Our Team

Aaron Loehr, CEO & President

Bandwidth Advisors brokers complex telecommunication and internet related services for Fortune 1000 companies. Aaron founded Bandwidth Advisors in 2003 and has over 15 years’ experience in the data center and IT infrastructure industry.

Under Aaron’s leadership Bandwidth Advisors developed into the premier data center and telecom agency in the Northwest. Bandwidth Advisors is the official Agent-of-Record for many of the West Coast’s largest technology companies, real estate firms and internet service providers.

In late 2006 Aaron traveled throughout India as a delegate for the Seattle-India Trade Development Alliance. Aaron has personally toured and evaluated over 150 data centers across 3 continents.

Prior to establishing Bandwidth Advisors, Aaron held Director and Global Account Manager positions at ColoCenters, Savvis Communications and Sprint.

Aaron earned his Bachelor of Arts from Whitman College. He enjoys boating and is a certified captain for vessels up to 30 tons. Aaron also likes to fly and has his solo aircraft pilots’ license.

 

Jay Schwartz, General Manager

Jay Schwartz is the General Manager of Bandwidth Advisors reporting directly to the CEO. Jay has accountability for day-to-day operations across all departments, including Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Finance, and IT. He is also responsible for maintaining all aspects of the company’s vision, mission, and goals.

Jay joined Bandwidth Advisors in 2011. His experience includes founding and serving as the President of the independent film company, IndieShares. Jay also led Business Development and Strategic Sourcing efforts at JPMC/WaMu, Nike, and Thomson Reuters focusing on Strategic Alliance, IT Outsourcing, and Supply Chain Optimization transactions.

Jay graduated from SUNY Albany with a BA in Economics and English. He then received his JD from John Marshall Law School and his MBA from Cornell University. Jay is also retired from the US Army Reserves having most recently served as the Senior Defense Counsel in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Steve Francis, Director of Strategic Relationships

Steve Francis is the Director of Strategic Relationships and brings over 20 years experience in the Data Center and IT infrastructure industry. Steve’s main responsibilites include supporting Bandwidth Advisors strategic clients and partner realtionships, managing the direct sales team and developing new sales and marketing programs.

Prior to joining Bandwidth Advisors, Steve held strategic sales and management leadership positions with MCI, MIDCOM and Internap. Steve’s diverse background includes domestic and global sales/operations and driving complex client solutions across network transport, content distribution, data center, advanced IP and emerging technologies.

Steve has a degree from Eastern Illinois University, and when not working,  try’s to keep up with his 3 young, active boys.  When time allows, Steve spends time cycling and enjoying the Pacific Northwest.

 

Velvet Withers, Chief Financial Officer

Velvet Withers has over 30 years experience in accounting and financial management. Her background includes 10 years as a CPA with Moss Adams where she worked predominantly with closely held companies. After public accounting, she spent eight years in private industry as a controller, Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer in high tech, lumber, energy sales, including start-up companies.
During her 12 years at CFO2Go, Velvet has worked on a wide range of clients including small closely held companies, start-ups, companies with worldwide operations, services, high tech companies, real estate related entities and City of Seattle agencies. Velvet enjoys utilizing her years in public accounting and her hands-on experience in private industry to provide business consulting to a variety of clients.

 

Sarah McComb, Director of Operations

Sarah McComb oversees operations and agent support for Bandwidth Advisors.  Sarah maintains integral relationships with telecom and data center providers.  Her responsibilities include: bidding carrier services, managing the Manual Reverse Auction Process, Vendor Selection Analysis and providing clients with competitive pricing summaries.

Sarah started with Bandwidth Advisors in 2005.  She is responsible for measuring company and provider performance metrics.  Sarah maintains constant collaboration with senior brokers in the field and assists the team by circulating collective market intelligence.

Sarah graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Language and International Affairs.

 

Kate Miller, Client Services Manager

Kate Miller is a Client Services Manager at Bandwidth Advisors and is responsible for supporting Bandwidth Advisors’ clients throughout the solution process. Job duties include quote and proposal generation, market research, and updating provider information.

Prior to joining Bandwidth Advisors, Kate was Editor/Writer at SeattlePoliticore.org, a website created through the Journalism School at the University of Washington.

Kate graduated with Honors from UW with a degree in Journalism and Political Science. She was the recipient of the Robert F. Philip Scholarship and the John Empola Scholarship.

 

Justin Swanberg, Finance Operations Manager

Justin Swanberg is responsible for tracking and managing Bandwidth Advisors’ commissions, accounts receivable and accounting systems. His duties include revenue maintenance, sales tracking, reporting and financial modeling.

Prior to joining Bandwidth Advisors, Justin was Finance and Operations Manager at Home Team Northwest Construction, one of the leading residential construction companies in Pierce County. While there, Justin was in charge of implementing the company’s financial policies, systems, cost-benefit analyses and financial management.

Justin graduated from Gonzaga University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Human Resource Management.

 

Josh Gay, Strategic Account Manager

Josh is responsible for the entire account acquisition and management process – including initial customer prospecting through contract signature and ongoing client services.

Josh joined Bandwidth Advisors after 8 years as the Vice President of an industrial communications company specializing in wireless technology. Prior to that he represented a WAN solution and enterprise computer hardware solutions company.

He graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Sociology.

 

Elena Winters, Strategic Account Manager

Elena is charged with identifying key clients and partnerships for the company, she is responsible for the entire account acquisition and management process for clients.

Prior to joining Bandwidth Advisors, Elena worked at ADP as a District Manager in the human resource and payroll industry. Prior to that she spent time with a startup software company in California. Her interest in the technology industry combined with her customer centric mentality is what brought her to Bandwidth Advisors.

Elena graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

 

Laura Naumann, Sales & Marketing Assistant

Laura Naumann is the Sales and Marketing Assistant for Bandwidth advisors. Her responsibilities include administrative support for sales force, reporting, lead generation, basic quoting as well as assisting the Sales and Marketing Coordinator with the creation and distribution of marketing materials.

Prior to joining Bandwidth Advisors, Laura worked as a Human Resources and Payroll Assistant for Creative Living Services, prior to that she worked as a Retail Store Manager for Starbucks Coffee in Seattle, Boston, and Minnesota.

She attended the University of Wisconsin – Stout, completing the Hospitality and Tourism Management program.