Leadership Team
Kevin W. Massengill | Chairman
Mr. Massengill is the Chairman, President and CEO of Meraglim Holdings Corporation which has created a new approach to predictive analytics in capital markets that identifies risk and out-of-consensus opportunity.
Prior to founding Meraglim, Mr. Massengill served as Senior Vice President, International Strategy & Business Development for Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) a $10 billion science and technology company. Before that Mr. Massengill was a Managing Director for Silver Leaf Partners, an SEC-registered boutique investment bank in New York City.
Mr. Massengill also held senior leadership positions at Raytheon (NYSE: RTN), a $26 billion science and technology company, where he was Vice President for International Operations and the Vice President and Regional Executive for the Middle East and North Africa. Before joining Raytheon, Mr. Massengill was the founder and CEO of Consultancy Partners Group, Ltd, Abu Dhabi, providing strategy, business development, and financial advisory services to companies in Asia, the Middle East and North America.
A US Army Airborne Ranger qualified officer trained in Arabic and Russian, Lieutenant Colonel Massengill was awarded the US Army Legion of Merit and the US Department of State Meritorious Honor Award at his retirement following 20 years of service.
Mr. Massengill has served as Chairman of the Board of Leidos’ operating companies in Australia, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, and on boards as diverse as a US technology startup, Flynxx, the US Department of State’s Overseas Schools Advisory Council, the private equity buy-out firm, GrowthGate Capital Corporation - Dubai, and as Chairman of the Board of the American Community School - Abu Dhabi.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Massengill was a Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a B.A. in Russian Area Studies and was awarded a US Army Top 5% Fellowship. He holds an M.A. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University and has been a guest seminar lecturer in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
He has completed the Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives at Harvard Law School, INSEAD’s International Directors Program at Fontainebleau and held FINRA Series 7 and 63 general securities licenses. He resides in Florida.
Prior to founding Meraglim, Mr. Massengill served as Senior Vice President, International Strategy & Business Development for Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) a $10 billion science and technology company. Before that Mr. Massengill was a Managing Director for Silver Leaf Partners, an SEC-registered boutique investment bank in New York City.
Mr. Massengill also held senior leadership positions at Raytheon (NYSE: RTN), a $26 billion science and technology company, where he was Vice President for International Operations and the Vice President and Regional Executive for the Middle East and North Africa. Before joining Raytheon, Mr. Massengill was the founder and CEO of Consultancy Partners Group, Ltd, Abu Dhabi, providing strategy, business development, and financial advisory services to companies in Asia, the Middle East and North America.
A US Army Airborne Ranger qualified officer trained in Arabic and Russian, Lieutenant Colonel Massengill was awarded the US Army Legion of Merit and the US Department of State Meritorious Honor Award at his retirement following 20 years of service.
Mr. Massengill has served as Chairman of the Board of Leidos’ operating companies in Australia, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, and on boards as diverse as a US technology startup, Flynxx, the US Department of State’s Overseas Schools Advisory Council, the private equity buy-out firm, GrowthGate Capital Corporation - Dubai, and as Chairman of the Board of the American Community School - Abu Dhabi.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Massengill was a Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a B.A. in Russian Area Studies and was awarded a US Army Top 5% Fellowship. He holds an M.A. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University and has been a guest seminar lecturer in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
He has completed the Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives at Harvard Law School, INSEAD’s International Directors Program at Fontainebleau and held FINRA Series 7 and 63 general securities licenses. He resides in Florida.
Alex Villeda | Founder & CEO
Mr. Villeda is a result-driven sales and marketing professional, with extensive experience in working with start-ups to fortune 500 companies. He has successfully led sales and marketing campaigns for companies such as The Ford Motor Company and Majestic Realty. He has effectively assisted companies in multiple industries expand their brand and further their footprint. Highly proficient in penetrating untapped markets and increasing top line revenue. Mr. Villeda has dedicated his career to creating systems and forging paths that align the interests of all stakeholders. Strategizing and aiming beyond the horizon has always motivated him.
Now leading an acquisition initiative, focused in essential services, within the United States and Canada. Using his professional team building experience, he has assembled a world-class board of like-minded executives to influence private business in a positive way. Mr. Villeda has founded NorthStar Essential Holdings for the sole purpose of providing private companies with leading-edge practices, technologies and topflight leadership in order to enhance their capabilities and facilitate their accelerated growth.
