Meet the 2024 Gulf South finalists

Shannon Payne is the Co-Founder & CEO of Allied Fire Protection.

Allied Fire Protection is a full-service fire and life safety contractor that specializes in the design, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance and service of all fire sprinkler, fire alarm, and fire suppression systems and devices. 

Jay McEntire IV is the CEO of Arva Intelligence.

Arva Intelligence is a producer-first corporation that is driven by a vision to promote prosperity across the agricultural industry. Arva facilitates agriculture’s role in the journey to carbon neutrality, using machine learning and precision agriculture to create a path for producers and downstream buyers to engage and transact within sustainability markets.

As a company founded by farmers, a brighter future for both the land and those who work it is the reason Arva exists. Its mission is centered around optimizing sustainable practices, while improving soil health and providing new revenue streams for producers.

Andrew Levy is the Founder, Chairman & CEO of Avelo Airlines.

Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose — to Inspire Travel. The airline offers travelers time and money-saving convenience, everyday low fares and a refreshingly smooth, caring and reliable travel experience. 

Operating a fleet of 16 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 48 popular destinations across the United States, including its six bases at Los Angeles’s Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), southern Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Orlando International Airport (MCO), the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region’s Wilmington Airport (ILG), Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and the Bay Area’s Sonoma County Airport (STS).  

Justin Fenchel is the CEO & Co-Founder, Brad Schultz is the CMO & Co-Founder and Aimy Steadman is the COO & Co-Founder of BeatBox Beverages.

BeatBox is the Original Party Punch, offering fun and nostalgic flavors in a sustainable and resealable package. With a deep passion for live music, the company’s community of super fans and creating fun, BeatBox has become the brand that’s bringing the party to the alcohol industry.

The journey began in 2012 in the live music capital of the world, Austin, Texas, and the energy was contagious, so much so that BeatBox was able to secure the largest investment in SharkTank history from Mark Cuban, who “invested in BeatBox because at heart I’m a 25-year-old and saw that this is going to be a party phenomenon.”

BeatBox quickly built a team of beverage leaders helping to define a new category of Party Punch. BeatBox has an impressive roster of famous investors in music and entertainment, including Mark Cuban, Rob Dyrdek, Party Favor, Louis The Child, Good Times Ahead and many more.

Today, BeatBox has become one of the fastest-growing brands in the alcohol industry and the drink of choice for millennial and Gen Z drinkers. Its passion for music, and connection to its consumers, has also made it the fastest-growing and most engaged alcohol brand on social media.

Katy Mimari is the CEO of Caden Lane.

Caden Lane is a direct-to-consumer, e-commerce brand of lifestyle baby products focused around the birth of a child. Known for its newborn essentials, pajamas and personalized gifts, the company has seen nearly 2,000% growth over the last four years.  

Martin Keighley is the CEO of CarbonFree.

CarbonFree is a carbon capture, utilization and sequestration company. It has already successfully deployed its SkyMine technology in San Antonio, Texas, which has been in operation since 2015 and is now a profitable stand-alone entity, a global first for a CCUS business. SkyMine converts CO2 through a patented process into sodium bicarbonate and other chemical byproducts that it sells to the open market. Building on this success, it has developed and is commercializing its patented SkyCycle™ technology. SkyCycle™ is designed to capture carbon dioxide from hard-to-abate industries and convert it into carbon-neutral calcium carbonate, an environmentally friendly mineral, which is used for a variety of industrial applications in a $40 billion market, such as in the production of plastics, paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, ceramics and cleaning products. With SkyCycle™ technology, CarbonFree helps steel and cement manufacturers to achieve their net zero goals by converting the CO2 into zero-carbon products. 

Scott Aronstein is the CEO of Connectivity Source.

Connectivity Source is a a multistate wireless retailer operating in 39 states. The company has T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Cell Phone Repair retail stores as well as a direct-to-consumer inbound call center and a is primary agency for B2B sales through subagents.  

Joshua Weisman is the Founder & CEO of Construction Concepts.

