The Team Behind the Thesis

Roger Rufino Vargas, II, serves as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Defiant International, Inc. With over 24 years of expertise in strategic business development, sales, and marketing, he is a dynamic executive and the visionary architect of the company. Mr. Vargas successfully founded, scaled, and sold his first debt consolidation company in his early twenties before transitioning to the oil and gas industry, mastering drilling, lease acquisitions, and operations. Today, he oversees a robust portfolio of assets spanning energy, entertainment, technology, and real estate. A proven capital raiser, he has secured millions for diverse ventures while remaining deeply committed to philanthropic efforts supporting children's and military charities. A former athlete and accomplished musician who has composed for film and television, Mr. Vargas studied Business Management and Broadcasting at Collin College and Western International University.

Bruno P. ("BP") Allaire is the CEO and a Member of the Board of Directors of Defiant International, Inc., bringing over 30 years of dynamic, global executive experience across the oil and gas, digital music, and hospitality industries. Renowned for driving growth and building high-performing teams, Mr. Allaire is an expert in strategic vision, mergers and acquisitions, and change management. Previously, he served as CEO of Foothills Exploration, Inc., a publicly traded energy company, where he successfully orchestrated a reverse merger and an $11 million asset acquisition in the Uinta Basin. As Managing Partner of Versailles Capital Partners, LLC, he advised international energy and mining clients on capital acquisition and complex reclamation projects. Highly skilled in executing corporate roll-up strategies and regulatory compliance, Mr. Allaire holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master's Certificate in Environmental Policy from the University of Denver. For more information, please visit Mr. Allaire's personal website https://www.brunoallaire.com

Hamad Behgooy, MBA, serves as Chief Financial Officer, leveraging extensive expertise in underwriting, capital markets, and corporate finance. A results-driven professional, Mr. Behgooy has a proven track record of managing complex financial operations, assessing creditworthiness, and optimizing business performance within the financial services industry. His career includes vital roles evaluating non-qualified mortgage applications at CV3 Financial Services and serving as a Capital Markets Analyst at AmeriHome Mortgage Company, where he managed mortgage-backed security commitments and ensured strict compliance with institutional deliverables. He previously spent seven years at Bank of America, mastering loan origination, compliance audits, and high-volume pipeline management. Known for his deep analytical acumen in evaluating cash flows and managing risk, Mr. Behgooy holds an MBA in Strategic Leadership from Amberton University and a B.S. in Business Administration from Dallas's Naveen Jindal School of Management.

Amin Emam is a Board Director and the Managing Director of Defiant International's entertainment division. An award-winning producer, composer, and music supervisor, he brings over 25 years of entertainment industry expertise to the leadership team. Since 1994, Mr. Emam has produced major artists, composed over 200 songs, and scored countless commercial and film projects. His impressive portfolio features collaborations with elite networks like HBO, CBS, FOX, and the Discovery Channel, as well as national commercial campaigns for global brands including Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, and NASCAR. A pioneer in utilizing new media technologies to generate innovative revenue streams, his vast industry network includes heavyweights like Chuck Norris. His decorated career includes three Telly Awards and three Aurora Awards. Mr. Emam also serves on the board of the Texas Music Project, a foundation chaired by Willie Nelson, bridging the gap between business innovation and creative entertainment.

Kebrina Rosino is the Chief of Staff for Defiant International, Inc., acting as a vital strategic partner and advisor to the executive team. She drives the alignment of organizational priorities and streamlines complex operations across the company's diverse ventures. With a robust background in technical project management and land development, her expertise spans operations oversight, cost-effective resource management, and regulatory compliance. Previously, Ms. Rosino executed $30 million in construction projects and co-founded Iron Sage Holdings LLC, successfully leading operations through a buyout. She also drove renewable energy and zero-waste strategies as CEO and Co-Founder of TRI Shores Holding Group LLC. Dedicated to sustainable innovation and data-driven execution, she holds an M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver, a B.S. in Geography with an emphasis in GIS from the University of Nevada, Reno, and maintains advanced ESRI spatial data certifications.

