VGM Group Announces Chris Wendland As Chief Legal Officer

WATERLOO, Iowa—VGM Group announced the promotion of Chris Wendland to chief legal officer. In this newly created role, Wendland will oversee all legal matters for VGM Group, ensuring compliance and providing strategic legal guidance to support the company’s growth and innovation. With this promotion, Wendland also joins VGM’s senior leadership team.

Wendland, a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Iowa College of Law, has worked significantly with VGM, its business units and its founders for more than 25 years. He has served as secretary on the VGM Board of Directors since the company established employee ownership in 2008. He has also provided legal services through private practice for business, real estate, municipal and estate planning clients since 1995. Most recently in his role as Legal Counsel for VGM, Wendland played a key role in the company’s acquisition of SleepGlad, a provider of innovative sleep technology solutions.

“Chris’s extensive experience and deep understanding of our company, our values and the industries we serve make him the perfect fit for this role,” said VGM Group CEO Jeremy Stolz. “VGM has an ongoing responsibility to our customers, our more than 1,600 employee owners and the communities we call home, and we’re fortunate to have an expert like him helping guide our team.”

Like VGM, Wendland’s roots lie in the Midwest. He grew up on an acreage in South Dakota and then went on to graduate from Harvard University. Since pursuing and achieving his juris doctorate from the University of Iowa, Wendland has called Waterloo, Iowa, home. 

“I have been truly honored to work with VGM for the past 25 years,” Wendland said. “As a 100% employee-owned company, VGM is unlike any company I’ve ever worked with. I am excited to take on this new role and continue supporting VGM’s mission—to provide exceptional services to our customers and partners, to make a difference in our communities and to create life-changing wealth for our employee owners.”

To learn more about VGM and the industries it serves, visit vgmgroup.com.