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 - Associate
Email - lmartinez@vaupenfinancial.com
Laura Martinez Zorro is an 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.
Ari Fooksman - Investment Banking Analyst Intern
Ari Fooksman is an Investment Banking Analyst Intern at Vaupen Financial Advisors. He is responsible for providing support on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and restructuring transactions for domestic lower middle-market clients. Ari contributes to financial statement modeling, industry research, and the development of potential buyer lists to assist in M&A deals.
Prior to joining Vaupen Financial Advisors, Ari served as a Summer Analyst at Cater Investment Group, where he built detailed financial models and supported investor presentations for a $50 million investment in Panama. He also held an Operations Intern role at Office Evolution, where he developed a financial model for a $500,000 expansion project.
Ari is pursuing a Master of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Finance from the University of Florida. He is actively involved in the Gator Student Investment Fund, serving as Communications Sector Leader. He holds certifications in Bloomberg Market Concepts and Microsoft Excel, and has a passion for football, astronomy, and chess.
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.
Isaac Frishberg - Investment Banking Analyst Intern
Isaac Frishberg is an Investment Banking Analyst Intern at Vaupen Financial Advisors. He supports M&A transactions, capital and financing opportunities, and strategic advisory engagements for lower middle-market clients.
Isaac has been an intern with League Advisors, where he assisted with M&A deals ranging from $10 to $100 million. He previously served as a Summer Analyst at Hamilton Zanze, where he analyzed acquisition targets and budget projections for a real estate portfolio exceeding $1.4 billion in value. His earlier experience includes a real estate internship at Ideal Management. In summer 2026, Isaac will work in investment banking with William Blair.
Isaac is pursuing a Master of Science in Finance at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, with an expected graduation in May 2027. He holds leadership and analyst roles in the Gator Student Investment Fund, where he focuses on equity research, startup sourcing, and investment analysis.