Kate Green is the Client Relations Manager, delivering exceptional account management and stakeholder engagement for the company. With over six years of specialized experience in the oil and natural gas sector, she is an invaluable asset in bridging corporate operations with client success. Ms. Green launched her career in research and development at an Austin-based energy firm before managing office operations and client affairs for multiple prominent oil companies in Dallas. Beyond traditional client relations, her expertise encompasses strategic relationship building, seamless cross-functional collaboration, and the delivery of premier service to high-value stakeholders. Her deep understanding of the energy industry ensures that clients consistently receive unparalleled support and transparent communication. Ms. Green studied business administration at Austin College and currently resides in Dallas, Texas, where she balances her vibrant professional career with raising her daughter.

Joseph Clemko, Esq., MBA, serves as In-House General Counsel. He is a Dallas-based attorney, investor, and venture partner advising elite athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, investors, funds, and emerging companies at the intersection of law, business, sports, and human performance. A Partner at Royal Tapp & Clemko PLLC and Venture Partner at Anthropy Partners, Joe represents professional and collegiate athletes, Olympians, performance coaches, sports scientists, content creators, authors, and innovators on entity structuring, contract negotiation, sponsorships, endorsements, NIL, investment transactions, wealth protection, securities matters, fund formation, private placements, SAFE notes, and M&A. His work includes multi-year, multi-six-figure sponsorships, athlete investment and business restructurings, talent and media agreements, performance analytics partnerships, esports league formation, and advisory and brand ambassador arrangements. Joe combines legal precision, entrepreneurial judgment, and fluency in sports, emerging technology, longevity, biohacking, AI, blockchain, and venture-backed growth to help clients build durable value beyond their primary careers.

Steven R. Dunn serves as In-House Legal Counsel, bringing over 40 years of formidable expertise in complex civil litigation. Since establishing The Dunn Law Firm in 1993, he has vigorously defended clients in Texas and federal courts, specializing in banking, securities fraud, patent infringement, employment law, and class action litigation. His high-profile victories include precedent-setting FDCPA and TCPA defenses, a $4 million reinsurance judgment, and a $5 million jury award, representing major entities like Travelers Insurance Group. Beyond his commanding legal career, Mr. Dunn is a passionate mental health advocate. He founded The Morgan Foundation to fund eating disorder research, earning recognition from the Texas Legislature, and established a regional chapter for Project HEAL. A highly sought-after speaker who has delivered TEDx talks and presented to Apple and Raytheon, Mr. Dunn holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center and a B.S. from UT Austin.

Vince Anido is a Technology and Media Advisor whose dynamic career seamlessly bridges technological innovation and mainstream entertainment. A lifelong coder and visionary entrepreneur, he is the Founder and CEO of Aware Technologies, where he single-handedly engineered patentable hardware, backend systems, and MVP prototypes. Concurrently, he leads Exstant, Inc. as Founder and Executive Producer, delivering high-impact media projects for giants like Netflix, NBC, Fox, and ABC. His impressive television credits include serving as Co-Executive Producer for ABC's Celebrity Wife Swap, leading massive post-production teams for Fox's Home Free, and guiding the hit Netflix series Car Masters to millions in sales. A seasoned creative executive, he previously generated over $5 million in show sales as Creative Director of Development at RDF USA. Mr. Anido began his entrepreneurial journey at just 16 and holds a B.A. cum laude in Cinema/Television from the University of Southern California.

Christian Chavarria is a Music and Artist Development Advisor with over 30 years of elite experience shaping the trajectories of globally recognized talent. A multifaceted musician and award-winning jazz vocalist, he brings a holistic, business-driven approach to artist development, mastering everything from production and vocal coaching to contract negotiation, branding, and global distribution. From 2009 to 2013, Mr. Chavarria served as Director of the Master Artists Program at The Septien Entertainment Group, an organization renowned for cultivating superstars like Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Jessica Simpson. He also served as the foundational live show music producer for KIDZ BOP, directly collaborating with choreographers to launch their highly successful touring brand. His instrumental coaching and production work support a brand that has sold over 20 million albums, generated 3 billion streams, and secured a record-breaking 24 Top 10 Billboard debuts.

Raymond Felton Jr. is a Sports and Youth Development Advisor, drawing on his remarkable 14-season career as a premier NBA point guard to mentor the next generation. Drafted fifth overall in 2005, Mr. Felton brought his dynamic leadership to prominent franchises, including the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Denver Nuggets. A basketball prodigy from South Carolina, he dominated the high school circuit before achieving national glory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where his elite playmaking secured the 2005 NCAA National Championship and earned him the prestigious Bob Cousy Award. Today, he translates his relentless professional drive into youth mentorship in Dallas, coaching prestigious programs like Nike Pro Skill and Felton Elite AAU. Additionally, he shares his invaluable coaching and life advice as the host of the Tha Throwbacks sports podcast, deeply impacting and inspiring aspiring athletes on and off the court.

