweepstakes, a $175,000 custom aircraft. Flying remains one of his great loves.
🌲
Pacific Northwest Roots
After more than 30 years in Oregon, Alex is as much a part of the Pacific Northwest as it is a part of him. He loves the region's outdoor culture, its innovation spirit, and the tight-knit sense of community found in places like Tualatin and Newberg.
🏛️
Community Involvement
Alex believes in showing up for his community. He ran for the Oregon State House of Representatives in 1996 and for Tualatin City Council in 2020 on a platform focused on transit, traffic, and local livability. He's a regular contributor to local civic conversations and cares deeply about the future of the state and city where he and his family have put down roots.