MEET THE 5X PARTNERS

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Partner

Galon D. Miller
Founder & Managing Partner

Larry D. Ingwersen
Founding Partner

Roderick (Rod) J. Johnson
Senior VP of Business Development

Martin (Marty) L. Dehen
VP of Business Development

Jerome (Jerry) W. McClees
VP of Business Development

Lance M. Dieken

Partner

Galon D. Miller

Galon D. Miller is a US Navy Vietnam Veteran who served on active duty from 1973 to 1977 with two overseas tours to support our troops in Vietnam and the Indian Ocean. He served in the US Naval Reserves from 1977 to 1981 with an Honorable Discharge. Over the past 40 years, he has held Information Technology Executive Leadership and Management positions at A.C. Neilson, R.R. Donnelley Marketing, Dun and Bradstreet Corp., BORN Information Services, Microsoft Corp., and Target Corp.

For the past six years, Galon has owned and operated his own business as an SDVOB (service-disabled, veteran-owned business) in Cyber Security, as well as the founder of a non-profit 501(c)3 “Cyber Warrior Foundation,” that helps Veterans obtain certifications in Cyber Security. Galon is a tireless advocate offering career coaching, mentoring, and support to transitioning Military Veterans. According to his experience, the most effective method of healing the wounds of war is to engage in serving fellow Military Veterans.  He is on a volunteer mission to ensure the end of Veteran Suicide by offering his time to Project Got Your Back, LLC Navigator Program. Galon earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Business Management from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.  Most recently, Galon was selected by the University of St. Thomas’ OPUS School of Management as a 2021 Melrose Principled Leadership Award honoree.

Founder & Managing Partner

Larry D. Ingwersen

Mr. Ingwersen’s career has been focused on growing leading-edge technology businesses. He has been involved in data center development and operations since 1967. Mr. Ingwersen’s role is to provide strategic planning, sales/marketing, and technical expertise in support of the Aventus Data Center’s business, edge data centers for smaller communities.

Larry’s began his career creating technical solutions for US government programs such as NASA’s Apollo Program. After that, he joined Control Data, designing supercomputer systems hardware and becoming a P&L manager in his 20s. Control Data grew to be the world’s second-largest computer company during Mr. Ingwersen’s 15 years at the company. Then, Larry spun five new corporations out of Control Data that grew from start-up to IPO.  These five businesses attained an average annual revenue stream of $100M in less than two years from the market launch dates. After that, Mr. Ingwersen founded Tricord Systems, making the first true server system. Tricord grew to $100M in revenues and an IPO.

After Tricord, Mr. Ingwersen changed his focus to advising and supporting new entrepreneurs. He founded the Zebulon Group, which planned and implemented breakout initiatives for over 35 clients as large as Microsoft, Intel, Fujitsu, and Apple, before co-founding 5X Partners with Rod Johnson.

Mr. Ingwersen holds a degree in Electronics Engineering and has been the CEO of seven companies and a Board Member for more than ten growth-oriented technology companies.

Founding Partner

Roderick (Rod) J. Johnson

Mr. Johnson has been in the data center business since 2006. Although he semi-retired three years ago, Mr. Johnson is the primary planner for Aventus Data Centers when Aventus is serious about the community.

Mr. Johnson’s career has been focused on revenue and business development.  Rod has been a key player in the management team for three greenfield business start-ups. These businesses were capitalized at roughly $2 million, $20 million, and $80 million, respectively. Rod’s business development experience as the lead or a leadership team member has resulted in the completion of over $700 million in new revenue and acquisition value.

Before 5X, Rod was a business development executive at Minnesota Power. Rod has assembled and managed several product developments, business development, and sales teams and has worked on M&A projects ranging in value from $5 million to nearly a billion dollars. Rod graduated from the Carlson School of Business, Minnesota Executive Program and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Senior VP of Business Development

Martin (Marty) L. Dehen

Mr. Dehen has been in the data center business since 2013. Mr. Dehen leads the 5X efforts to identify and qualify smaller communities to deploy edge data centers. Mr. Dehen has worked with Mr. Ingwersen and Mr. McClees in business development efforts for over ten years.

Marty started his career as a registered broker in the Minneapolis brokerage community. Marty recently dropped his broker license and focused on helping early-stage companies obtain financing through self-managed equity or debt offerings. Marty has raised over one hundred million dollars in venture capital, private equity, and IPOs for more than fifty companies. Before 5X, Marty was the Shareholder Services VP at Healthcare IP Partners from Dec. 2006 until January 2011 and Conservis Corp. from Jan. – Dec. 2011. Marty holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Moorhead State University and sits on the Board for Trinity Sober Homes, a highly successful non-profit, faith-based recovery organization.

VP of Business Development

Jerome (Jerry) W. McClees

Mr. McClees has been in the data center business since 2013. Mr. McClees’ role at 5X is identifying and qualifying smaller communities that are well-fitted for deploying edge data centers.

After college, Jerry was a helicopter pilot in the United States Marine Corps from 1965 to 1969. He was in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. After his military service, he worked for 31 years in the Financial Services Industry. He started with Bond and Equity sales roles, followed by Bond and Equity Trading.  Jerry managed Trading Compliance efforts for the last ten years of his financial services career.

Jerry later was in the Executive Search Business, placing people in sales to “C” level positions within the Financial Services Industry. During his time in financial services and executive search, Jerry became interested in helping young companies succeed, and he has raised funds for many of these companies.

Mr. McClees has a BS degree in Economics from Minnesota State University. Jerry enjoys spending time at his Lake Cabin with kids and grandkids.

VP of Business Development

Lance M. Dieken

Since 2004, Mr. Dieken has a proven track record of analyzing and evaluating the Information Technology needs of organizations with complex IT systems.  Mr. Dieken is skilled at developing and implementing advanced IT solutions that advance each organization’s unique mission while fitting the client’s capabilities, personnel, vendors, and processes.

Mr. Dieken’s clients have included such organizations as McCormick & Schmicks, Boeing, Starbucks, Washington Mutual, US Government Services, Brady Corporation, Miller Corporation, Manpower Int’l, Vision Financial, Cuna Mutual, MainSource Financial, Hartmarxx, Nike, McDonald’s, and Verizon.

Mr. Dieken has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology from the University of the Pacific and an Associate of Science Degree IP Communications from Robert Morris.  He also holds certifications such as CISSP, CISA, CISM, ITIL, CCNP, MCSE, and CyberSecurity.