Who We AreSenior Leaders

Mike Mallaro

Mike Mallaro is CEO of VGM Group, Inc. where he led the development of the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). He began his tenure at VGM in 2001, serving as CFO until becoming CEO in 2016. Prior to VGM, he was CFO of a regional off-price retailer. He also spent 12 years as a CPA in an international accounting firm. During Mike’s tenure, VGM has consistently ranked as a Top Workplace in Iowa. In 2019, he received the Leadership Award for Large Employers from Iowa Top Workplaces, an award based on employee responses to the survey. Mike frequently speaks at regional and national conferences on topics including healthcare trends, financial benchmarks, business plan optimization, and strategic growth. He holds a B.B.A in accounting from The University of Iowa as well as CPA (inactive) and CMA designations. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn or email him at [email protected].

Jeremy Stolz

Jeremy Stolz has been with VGM since 2003, officially becoming president of VGM Fulfillment, a division of VGM & Associates, in 2017. VGM Fulfillment provides logistics and technology solutions to healthcare providers, and under Jeremy’s leadership, it has experienced significant growth and an expanding footprint, with annexed space in Waterloo, Iowa, and additional warehouses established in Nashville, Tennessee, and Phoenix, Arizona. VGM Fulfillment serves hundreds of providers and millions of patients with these three distribution centers. Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn or email him at [email protected].

Barb Anderson

Barb Anderson, CPA, MBA, is the chief financial officer of VGM Group, Inc. and steward of accounting and treasuring operation. She is the lead financial voice of the company and provides vital strategic, analytical, and financial perspectives for the VGM family of business.

Barb joined VGM in 2017 as corporate controller. Her focus was to build a professional accounting team and develop effective partnerships between the team and VGM Group business units. Prior to VGM, Barb worked in finance and accounting roles at Lee Enterprises, Inc., Ameriprise Financial, CUNA Mutual Life Insurance Company, and KPMG Peat Marwick. Barb serves on the Grow Cedar Valley Finance Board and the YWCA Investment Committee. She holds an MBA from the University of Northern Iowa and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Luther College. She is also a certified public accountant. Connect with Barb on LinkedIn or email her at [email protected].

Sara Laures

Sara Laures is the chief people officer for VGM Group, Inc. where she oversees people and culture strategy, human resources, talent acquisition, organizational development, and facilities management, and manages corporate projects that support the success of VGM’s multiple businesses and its employees. Sara has held roles in multiple VGM businesses during her career. She began at VGM’s HOMELINK division in 1998 and spent five years developing a foundational knowledge of care coordination and its impact on patients’ access to quality healthcare. For 14 years, she was responsible for leadership of VGM Education, spearheading the development of its robust virtual education platform and content. In her current role, she worked to expand workplace flexibility guidelines when VGM transitioned to a work-from-home policy, improving work-life balance of all employees—especially working mothers.

Sara has a bachelor’s degree in health services administration from Upper Iowa University. Because of her experience working her way up the corporate ladder, Sara advises and mentors many other aspiring female leaders. As an iPEC certified professional coach and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, she is a knowledgeable resource for women in the workplace. To further support and recognize employee owners at VGM, Sara has grown Women in Leadership (WIL) at VGM; helps guide the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee; and emcees the VGM Awards ceremony. She also serves on a number of boards and task forces in the Cedar Valley community. Connect with Sara on LinkedIn or email her at [email protected].

Jeremy Kauten

Jeremy Kauten, chief information officer and senior vice president of information technology at VGM Group, Inc., has spent his entire career in the cyber world. He currently focuses on protecting computers, networks, programs, and data from unauthorized access, change, or destruction. In addition, he coordinates the optimization of technology throughout VGM’s business units.

Jeremy's involvement at VGM started in 1997, when he committed himself to growing VGM Forbin and positioning the organization as a leader in healthcare web development and online security. He is a regular contributor to the trade press and is a frequent technology speaker at industry events. Jeremy earned a bachelor's degree in marketing and business management from Upper Iowa University with additional credits from the computer information systems program at the University of Northern Iowa. He also holds an A.A.S. in law enforcement and an M.B.A. from the University of Iowa Executive Master of Business Administration Program. Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn or email him at [email protected].

Brian Jones

Brian Jones is the president of Two Rivers Marketing (2RM), a full-service B2B marketing agency. 2RM joined the VGM Group family of businesses in 2022. As president, Brian manages day-to-day operations, ranging from agency strategic planning and financials to client relationships and championing agency culture.

Brian is a founding partner of 2RM, where he initially held the role of chief financial officer beginning in 2006. With a keen focus on finances, he has run a debt-free, financially strong organization. Prior to working for 2RM, he was a certified financial accountant at RSM. Brian graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Drake University. Connect with Brian on LinkedIn or email him at [email protected].

Christa Miehe

Christa Miehe is president of Moxie, a full-service marketing agency Christa helped create by merging three VGM entities—VGM Marketing, Hellman, and VGM Events. Previously, she was president of Marketing and Shared Services for VGM Group, Inc., where she guided company strategy to coordinate and execute various marketing and certain shared internal services across VGM’s divisions.

Christa has been with VGM since 2002. She is a copywriter by schooling, an event expert by experience, and a marketing leader through her commitment to creating impactful solutions for clients. She is a strategic problem solver with depth of knowledge in a full spectrum of valuable disciplines from editing to strategic planning, project coordination to corporate communications. Christa shapes culture at VGM as a member of the senior leadership team and shares her passion for philanthropy in overseeing the VGM Community Giving committee. Connect with Christa on LinkedIn or email her at [email protected].

Jim Nygren

Jim Nygren is the president of VGM Insurance Services, a division of VGM Group, Inc. that specializes in providing insurance solutions and risk management services to over 8,000 customers in the home medical equipment, home health and hospice, physical therapy, orthotic and prosthetic, and golf and hospitality industries.

Jim joined VGM in 2014 and has held positions in VGM Marketing, HOMELINK, and most recently, as the chief financial officer of VGM Group, Inc., where he established himself as a key business advisor and financial leader to VGM business units. Jim hold a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Northern Iowa and an MBA with an emphasis in finance from Iowa State University. Jim holds a CMA certification and ARM designation. Connect with Jim on LinkedIn or email him at [email protected].

Matt Waller

Matt entered the healthcare industry through HOMELINK’s parent company, VGM Group, Inc. and since then has helped HOMELINK successfully develop and implement new product lines such as physical therapy, hearing healthcare, and home and vehicle modifications. During his time with HOMELINK, Matt contributed to HOMELINK’s growth in both workers’ compensation and group health business development and sales team efforts. Prior to becoming president and a member of VGM’s senior leadership team, Matt served as senior vice president of sales and marketing.

He earned his B.A. in communication studies from the University of Northern Iowa. Matt is passionate about serving on work- and community-related committees and boards. He helps recognize the accomplishments of employee owners as an emcee of the VGM Awards ceremony as well as staying involved in various VGM committees. Outside of work, he founded the nonprofit organization Diamonds and Fields, an organization that built the first all-inclusive Miracle League baseball field in Northeast Iowa at All-Play Ballpark in Parkersburg, Iowa. Connect with Matt on LinkedIn or email him at [email protected].