Now leading an acquisition initiative, focused in essential services, within the United States and Canada. Using his professional team building experience, he has assembled a world-class board of like-minded executives to influence private business in a positive way. Mr. Villeda has founded NorthStar Essential Holdings for the sole purpose of providing private companies with leading-edge practices, technologies and topflight leadership in order to enhance their capabilities and facilitate their accelerated growth.
Brian Raymond | Director
Mr. Raymond currently serves as the Vice President of Business Development for Global Guardian, an industry leading international security company. He drives all aspects of client capture and has quickly built a multi-million-dollar portfolio assisting in the company’s rapid growth. He has quickly establishing himself as leader in this fast-moving industry and has presented and spoke at security conferences and has been featured in multiple security focused webinars. A recognized expert in incident response, Mr. Raymond was able to take his wide range of security knowledge and transfer that to C-suites and Security managers in the fortune 500.
He started his career in the U.S. Navy Seal teams where he served in a variety of leadership positions. He spent much of his early career deployed overseas and at the end of his decorated active service he joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Mr. Raymond remained in the active reserves, continuing to serve the special operations community until his retirement as a Commander in 2013.
Mr. Raymond retired from the Central Intelligence Agency as a senior Operations officer in 2019 after 18 years serving in the Operations directorate, serving in some of the most challenging assignments. He is considered an expert in counterterrorism and led complex operations throughout his career, his distinguished service was recognized with the Career Intelligence Medal.
Mr. Raymond is a graduate of Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the U.S and was recently recognized at his 30-year reunion with the “Distinguished Alumni Award” for his decades of achievement and service. He also currently serves on the advisory board for the medical technology firm NuEyes based in Irvine CA.
He started his career in the U.S. Navy Seal teams where he served in a variety of leadership positions. He spent much of his early career deployed overseas and at the end of his decorated active service he joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Mr. Raymond remained in the active reserves, continuing to serve the special operations community until his retirement as a Commander in 2013.
Mr. Raymond retired from the Central Intelligence Agency as a senior Operations officer in 2019 after 18 years serving in the Operations directorate, serving in some of the most challenging assignments. He is considered an expert in counterterrorism and led complex operations throughout his career, his distinguished service was recognized with the Career Intelligence Medal.
Mr. Raymond is a graduate of Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the U.S and was recently recognized at his 30-year reunion with the “Distinguished Alumni Award” for his decades of achievement and service. He also currently serves on the advisory board for the medical technology firm NuEyes based in Irvine CA.
Chris de Guzman, CPP | Director
Mr. Guzman is a result-oriented Senior Executive leader with exemplary accomplishments in successfully growing and leading multi-state, labor-intensive service organizations. Notable achievements include growing a start-up office from one site into a $160M region and a $13M company into a $100M company in seven years.
Participatory Leader – Cross Functional Team Leadership - Operational Excellence - EBITDA Growth
Superior Customer Service - Business Acumen - P&L Management – Budgeting - Analytical Skills
Drive Results - Strategic Planning – Mergers & Acquisitions - Due Diligence
Sales & Marketing – Revenue Generation -Security Surveys
Interpersonal Skills- Fleet Management
Mentoring –Private Equity
SELECT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Drove large scale expansion of First Security Services, overseeing the opening of new locations across multiple states in order to facilitate growth from a $13M operation to a $100M business.
Led complete reorganization of Securitas Security Services’ operations, administration, and HR departments, resulting in 98% client retention and $6M in new sales while lowering overhead costs by $500K.
Provided vision and leadership to grow AlliedBarton Security’s startup office into a $160M region while defining customer service strategy and developing company’s award-winning training program.
Participatory Leader – Cross Functional Team Leadership - Operational Excellence - EBITDA Growth
Superior Customer Service - Business Acumen - P&L Management – Budgeting - Analytical Skills
Drive Results - Strategic Planning – Mergers & Acquisitions - Due Diligence
Sales & Marketing – Revenue Generation -Security Surveys
Interpersonal Skills- Fleet Management
Mentoring –Private Equity
SELECT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Drove large scale expansion of First Security Services, overseeing the opening of new locations across multiple states in order to facilitate growth from a $13M operation to a $100M business.
Led complete reorganization of Securitas Security Services’ operations, administration, and HR departments, resulting in 98% client retention and $6M in new sales while lowering overhead costs by $500K.
Provided vision and leadership to grow AlliedBarton Security’s startup office into a $160M region while defining customer service strategy and developing company’s award-winning training program.