Construction Concepts is an award-winning commercial construction firm specializing in high-precision craftsmanship and advanced building techniques to create one-of-a-kind spaces across multiple industries. Working hand in hand with designers and architects, the company delivers visual unity to the design and build process. For over two decades, Construction Concepts has mastered the ability to bring complex designs to life with a thorough understanding of the process from concept to completion.

Jeff Lee is the Co-Founder & CEO and Courtney Shields is the Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer of DIBS Beauty.

DIBS Beauty is a makeup brand born in Austin, Texas, and dedicated to finding the beauty in the blend, from colors and functions to clean and conscious formulas. One of the fastest-growing brands in the space, DIBS Beauty has been recognized by WWD, Vogue and the Today Show. In a world where makeup has gone either minimal and clinical, or high-pressure and intimidating, the company celebrates do-it-yourself, easy transformations that you can pass on to your friends.

Dr. Andrea Thomaz is the CEO of Diligent Robotics.

Diligent Robotics is a pioneering robotic automation company focused on transforming health care. With innovative solutions and cutting-edge technology, the company delivers socially intelligent service robots that optimize workflows and improve patient care. Diligent Robotics remains dedicated to revolutionizing the industry, shaping the future of robotics in health care.

Feras Moussa is the Managing Partner & Co-Founder and Ben Suttles is the Managing Partner & Co-Founder of Disrupt Equity.

Founded in 2017 by Ben Suttles and Feras Moussa, Disrupt Equity is an innovative commercial real estate firm, specializing in multifamily acquisitions. Dedicated to providing high-quality housing, the company emphasizes strategic improvements, exceptional management and investing in developing markets. With more than 190 team members, Disrupt Equity thrives on a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation and teamwork, earning it the title of Houston’s fastest-growing company by Inc. 5000 in 2022.

Expanding its impact, Disrupt Equity has introduced Disrupt Gives. This philanthropic arm engages in providing rental assistance to prevent evictions and homelessness, alongside offering financial literacy programs, ensuring community members have access to crucial resources. These efforts are funded by the company’s management fees, significantly affecting families’ lives. 

Additionally, Disrupt Equity champions equality by democratizing investment opportunities for its staff, embodying its mission to empower more people to secure their preferred future, within and beyond the realm of real estate.

Dean Drako is the CEO & Founder of Eagle Eye Networks.

Eagle Eye Networks makes the world safer by delivering cloud video surveillance using AI to analyze video streams and notify businesses, schools and communities immediately of any issues.   

Eagle Eye combines cloud and AI analytics to transform physical security into a core intelligence security and business system — offering superior cybersecurity, usability and scalability, and an open platform for unlimited customization.

Customers can utilize AI across their cameras by simply turning them on, without special hardware or complex configuration; for example, with an AI-based video search where customers can input multivariable criteria using a Google-like search. AI-based license plate recognition increases business security and efficiency while reducing costs.

The company is using its $100 million funding infusion in 2023 to further accelerate its artificial intelligence technology development, such as weapon and hazard detection.   

Eagle Eye has on-demand first responder links for instant video access — it is now expanding to similar E911 video access during emergencies.

Mark Engels is the CEO of ePayPolicy.

ePayPolicy’s products bring insurance payments up to speed for agencies, carriers, MGAs and PFCs, with secure online payment pages, automated check processing, payables reconciliation and more. More than 8,000 insurance companies trust ePayPolicy and its expert, live support team to handle their payments every day.

Erine Gray is the Founder & CEO of FindHelp.

Building healthier and happier communities starts with supporting the whole person. That’s why FindHelp was founded in 2010: to connect all people in need to the programs that serve them with dignity and ease. The company’s software platform enables community organizations, governments and businesses across industries to easily manage and coordinate care. From screening and closed-loop referrals to outcomes tracking and actionable health equity insights, FindHelp is leading the modernization of the social safety net.

Andy Flanagan is the CEO of Iris Telehealth.

Iris Telehealth helps health care organizations consistently increase access to quality behavioral health care for their patients by implementing innovative, evidence-based care models and providing the clinicians, staff support and knowledge to build a financially sustainable telepsychiatry program. With clinical grounding and emphasis on human relationships, Iris Telehealth identifies best-fit providers for each unique organization and ensures long-term commitment to meeting their partners’ needs, allowing them to provide the highest-quality care to their patients and community.  

