Todd Belfer
Managing Partner
Todd Belfer is Managing Partner of Canal Partners. In this role Mr. Belfer is responsible for all aspects of the company including identification of potential acquisition targets, due diligence, financial analysis and final investment decision making.
Mr. Belfer has a long history of entrepreneurship and has been involved with a wide range of businesses throughout his career. In 1990 he co-founded Employee Solutions, Inc., a professional employer organization which he helped take public in 1993 and which was the highest performing stock on the NASDAQ in 1996. He also co-founded a leading sports nutrition company M.D. Labs in 1993 and after realizing triple-digit growth sold his interest to a private equity firm in 2002. He was a founder of the successful Japanese restaurant chain RA, which has grown to more than 30 locations throughout the United States and which was sold to Benihana in 2002. In 2002 Mr. Belfer founded NETtime Solutions, a Software as a Service (SaaS) organization dedicated to delivering on-demand time and attendance service, where he remains as chairman.
Mr. Belfer has been a dedicated volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters for over 10 years. Nationally, he is recognized for his work with The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and received the prestigious Regional Wings of Memory Society "Excellence in Leadership Award" presented by the United States Holocaust Museum in April 2006 for his ongoing support and dedication to the Holocaust Museum and its efforts. He is also a board member of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Mr. Belfer has a bachelor's degree in finance and a real estate degree from the University of Arizona.
Jay Poplawski
Managing Partner
Jay Poplawski is Managing Partner of Canal Partners. In this role Mr. Poplawski is responsible for all aspects of the company including identification of potential acquisition targets, due diligence, financial analysis and final investment decision making.
Mr. Poplawski is a seasoned business manager who in addition to working with Canal Partners is the founder and chief executive officer of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based The Cable Shopping Network (CSN). Launched in 2002, CSN is a multi-channel retailing company, broadcasting on DirecTV, the Dish Network, the Comcast cable system, as well as the Internet. The company specializes in developing and selling collectible coin offerings. CSN currently employs more than 75 people, enjoys significant growth and generated approximately $40 million in revenue in 2007. Prior to launching CSN, Mr. Poplawski was a workout specialist at the Phoenix office of the American Bank and was the founder and managing partner of Phoenix-based Resort Development Group, which specializes in developing and managing resort condominium projects throughout the U.S. Previously, he served as an asset manager for the Archon Group, a division of Goldman Sachs in Los Angeles, California.
Mr. Poplawski is a graduate of Arizona State University, where he earned a degree in economics.
Jim Armstrong
Managing Partner
Jim Armstrong is Managing Partner of Canal Partners. In this role Mr. Armstrong is responsible for all aspects of the company including identification of potential acquisition targets, due diligence, financial analysis and final investment decision making.
In addition to his role with Canal Partners, Mr. Armstrong is chairman of the board of JDA Software Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: JDAS), which he founded in Calgary, Alberta in 1978. JDA Software is focused on helping companies realize real supply chain and revenue management results - fast. JDA Software delivers integrated merchandising as well as supply chain and revenue management planning, execution, and optimization solutions for the consumer-driven supply chain and services industries. Through its industry leading solutions, leading manufacturers, distributors, retailers and services companies around the world are growing their businesses with greater predictability and more profitably. Mr. Armstrong served as Chief Executive Officer of JDA Software from 1987 to 1997 and again from 1999 to 2003.
Mr. Armstrong serves of a wide range of boards and foundations. Along with serving as chairman of the board for JDA Software Group, Inc., he is on the board of JDA Investments, Omnilink Systems, Inc., he is president and chairman of the Armstrong Family Foundation. President and chairman of the Kiita Foundation, and director of the Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation. Additionally, he has received numerous awards and honors including Arizona Software Association Business Leader of the Year, Ernst and Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Ernst and Young Spirit of Philanthropy Award, Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year Award, and National Society of Fundraising Executives Spirit of Philanthropy Award.
Patrick J. Armstrong
Analyst
Patrick Armstrong is an Analyst for Canal Partners. In this role Mr. Armstrong is responsible for evaluating potential investments, performing industry and financial analysis and due diligence, and providing additional support.
In addition to his role with Canal Partners, Mr. Armstrong is vice president and co-founder of JDA Investments (US), Inc., which was formed in 2008 to manage his family's partnership. Prior to his role at JDA Investments, Mr. Armstrong founded and operated Armstrong IT Services in 2005. Armstrong IT Services acted as an Information Technology consultant for several small and medium-sized companies with focuses on healthcare, digital media, accounting, education, and IT Services. Prior to that, Mr. Armstrong was a support specialist at Sungard Availability Systems. He began his career in the Information Technology Services department at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Mr. Armstrong works with both of his family's foundations - the Armstrong Foundation and the Kiita Foundation - and he is a member of the Arizona Technology Investors Forum, the Arizona Angels, and Social Venture Partners. Additionally, he and his wife funded the Andris and Barbara Daukulis Scholarship at the Univ. of Colorado at Boulder.
Mr. Armstrong earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder and is a Microsoft Certified Professional.