Ronald DaVella, MBA, BA, CPA | Director
Mr. DaVella has been a member of the Joint Corporation’s Board of Directors since it went public in November 2014. He serves as the Audit committee chair and has assisted the company with its quarterly and annual financial statements, SEC reporting, hiring needs (CFO, controller, assistant controller), etc. He is also a member if its finance committee which evaluates and approves all acquisitions of clinics from existing franchisees and all new greenfield locations and is a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Joint Corp is an operator and franchisor of over 500 chiropractic clinics throughout the US. He was also recently appointed to the Board of Directors for Delta Dental of AZ which provides dental insurance to its members. He is on the executive committee and is chair of the Audit committee. He is currently working on several rollups involving mobile home parks, home health care, ecommerce and convenient stores. He has also served on several not-for-profit boards including Lura Turner Homes, The American Red Cross, The National Kidney Foundation, Junior Achievement and the Girl Scouts of AZ.
Mr. DaVella is currently the Chief Operating and Financial Officer of AURA Ventures(“AURA”). AURA is a global impact investment and consulting firm. AURA is seeking global investment and consulting opportunities with a Consumer Packaging and Agriculture focus that meet certain of the UN sustainable development goals primarily around labor and sustainable operations. Mr. DaVella leads the due diligence efforts on target portfolio companies. Mr. DaVella was also the Executive VP of Finance for the Alkaline Water Company from April 1, 2019 through January 2020. The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ and TSXV: WTER) is a leading producer of premium bottled alkaline drinking water sold under the brand name Alkaline88®. He was also the Chief Financial Officer for Amazing Lash Franchise LLC from March 2016 to May 2017 and was the Chief Financial Officer at NanoFlex Power Corporation from May 2017 to March 2019.
Mr. DaVella holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Queens College and an MBA in Finance from Pace University. Mr. DaVella is a CPA and was an audit partner with Deloitte from 1989 to 2014. Mr. DaVella has an extensive background in accounting, finance, SEC reporting and internal controls and has worked on several mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and financings. As a partner at Deloitte, he focused on the real estate, retail, technology and manufacturing industries. Mr. DaVella has worked on over 100 merger and acquisition transactions over his extensive career.
Mr. DaVella is currently the Chief Operating and Financial Officer of AURA Ventures(“AURA”). AURA is a global impact investment and consulting firm. AURA is seeking global investment and consulting opportunities with a Consumer Packaging and Agriculture focus that meet certain of the UN sustainable development goals primarily around labor and sustainable operations. Mr. DaVella leads the due diligence efforts on target portfolio companies. Mr. DaVella was also the Executive VP of Finance for the Alkaline Water Company from April 1, 2019 through January 2020. The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ and TSXV: WTER) is a leading producer of premium bottled alkaline drinking water sold under the brand name Alkaline88®. He was also the Chief Financial Officer for Amazing Lash Franchise LLC from March 2016 to May 2017 and was the Chief Financial Officer at NanoFlex Power Corporation from May 2017 to March 2019.
Mr. DaVella holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Queens College and an MBA in Finance from Pace University. Mr. DaVella is a CPA and was an audit partner with Deloitte from 1989 to 2014. Mr. DaVella has an extensive background in accounting, finance, SEC reporting and internal controls and has worked on several mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and financings. As a partner at Deloitte, he focused on the real estate, retail, technology and manufacturing industries. Mr. DaVella has worked on over 100 merger and acquisition transactions over his extensive career.
Martin Camp, JD, BA, AA | Director
Mr. Camp is a distinguished Executive, Board Member, Academic Administrator, Professor, and Legal Counselor. Over the course of his career, Mr. Camp has accrued over 30 years of law practice experience, during which time he specialized in the areas of Finance and Corporate Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions, Real Estate, Land Use and Development.
Mr. Camp’s background represents a rare combination of valuable skills, as he has enjoyed both the rigors of partnership with a major international law firm, and the challenge of academic teaching at two top U.S. law schools, University of Texas School of Law in Austin, and Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas. He teaching includes, Property Law, Real Estate Transactions, Land Use, Commercial Real Estate Law, Business Enterprise and Education Law.
During his practice, Mr. Camp helped launch new Austin-area offices for two esteemed law firms, Hughes and Luce (now K&L Gates) and Jones Day. While with Jones Day, he served as Partner in Charge of the Real Estate Practice in Austin. Mr. Camp also opened a Jones Day office in Kuwait, where he served as Partner in Charge. His practice in Kuwait included representation of multinational companies with business in the Middle East, and the prosecution of hundreds of millions of dollars of claims by companies against Iraq after the first Persian Gulf War. While in Kuwait, Mr. Camp participated in the UN European Economic Council, where he represented a trade association seeking NGO status.