John Poindexter is the Chairman of the Board & CEO of J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.

J.B. Poindexter & Co. (JBPCO) is a privately held portfolio of manufacturing businesses operating the largest number of commercial truck body and accessory manufacturing plants in North America. With the broadest distribution network in the industry, it provides transportation professionals with best-in-class work truck bodies and accessories, exceptional service and relationship-based customer support. Additionally, JBPCO offers premier transportation goods and services, foam molding and fabrication for protective packaging, and precision machining services. It delivers superior value and service to customers, while also fostering an entrepreneurial working environment that rewards excellence to its team members. 

 James D. Ross, PE is the President & CEO of LJA Engineering, Inc.

LJA Engineering is a full-service, comprehensive multidisciplinary consulting firm established more than 50 years ago. With more than 50 offices across the US, LJA Engineering offers one-source, one-stop reliability for all its clients, when and where they need the company. It is a 100% employee-owned company with more than 1,900 employee owners serving clients in both the public and private sectors. The company provides solutions for the most complex projects drawing upon the diverse talents of our professionals, including civil, structural and electrical engineers, plus hydrologists, planners, landscape architects, construction managers, GIS designers and surveyors. Consistently ranked by Engineering News Record as a Top 500 Firm, and recognized as a national Best Place to Work, the company’s reputation is built upon a legacy of trust and its commitment to deliver the best solutions to complex projects, across multiple sectors and communities.

Asher Kazmann is the President of Locke Solutions LLC.

Locke provides precast concrete and fabricated metal products for the engineering and construction industries in Texas and across the country, as well as internationally. The company has extensive experience in providing solutions for both the electrical/communication underground utility markets and the industrial/petrochemical markets. Locke prides itself on its ability to design and manufacture products specifically geared toward its clients’ needs to reduce the cost and risk associated with varying jobsite conditions during construction.

Chad Millis is the President & CEO of Millis.

Millis Development & Construction is passionate about its mission to impact the communities it serves in a lasting manner, and the company strives to create projects that help to build a sustainable city. The company has immense pride in its legacy to improve the lives of its neighbors and its ability to produce work at a high degree of excellence while supporting and caring for its team members.

Kate Bourgeois is the President & CEO of Mississippi Export Railroad Company.

For more than 100 years, MSE has provided transportation services on the Gulf Coast. MSE performs all rail-related transportation services, including freight planning, transportation, railcar procurement, repair, storage, industrial development, warehousing and transloading. As Railway Age wrote, recognizing MSE as Short Line Railroad of the Year, “Growth is a core competency, which aligns with its commitment to finding innovative ways to provide rail and transportation solutions for its customers.” High intensity for anticipating customer needs and delivering in a consistent and timely manner have made MSE a valued partner for customers from the Southern Company to Chevron. Safety comes first at MSE. It has received the ASLRRA’s Jake Award in 12 of 19 years awarded for having zero injuries. MSE partners with a railroad museum to educate young people on the values of S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art and math). MSE also works continually with high school welding programs. MSE was honored by CSX with its 2023 Growth Award. Since 2018, MSE has achieved traffic growth of 234%. In 2024, MSE will build a car qualification facility, develop warehousing at the Port of Mobile and start railcar switching for the Port of Gulfport.  

Mike Francis is the CEO & Co-Founder of NanoTech Materials, Inc.

NanoTech Materials, Inc. has revolutionized the science of heat control by integrating its novel Insulative Ceramic Particle™ into common building materials, coatings and substrates to give them uncommon heat conservation, rejection or containment properties. NanoTech products include heat-rejecting roof coatings for buildings (reducing HVAC by up to 50% and carbon emissions) and heat-containment fireproofing coatings to protect critical infrastructure from wildfires. Energy efficiency + carbon emissions reduction + wildfire prevention with one technology.

Beth San Segundo is the CEO of OriGen Biomedical.

