Jeff Tuttle – President

“My commitment is to provide you the resources required to guarantee the overall success of your project. We will continue to reinvest in technology & people to better serve our clients.”

Jeff started in the contract furniture industry in 1978 and spent his first nine years as a sales executive for KBM Office Furniture. In 1987, Jeff started Business Furniture Solutions with the vision of creating a contract furniture powerhouse focusing on being a “Customer Advocate” and creating the best solutions for its clients having four of the top eight manufacturers. “We created multiple options for our clients to better serve their requirements.”

In 1995, Business Furniture Solutions became the first contract furniture company to go public on the NASDAQ. In 2000, the company was sold to a private equity firm (TCR). In 2003, Jeff purchased the furniture group from TCR with a vision of creating a customer centric mid-sized organization to back the highest level of service with the most experienced, dedicated people in the industry.

David Liu – EVP of Sales and Marketing

“Seek to understand and then to solve is a mantra that I believe in.  Every customer has their unique set of needs.  Every problem has its unique set of attributes.  Creative solutions, leveraging the right resources and flawless execution can create memorable experiences that satisfy these challenges”.

David’s career has touched many facets of the contract furniture industry.  With over 25 years under his belt, his experience has spanned sales and marketing, distribution strategy, product development & launch and brand development.  He has led nationally based, cross functional teams.  David brings his experience to VCO to help build the most dynamic dealer business model for the future.

Rod Price – EVP of Strategic Business Development

“My commitment to your team is to deliver on all our promises and in every aspect of the project, exceeding your expectations.”

With over 25 years of Contract Furniture Dealer experience, Rod has been engaged in nearly every aspect of the industry. As President and CEO, he co-founded Concept Offices in 1997, becoming the third largest US Teknion Dealership in 2000, while maintaining a single focus, "delivering high design projects, while exceeding clients' expectations." In 2006, Concept Offices and Vanguard Legato became Vangard Concept Offices.

Mike Clow – VP of Operations

“A successful project outcome is the result of a series of small, seemingly insignificant decisions. My commitment is to ensure VCO’s team supports you every step of the way to success."

Mike has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of the contract furniture industry. His background includes moving, warehousing, installation, project management, account management and sales. He has traveled extensively to oversee and supervise furniture projects, including trips to the former Soviet Union, Latin America and Asia. He has a strong understanding of the processes needed to support large account activity and has demonstrated his effectiveness and efficiency to his clients for many years. In his current role as Vice President of Operations for VCO he monitors project activities from implementation to completion to ensure compliance with internal processes and complete customer satisfaction.

 David Bond – Director of Strategic Accounts

“I treat every order from a single chair to an entire national account with the same commitment to excellence.”

David has worked in the Contract furniture industry for over 20 years, predominately in Northern California. His background has been to focus on managing large corporate accounts both domestically and internationally. David has his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is also a member of CoreNet.

A few of his VCO responsibilities include nurturing key client relationships and working with internal project team members at Vangard Concept Offices to orchestrate the successful completion of complex projects.

Dwight A. Jackson – President/ CEO of Metro Contract Group

Dwight has over 20 years experience in Contract Furniture and Design. He has built Metro Contract Group into one of the premier Office Furniture Dealerships, which has major accounts including; Hewlett-Packard, Sony, Union Bank, City of Oakland, Alameda County and several GSA Agencies. Dwight has a BS Business/Interior Design, University of California, Davis, and has done Graduate work in Interior Architecture at UC Berkeley.

Mercedes Flores – Manager, Business Development

“My top level commitment to the project team ensures that all of our promises to you are kept, and that we deliver on our value proposition, and all the elements of your service agreement.”

Mercedes has more than 10 years of experience in the contract furniture industry. Through her career, Mercedes has been engaged in every aspect of Contract Furniture, handling all areas of customer service, business development, and project management. She has extensive experience in high profile and complex projects with multiple locations nationwide. Mercedes has an extensive portfolio of projects including installs in Manufacturing, Healthcare, GSA, Alternative Energy, Municipalities, Finance and corporate interiors. She has experience working with the architecture and design communities and enjoys bringing their vision to life. Mercedes is also very knowledgeable in many product lines, giving her the ability to find the best solution for her clients.

Shirley Knipp – Senior Marketing Executive

“My goal is...and has always been...to make your workplace feel better.”

Shirley joined the VCO team in September, 2010, based in Tempe, AZ. She brings a breadth of experience encompassing marketing, business development, design, furniture selection and specifications, budget development, project management, and business ownership. She has had over thirty years of experience in commercial interior work. In her role at VCO, she inspires her fellow architects and designers to select and specify creative, innovative and intelligent furniture solutions for their clients. Her experience creating and utilizing a variety of public furniture purchasing agreements allows her to provide her clients options for meeting their budgets. Her interest and experience in sustainable design, gained from designing six LEED certified projects personally, helps her to offer “green” solutions for projects.

Erik Richmond – Studio Director

“My commitment is to develop furniture solutions that support your business objectives.”

Erik will be a resource and advocate for you and will contribute his wealth of knowledge in strategic planning, manufacturing methods and innovative solutions to help you achieve your goals for a successful project rollout. He has 15 years of architectural interiors and furniture design experience and a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design.

Jane Newton – Director of Design

“I will collaborate with your designers to assist in the final product selection details and finishes program. I will specify the product details and provide the layout drawings for the project, as well as for future reconfiguration services.”

Jane has 10 years of industry experience and a degree in Interior Design from Northern Arizona University. As Director of Design, Jane's responsibilities include client/architect liaison, programming, space planning, 3-D design presentation renderings, furniture specifications, and design of custom millwork/casework. Jane has played a significant role in the development of VCO's technical design department, helping to create drawings standards, expand the scope of available design services and improve the function and appearance of installation packages. Additionally, Jane serves as a resource within the design department on issues related to product design and commercial construction practices.