In addition to Mr. Camp’s role as mediator in commercial disputes, he is often retained as an expert witness in the areas of business, real estate, finance, and ethics.
His love of teaching students eventually inspired a career transition, and he swapped his law partner hat for one of a full-time academia. From 2005 until 2015, Mr. Camp served as the Assistant Dean of Students at SMU Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas.
Mr. Camp is currently a Professor of Practice and Assistant Dean for Graduate and International Programs at SMU Dedman School of Law.
As a 1979 graduate of SMU Dedman School of Law, Mr. Camp has spoken and written extensively for CLE Programs in areas of Real Estate, Land Use, and Ethics. He has lectured and presented on topics such as the Rule of Law and the Practice of Law at universities and law schools around the world.
Prior to joining SMU in 2005, Mr. Camp was a Partner for twenty years at Jones Day practicing M&A and Corporate Real Estate Services.
Mr. Camp has held numerous board and officer positions in civic and community organizations. Martin is currently the Vice Chair for the ABA Senior Lawyer Division ADR Committee. He is a board member of the US/Mexico Bar Association. He serves on the Executive Committee of the International Section of the Dallas Bar Association. He is a member of the board of directors of the Dallas Bar Association ADR Section. He is the former Treasurer, Secretary, Vice Chair and Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Real Property Section. He was formerly the Vice Chair and Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Ethics Committee.
Mr. Camp is the author of The Law Firm Associate’s Guide to Connecting with Colleagues, published by the Law Practice Management Section of the ABA, and the children’s book Why Alligators Don’t Have Wings.
He also was a TEDxSMU speaker, where he delivered an inspirational talk entitled Good news, Bad News, Who is to Say?
Mr. Camp’s background represents a rare combination of valuable skills, as he has enjoyed both the rigors of partnership with a major international law firm, and the challenge of academic teaching at two top U.S. law schools, University of Texas School of Law in Austin, and Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas. He teaching includes, Property Law, Real Estate Transactions, Land Use, Commercial Real Estate Law, Business Enterprise and Education Law.
During his practice, Mr. Camp helped launch new Austin-area offices for two esteemed law firms, Hughes and Luce (now K&L Gates) and Jones Day. While with Jones Day, he served as Partner in Charge of the Real Estate Practice in Austin. Mr. Camp also opened a Jones Day office in Kuwait, where he served as Partner in Charge. His practice in Kuwait included representation of multinational companies with business in the Middle East, and the prosecution of hundreds of millions of dollars of claims by companies against Iraq after the first Persian Gulf War. While in Kuwait, Mr. Camp participated in the UN European Economic Council, where he represented a trade association seeking NGO status.
In addition to Mr. Camp’s role as mediator in commercial disputes, he is often retained as an expert witness in the areas of business, real estate, finance, and ethics.
His love of teaching students eventually inspired a career transition, and he swapped his law partner hat for one of a full-time academia. From 2005 until 2015, Mr. Camp served as the Assistant Dean of Students at SMU Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas.
Mr. Camp is currently a Professor of Practice and Assistant Dean for Graduate and International Programs at SMU Dedman School of Law.
As a 1979 graduate of SMU Dedman School of Law, Mr. Camp has spoken and written extensively for CLE Programs in areas of Real Estate, Land Use, and Ethics. He has lectured and presented on topics such as the Rule of Law and the Practice of Law at universities and law schools around the world.
Prior to joining SMU in 2005, Mr. Camp was a Partner for twenty years at Jones Day practicing M&A and Corporate Real Estate Services.
Mr. Camp has held numerous board and officer positions in civic and community organizations. Martin is currently the Vice Chair for the ABA Senior Lawyer Division ADR Committee. He is a board member of the US/Mexico Bar Association. He serves on the Executive Committee of the International Section of the Dallas Bar Association. He is a member of the board of directors of the Dallas Bar Association ADR Section. He is the former Treasurer, Secretary, Vice Chair and Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Real Property Section. He was formerly the Vice Chair and Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Ethics Committee.
Mr. Camp is the author of The Law Firm Associate’s Guide to Connecting with Colleagues, published by the Law Practice Management Section of the ABA, and the children’s book Why Alligators Don’t Have Wings.
He also was a TEDxSMU speaker, where he delivered an inspirational talk entitled Good news, Bad News, Who is to Say?