Wayne Garner serves as the Entertainment and Cultural Advisor, deeply grounding his creative and professional pursuits in his heritage from the Native American communities of eastern Oklahoma. This rich cultural tapestry shapes his identity and profoundly influences the powerful, resonant music he creates today. An accomplished collegiate athlete, Mr. Garner began his academic journey studying Native American Studies at Haskell Indian Nations University before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, where he played for the historic Sooners football team and earned a B.S. in Sports Health and Science. Transitioning his robust talents to the silver screen, his authentic presence garnered a final callback for Martin Scorsese's acclaimed epic, Killers of the Flower Moon. Continuing his rapid ascent in the entertainment industry, Mr. Garner has successfully secured roles in four distinct feature film projects since 2020.

Don Gurule is the AI Development Advisor, operating at the bleeding edge of artificial intelligence, big data, and technological infrastructure. Currently innovating with a stealth AI company, he drives systemic advancements across FinTech, crypto adoption, PropTech, and contextual advertising. A master of high-performance computing systems, Mr. Gurule formerly served as a custom studio hardware pipeline designer, architecting massive data center production infrastructures for industry titans like IMAX, Warner Bros. Animation, and J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot. Over the past decade, his brilliant technical designs have been instrumental in mastering more than 400 feature films, serving high-profile design clients such as Apple and Yabu Pushelberg. Mr. Gurule is fiercely dedicated to utilizing technology to tangibly improve lives at scale, deliberately building solutions that solve real-world problems and deliver clear, actionable outcomes rather than merely searching for an arbitrary market.

M.G. Khan is the Oil and Gas Operations Advisor, anchoring the team with over 30 years of premier exploration and production expertise. A stalwart in the energy sector, he has served as the Founder and CEO of Ampak Oil Company, a highly successful Texas-based oil and gas operator, since its inception in 1988. Additionally, he has provided strategic oversight as a Director for Texlark Exploration Co., Inc. since 1999. Throughout his prolific career, Mr. Khan has personally supervised and optimized various operational phases for over 700 oil and gas wells, demonstrating unparalleled technical mastery and operational reliability. He holds an M.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and has maintained active, prestigious membership in the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME since 1978, continually bringing a wealth of rigorous engineering acumen to the firm's energy ventures.

Casey Minshew is an Investment and Acquisition Advisor and a seasoned entrepreneur boasting over two decades of multifaceted expertise across structured finance, startups, real estate, and energy. Driven by transparency and exceptional customer service, he curates high-quality, democratized investment opportunities. Currently, as Managing Partner at Equity Launchpad, Mr. Minshew targets and acquires robust businesses generating $2 million to $15 million in EBITDA, recently spearheading the successful 2023 acquisition of Houston's EE Metal Plating Company. He previously disrupted the energy sector as the co-founder of EnergyFunders, a pioneering FinTech crowdfunding platform that merged oil and gas investing with advanced technology, which he successfully scaled from its seed round to a lucrative exit in 2020. Mr. Minshew earned a B.S. in Accounting from Texas State University. Outside the boardroom, he is a dedicated family man and an avid enthusiast of challenging outdoor adventures.

Art Seligman is a Capital Markets Advisor, bringing an illustrious 40-year track record of driving monumental growth for startups and Fortune 500 companies. Widely respected as both a brilliant "fixer" and a formidable "rainmaker," he excels at unraveling complex operational challenges and presenting lucrative opportunities to multi-billion-dollar Family Offices. His extraordinary networking prowess led him to build a colossal syndication group of over 200 partners and 30,000 representatives, collaborating seamlessly with elite broker-dealers on advanced tax strategies. He was a key officer at Petroleum Development Corporation (PDCE), forging critical wealth management connections that catapulted the firm's stock price. A captivating speaker, Mr. Seligman has delivered platform presentations at 20 consecutive LPL national conventions. Graduating summa cum laude from Montclair University and completing graduate studies at Rutgers, his sharp strategic vision consistently turns early-stage opportunities into executed, highly profitable realities.