About Us - Manager Profiles

	Michael Werch President and CEO With over 18 years of industry experience, Mike has proven himself to be one of Minnesota’s telecommunications leaders. Prior to founding Video Guidance, Mike was the National Video Conferencing Sales Director at Acoustic Communications, Inc. There he was responsible for the direction and leadership of the company's sales force. He also held Top Level Sales and Management positions for Norstan and Sprint. Mike has an impressive track record of delivering high quality products and motivating strong sales teams, all while developing respected customer relationships. Mike graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Economics.

	Brian Groff Director of Sales Brian Groff has over 13 years of experience in the communications industry, with the last ten of those years being in the conferencing industry. Brian has been with Video Guidance since the company’s inception in 1999 and currently serves as the company’s Director of Sales. He was brought on as the company’s first salesperson and has built an impressive track record in business development, helping lead the company to consistent revenue and profitability growth over the last seven years. Brian’s previous experience includes senior level sales positions at Aerotek Corporation and Cotellignet Inc. Brian graduated from Hamline University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

	Dan Giesen Director of Operations Dan Giesen has been involved in the Telecommunications Industry for nearly fourteen years with background covering ISDN networks, IP networks, phone systems, voicemail, call centers, IVR, computer telephony integration and videoconferencing equipment and network infrastructure. Prior to joining Video Guidance, Dan's previous positions included 2 years as a Telecom Analyst at Northern Tool and Equipment, 2.5 years as a Sales Engineer at Norstan and 1.5 years in sales as an Account Representative for Acoustic Communications. With his diverse telecommunications background, Dan has been able to close the gap between sales and engineering for many customers, delivering high quality solutions that meet the customer's needs and expectations. Along with various manufacturer certifications, Dan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Minnesota State University at Mankato.

	Rachel Rice Controller Rachel Rice has over fifteen years of experience in the finance/accounting industry. Rachel joined Video Guidance in 2000 and is responsible for all accounting, human resource and administrative functions. Prior to joining Video Guidance, Rachel was Assistant Controller for Nova Consulting Group. Rachel graduated with a Masters of Business Administration degree in Finance from University of St. Thomas and is a Notary Public. Rachel serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Riverton Community Housing.

	Dean Aamodt VG Connect™ Services Manager Dean Aamodt has been involved in the video conferencing industry for over 16 years and has worked on both sides of the equipment. When he started working in the conferencing industry, he was the lead Site Coordinator for Allina Health System’s video conferencing network. For the next five years, he worked as the Regional Sales Manager for American Medical Development, a telemedicine equipment provider. Dean then joined Video Guidance, where he has worked for the past seven years as the Manager of the VG Connect™ Conferencing Services department. VG Connect services provide video bridging, audio conferencing, web conferencing and streaming services to Video Guidance customers as a high-touch partnership approach to conferencing services. Dean graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus with a BA in Mass Communication.

	Kurt Johnson Integration Services Manager Kurt Johnson has over twelve years of experience with the integration of Audio, Video and Control systems. Since he began his career, Kurt has held positions as an installer, control system programmer, project manager and salesperson. Some notable projects include U.S. Federal Courtrooms, operational command and control centers, as well as designing Video and Audio systems for a broad spectrum of public and corporate environments. In January 2006, Kurt was awarded the title of Certified Technology Specialist – Design (CTS-D) by InfoComm International. Kurt has recently been nominated and accepted to serve as Chair of the Eligibility Committee for InfoComm. Kurt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

	Sheila Mueller Training Services Manager Sheila Mueller has eight years of experience working in the communications industry. She has worked in sales and customer retention areas as well as independently starting her own consulting business assisting clients in negotiating and managing telecommunication contracts. Sheila joined Video Guidance near the end of 2007 to manage the training department. Sheila is responsible for developing procedures and processes as well as creating and delivering quality training experiences to the end users. Sheila has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Minnesota State University at Mankato.