OriGen Biomedical is a leading producer of cryopreservation and cell culture products. Its focus is to produce a range of products to support the treatment of cancer, genetic conditions and other life-threatening diseases. OriGen Biomedical® products are designed with the patient and user in mind, and the company strives to maintain excellent customer service to ensure that patient care is the priority.

OriGen Biomedical is a growing, privately held medical device manufacturer founded in 1997 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. Quality is the foundation of all product designs at OriGen, and each product is produced with the intent that it will improve patient health. OriGen is certified annually to ISO 13485 standards and regularly inspected by the FDA, MDSAP, ISO certification organizations and its customers.

OriGen’s distribution center serves to reduce the time to patient by providing stock products for quicker turnaround times from the Netherlands.

Charles Leddy is the CEO of Presidian Hospitality.

Presidian spans diverse sectors to identify opportunities that create a lasting impact. The company’s synergy across Presidian Hospitality, Source Strategies, MLSA Ventures and Presidian Cares amplifies its ability to navigate the market landscape and discover unique prospects.

Presidian Hospitality, the backbone, is a premier hotel management company delivering exceptional guest experiences and maximizing asset value, serving as a trusted partner in the hospitality sector. Source Strategies, the brain, guides investment decisions through invaluable insights. As the leading Texas hotel data intelligence company, it shapes the landscape of strategic investments in the state.

MLSA Ventures, the capital arm, employs value-added, opportunistic strategies as a leading private equity firm in Texas. It acquires well-positioned assets and leverages operational expertise to deliver outsized returns for investors.

At the heart is Presidian Cares, driven by Faith, Family and Relationships. Beyond financial realms, Presidian is an influencer in real estate, tourism and health, contributing to self-sustaining generational impact in Texas. Presidian is a catalyst for positive change, influencing not just markets but the very fabric of communities it touches.

Emerson Smith is the CEO & Founder of Pushnami.

With Pushnami, large web publishers are able to monetize and engage their visitors by turning them into subscribers. At the same time, Pushnami gives advertisers a way to reach qualified audiences.

Underpinning all of this is Datanami, the company’s patented signals system, which receives 50 million unique first-party data points each day, including PII, activity and vertical interest.

The company’s mission:
Building innovative technology that drives growth for its customers while empowering its employees to succeed in life.

Stuart Hinchen is the CEO & Co-Founder and Peter Jenkins is the Chief Development Officer & Co-Founder of Quva Pharma, Inc. 

QuVa Pharma is a national, industry-leading, FDA-registered 503B outsourcing services company that provides hospitals with essential medications in ready-to-administer injectable formats that are critical for effective patient care. QuVa was purpose built to change the 503B industry for the better and is leading the way with unmatched expertise in cGMPs and sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing, and the highest quality and safety standards so hospitals can more confidently and reliably focus on patient care. While leading cGMP processes, broad sterile-to-sterile product portfolio and expansive capacity of 300,000 square feet across four facilities are the foundation of success, it is with customer-focused services, transparency and a patient-safety orientation that the company helps hospitals better meet their patient care and operational needs. 

Robbins Schrader is the CEO of SafeRide.

Millions of Americans miss life-sustaining care due to lack of access. SafeRide Health partners with the nation’s largest health insurers to provide seamless, free, non-emergency medical transportation to millions of Americans each year. 

SafeRide Health is a technology and services company dedicated to reducing barriers to care. SafeRide Health leverages proprietary technology, and a national network, to give payers and health systems a more intelligent way to deliver cost-effective, on-demand transportation while improving the patient experience. SafeRide’s premier network fulfills more than seven million rides a year across the country for Medicare, Medicaid and commercial populations.

Russ Davis is the CEO of SchoolStatus.

SchoolStatus is a unified K–12 platform that enables districts and schools to engage more families and improve attendance with an easy-to-use communications hub and data-driven attendance solutions. The company supports an integrated and impactful educational experience, from district leadership to families at home. With more than two billion successful school-home interactions, and millions of users, SchoolStatus drives meaningful results for districts and schools across all 50 states.

Dr. Lefteris Ntouanoglou is the CEO & Founder of Schoox, LLC.

