William Hockey, cofounder of Plaid, helped build one of the most important financial infrastructure companies powering the modern fintech ecosystem. As an early leader of Plaid, he played a central role in scaling the platform that connects consumer bank accounts to apps and financial services used by millions worldwide. After helping grow Plaid into a core payments and data connectivity layer for fintech, Hockey went on to found Column, a technology-driven banking platform aimed at modernizing financial infrastructure from the ground up. His career reflects deep influence across the architecture of digital finance.

Tony Tamer, cofounder and co-CEO of H.I.G. Capital, built one of the world’s largest middle-market private equity firms by focusing on operational turnarounds, carve-outs, and complex buyouts. Since launching H.I.G. in 1993, Tamer has helped expand the firm into a global platform investing across private equity, credit, and real assets, with a reputation for hands-on management and disciplined value creation. Known for deep operational engagement and long-term partnerships with management teams, he has positioned H.I.G. as a dominant force in middle-market investing.

Mark Jones, cofounder and chief growth officer of Goosehead Insurance, helped build one of the fastest-growing independent insurance agencies in the United States by reinventing how personal insurance is sold and serviced. After decades in the insurance industry, Jones partnered with his son to launch Goosehead in 2003, combining a tech-enabled platform with a franchise model that scaled rapidly nationwide. The company went public in 2018, rewarding its founders with significant wealth and cementing Goosehead as a disruptor in a traditionally fragmented industry. Known for his entrepreneurial grit and deep industry expertise, Jones remains a driving force behind the firm’s expansion and culture.