Meet the Team Behind
Vanguard Intelligence

Vanguard Intelligence started as a dorm-room project between friends who were obsessed with fixing broken, manual processes inside small and mid-sized businesses. That scrappy start turned into a focused team that helps owners plug in AI systems that actually get used day-to-day.

Our vision

Give every business the power to scale like an enterprise – without the overhead. Instead of renting “AI tools”, you get AI staff that plug into your workflows and take real work off your plate.

How we work with you

We operate as partners inside your business — not tool-pushers selling “AI.” We build systems that get used, reduce human drag, and compound over time.

How We’re Different

Operators first, not tool-pushers. Every deployment starts with mapping how your business actually runs — calls, leads, onboarding, follow-up, and where time is being burned.
Systems, not random automations. Wally, Sally, your website, funnels, campaigns, and reporting are wired together as one system — not a pile of disconnected apps.
Marketing + operations under one roof. We don’t just answer calls. We also build the pipelines, follow-ups, and websites that turn attention into revenue.
Real-world constraints baked in. We design around your team, clients, and compliance — so the system actually ships and stays live.

How We Operate

Pressure-test reality: We trace where time, money, and attention are bleeding — not where it feels inconvenient.
Remove human drag: Repetitive decisions, follow-ups, and handoffs are stripped out and handed to systems.
Lock it in: Once a workflow proves ROI, it becomes infrastructure — not a fragile automation.

Founding team

Jacob Pierce

CEO & Founder

Jacob Pierce is the CEO and founder of Vanguard Intelligence, where he leads the company’s overall vision and strategic direction.

A former collegiate track and football student-athlete, Jacob brings a performance-first mindset rooted in discipline, preparation, and execution. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity, with a minor in Management Information Systems, combining technical understanding with business leadership.

His background spans technology, operations, and strategy, with a focus on building scalable systems and making complex problems simple to execute.

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Ryan Ervin

COO & Co-Founder

Former NCAA collegiate football student-athlete and COO/Co-Founder of Vanguard Intelligence. I bring disciplined execution and a results-first approach to digital marketing built on real experience running operations, tracking KPIs, and building systems that keep businesses organized and scalable. With 2 years of sales and business development experience, I understand what drives trust, conversions, and long-term relationships, and I apply that same standard to managing your social media and keeping your business running smoothly behind the scenes.

Doug Prew

Director of Growth & Strategic Outreach

Doug Prew is Director of Growth & Strategic Outreach at Vanguard Intelligence, where he supports market expansion, strategic partnerships, and enterprise positioning through relationship-driven growth and strategic insight. He brings a background in consultative sales, customer experience, and multi-industry business development, with experience advising clients, managing complex sales cycles, and building long-term professional relationships. Doug focuses on aligning Vanguard Intelligence's capabilities with real-world business needs, helping guide outreach strategy and long-term growth initiatives.

Conner Kulka

CFO & Co-Founder

Conner is a Finance major with an Entrepreneurship minor at Miami University’s Farmer School of Business. He combines academic training with hands-on experience as a business owner and professional work in commercial banking, where he gained expertise in credit analysis, risk management, and client advisory services. This blend of entrepreneurial insight and institutional finance equips him with the skills to manage fundraising, capital allocation, and sustainable growth strategies.

Samuel VanPelt

CMO & Co-Founder

Sam is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Vanguard Intelligence, where he leads brand strategy, campaign execution, and go-to-market positioning.

With a strong background in social media and digital marketing, Sam brings a strategic, data-driven approach to building campaigns that are clear, consistent, and results-focused. His work centers on aligning creative direction with business objectives to ensure marketing efforts support long-term growth, not just short-term attention.

As CMO, Sam oversees messaging, content strategy, and campaign structure to ensure the Vanguard brand remains sharp, disciplined, and performance-oriented.

Want operators, not just tools, on your side?

Book a strategy call and we’ll show you exactly where Wally, Sally, and your website can take work off your team – and what that means in booked revenue.

Request Your Free Strategy Call →

Meet the Team BehindVanguard Intelligence