James Quigley is the Former CEO, Co-Founder & current Executive Board Member of GoCanvas, a Virginia-based company that is transforming how companies collect, share and learn about their businesses by automating their mobile workforce. GoCanvas is one of the fastest growing Tech Companies in the US named a Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 three years in a row. GoCanvas is also regularly recognized as one of the DC area’s Best Places to Work (Inc 500, Washingtonian) and has a reputation for being a leader in cultural research and workforce development.
James has a long history of building successful technology companies. Prior to GoCanvas, he was Vice President and Managing Director at inCode Wireless, which was later acquired by VeriSign. Other technology companies he has held senior positions within include Aether Systems, Orbcomm, and Peak Technologies (formerly a division of R.R. Donnelley).
James has won numerous awards for leadership, innovation and social change, including being named one of Top 50 CEOs by the Center for Innovative Technology, one of the top 20 global executives in his field by CLO Magazine and the World Supply Chain Forum, one of the 40 Top CEO’s/Founders over 40, named a Regional DC Tech Titan and was a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. This culminated in Information Week naming James the IT Hero of the Year at their Elite 100 Conference.
James background in regional economic development and creating an innovation ecosystem in Northern Virginia / DC Metro area led him to co-founding Refraction – a regional co-working location focused on creating a concentration of start-ups, scale-ups, and facilitating introductions and partnerships with educational institutions, government bodies and capital investors. Refraction has grown to over 100 member companies who have collectively raised over $400M to fuel their growth. James is currently the Chairman of Refraction.
James is also a Commissioner and Vice Chairman for Fairfax County’s Economic Development Agency. Focused on highlighting and growing the business base in the largest county in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the largest business center in the DC Metro Area. Representing technology and innovation for the group during a time period when Virginia / DC Metro area has seen one of its biggest turn arounds being named the top state to do business 2 years in a row by CNBC the only state to have earned that distinction. James was also part of the strategic team putting together the regions successful bid for Amazon’s HQ2.
James sees high value in giving back to impactful local organizations and donates his time serving as the Chairman of the Board for The Washington West Film Festival and has served on the boards of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, The Northern Virginia Community College Foundation and Virginia Free.
James is married to an Australian and has a beautiful mixed family that spans the two continents and can often be found managing the 25-30 hour commute to Sydney. James is also a struggling guitar player and an avid strategy board game collector and competitor.
MORE ABOUT JAMES:
Favorite Food: Thai
Hobbies: Strategy board games and feeble guitar player
Favorite Place: Anywhere he can be with his family