Our Team

USAV Staff

K.C. Schwarz

CEO

K.C. is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and former Air Force pilot. After his first Air Force flying assignment in medical evacuation, he moved into flight test simulation and analysis, first in the Air Force, and then working for Northrop on the B-2 (Stealth) Bomber program. In the early 1990’s K.C. moved to Colorado and took over information systems management for Ball Aerospace, implementing client-server computing for the company. Following his service at Ball, K.C. worked in institutional investment banking as a technology analyst. Subsequently, he has founded and led several early stage companies, personally negotiating sales or mergers for many of these firms. K.C. was an early investor and advisor to USAV in 2002. Later, in 2006, he joined USAV full-time, first as COO and then as CEO in 2007.

K.C. and his wife Anne enjoy the mountain grandeur of Colorado. Anne has taught in local elementary schools for many years. His two daughters, son-in-law, and granddaughter also reside in Colorado. When not working, K.C. can be found running and volunteering at his church and several local charities.

 

Chris Whitley

CFO/Founder

Chris graduated from the University of Arizona and shortly after earned his CPA license working with Ernst & Young’s (E&Y) audit and tax practices in Tucson, Ariz. Following his tenure at E&Y, Chris became the CFO of a high-tech engineering design firm that he helped sell to Fluor Corporation. After the sale, he moved to Denver and became the CFO of Fluor’s Mining and Metals Operating Company and a member of Fluor’s acquisition and integration group. Following the mining crash in the mid-late 1990’s, Chris moved to Southern California and worked with E&Y’s merger and acquisition group. As a senior manager, Chris managed numerous engagements over several years for both financial and corporate strategic acquisitions. Missing the mountains and outdoor activities in Colorado, Chris moved back to Denver starting his own business consulting practice providing business valuation, acquisition, integration, and CFO consulting services. While consulting for a local audio-visual company in Denver in 2001, Chris co-founded USAV. He has been a full-time employee and shareholder in the company ever since.

Chris, his wife Melanie, and their five children—two boys and three girls—enjoy living in Colorado. Melanie manages the busy schedules of a large family and is a fitness instructor. Chris is an avid cyclist and enjoys running, competing in duathlons (run-bike-run races), and climbing Colorado’s many Fourteeners. Chris is also active in the local community serving on the Easter Seals of Colorado Board of Directors for the last six years.

 

Rachel Volk

Marketing Manager

Rachel joined USAV to help bring focus to the company’s marketing strategy. She brings several years of marketing and public relations experience to our team having successfully managed complex marketing programs for a variety of organizations. Rachel is professional, organized, and detail oriented, skills that are vital to managing and executing integrated marketing programs.

In her free time, Rachel can be found outside running, hiking, skiing, and enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather. She is blessed to have a wonderful husband and a beautiful baby girl.

 

Shanda Carlsen

Office Manager

Shanda brings several years of office management experience to USAV. She previously managed a medical office as well as a contracting company owned by her and her husband. At USAV, Shanda is responsible for managing all aspects of office organization, productivity, and administrative support. Shanda also worked in the educational field for over six years and currently volunteers on the school board and the DSIT (District School Improvement Team) for her local school district.

Shanda enjoys watching her children participate in their youth sporting events. She also enjoys hiking, camping, and water sports; and loves to spend time with her family. Shanda is the mother of four children, one of whom is currently serving in the U.S. Navy.

 

Dealer Advisory Council (DAC)

 

Michael Boettcher, CTS

President
Advanced AV

Michael has been with Advanced AV since 2000, when he took on the role of sales representative for the company and gained an inside look at the ProAV integration industry. He later moved to a more hands-on role in the service division, and developed that department into a profit center. Having acquired a comprehensive familiarity with how the company’s various departments operated, Michael was named president of Advanced AV in 2009. As president of Advanced AV, Michael is responsible for the vision, direction, and overall performance of the company.
Prior to joining Advanced AV, Michael worked in cable and print advertising sales, sports apparel, and the golf industry. He has always had a technical aptitude, and since entering the AV world has found motivation and inspiration in the personalities and attitudes of the people within it.

Michael has a bachelor’s in business administration from Villanova University, where he was a student athlete in the baseball program. He is an InfoComm member as well as an InfoComm Certified Technology Specialist (CTS). As a member of the DAC, Michael adds valuable perspective to USAV organization.

 

Timothy J. Butz

President
Presentation Concepts Corporation

Tim has spent over 28 years working in a variety of closely held businesses where he’s gained extensive experience in management consulting, IT services, software development, systems implementation, commercial business equipment, and industrial products and services. In 2009, Tim acquired Presentation Concepts Corporation (PCC), an audio-visual systems integrator based in Syracuse, NY.
Having managed both inside and outside sales teams, as well as customer service and key account retention teams, the foundation of Tim’s career is in sales, sales management, and customer service management.

Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management with additional work in organization effectiveness, organizational development, performance management, talent acquisition, and leadership development. His diverse background and unique knowledge is a remarkable asset to USAV.

 

Jim Gragtmans

Co-Owner
ET Group

Jim has more than 25 years of experience in building corporate and entrepreneurial organizations in the high tech sector. He has a proven track record of developing winning strategies for high growth organizations. In previous engagements, Jim has held the positions of Vice President of Sales for Compugen Services, President & CEO at Armor Technologies and now, co-owner of ET Group. He has also served as an independent consultant, business coach and industry mentor. Jim’s Board affiliations include Past Chair of the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce, current Vice-Chair of the Newmarket Economic Development Advisory Committee, and Director i-Canada Board of Governors.

Jim and his wife, Pam, enjoy three grown children and their children’s own growing families.

 

John Mitton

Chief Technology Officer
Red Thread

As Red Thread’s CTO, John is responsible for strategic and day-to-day direction of the audio-visual and IT groups. John’s extensive experience has proven to be a valuable resource to clients as the worlds of IT and audio-visual continue to converge. Prior to his role at Red Thread, John spent 21 years as a regional IT manager for xpedx, the nation’s largest distributor of printing paper and packaging materials. At xpedx, John was responsible for the implementation of the company’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software and established nine training centers that educated 1,800 employees on the application. John’s extensive IT knowledge is a great advantage to the USAV team.

John holds a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Massachusetts-Boston.

 

Jay B. Myers

Founder/CEO
Interactive Solutions, Inc.

Jay started Interactive Solutions, Inc. (ISI) in 1996 and has built it into an $18 million company with 61 employees. Prior to starting ISI, Jay earned numerous sales awards while working for international corporations such as Eastman Kodak and Hewlett Packard. Jay is the author of the book Keep Swinging: An Entrepreneurs Story of Overcoming Adversity and Achieving Small Business Success for which he was awarded the 2010 Ethan Award for success as an entrepreneurial author. Jay frequently shares his message of encouragement and overcoming adversity through numerous speaking engagements with universities, professional, and community organizations across the country.

Jay lives in Collierville, Tenn. with his wife Maureen and is a communicant of the Church of the Incarnation. Jay frequently shares his message of encouragement and overcoming adversity through numerous speaking engagements with universities, as well as professional and community organizations across the country.

 

 

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“USAV is much more than just a buying group. It is a group of businesses where everyone chooses to help each other. A group where CEO's and Owners can share their concerns, struggles, and successes and know that their conversations will be treated with the highest degree of integrity and support.”
—Mike White, President and Owner
Multi-Media Solutions