Schoox stands out as the only platform that fundamentally redefines learning and development, tightly integrating them with business growth. While other platforms focus solely on learning, Schoox connects learning with development and development with business success. The company understands that learning isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes — it’s about empowering individuals to develop skills, improve performance, advance their careers within the organization and ultimately drive business growth. Its platform uniquely addresses all three pillars — learning, development and business growth — recognizing their intrinsic interdependence. Unlike competitors with isolated applications, Schoox fosters synergies between learning and development, tailoring learning experiences for individual success and performance. Few have successfully bridged the gap between learning, development and business success, but Schoox excels in this arena. The company’s intuitive UI/UX, enriched with social components and gamification, ensures engaging and enjoyable learning experiences, fostering adoption and healthy competition. Innovations like Adaptive Microlearning and AI-driven career development further distinguish Schoox. 

Nicole Budworth is the CEO of Senox Corporation.

Senox Corporation is a leading manufacturer and supplier of seamless gutter products for residential and light commercial construction. The company is committed to fulfilling the needs of seamless gutter contractors every day with reliable parts coupled with quick and accurate service. The company will have what you need when you need it, getting you back on the job quicker than any other rain gutter supplier.

Senox Corporation manufactures all of the components of seamless gutter systems and offers the most comprehensive gutter machine service to all customers, helping keep your gutter machine on the road producing quality product. 

The company’s founder, A.B. Walters, was frustrated with the lack of product quality and limited color selection for accessories. From that frustration, Mr. Walters built a business to provide solutions to the problems he experienced. While competitive supply stores try to be everything to everybody, he decided to do one thing and do it better than anyone else. His belief is that if you want something done right, you go to a specialist, and Senox Corporation is positioned as the specialist in the seamless gutter industry.

Ted Ross is the CEO & Co-Founder of SpyCloud.

SpyCloud transforms recaptured darknet data to protect businesses from cyberattacks. Its products operationalize cybercrime analytics to produce actionable insights that enable enterprises to proactively prevent ransomware and account takeover, safeguard employee and consumer identities, and investigate cybercrime incidents. Its unique data from breaches, malware-infected devices and other underground sources also powers many popular dark web monitoring and identity theft protection offerings. SpyCloud customers include half of the 10 largest global enterprises, midsize companies and government agencies around the world. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, SpyCloud is home to more than 200 cybersecurity experts whose mission is to make the internet safer with automated solutions that help organizations combat cybercrime.

Trevor Best is the Co-Founder & CEO and Dr. Suman Khatiwada is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer for Syzygy Plasmonics.

Syzygy Plasmonics is a deep-decarbonization company. It builds reactors that use light instead of combustion to electrify chemical manufacturing and power a cleaner, safer world. With reactor cells now ready to ship, Syzygy is commercializing a universal photocatalytic platform. When powered with renewable electricity, this tunable technology is designed to reduce both cost and emissions from many different chemical reactions. Starting with solutions designed to consume greenhouse gases and produce low- and zero-emissions hydrogen, the company’s mission is to create a world where chemicals, fuels and fertilizer are low cost, carbon neutral and accessible to everyone.

Hal Brumfield is the CEO of Tachus Fiber Internet.

Founded in 2018, The Woodlands headquartered Tachus Fiber Internet constructs, owns and operates a proprietary more than 3,500-mile fiber-optic network that provides best-in-class fiber internet service to more than 160,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area. Tachus believes customers deserve fast, reliable internet that requires no explanation or asterisks. In doing so, Tachus is revolutionizing the way customers receive their broadband internet, by offering unlimited, enterprise-grade internet services at a lifetime fixed rate, all paired with outstanding, local customer service.

Joe Spell is the CEO & Founder of Tides Medical.

Tides Medical® sources and acquires donated placentas, which it then manufactures as safe and effective skin substitutes. The company’s advanced products are supported by robust customer service and expertise, providing physicians with easy-to-use solutions and flexible, favorable programs to better serve their patients.

Katie Jensen is the CEO of Triton Stone Group.

Triton Stone Group is one of the largest importers of natural stone and other building products in the country. The company is committed to providing the highest level of customer service, the best-quality marble and granite products, and the most competitive price in the market. Triton Stone Group carries a large line of kitchen and bath fixtures and tile for all applications, and can assist with any commercial or residential project with 26 locations across the Southeast. 

