When Vaco was just an idea, a group of former Big 4 CPAs were providing CFO and Controller level talent on a project basis.  They realized there was a complete void in the market place. 

The national firms in this industry experienced up to 60% turnover and the local shops were unable to satisfy their clients' global needs.  The concept of "Vaco" was born - the definition, free yourself from a master.  The objective, to create an empowered environment where partners could spend their careers reaching their professional and financial potential.

The rest is history. 

October 2002: The first Vaco company was founded by Jerry Bostelman in Nashville, Tennessee.

In its first three months of operation Bostelman represented Vaco alone and served clients on a diverse array of critical searches and projects including:

• For the most famous guitar company in the world placed three executive financial players and designed their international tax strategy.
• Provided five interim hospital CFOs to lead an acquisition transition from December 31st 2002 to seamless assimilation by May 2003.
• Supported due diligence efforts for the largest publicly traded hospital company in the world.
• Built a consolidated commission calculating tool for a $200 M marketing company that had grown through seven acquisitions.
• For the largest privatized prison company in the world placed the VP- Finance and a regional controller.

Vaco's very first consultant, Roxie Nieroda contributed significantly to the success of Vaco's consulting engagements.  She continues to consult for Vaco clients today.

2003

- Vaco merged with Continuum Search adding former Big 4 players and industry executives Jay Hollomon and Brian Waller.  These additions to the leadership team allowed Vaco to expand and serve markets across the nation.    

- Sarbanes-Oxley compliance became a significant challenge for existing and aspiring public companies.  Vaco developed a general solution based on a history of successful financial engagements and customizes it for numerous public companies.  Solutions ranged from strategic advisement to turn-key solutions.

- Vaco Technology was added to the service offering.  Vaco Technology provided services ranging from help-desk support to CIO solutions on a project or permanent basis.  The division was led by a team of players with deep industry experience with companies such as IBM and Accenture.

- In response to client demand for consistent, timely, quality administrative talent on a project and permanent basis, Vaco Staffing was born.

In Vaco's first full year of operations, we served 40 clients in one office and revenues exceed $1.8 Million.

2004

Vaco traveled to Richmond, VA to tell a prospective Partner they were not even close to opening a company in a second  location.  Within 5 minutes of meeting the prospective Partner, Renee Fisher, a decision was made and Richmond was the first company opened outside of Nashville. 

Since joining the Vaco family, her office has consistently ranked as its second largest office - an amazing feat considering she has had three children while leading Vaco Richmond. 

- In March 2004, Vaco traveled to Memphis to reunite with Kirk Johnston and Cheryl Citrone.  The 3rd Vaco company was founded in time to celebrate at Memphis in May.  Their pedigrees blend to include over 20 years of CIO level experience and over sixteen years of IT project and permanent placement.  In their first year of operation, a team including Alex Naddell, Scott Gordon and Brandon Guy helped to establish Vaco Technology.  With over thirty years of successful IT projects and placements, this team was well equipped to launch operations in Memphis and ultimately returned home to serve clients in Nashville. 

- As Wayne Lynch from Richmond and Jay Hollomon from Nashville pioneered the Raleigh market, the names Dave Rhode and Sid Michener were mentioned repeatedly as the strongest players in that market.  These pioneers recognized their strength as a team and pooled their talents and built Vaco Raleigh.

In 2004, Vaco served 163 clients on critical financial, technology, and administrative projects in four  markets and revenues exceed $9.7 Million.

 

2005

- Vaco received its first public accolade as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in Tennessee according to the Nashville Business Journal, an honor it has won every year since. The same publication recognized Vaco as being one of the Best Places to Work.

- As Vaco's reputation for the highest quality service and superior professional opportunity spread, competitors' employees were drawn to the environment where their voices are valued and their tremendous talents were rewarded.  Vaco welcomed these impact players with open arms.

- Denise Bennett-Walls established Vaco Orlando.  She brought with her Big 4 public accounting experience, Fortune 500 leadership, and a heart for international charity work.  Her successful project experience ranged from Sarbanes-Oxley implementation to acquisition assimilation.

- Brandy Sloatermen, Ryan Buell and Joe Kudla left Big 4 public accounting to build the senior level financial project division within a national company in San Diego.  Fueled by the entrepreneurial spirit so prevalent in their market they joined the Vaco Nation so they could create their own local company while offering their clients access to national resources.    

- Vaco Orange County added a significant infusion of client service enthusiasm to the Vaco Nation in the form of Jennifer McCasland and Kelli Maresch.  Their experience ranged from fielding teams of CPAs to designing financial systems to staffing entire call center operations in a white hot California candidate market.  

