Ray DeLaughter

Managing Partner

Ray is one of the partners and founders of Pyek Group. He has a unique skill-set that comes from experience as a small business owner and experience consulting with Fortune 500 companies. Ray is also the founder and CEO of VantageCFO, a consulting firm that offers fractional CFO services to a variety of small and medium-sized companies. Prior to starting VantageCFO, Ray worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Restructuring Group at Deloitte Consulting. He has extensive experience in finance, including capital sourcing, performance management, organization restructuring, and investment due diligence. Ray has a BA in Finance from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina.

Keith Dalton

Keith Dalton, a graduate from Texas A&M, is an accomplished commercial construction professional with 28+ years of experience. As President/Owner of KDW, he leads a skilled team that has completed diverse projects totaling 10 million sq. ft. Keith collaborates with global companies constructing single-tenant industrial facilities in Houston. Notable clients include Goya Foods, NOV ReedHycalog, TAM International, Aker Solutions, Bauer, Schlumberger, Noble, among others. With a background in projects at Disney, Universal, and Sea World, Keith brings expertise from his eight-year tenure in Orlando.

Additionally, Keith is a partner at Kingham Dalton Investments, focusing on real estate developments—offices, retail centers, multi-family complexes, and raw land investments. A native Houstonian residing in Katy for 15 years, Keith actively engages with organizations like the Greater Houston Partnership, CorNet, Katy EDC, and Waller County EDC.

Terry Hlavinka

Terry Hlavinka, the principal at Hlavinka Equipment Company, has a remarkable background in farming and ranching that dates back to his high school days. Upon graduating from Texas A&M, Terry joined Hlavinka Equipment, a company originally established by his grandfather, Joe Hlavinka. Through his efforts, Terry successfully ventured into new markets and established the company as the leading Case-IH dealer in the state, in terms of sales volume. Under his guidance, the business has flourished and now operates from nine different locations.

In addition to his role at Hlavinka Equipment, Terry is also a landowner with approximately 22,000 acres of land in the greater Houston area. This land is utilized for various agricultural purposes. Furthermore, Terry recently made an acquisition that further solidifies his presence in the industry. He purchased the second largest commercial rice and grain storage facility in the Texas Gulf Coast, expanding his reach and influence in the region.

Evan Barnett

Evan Barnett is a 25-year veteran of the waterpark industry. Currently, Evan serves as the President of Pyek Group, LLC Typhoon Texas & Cowabunga Vegas; Houstons, Austins & Las Vegas' premier waterpark destination. At just age 16 he started as a park services employee cleaning up trash and restrooms. Not a glamorous job, but one that highlights Evan’s servant leadership attitude and mindset.

Under his leadership, the park has received the Executive Board Award from the World Waterpark Association and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Brass Ring Award for the best employee recognition program. Barnett graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a Masters in Business Administration.

John Pham

John Pham serves as the Director of Marketing for PYEK Group. In his current role, he specializes in brand management, social media, digital media, traditional media, creative, partnership, public relations, and much more! He began his career in the waterpark industry at Typhoon Texas Houston as the Operations Manager in December 2015 and has since overseen multiple departments, including water safety, risk management, admissions, partnerships, points of sale, and guest experience.

During his time at Typhoon Texas, the park has been awarded the 2022 #1 Best Waterpark in Houston & Austin, Texas by the Houston Chronicle and Austin Family, received the Executive Board Award from the World Waterpark Association, the Brass Ring Award for the best employee recognition program from IAAPA and the World Waterpark Association’s Wave Review Award for all categories within the last two years. John is always seeking new opportunities to develop others, learn from industry professionals and network with the best in the industry. He currently serves on WWA’s Marketing & Communications Committee.

Before joining Typhoon Texas Waterpark, John graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree then worked as a real estate agent in the State of Texas, where he focused on commercial leasing and residential sales.

When he has time in his schedule, he enjoys practicing real estate by referral, spending time with his loving family, attending every crawfish boil, and hanging by the non-waterpark pool with friends.

Brannan Holland

Brannan Holland is an avid problem-solver, a technology enthusiast, and the Vice President of Technology, leading strategic planning, hardware and software solutions design, and management in four major water parks – Typhoon Texas Waterpark and Cowabunga Vegas – across two locations in the United States.

Brannan has had extensive experience in the parks and recreation industry, spanning over 13 years. He started his career in operations and maintenance for water parks and resorts, working in multiple leadership positions and leading operations and maintenance teams.

