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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Mayank Bablani
Senior Associate
A recent MBA graduate from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Mayank Bablani joins the team as an Associate. He also holds a Bachelor's in Finance from India and is a CPA. With experience in project finance, investment analysis, and transaction services, he has worked at Rabobank, Zelestra Energy, and Ernst & Young, advising on project finance deals, cross-border tax strategies, and optimizing financing structures. Beyond finance, he is an entrepreneur at heart, co-founding a B2B startup and a food blog.
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Rafael Mesquita
Associate
Rafael is an MBA candidate at UNC Kenan-Flagler (Class of 2026) and earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from one of Brazil’s most competitive federal universities. He spent six years in private banking, focusing on equity allocation, supporting the firm’s growth from $200 million to more than $3 billion in assets under management. Rafael also brings investment banking experience from the leading M&A platform in Latin America, working on both sell-side and buy-side transactions. Outside of work, he is passionate about sports, an avid runner who follows soccer and college basketball.
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Martin Luque
Associate
Martin is an MBA candidate at UNC Kenan-Flagler (Class of 2026), where he concentrates in Corporate Finance and serves as President of the Latin American Business Association. He holds a Master in Finance from ESADE Business School in Barcelona and earned his Bachelor’s in Economics in Peru. He brings experience across FP&A, treasury, and investment management roles, including overseeing a multi-asset portfolio across Latin America and supporting long-term capital planning and project finance initiatives for strategic decision-making. His background includes cross-border financial operations, modeling, and capital structure analysis. Originally from Peru, Martin brings an analytical, globally oriented perspective and enjoys salsa dancing, international travel, and boardgames.
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Kory Gehring
Analyst
Kory Gehring is an M.S. Finance candidate at 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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Nicole Reichenbach
Business Development
With over 20 years of experience in office management and business development, Nicole has effectively led teams to achieve organizational goals while optimizing operational efficiency. Her expertise encompasses strategic planning, resource allocation, and client relationship management, driving growth and enhancing productivity across various sectors. Through a combination of leadership skills and a keen understanding of market trends, she has consistently contributed to the success and sustainability of the businesses she has served.
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Sean Kreps
Director of IT & Data Services
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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.