- Eric Lipkind and John Curabba joined forces to bring Vaco to the Garden State.  They shared pedigrees from Big 4 public accounting, explosive start-ups, Fortune 500 companies and had built two of the largest financial consulting practices within a national firm.  Clients have trusted them with initiatives that range from confidential CFO searches to cost analysis projects across the globe. 

- After building the permanent placement operations in Nashville, Bradley Hewett took his twelve years of financial executive search experience to the coast and founded Vaco Tampa.  His partner Jim Parker came to Vaco with over 20 years of controller level experience and serves clients on projects that range from interim financial leadership to business process improvement.

- Vaco Charlotte leveraged the experience and success of Vaco Raleigh and launched in 2005.  Its financial executive placement division is led by a 20 year local financial icon, Tom Maupin.  Operations are led by a former Big 4 Senior Manager, Pete Seeber, who serves clients with projects as diverse as acquisition valuations and SEC reporting. 

In 2005, Vaco served 304 clients in 10 markets and revenues exceed $27.1 Million.

 

2006

- Vaco went to Hollywood when Frances Moreno brought her team of Lorraine Sanchez, Anita Shelly and Stephanie Kearns to Vaco LA.  Their experiences combined perfectly and include Big 4 public accounting, Fortune 500, start-ups and a history of dominance in financial permanent placement and consulting for a national competitor.  Four months later Devon Zopfi brought his twelve years of information technology and consulting services to the LA team as they continued to grow and flourish. They currently challenge Nashville and Richmond as the largest company in the Vaco Nation. 

- The amazing Valdo Melton appeared to deliver Vaco into the desert and serve clients in the Phoenix and Tucson area.  Valdo brought diversified experience including service as a financial executive.   Since joining Vaco, engagements have ranged from supply-chain management to an extra set of helping hands through busy season to multiple senior-level financial positions. 

- Drawn by stories that everything is bigger and better in Dallas, Vaco expanded West.  Robert Hubbard had built financial, technology and administrative consulting and placement operations across Texas for two national competitors in his twenty year career and saw Vaco as the perfect opportunity to build an enduring powerhouse.  Since joining Vaco his team has served on critical IT development engagements, revenue cycle analysis and multiple infrastructure design projects. 

In 2006, Vaco served 614 clients in 14 markets and revenues exceed $63.8 Million.

2007

- Vaco recognized that explosive growth requires a world-class infrastructure and slowed expansion to invest internally. Vaco welcomed CFO, Todd Sweat.  Todd's experience in building $400 - $800 Million companies and a Big 4 senior management pedigree has aided Todd in streamlining processes, implementing Great Plains and building an engine capable of serving a $500M organization.  

- Vaco was honored as the 33rd fastest growing company in the US according to Inc magazine.   

- Vaco founder Jerry Bostelman was recognized as the Southeast Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.  This award was particularly rewarding to Jerry as so many of us started our careers in Big 4 public accounting.  The success of every Vaco market is a testament to its entrepreneurial spirit. 

- Having surrounded 'the jewel of the south' in almost every major southern market, Vaco finally entered Atlanta and found the ideal blend of accounting and technology in the team of Katie King and Todd Marinich.  Katie started her career in public accounting and spent over twelve years serving the Atlanta market for a national competitor with teams of recruiters that executed searches that ranged from staff auditors at Fortune 500 companies to CFOs of explosive start-ups.  Todd started his twelve year career with a national competitor where he and his team filled a host of technology positions on a project or permanent basis.  Prior to joining Vaco, he founded, ran and ultimately sold a successful technology firm of his own and loved the concept of partnering in a locally owned company with a national reach.   

In 2007, Vaco served 905 clients in 16 markets and revenues exceed $96.5 Million.

2008

- Vaco once again was selected as one of the fastest growing companies in America according to Inc magazine. 

- With a world-class infrastructure and clients who demand more access to the Nation, Vaco begins rapid expansion and welcomes Austin, Birmingham, Chicago, Denver, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, San Francisco, and Seattle to the Vaco family.

-  Through its first five years of operation Vaco maintained a turnover rate of less than 5% in an industry that averages up to 60%. Its growth and retention validates that an entrepreneurial culture grounded in individual empowerment and commitment to longevity creates a national powerhouse.  

In 2008, Vaco served 1025 clients in 20 markets and revenues exceed $116 Million

2009

The Vaco Nation reaches 26 locations, more than 250 internal employees and over 1000 consultants.

Vaco is very proud of its history and excited about the future. We look forward to continued growth, success and a partnership with you.