Tony Hartl is the CEO of Undefeated Tribe Operating Company LLC.

Undefeated Tribe is a franchisee of the Crunch Fitness system, which owns and operates health/fitness facilities currently operating in Texas and Oklahoma with additional rights to operate facilities under the Crunch brand in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio and Washington state. 

Jared Boudreaux is the President, Managing Director & Board Chairman of Vector Controls LLC dba Vector Controls and Automation Group.

Vector Controls engineers applications, provides products and services, and executes engineered packaged solutions to multiple industries across the country, including, but not limited to, traditional oil and gas, renewable energy, chemicals, life sciences, semiconductors, automotive, food and beverage, water, clean technologies (i.e., hydrogen), carbon capture, power/alternative power (i.e., battery market), the artificial intelligence market (i.e., Google and Meta) and space (i.e., SpaceX). The company created Vector University to educate its customers, supplying basic and advanced courses for technicians and engineers. The company has subject-matter experts on staff to assist in technical support, application specification, project design and management, customer support, and field and remote service.  

Russell Diez-Canseco is the President & CEO of Vital Farms.

Vital Farms (Nasdaq: VITL), a certified B Corporation, offers a range of ethically produced foods nationwide. Started on a single farm in Austin, Texas, in 2007, Vital Farms is now a national consumer brand that works with more than 300 family farms and is the leading US brand of pasture-raised eggs by retail dollar sales. Vital Farms’ ethics are exemplified by its focus on the humane treatment of farm animals and sustainable farming practices. In addition, as a Delaware public benefit xorporation, Vital Farms prioritizes the long-term benefits of each of its stakeholders, including farmers and suppliers, customers and consumers, communities and the environment, and crew members and stockholders. 

Ting Qiao is the CEO of Wan Bridge.

Wan Bridge is a Texas-based builder and operator of build-to-rent (BTR) communities across the state. Since 2016, the company has been active in the acquisition, development and operation of its communities located in high-demand cities across the state, including Austin, Dallas and Houston. Its BTR community products range from low-density homes on acreage sites to medium-density developments that include duplexes, triplexes and townhomes. Wan Bridge believes that residents do not have to own to call it home and the company’s ultimate goal is to give residents more time with the people they love and partake in activities they enjoy the most. Build-to-rent provides that every day.

Chris Brundrett is the CEO, Winemaker & Co-Founder of William Chris Wine Company.

William Chris Vineyards (c. 2008) is an industry leader in producing and celebrating 100% Texas-grown wine, and the team prides itself on expressing genuine Texas terroir through its wines while delivering a one-of-a-kind educational experience that turns visitors into lifelong fans and advocates for Texas wine. In 2020, William Chris Vineyards merged with Lost Draw Wines, creating William Chris Wine Company. Founders Chris Brundrett and Andrew Sides had worked closely together for many years as partners in various projects and as peers in Texas winemaking. Their shared vision of elevating Texas as a reputable wine region and cultivating a place where future leaders in the industry could develop and grow their careers has been a driving force behind their mission. William Chris is vineyard driven, taking a farming-first approach to winemaking, which produces higher-quality wine that uplifts the Texas wine industry. WCWC is the parent company of the William Chris Vineyards, Lost Draw, Skeleton Key, Grower Project, Sway Rosé, Uplift Vineyard and Wine for the People brands.

Chris O'Dowd is the CEO of WIN Reality.

WIN Reality is the premier sports and technology company in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2018 by Chris O’Dowd and Dan O’Dowd, WIN Reality brought the world of virtual reality together with a desire for players to have new opportunities to improve at the sports they love. Today, WIN Reality allows hitters in both baseball and softball to train with the Meta Quest headset against game-speed pitches to improve their timing and confidence in the real game.

Wayne Morton is the CEO of Wind Energy Transmission Texas.

WETT is a owner/operator of a high-voltage transmission system regulated by the Texas PUC. Several gigawatts of wind, solar and battery storage are connected to the WETT system, providing environmentally friendly and reliable power sources to Texas ratepayers.