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 two beautiful little girls.

 

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.

 

Adam Ochs

Operations Manager

Adam is a diehard entrepreneur with extensive small business experience. Although a jack-of-all-trades, his professional experience focuses on finance, accounting, and analytics. Early in his career Adam served in the U.S. Navy in various operational and management roles. After his Navy service, Adam worked with several early-stage defense-contracting companies with a focus on satellite systems and sensors. He managed accounting, analytics, security classifications, and control, as well as providing direct program support. In his spare time Adam attended the University of Colorado, earning a degree in accounting. After graduation, Adam worked for the State of Colorado as an internal auditor, auditing various State Departments and managing external audit firms doing the same. After several years in these roles Adam struck out on his own, consulting for a number of clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies. In joining USAV Adam brings both a wealth of business experience and an inquiring mind.

Adam enjoys hunting and spending time outdoors. He is married to the love of his life and has a young daughter who is the center of his world.

 

Dealer Advisory Council (DAC)

 

Jay B. Myers
DAC CHAIRMAN

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Barry Goldin

Chief Operating Officer
Unified AV Systems

Barry has worked in the field of Audio and Video Systems Integration for over 20 years. During this time, he has held various roles starting in engineering, then sales, sales management, and operations management. As COO at Unified AV Systems, Barry plays a key role on the executive management team helping to develop standardized processes that ensure a consistent and high level of quality is delivered to customers, regardless of location. Additionally, he is an active volunteer in the ProAV industry having served on the Board of Directors of InfoComm International and the International Communications Industries Foundation.

Barry is a graduate of the University of Rochester where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He and his wife reside in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

Tim Hennen

Senior Vice President of Engineering
IVCi, LLC

Tim has over 17 years of experience in the visual communications industry. In his roll as Senior Vice President of Engineering for IVCi, he oversees a team with strong backgrounds in engineering, CAD drafting, project management, installation, and quality control. In the past five years, his team has designed several custom telepresence applications for Fortune 500 companies and top educational institutions. He also works diligently to maintain a substantial knowledge base of any new audio-visual and collaboration technologies.

Tim lives on Long Island with his wife, daughter and twin boys. He enjoys spending time at the beach in the summer and golfing with friends.

 

Barry Sawayer

CEO
Trinity Video Communications

Barry is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Video Communications headquartered in Louisville, KY. He founded Trinity in 2000 and its’ predecessor company ImageTel Int’l Inc. in 1993. During his tenure, Trinity has become a recognized leader in the A/V integration and video communications industries for the government, commercial, healthcare, and education markets. Prior to founding ImageTel Int’l Inc., Barry held various executive level and management positions at Capital Holding Corporation, a Life Insurance Holding Company in Louisville, KY and New England Mutual Life Insurance Company in Boston, MA.

Barry received his BSBA degree from Northeastern University, Boston, MA in 1972 and his Fellowship in the Life Management Institute (FLMI) in 1979.

 

 

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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