Leadership
Our executives bring more than just experience to the table. Consistently striving for a brighter future in digital, Vendasta leadership works tirelessly to solve the problems facing local economies around the globe.
Brendan King
Chief Executive Officer
Sandy Lohr
Chief Operations Officer
Brian Shelton
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Sandy Lohr
Chief Operations Officer (acquired company)
Sandy Lohr, previously the CEO of MatchCraft, a Vendasta-acquired brand, is passionate about the ongoing success of the local business ecosystem. Moving into Vendasta’s Chief Operating Officer role, Sandy helps shape Vendasta’s long-term strategy and works to align the culture, organizational design, company metrics, and overall operations toward those long-term objectives. She is responsible for the company’s revenue growth and customer-facing Channel Partner division, which encompasses demand generation, sales, customer success, account management, support, and retention, and the brilliant people within who take Vendasta’s platform and marketplace of solutions to market.
Thought leader, dog lover, mother, wife, golfer (wannabe), media executive, tech enthusiast…
Sandy is enjoying the SoCal lifestyle and leading the talented team at Vendasta. One of her many passions is working with non-profit organizations including educational organizations, a performing arts center, Rotary, Make-A-Wish, and the United Way.
Brian Shelton
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
As Vendasta’s CFO, and in conjunction with other senior executives, Brian is responsible for the financial oversight, financial planning and analysis of the company. He joined the company in 2023 to lead the company’s finance function.
Prior to joining Vendasta, Shelton was the CFO at a US-based technology company. Prior to that, he spent eight years at a leading global provider of software and data analytics to the real estate industry in the Dallas, Texas area. Shelton brings more than 25 years of financial experience to Vendasta, including broad exposure to mergers and acquisitions, treasury management, and raising capital, financial planning and analysis, and accounting.
Dale Hopkins
Chief Technology Officer
Marc Zaks
Chief Customer Officer
Eric Clark
VP, Corporate Development
Prior to Vendasta, Dale founded a software consulting company that specialized in digital video diagnostics and processing. Customers included Time Warner Cable and his previous employer Vecima Networks. Dale earned a bachelor degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Saskatchewan in 2005 with a dual degree in Computer Science.
Marc Zaks
Chief Customer Officer
Marc is a seasoned sales and operations executive who has helped transition some of the industry’s leading publishers into the digital age, and is now leading the charge for the revenue division at Vendasta. Marc brings an entrepreneurial approach to helping the organizations he leads pivot and shift as the market landscape evolves.
Eric Clark
VP, CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT
As Vendasta’s VP, Corporate Development, Eric leads Vendasta’s growth strategy through its fundraising and its carefully executed global M&A strategy. Eric joined the company in early 2021 to build the company’s acquisition and integration engine.
Prior to joining Vendasta, Eric was Chief Operating Officer and partner of a Western Canadian-focused Private Equity firm where he was responsible for origination, fundraising, and a variety of other corporate matters. Eric is a member of the board of directors of the Regina Chamber of Commerce and has served on the Board of the Saskatchewan Capital Network and the Canadian Venture Capital Association (CVCA).
Jeff Folckemer
SVP, Customer Expansion
Bryan Larson
VP, Strategy
Jean Parchewsky
VP, People Operations
VP, Strategy
Bryan Larson is Vendasta’s Vice President of Strategy, reporting to CEO, Brendan King. Bryan has been instrumental in the formulation, facilitation, and communication of the organization’s strategic initiatives and future goals. His contributions to product vision, and ability to align and mobilize teams has made a considerable impact on the company’s ongoing success. In addition to his role at Vendasta, Bryan provides consultation and mentorship to startups, is a guest lecturer at numerous post-secondary institutions, and an active public speaker in the tech community. Bryan joined Vendasta in 2013 to instate a scalable, world-class design team, set and govern experience standards, and enhance the corporate brand.
Prior to Vendasta, Bryan held positions with Yardi Canada and Point2 Technologies in the area of brand and design. He earned a B. Ed. degree from the University of Saskatchewan and holds certifications in scrum and UX management.
Jean is an alumna at the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Psychology. She spent 20 years growing retail brands in Canada such as Zara, Esprit and Target before moving into technology. With over 500 employees, Jean leverages her education in psychology and expertise in leading effective teams to ensure employees do not come to Vendasta just to work but are able to be their best and live out their passions.
Jean is involved with the SaskTech Board and has been a speaker at Edwards School of Business, the University of Saskatchewan, Co. Labs and various Technology events.
Janessa Yeomans
VP, Platform Operations
Shakya Abeywickrama
GM, Marketing Services
VP, Platform Operations
Janessa Yeomans is the Vice President of Vendasta’s Platform Operations. Focused on the entire lifecycle of Vendors in Vendasta’s Marketplace, Janessa leads the team that powers Channel Partners with new products and services they can offer to local businesses while ensuring the success of vendors in Vendasta’s ecosystem. The Vendor Division’s goal is to make Vendasta the channel of choice for vendors who sell digital solutions to local businesses.
Prior to Vendasta in 2014, Janessa held positions with Shaw Cable in the areas of training and development, and sales. She is an alumnus of the University of Saskatchewan with a B. Comm degree.
During her volunteer hours, she serves on the board of SODS (a settlement agency for new immigrants), and also supports the emerging local tech community in Saskatchewan by working as a Tech Start-up Mentor for the provincial tech incubator Co.Labs. Shakya is intensely customer-focused with an intuition for consumer patterns and trends. She connects people across divisions and ideologies to drive innovation throughout Vendasta, and brings a contagious brightness to each project.