In 1996, Mr. Powers founded Vanguard Resources, Inc. with a small group of partners, and was elected CEO/President in 2000. As President, Mr. Powers increased annual revenues from $3 million to over $11 million. Mr. Powers has grown Vanguard by focusing on four goals: customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, financial stewardship and quality outcomes. Mr. Powers is also CEO/President of Vanguard Manufacturing, Inc., and Viper 360, Inc. (subsidiaries of Vanguard Resources, Inc.), and is a general partner in FARRV, LLP.

Mr. Powers started his healthcare engineering career in 1986 as Director of Facilities Management of St. Elizabeth Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Jackson Parish Hospital in Louisiana. Mr. Powers established and managed comprehensive Facilities Management Departments, responsible for everything from plant operations and maintenance to telecommunications, environmental services, regulatory compliance and team development, managing budgets exceeding $50 million.

Ricky Powers is actively involved in the community, assisting with the TSTC Student Mentoring Committees, annual charity events for several hospital foundations, MS Bike to the Beach and ongoing hurricane relief efforts. Mr. Powers is a member of American Society for Healthcare Engineering, Louisiana Rural Health Association, ASHES, TASHA and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.

Earning the majority of his experience in the service of our nation, Powers garnered multiple accolades as an innovative, high-ranking Army Aviation leader. His career has revolved around the enhancement and streamlining of information management systems and leadership training operations. A known champion of safety and training strategy, he has implemented on-the-job protocols that have effectively enhanced productivity, reduced work related injuries and improved overall efficiency. In just a few years, his managerial and leadership skills achieved a 70% decrease of work-related accidents, a more than 15 million dollar military equipment acquisition and the successful acquisition and installation of an $800,000 unmanned aircraft simulation device.

Comfortable either leading independently or working in collaboration with skilled professionals, Powers has managed groups as large as 1,000, and has directed minimally staffed groups to record, monitor and track several thousands of project hours

Powers rejoined the Vanguard Resource team in 2011, after a previous period serving as an integral part of the service monitoring team in 1998-2000.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics and a Masters of Information Systems.

Mr. Granger was Director of Facilities and Property at University Medical Center and the Louisiana Technical College System from 2002 – 2006. Mr. Granger was responsible for providing leadership and resources to sustain 52 campuses with 324 buildings, 2.7 million total square feet and 494 acres maintained by 100 support staff personnel throughout Louisiana. In the wake of Katrina and Rita, Mr. Granger was directly responsible for completing facility condition assessments and assisting FEMA and the EPA. He reported building repair progress and findings to the LCTCS Board, State Education Board of Regents, the State Senate and House of Representatives.

Mr. Granger started his career in 1984 as a Building Engineer at a local hospital while completing his degree. After earning his B.S. in Industrial Technology from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Mr. Granger completed the Marriott Healthcare Services Management Training Program. He served as Facilities Manager at St. Joseph Hospital, Director of Facilities Management at KNAPP Medical Center and Methodist Regional Medical Center (formerly Baylor Richardson), where he also served as the Hospital Safety Officer. Mr. Granger and his teams were awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals by Marriott Healthcare Services as one of the top 5 percent accounts in the nation.

From 2006-2010, Mr. Granger served as the Director of Facilities Management for the Hunt Memorial Hospital District and as Vanguard Resources’ Regional Director of Healthcare Operations.

In 2010, he became Vice President of Healthcare Operations, directing and supporting each General Manager in living the VRI Core Values of Integrity, Commitment, Service, Performance Excellence and Teamwork. He also assists the President/CEO in new account sales, proposal development, site surveys, start-ups and company-wide process improvements.

Since joining the Vanguard Resources leadership team, Leslie has successfully managed the company’s finances and budgets for the last 10 years.

Leslie was promoted to Vice President of Finance in 2012 and is actively responsible for more than $25 million in invoicing, $6 million in assets and more than $23 million in payables. In addition, Leslie manages bank reconciliation, analyzes accounting reports, graphs and acts as third-party contract management and support. Her commitment to her leadership role is consistently demonstrated through her long work hours to meet deadlines and ability to answer all accounting and finance questions for vendors, clients and employees.

Bart Copes is a Vanguard Resources success story. For the past 17 years, he has moved up the ranks, wearing many hats within the company.

A veteran that served with the 1st of the 82nd Field Artillery, 1st Calvary Division during Desert Storm, Copes began his career with Vanguard Resources in 1995 as Security Manager for St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Louisiana. His hard work and dedication earned him a promotion to Facilities Director of Jackson Parish Hospital in Jonesboro, Louisiana.

Copes then became the Director of Facilities Management/Safety Officer for the Methodist Richardson Medical Center. He oversaw the 209-licensed bed facility, 112 employees with an annual budget of $14 million dollars. Copes oversaw the facility’s operational and strategic engineering, environmental service, laundry, dietary, security, construction, bio-medical engineering and environmental safety and emergency management.

In January 2012, Copes joined the management team as Vice President of Business Development and has since stuck to his commitment of nurturing team members throughout the organization.

Copes is a Certified Healthcare Safety Professional, Certified Healthcare Environmental Manager, Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional and has obtained his amateur radio license. He is also active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the First Cavalry Division Association.