Chris Schwartzbauer is an ‘ideapreneur’, engineer, and strategic innovator with over two decades of leadership experience driving technology companies to new heights. He currently serves as President and CEO of Quest Defense, combining his entrepreneurial spirit and engineering expertise to bring novel mission-critical solutions to the most exacting OEMs. His unique ability to scale businesses, as demonstrated by his leadership at EXB Solutions, where he over-tripled the company’s revenue and expanded its workforce, showcases his business foresight, drive, and deep understanding of market needs.
Chris’s leadership journey has been marked by his success in transforming companies, launching startups, and guiding high-stakes mergers and acquisitions. His P&L expertise allows him to steer organizations with precision, maximizing profits and minimizing losses, all while delivering cutting-edge, cost-effective engineering solutions.
Beyond his corporate accomplishments, Chris is deeply committed to his community. He serves on the executive boards of Lead the Way Foundation and Folds of Honor, making a meaningful impact on families and individuals in Minnesota. His commendable career as an Army Officer and his service in the Gulf War earned him the prestigious Bronze Star for his exemplary contributions.
Chris believes in and embodies the “1+1 = 3 mentality” and continues to shape and lead successful ventures, leaving an indelible mark on the technology industry.
As Chief Financial Officer, Sommerness is responsible for the overall success and profitability of the company’s finances, human resources, service delivery, information technology, and administration functions.
Sommerness has held a variety of leadership roles at both large and small companies in his career. As Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of GovDelivery, Inc., a SaaS-based government communications company, he spent 14 years building the company into a successful international business and was instrumental in completing the sale of GovDelivery to Actua. Prior to this, he managed multiple manufacturing plants for H.B. Fuller, a Fortune 500 company. In addition to his civilian career, Dave was a Major in the U.S. Army and served in numerous leadership positions as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers. A combat veteran, Dave was awarded the Bronze Star for his service during Operation Desert Storm.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the United State Military Academy and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
