Building Decades-Long Relationships Through Rent-To-Own Software
Stick around a company for nearly thirty years, and your story becomes embedded in its source code.
For our RTO Sales Executive, Doug Funk, his story is built on relationships, trust, and a knack for making complex technologies feel human. If you spend just five minutes with Doug, you’ll quickly notice his approachable energy and down-to-earth sense of humor. Whether he’s reminiscing about shooting vacuum tubes with a BB gun as a kid or talking about the latest cynergi|suite update, Doug carries a personality that makes people feel at ease—and that’s why so many High Touch clients know and love working with him.
Keep reading to learn more about Doug’s role, his journey in technology, and the personal touches that make him such a valuable part of our team.
Guiding Clients Toward Success
As a Sales Executive on High Touch’s RTO Software team, Doug spends his days working with existing client partners and new prospects to explore how cynergi|suite, our flagship point-of-sale (POS) software for the RTO industry, can help clients set their stores apart.
“I work with existing client partners and new prospects on the benefits of High Touch’s cynergi|suite point of sale software for our RTO customers,” Doug explains. “I show how the software solution can help them reach their goals while providing easy-to-understand information on complex software and hardware challenges.”
cynergi|suite offers RTO companies a powerful, fully integrated platform that helps streamline everything from point-of-sale transactions to customer management, reporting, and back-office operations. For many of our clients, Doug is the person who makes this technology approachable, translating “alphabet soup” into solutions that improve daily operations and long-term results.
Finding Fulfillment in Complex Challenges
After over 25 years with High Touch, Doug has been a part of too many client projects to count. Singling out a favorite isn’t easy, but what stands out to him isn’t a single system or implementation—it’s the feeling of helping other people succeed.
This mix of technical problem-solving and client care is where Doug thrives. He knows that behind every project is a person who depends on the software to do their job better.
“There are too many to talk about in my 27-year career here,” Doug says with a smile. “At the end of the day, it’s very satisfying when you have a complex client issue that you, along with one of our dedicated teams, can help resolve and help make our clients a better organization.”
When asked what keeps him motivated after so many years in the industry, Doug didn’t hesitate.
“The relationships I have forged over the years with great people both in the industry and within the organization,” he says. “I love who I work for and the people I work with. The relationships I have motivate me every day.”
A Journey Into Technology
Doug jokes that technology “found” him, but looking back, the path seems meant to be.
“My father was a programmer growing up, so I remember drawing on punch cards and shooting vacuum tubes with my BB gun,” he recalls. “So I guess it was always meant to be.”
When he joined High Touch, Doug had the benefit of strong mentors. “When I first started, I had a lot of really great people teach me the basics of networking and then a little bit more than the basics, which really helped me understand how it all worked.”
That early curiosity, paired with a willingness to learn, laid the foundation for his long and successful career. In Doug’s words, making technology approachable is one of the most important parts of his role.
“In today’s world, we all specialize. Our clients and people have various levels of knowledge in technology, and making technology easy to understand is important. Technology can be a bunch of alphabet soup, but it doesn’t have to be.”
For Doug, that sometimes means picking up the phone instead of sending an email. “Texting and email have a place, but complex discussions sometimes require a call so a complete understanding can be achieved.”
If you asked Doug what other job he’d like to try at High Touch, his answer says a lot about his character: “Honestly, I would love to do everyone’s job for one day, as I think it would give me an appreciation of what everyone does day in and day out and how what they do helps make the engine turn.”
Brewing Up Fun After Hours
When Doug isn’t working with clients, you can usually find him enjoying the company of family and friends. He has a son and a daughter, along with two dogs and two cats who keep life lively.
Outside of family, Doug enjoys home brewing with three of his closest friends. “I make my own beer,” he shares proudly. It’s a hobby that blends creativity, precision, and camaraderie, much like his approach to work.
Doug’s first job was as a busboy at Red Lobster, and he still laughs when he looks back on those days. Now based in Corpus Christi, he enjoys being close to the beach, but if he had to pick another High Touch market, Denver would be his top choice: “I love Denver because of the mountains.”
15 Things You Might Not Know About Doug Funk
As part of our Employee Spotlight interview, we ask a series of lighthearted questions to highlight the unique, diverse personalities that make our High Touch team great. While Doug is known for solving big challenges in the RTO industry, he doesn’t take himself too seriously, whether he’s waving back at strangers by mistake, joking about his bear-like spirit animal, or keeping sarcasm close at hand.
1. If you could jump into a pool of anything of your choosing, what would you fill it with?
$100 bills would be great.
2. Is a hot dog a sandwich?
No, it is its own classification.
3. Who or where would you haunt if you were a ghost?
My kids, so I could give them advice if I were gone.
4. Does a cyclops wink or blink?
Wink.
5. What’s something you wish you could automate?
Working out!
6. What’s your favorite mobile app or website?
AccuWeather.
7. Which famous person would you have dinner with and why?
Benjamin Franklin to discuss the Constitution.
8. What’s the most awkward thing you do on a regular basis?
I wave at people who are waving at someone else.
9. What’s your spirit animal and why?
A bear—they’re grounded and courageous—also, slow to change (lol).
10. If you could breed two different animals together, which two would you pick, and what would you call the new lifeform you’ve created?
An elephant and a rhino—an ele-a-rhino
11. Would you rather go 30 days without your phone, or three months with no dessert?
3 months without dessert.
12. Do you have any superstitions?
Nope—we make our own luck.
13. What’s something you always do wrong the first time?
Anything my wife asks me to do.
14. If you had a warning label, what would it say?
Warning: This content may contain sarcasm. Please proceed with caution.
15. You’ve been given an elephant. You can’t give it away or sell it. What would you do with the elephant?
Offer free elephant rides.
Bringing the Human Touch to Technology.
Doug’s story reminds us that technology alone doesn’t drive success—it’s the people behind it. By combining technical expertise with authentic relationships, Doug embodies High Touch’s vision of bringing the human touch to technology.
From his earliest memories of doodling on his dad’s punch cards to dedicating decades of experience to the RTO industry, he’s built a career by making technology approachable and strengthening the relationships that define our business.
We’re grateful for the expertise, warmth, and dedication Doug brings to High Touch and our clients.
Ready to learn more? High Touch has been supporting the rent-to-own industry for over 40 years, helping businesses thrive with our cynergi|suite POS software. If you’re interested in learning more about how Doug and his team can support your RTO software needs, contact us today.