VIACK Corp. COO touts new graduate degree programs at ASU

July 20, 2007

Rusty Swartz, chief operating officer for Scottsdale-based VIACK Corporation, has been elected to serve as chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the School of Global Management and Leadership (SGML) at Arizona State University. His selection by council peers was announced by Gary Waissi, SGML dean.<separator></separator>“Rusty brings a great deal of leadership and management experience to our school,” said Waissi. “He is familiar with and supportive of the goals we have set to identify and position the school’s unique competitive advantages and ensure a continued focus on our strategic objectives.<separator></separator>“He is a tremendous asset to the school; he will be an important and leading player in the success we have charted for the coming year.” <separator></separator>Swartz, who holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Babson College, is no stranger to SGML, located on ASU’s West campus. He received an introduction and first-hand experience as an adjunct professor teaching marketing, sales, and sales management for eight years, from 1995 to 2003.<separator></separator>He is anxious to help SGML fill its two new graduate degree programs – master’s of applied leadership and management and master’s of accountancy and applied leadership – with new students in the inaugural Fall ’07 class.<separator></separator>“The opportunity to be involved in these programs is exciting,” said Swartz, who has held leadership and management positions with three Fortune 500 companies, including notable household names such as The Dial Corporation and Universal Foods. “To build upon an undergraduate degree program in accounting or business management with a specific focus on the dynamics of organizational leadership while developing necessary individual skills meets a critical career need,” said Swartz. “Graduates of these two new degree programs will have developed the required core competencies to assume valued leadership positions in industry, government and entrepreneurial ventures.”<separator></separator>As COO of VIACK, Swartz leads the company’s financial, accounting, legal and facility operations. VIACK provides business and government professionals the ability to share information and conduct conference meetings via secure web-enabled platforms. The pioneering technology boasts a wide and growing range of users that includes federal and state governments, as well as commercial and academic enterprises. SGML uses VIACK’s platforms for meetings and conferences on a regular basis.<separator></separator>“This is a natural progression for me to become further involved in the long-term achievements of the School of Global Management and Leadership through my participation on the Dean’s Advisory Council,” said Swartz, who “Each of us serving on the council is committed to the long-term vision and mission delineated in the school’s strategic plan.”<separator></separator>Swartz joins an impressive array of Valley leaders from some of Arizona’s leading corporations, including ING Investments, PetSmart, JP Morgan Chase, Prudential, The Plaza Companies, SRP, Scottsdale Healthcare and Jobing.com.<separator></separator>“As board chairman, my personal goal is to enhance Dean Waissi’s drive to make the School of Global Management and Leadership an even greater success – locally, nationally and internationally – than it already is,” said Swartz.