Leadership Team

Donald M. Swanson

CEO

Don Swanson, founder and CEO, oversees corporate strategy. Prior to founding VAST in 1989, Don was vice president at CAD/CAM software publisher, CIMLINC, where he managed sales and service in North America. Don received his BS degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, and began his career with Rockwell International, Graphic Systems Division, where he was instrumental in the development and implementation of cellular manufacturing processes. After his time at Rockwell International, Don served as Regional Sales and Service Manager at University Computing Company, and was actively involved in Computer Time Sharing Services, thought by some to be the forerunner to Cloud Computing. Don is the driving force behind VAST’s “Customer First” culture.

Robert Swanson

President

Robert Swanson, President, joined VAST in 2003 after starting his career in the Oil and Gas industry. He has held various positions at VAST, in both sales and technical services. As President, Bob manages all company day-to-day operations, including Technical Services Delivery, Sales, Marketing, and Field Operations. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University. He resides in Naperville, IL with his wife Lindsay and their two children.

 “Everyone at VAST works in the customer service department.  Great customer service is what sets great companies apart from the rest.”

Sam Petras

Vice President of Operations

Sam Petras, VP of Operations, joined dcVAST in 2006 to increase efficiency in the completion of operational and financial tasks for the company. Sam manages all business and financial operational functions. With over fifteen years of experience in auditing, banking and technology, he brings a diverse background which has proven to be very beneficial for the growth of the department as well as increasing overall customer satisfaction. Sam received his Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management, focused in Accounting and Management Information Systems.

Allen Young

Director of Technology Services

Allen Young, Director of Technology Services, joined VAST in 2016 as a Professional Services Lead and Project Manager. Previously, he was a VAST customer during his tenure as a Technical Engineer specializing in third-party software implementations and support. He then transitioned into IT infrastructure project management, leading numerous IT infrastructure and supply chain projects. Allen also has expertise in supply chain development, focusing on Business Intelligence KPI reporting and DITL processes.  Allen currently manages professional services, managed services, and support services for cloud, data protection, and other IT-related initiatives at VAST. Allen has 25+ years of overall IT knowledge and experience.  Outside of work, Allen enjoys traveling, hiking, fishing, and most importantly, spending time with his family.