K-2 VENTURES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Engineer
- Investor
- Technology & Innovation
Bill Dambrackas has served as an engineer, executive and investor in technology companies through startup, IPO and acquisition. He has been issued 9 U.S. Patents and is co-inventor on 3 U.S. Patents. Bill founded Equinox Systems (Nasdaq: EQNX), took it public in 1993 and served as its Chairman, President & CEO until 2000 when it was acquired by Avocent (Nasdaq: AVCT), where he served as Executive Vice President until shortly before Avocent was acquired by Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR) in 2009. Bill also served on the Boards of Focus Enhancements (Nasdaq: FCSE) until it was acquired by Vitec Multimedia and on the Board of Quipp Inc. (Nasdaq: QUIP) until it was acquired by Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW). Bill serves as Chairman of Clarke Valve, a start-up in the industrial valve space (www.ClarkeValve.com).
Job Titles:
- Accounting & Finance
- Managing Director of the Angel Fund Ocean Azul Partners
Bill Pruitt is currently a Managing Director of the Angel Fund Ocean Azul Partners (1), LLC. Mr. Pruitt's career began with Arthur Andersen, LLC, where he remained for 33 years, retiring as the managing partner for Florida, the Caribbean and Venezuela. After retirement, Bill continued to be involved in the business community via his participation in numerous high-profile BOD's through the respective company's exit, including: KOS Pharmaceutical, Inc., PBSJ Corporation, MAKO Surgical, Inc. and Swisher Hygiene, Inc. He currently serves on the Board of NV5 Global, Inc., Itopia, Inc., Coral Gables Trust Company, Auxis, Inc. and Clarke Industrial Engineering Inc. Mr. Pruitt is involved with many nonprofit organizations serving as either a trustee or board member. Mr. Pruitt was selected by the UM Business School as the Alumnus of Distinction in 1997.
Eric Evans is a seasoned executive with over 39 years of leadership experience and expertise in finance operations, global sourcing and fuel management of marine fuels, sales and marketing of global fuel supply, marine transportation and infrastructure management, sustainability projects, development of alternative fuels, and managing environmental compliance measures to meet the IMO 2020 regulations. During his career he has worked for large NYSE traded companies including: Carnival Corporation, El Paso/ Coastal Refining and Marketing and ICON International. Currently, Eric is an Energy Consultant / Strategic Advisor for Marine Fuels, LNG, ESG, and Sustainability. He is supporting and engaged with various clients in the marine fuels, finance, petroleum, and oil infrastructure operations. Eric is a founding and two-time Board Member of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), served on the Florida Department of Natural Resource Oil Spill Council following the enactment of OPA 90, and is a globally recognized fuel expert with extensive experience supporting the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA).
Eric, recently joined the board of West Indies Petroleum which was incorporated in 2012 and commenced operations in 2013 as a special purpose vehicle to enter the ship bunkering business in the Caribbean and Latin American region.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Manufacturing & Industrials
Jeff Buck has been a C-level executive throughout his career working primarily with manufacturing companies' servicing blue-chip aerospace, military, energy, and medical clients across the United States and Europe. Jeff has worked on over 30 private equity backed deals where he specialized in turnaround and restructurings and has been involved with negotiating over $2 billion in long-term global contracts. Jeff founded Advanced Precision Products, a specialty manufacturer servicing the medical, aerospace, oil/gas, and military sectors, where he acted as their CEO from 2006-2015 when he sold the Company to a strategic acquirer. Currently, Jeff is the CEO of Unitech Aerospace where he was recruited to turn around the Company through sales, acquisitions, and divestitures.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Principal
Kevin Kacer is responsible for identifying, evaluating, executing and managing K-2's investments. He is also responsible for research, marketing and other company-wide initiatives.
Immediately prior to K-2, Kevin worked as an investment banker at Allen Mooney and Barnes ("AMB"). While at AMB, he worked on sell-side and buy-side M&A engagements, capital raises and strategic advisory.
Kevin began his career in public accounting in the audit practices of KPMG and Kaufman & Rossin.
He attended Florida State University where he obtained both his master's and bachelor's degree in accounting. He received his M.B.A. from Notre Dame University. Kevin is a licensed CPA in the state of Florida, and he currently sits on the board of the FSU Finance Advocacy Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Member of the Executive Team
Mark Kacer is responsible for leading and managing the firm, as well as sourcing, evaluating, executing and managing their investments.
Mark has over 35 years' experience as a "C level" executive with full P&L and operational responsibilities for several industrial and manufacturing companies. Immediately prior to founding K-2 Ventures, he served 5 years as the CFO/ COO/Director of Clarke Valve, a successful start-up in the industrial valve space. Mark led the Company through multiple rounds of early stage financing where he was involved in raising over $20 million from his business associates as well as strategic investors such as Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures and Chevron Technology Ventures. Mark began his career with Arthur Andersen & Co., a worldwide CPA firm, where he worked in their audit practice. Throughout his career, Mark has successfully managed and led IPO's, mergers, acquisitions, and sales of various companies in discrete industries.