MEET THE TEAM
Victory team members possess very diverse backgrounds and have excelled in their respective disciplines. Each team member brings a unique perspective and set of life experiences to the table. Most importantly, they have all personally taken risk as entrepreneurs, building or acquiring non-related businesses in their careers. We believe that an investor or advisor cannot truly make a difference unless he or she has experienced first-hand the victories and defeats one earns by sitting in the captain’s chair.
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R. Todd Lazenby
Founding Partner
Todd Lazenby is the founding partners of Victory Partners, LLC and Royal Ascot Partners, LLC. He brings over 20 years of private equity, investment banking, and corporate finance experience to the firm, having held…
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Terry Hess
Managing Director
Terry Hess is a Managing Director of Victory Partners and oversees Victory Partners’ Restructuring practice. He boasts an impressive background constituting more than 30 years of investment bank…
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Jim Kammann
Director
James L. Kammann has over 15 years of national sales & marketing experience along with 20 years of entrepreneurial ownership to Victory Partners. His career has focused on placing new products…
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Scott Shane
Principal - Manufacturing
Scott joins Victory Partners as a principal and will be advising our industrial client base across the U.S. Scott was previously CEO of Mid-America Fittings, Inc. based in Overland Park, Kansas and then Chief Manufacturing Officer at Midland Industries based in Kansas City, Missouri. Scott is also a part-time Deputy for the Miami County Kansas Sheriff's Office. He also served in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) from 1974-1980.
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Sean Kreps
Director of IT & Data Services
Sean is the Director of IT and Data Services of Victory Partners, bringing over 20 years of experience to the intersection of the manufacturing and e-commerce sectors. He specializes in transforming raw data into a strategic asset to drive multimillion-dollar gains year over year, effectively closing the gap between high-level IT services and bottom-line profitability.
Sean’s methodology centers on understanding operations through data and active listening. By engaging with all stakeholders, he implements creative, data-driven solutions designed to maximize profits and eliminate waste.
Sean is just as comfortable in the CEO’s office as he is on the shop floor. He works closely with every team to thoroughly understand operations before any initiatives are finalized.
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Benedetto LaBarbera
Analyst II
Benedetto LaBarbera holds an M.S. in Finance from the USC Marshall School of Business and a B.S. in Finance with a minor in Business Analytics from Florida State University. He brings investment banking experience across sell-side and buy-side M&A, having previously served as an Analyst at Truist Securities, where he supported transactions across the Consumer & Retail, Industrials, and Healthcare sectors, as well as advisory roles at Crosstree Capital Partners and Vermilion Rock Advisors. Ben brings a strong technical foundation in financial modeling, transaction diligence, and deal execution, with a track record of supporting engagements from origination through close. Outside of work, he enjoys tennis, international travel, and HIIT training.
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Nicole Reichenbach
Office Management/Business Development
Nicole is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience driving growth through strategic business development and efficient office management. Combining a sharp sales acumen with meticulous operational oversight, she specializes in streamlining workflows while cultivating high-value client relationships. Known for bringing structure to fast-paced environments, Nicole excels at aligning daily operations with long-term company goals.
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Kory Gehring
Analyst
Kory Gehring is an M.S. Finance graduate from Florida State University, where he also earned a B.S. in Finance. He brings experience across private equity, buy-side advisory, and wealth management. Kory has supported live transactions through diligence and financial modeling, contributing to acquisition evaluations. He brings a disciplined, execution-oriented approach and leadership experience.
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Steven Vetter
Analyst
Steven is an M.S. Finance graduate from Florida State University and holds a B.B.A. from Stetson University, where he double majored in Investment Finance and Professional Sales. His background spans equity research, financial modeling, and investment analysis, with experience evaluating consumer and industrial businesses.
Steven brings proven leadership skills and an analytical, detail-oriented approach to client engagements, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and long-term business strategy. Outside of work, he enjoys following the markets, Formula 1, and Atlanta Braves baseball.
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Big Red Lazenby
Founding Partner’s Lead Assistant
Named after Superbowl winning football coach Andy Reid, Big Red joined the firm at the age of 7 weeks in 2020. She heads-up the firm's business development efforts and is the liaison between all M&A service providers and the firm's deal team. When not protecting our castle, she visits each office and engages with team members, secretly logging their efforts and hours served. She holds a AKC designation from the American Kennel Club and is working towards her CFA.
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Madden Lazenby
Senior Team Mascot
Madden, named after the incomparable Coach John Madden, joined the firm in 2022 as the senior team mascot. Besides providing moral and emotional support to our hard working team, she also performs research and analytics and is the firm's top consumer of treats. She loves to chase birds, squirrels and lizards and enjoys all things entrepreneurial. She holds a AKC from the American Kennel Club and is Big Red's mama.