Bill Trzos

Bill Trzos is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC, the niche investment and management firm specializing in small to mid-tier private capital for hospitality, entertainment, food and beverage CPG, real estate, finance and sports verticals. He leads the team to successfully raise funds using his strong background in investments, acquiring and operating companies, commercial insurance and executive management.

Prior to shifting his focus exclusively to Cypress Ascendant, Trzos started several companies. In 2001, he founded Cypress Point Insurance Services, where he worked to build the company to more than $50 million of revenue. Before selling the company to Arrowhead General Insurance in 2005. Between 2005 and 2008, he managed a team that wrote more than $1.6 billion of premiums, earning over $400 million in revenue. He then went on to found and operate Cypress Point Holdings, LLC where he has worked to invest in or acquire privately held portfolio companies since 2012.

Trzos currently resides in Southern California.

Ken Manqueros

Ken Manqueros is the Chief Operations Officer of Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC, where he is responsible for both the operations of Cypress Ascendant Holdings and monitoring its investments and affiliates.

Mr. Manqueros has been in the financial services and insurance related verticals for over 30 years.  Prior to his time with Cypress Ascendant, Manqueros spent the majority of his career with First American Corporation, a Fortune 300 financial services company.  As a Senior Executive with the firm, his main area of focus was within the title insurance vertical.  After 21 years in the title insurance industry, Mr. Manqueros left to start his own company, and enjoyed success as both an entrepreneur and consultant to multiple companies, including Prosperitas Forward, Crunch Fitness, UFC Gym, and Atlas General Holdings.

Matt Fuller

Matt Fuller is Chief Strategy Officer for Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC a San Diego based investment management firm.

An experienced leader and marketing executive, Mr. Fuller is involved with several consumer-focused companies including, Osso Good, one of the Fund’s Warehoused Investments.  Mr. Fuller became CEO of Osso Good in July of 2020 quickly leading a restructuring effort that included the divestiture of its manufacturing assets to Briteway Foods in December 2020.  Prior to joining Cypress Ascendant, Fuller spent three decades designing, building, and leading teams to capitalize on market opportunities.  Previously, Fuller leveraged his turnaround experience in his role as president of ProBar and BARE Snacks, now owned by Pepsi, where he spearheaded overall strategy, expansion and growth. Prior to his time at BARE Snacks, Fuller was president of Pan Pacific Foods, where he was responsible for the daily operations and performance of a portfolio of food-related companies. Before finding his passion in the world of consumer products, Fuller’s career was spent primarily in the technology sector, including time as CEO of ICE Communications, Inc., a telecommunications software company, which he led through a period of robust growth and eventual acquisition.

Fuller received his BBA with majors in finance and marketing along with a Spanish minor from the University of Iowa. He also holds a master’s degree in leadership studies from Saint Mary’s College. Matt has completed Executive Education courses at Northwestern’s Kellogg School and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.  Mr. Fuller has also been a guest lecturer on entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California.

Anthony Knight

As Chief Revenue Officer for Cypress Ascendant Holdings and Ascendant National Title, Anthony Knight drives growth by aligning revenue-generating opportunities and building strategic partnerships.

A visionary executive, Mr. Knight brings a wealth of experience spanning over 30 years in the title insurance and real estate sectors. Before co-founding Ascendant National Title in May 2021, he founded Core Title, and has held various executive and senior executive positions at some of the largest title companies in the title industry including First American, LSI, and Land Title.  He is known throughout the industry for bringing diversified talent together to create successful ventures.    

Instrumental in creating the PGA TOUR and LPGA official marketing partnership alliances, Knight recognized the value in fostering a landmark impact for title insurance through these partnerships and embracing the alignment of business values and purpose.

Knight attended University of San Diego and majored in Business Administration and Management.

Katie Kezele

Katie Kezele is Vice President of Operations for Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC a San Diego based investment management firm.

Katie is responsible for managing multiple departments, projects, and teams to achieve a wide range of goals and objectives for Cypress Ascendant. In addition to overseeing, she works closely alongside the CEO and executive team to provide support and increase efficiency.

Katie has been in the operational management and executive support fields for over 12 years. Prior to Cypress Ascendant, she worked closely alongside Bill Trzos, the former CEO of Atlas General Holdings, which sold in early 2021 to Arthur J. Gallagher, one of the most prominent, multinational firms in the insurance space.

James Williams

James Williams is Director of Finance for Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC.  Williams has spent the majority of his career in finance, with a specific focus on M&A transactions.  After a stint with Grameen Bank, working in micro-finance in Costa Rica as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and investment banking roles at Moelis & Company and Jacobs Capital, Williams joined Hargett Hunter Capital Management as a Private Equity Associate in 2019, where he led the evaluation of emerging restaurant concepts in the United States. Since leaving Hargett Hunter in 2021, Williams has taken on an executive role at Sullivan Management, an SC-based hospitality group, and also has provided consulting services to Uncle Ed's Vodka related to the company’s capital raising and strategic finance initiatives.  Williams will serve as a strategic advisor to the Fund, and will advise on analytics, fund administration, and investor relations, along with other general advisory services.

Williams received his undergraduate degree in Accounting and Business Administration from  Washington and Lee University (2013), his post-baccalaureate in Environmental Sustainability and Conservation form Columbia University (2017), and his MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business (2019). Williams was born in Columbia, South Carolina, where he lives today.

Gary Hallberg

Gary Hallberg is a Client Relations Director for Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC.  Prior to joining Cypress Ascendant, Mr. Hallberg spent over 40 years honing his skills on the golf course and served as an analyst for CNBC and NBC sports.  He is one of only four players to have won all PGA sponsored tours (PGA, Nationwide, and Champion).  Mr. Hallberg’s journey has allowed him to develop relationships with influential people and leaders in the world.  Mr. Hallberg’s statesmanship, professional skillset, and gentle nature has allowed him to be successful at developing business relationships across a divergent set of industries.

Mr. Hallberg was born in Berwyn, Illinois and received a degree in Communications from Wake Forest University. His passion and philanthropic spirit help shape Cypress Ascendant’s core ethos and drive to invest in those who are helping the world become a better place.

Bob Fisk

Bob Fisk is Client Relations Associate for Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC a San Diego based investment management firm.

Fisk is Highly-experienced, effervescent and proven sales executive with a progressive track record of building exceptional sales teams, generating revenue in all market conditions, and applying solution selling methodologies to develop long-term, substantive relationships/partnerships.

Prior to Cypress Ascendant Fisk managed and navigated five mergers and acquisitions during a 12 year period as Area Director, while simultaneously growing the business and territory to over $800,000,000 in sales.

Fisk Attended Illinois State University, IL and received a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and a Minor in Accounting.

Stephanie Zambrana

Stephanie Zambrana is the Executive Vice President of Finance of Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC, where she is responsible for overseeing all sides of the accounting operations, gathering and analyzing our investment portfolio financial data, and serving as a financial advisor to the CEO and executive team for strategic planning. 

Mrs. Zambrana has been in the financial and insurance services field for over 25 years.  Prior to Cypress Ascendant Zambrana she spent 12 years at Atlas General Insurance Services, LLC which was purchased by Arthur J. Gallagher in 2021.  

Zambrana attended SDSU and received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and is currently the Treasurer for the Veterans Club at Sterling Grove Golf & Country Club in AZ.

Hannah Carman

Hannah Carman is an Administrative Assistant for Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC a San Diego-based investment management firm.

Hannah joined the Cypress Ascendant team in February of 2022. She handles office duties, scheduling, and miscellaneous administrative tasks. Hannah also provides support on special projects, event planning, and assisting the executive team.