Recently, Brannan has channeled his love for problem-solving into providing technological solutions to problems within the parks and recreation industry.

In 2019, he took over managing the technological needs of Typhoon Texas Waterpark and, in two years, transitioned to managing hardware and software solutions architecture for Pyek Group, taking on the challenge of strategic planning, training, operations, and maintenance, from a technological perspective.

Beyond his work at Pyek, Brannan enjoys relaxing with friends, family, and his pups. He enjoys seafood, anything Asian, and spice! He also has a passion for home automation!

With instructor certification in Aquatic Facility Operations, Lifeguard Training, Pool and Spa Operations, Brannan is a well-rounded solutions architect with a deep-rooted foundation in operations and maintenance.

Vineeta Juthani

Vineeta Juthani serves as the Controller for Pyek Group and brings over 13 years of professional experience in the Accounting, Audit, and Finance realm. She specializes in delivering financial statements, fraud management, and data analytics, with a strong background in point-of-sale systems. Vineeta graduated with honors during her first Master's in Commerce from Mumbai University, India. She pursued her second Masters in Professional Accounting from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Vineeta thrives in the dynamic and versatile environment of the Waterpark and Entertainment Industry and works with the principle – Stay humble, working hard and being kind.

Mark Immler

Mark Immler's extensive experience and proven expertise in the information technology and services industry significantly contribute to the company's success. His technical proficiency encompasses a wide range of skills including mastery of Windows, Microsoft 365, and a keen understanding of Infrastructure Management and Technical Support. Mark commenced his tenure at Typhoon Texas in Houston in the capacity of Director of Technology, assuming the role since March 2021.

Educationally, Mark is grounded in a strong academic background, holding a Bachelor's degree in Radio, Television, and Digital Communication from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. This educational foundation enhances his abilities in communication and digital media strategies, crucial for his role at PYEK Group.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mark is deeply committed to his family. He enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three children. This dedication to both his professional and personal spheres exemplifies Mark as not just a skilled technology director but also as a devoted family man, making him a valued member of the PYEK Group team.

Jesse Benavidez

Jesse Benavidez is a 23-year veteran in the aquatics industry, managing and operating municipal facilities, competitive aquatic facilities and water parks. He began his career as a 15 year old lifeguard, quickly rising in the ranks as a LGI and WSI. From there, Jesse has held numerous leadership positions in the industry.

Jesse is also a Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and served in the United States Army Reserves for 18 years. His skill set as a wheeled vehicle mechanic and recovery specialist has provided Jesse with unique maintenance skills and team leadership.

Jesse also holds a Global MBA from the University of Houston-Victoria, where he also earned his undergraduate degree. He enjoys teaching others in the industry on a number of maintenance and water quality subjects, and is now a resident presenter for the annual AIMS International Safety Seminar.

In his spare time, Jesse enjoys movie nights with his wife Mandy, and two kids, Jackson and Anya. Jesse is also an amateur astronomer, Youtuber, and action sports camera operator.

Jessi O'Daniel

Jessi O'Daniel started on the front lines when she was 19 and worked her way up in the company. Fast forward 7 years later as she held her position as the youngest Vice President at Kentucky Kingdom. As the VP of Guest Experience, Jessi oversaw more than 1,000 seasonal team members. Her operational and business expertise include Admissions, Revenue, Attractions, Sales, PR and Security as well as many behind the scenes operations including.

Outside of her day job, Jessi continues to volunteer her time to IAAPA as the chair of the Young Professionals Subcommittee and serving on the North American Regional Advisory Committees. Jessi is thrilled to bring her experience and passion for the water park industry to Cowabunga Vegas! Jessi is driven to continue the legacy of the Cowabunga Vegas brand as well as continue to provide the best possible experience to all guests.

Cade Vereen

Cade Vereen is the Director of Operations for Cowabunga Las Vegas Waterparks. Vereen has worked in the waterpark industry since 2010 starting as a lifeguard. Cade quickly climbed the ranks and has had the opportunity to lead in many different areas of the industry. Cade was the Regional Director for Hawaiian Falls, and then was selected to be the Director of Operations at Typhoon Texas. After a very successful inaugural season, he transitioned into the Director of Revenue.

From a young age Cade knew that he wanted to work in the waterpark industry; he now has the privilege to live out his dream and have a positive impact on thousands of people each day.

