James Beard

Chief Executive Officer

James Beard is the chief executive officer. He started his career at Vanguard as a senior project manager before being promoted to general manager, then to COO, and now CEO.  He has been heavily involved in Vanguard Companies’ operational changes as we have evolved from a corrugated packaging manufacture to a high-end graphics and display manufacturer with complete turnkey services which include fulfillment and distribution.

Jim earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Missouri.

Michael Dieleman

Chief Financial Officer

Mike Dieleman is the chief financial officer. Mike is responsible for leading the financial management and strategic planning / budgeting at Vanguard Companies.  He provides operational leadership to ensure the finance and accounting and information technology teams are supporting the business needs and initiatives.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Iowa and his C.P.A. from the Iowa Board of Accountancy.

Amber Wiedmier

Divisional Manager

Amber Wiedmier is the Divisional Manager of Advanced Logistics and Fulfillment (ALF).  She was hired shortly after ALF was established as a production supervisor.  As ALF grew, so did Amber’s role within the company.  She transitioned to the roles of Inventory Control Manager, Continuous Improvement Manager, and was eventually promoted to Divisional Manager.  Amber has been an integral part of creating the processes and shaping the culture at ALF, which has helped it become one of the premier fulfillment providers in the country.

Amber earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from William Jewell College in Liberty, MO.

Wendy Richards

Chief Human Resources Officer

Wendy Richards is the chief human resources officer. Wendy is responsible for the overall strategic vision for human resources at Vanguard Companies. She provides leadership and guidance to the human resource department by overseeing, among other responsibilities, talent acquisition, development, and performance management.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Relations from Mid-America Nazarene University, Olathe, KS.