Hy Vaupen - Managing Partner
Email - hvaupen@vaupenfinancial.com
Hy is the Founder and Managing Partner of Vaupen Financial Advisors. Hy has worked with rapidly growing public and private middle market companies in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean for over 35 years. Throughout his career, he has held positions in executive-level financial and operational management and financial consulting/advisory capacities. Hy is bilingual with fluency in English and Spanish, and has experience working with international finance and global business transactions. Hy's extensive financial experience and market relationships provide the basis for the firm to advise, structure and secure a variety of financing and capital transactions for its clients, including senior lines of credit, subordinated debt and various alternative forms of equity capital.
Additionally, he has extensive experience with advising on and executing corporate acquisitions and divestitures; debt restructuring, workout, bankruptcy and insolvency related matters; and the negotiating, structuring and implementation of successful corporate turnarounds. Hy successfully led an operational and financial turnaround of a troubled $600 million publicly held aviation parts distribution company. A portion of the firm’s specialty practice area involves working on recapitalization and financing transactions for distressed and financially troubled companies and special situations.
Hy has worked with middle market companies in more than 40 major industry categories including: aviation, technology, healthcare, food and beverages, consumer products, retail and wholesale distribution, financial services, manufacturing, media and telecommunications.
Prior to founding Vaupen Financial Advisors, Hy held senior executive management positions in leading South Florida firms such as Ernst & Whinney CPAs, Beverage Canners International, the GB Group and Kellstrom Industries. Hy is a graduate of the University Of Florida Fisher School Of Accounting, and has been an accountant in the State of Florida since 1979.
Dunaivys “Duny” Arana - Vice President
Email - darana@vaupenfinancial.com
Mrs. Arana, Vice President, has been an integral member of the Vaupen Financial Advisors team since early 2012. Mrs. Arana is responsible for working with the firm’s clients on various areas of these engagements, including the transactional data development, marketing, analytical and deal management processes.
Prior to joining Vaupen Financial Advisors, Mrs. Arana held managerial and operational responsibilities at a third-party logistics provider, in addition to executive administrative positions at a global technology and integrated communications & security company for several years.
Mrs. Arana holds a B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University.
Laura V. Martinez Zorro - Senior Associate
Email - lmartinez@vaupenfinancial.com
Laura Martinez Zorro is a Senior Associate at Vaupen Financial Advisors since 2019. She is responsible for assisting team members in many aspects of the clients' representation during those transactions. In addition, she actively assists with other administrative duties.
Prior to joining Vaupen Financial Advisors, Laura held managerial positions in different consumer product companies, as well as a junior trader position at a steel commodity trading group for several years.
Laura has a BS in Finance from Florida International University and an MBA in Marketing from Nova Southeastern University.
Ethan Elkins - Investment Banking Analyst Intern
Ethan Elkins is an Investment Banking Analyst Intern at Vaupen Financial Advisors, where he assists on mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions for domestic lower middle-market companies. He is involved in research, modeling, and pitch development, contributing to a range of client-facing deliverables.
Ethan has prior experience as a Fund Associate with the TAMID Group, where he conducted equity research on Israeli startup and prepared stock pitches. He also completed an externship with Westchester Capital Management, gaining exposure to M&A arbitrage strategies and operational finance processes at a $4 billion AUM firm.
Ethan is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Finance from the University of Florida. He currently serves as House Manager of the Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter at the University of Florida and was previously President of the Alzheimer’s Club at Scarsdale High School, raising over $25,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Justin Sherman - Investment Banking Analyst Intern
Justin Sherman is an Investment Banking Analyst Intern at Vaupen Financial Advisors, where he assists with mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions for lower middle-market companies. He contributes to research, financial modeling, and the development of presentation materials supporting client engagements.
Justin previously served as a Quantitative Finance Research Consultant with X4 Alpha Executive Recruitment, where he conducted industry research and supported outreach strategies for systematic trading and high-frequency trading firms. He also worked as a Summer Office Leasing Intern at Newmark, gaining exposure to commercial real estate transactions, capital markets, and investment sales.
Justin is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance from the University of Florida. He is involved in the Gator Real Estate Analyst Program and TAMID Group, where he participates in underwriting, valuation analysis, and equity research.
Noah Garelick - Investment Banking Analyst Intern
Noah Garelick is an Investment Banking Analyst Intern at Vaupen Financial Advisors, where he supports mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic advisory initiatives for lower middle-market clients. He assists with financial analysis, industry research, and the preparation of client-facing materials.
Noah is actively involved in The Founders Fund at the University of Florida, where he performs equity research and valuation analysis using discounted cash flow, comparable company, and precedent transaction methodologies. He collaborates with team members to evaluate investment opportunities and develop pitchbooks presenting market insights and recommendations.
Noah is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance from the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business.