Ray DeLaughter

Ray DeLaughter is the founder and Managing Partner of PYEK Financial. He has a unique skill-set that comes from experience as a small business owner and experience consulting with Fortune 500 companies. Before leading Pyek Financial Ray worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Restructuring Group at Deloitte Consulting. He has extensive experience in finance, including budgeting & forecasting, performance management, organization restructuring, and investment due diligence. Ray has a BA in Finance from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina.

Jerry Boettcher

Jerry Boettcher has experience as a sole proprietor, manager of a multi-office office sales team, and as an adviser to C-suite executives in the areas of finance and business development. Focus areas include financial modeling, data analytics, BI development, reporting, and project management. Jerry has a BA in Religious Studies from Rice University.

Jeff Bosworth

Jeff Bosworth is a finance professional with a deep background in oil and gas, from owning a small business to supporting multi-billion-dollar assets for an international oil company. He has extensive experience in financial modeling, budgeting, planning, analysis, and board-level presentations. Jeff has a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of Texas.

Zac Frost

Zac Frost is the Head of the Carolinas Market for Pyek Financial. He has a unique background and skill set that comes from over two decades of leadership experience in corporate finance, investment banking, capital markets, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A). He successfully worked with Fidus Partners, Brookwood Associates, Lazard, and Banc of America Securities, held operating roles with First Data and West Corporation, and has partnered with clients both small and large, on a national and international scale. He has a passion for working with high performing owner/management teams and businesses that are on significant growth trajectories.

Zac has served on several not-for-profit board of directors including the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Charlotte chapter, and actively serves within his church’s leadership team. Zac earned a BA from Bowdoin College (where he played on the men’s soccer team) and earned an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Michael Hahn

Michael Hahn is a CFO Advisor with VantageCFO. His background in military aviation, development, and Fortune 500 corporate finance gives him the unique perspective of how to execute well under pressure while building resilient systems and developing people that sustain enterprises for the long run. 

Before joining the VantageCFO team, Mike worked for the US Army as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot, specializing in aviation logistics and operations both during peacetime and at war. In addition to military service, Mike worked in real estate development following his exit from active duty and made a successful pivot to corporate finance with WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram platforms within Meta. Mike has extensive experience in aviation logistics and operations, development, and finance, operating both at the small business and worldwide enterprise levels. Michael earned his BA in Management from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from the University of Texas.

Aimee DeLaughter

Aimee DeLaughter is the dream wife of an entrepreneur. Her analytical mind and ability to transform data into meaningful insights separates VantageCFO from its competitors. Focus areas include data analytics, BI development, and project management. Aimee has a BA and Masters in Bio-medical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Andrew Boettcher

Andrew Boettcher is a sales and data professional who specializes in SQL, BI development, and data connections. Focus areas include Tableau, data science, and process automation. He gives our clients insights into their business by turning raw data into information they can use. Andrew has a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology Human Performance with a minor in Business from Stephen F. Austin University.

Murray Morgan

Murray Morgan has a background in market analysis and network administration. Her attention to detail sets the tone for excellence in VantageCFO deliverables, and she never shies from work needed to get jobs done right. Focus areas include financial modeling and reporting. Murray has a BA in Marketing Research from the University of Alabama.

Ray DeLaughter

Ray DeLaughter is the founder and Managing Partner of PYEK Capital. He has a unique skill-set that comes from experience as a small business owner and experience consulting with Fortune 500 companies. Before starting Pyek Capital, Ray worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Restructuring Group at Deloitte Consulting. He has extensive experience in finance, including budgeting & forecasting, performance management, organization restructuring, and investment due diligence. Ray has a BA in Finance from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina.

Jerry Boettcher

Jerry Boettcher has experience as a sole proprietor, manager of a multi-office office sales team, and as an adviser to C-suite executives in the areas of finance and business development. Focus areas include financial modeling, data analytics, BI development, reporting, and project management. Jerry has a BA in Religious Studies from Rice University.

Zac Frost

Zac Frost has a unique background and skill set that comes from over two decades of leadership experience in corporate finance, investment banking, capital markets, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A). He successfully worked with Fidus Partners, Brookwood Associates, Lazard, and Banc of America Securities, held operating roles with First Data and West Corporation, and has partnered with clients both small and large, on a national and international scale. He has a passion for working with high performing owner/management teams and businesses that are on significant growth trajectories.

Zac has served on several not-for-profit board of directors including the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Charlotte chapter, and actively serves within his church’s leadership team. Zac earned a BA from Bowdoin College (where he played on the men’s soccer team) and earned an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.