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About Us

Who We Are

At The Legacy Fund, we strive to create the ultimate financial platform to preserve, grow, and create legacies for our clients while giving back to our communities. We invest in a diverse range of industries, including finance, technology, healthcare & wellness, consumer goods, hospitality, real estate, insurance, and AI. We aim to foster the development of young minority entrepreneurs by providing them with the resources to bring innovative products & services and initiatives to market through direct strategic investments from our fund.

What We
Care About

Increase Generational Wealth

The Legacy Fund is dedicated to increasing generational wealth through our portfolios all while mitigating risk to preserve capital. 80% of basketball and baseball professional athletes and 90% of football professional athletes experience financial hardship or even go broke 6-8 years after retirement. We offer post-career consulting, as well as advisory and board positions within the companies and brands we invest in, ensuring a stable future for our investors. 

Philanthropy and Community Engagement

Partners James Amorosi, Dominique Wilkins, Kevin Harrington, and Darren Prince are committed to the charitable initiatives of The Legacy Fund. We contribute to causes such as autism, diabetes, mental health, and substance abuse.

Financial Literacy and Education

In the near future, the Dominique Wilkins Financial Literacy Centers will open to educate young entrepreneurs about topics such as finance, business management and investing. This center will cover essential topics, from building credit to becoming young entrepreneurs. As Dominique Wilkins stated, “This is not only an honor to me but it’s going to be a blessing to so many.”

Our team

Leadership Team

James Amorosi

CEO, MANAGING PARTNER

James Amorosi (Amo) is founder, CEO – Managing Partner of The Legacy Fund with 35 years’ experience in the private equity and hedge funds industries. Amo has been the CEO of AMO Investment, a private equity and venture capital firm since 2001. James started his career on Wall Street working on the floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange in the crude oil, heating oil and natural gas pits. His career then landed him at the largest privately held broker dealer in commodities, currencies and debt instruments, as a foreign exchange trader and primary market maker in the vanilla inter-bank and broker market G-7 currency pairs. He has worked at some of the largest and most prestigious hedge funds (Tudor Investments, and at Rand Management) as a managing director, senior trader and quantitative systems developer. In 2001 Amorosi transitioned into the Private Equity and Venture Capital business, something he had always been passionate about and wanted to do for years.

Over the years he has raised billions of dollars, bought /sold more than sixty companies and created numerous philanthropic organizations ranging from the Dominique Wilkins Financial Literacy Centers, to helping inner city kids through martial arts, to SNAP (Special Needs Adaptive Program) which focuses on helping people with autism, cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders, of which he has a fourteen year old autistic son (whom has helped inspire these efforts) to helping veterans returning home with PTSD. He has been a professional international competitor and instructor in the martial arts for more than fifty three years and still owns dojos, which help spread his spirit to help others achieve excellence and success in life. He holds a BA in Economics from Rutgers University, NJ.

Kevin Harrington

GENERAL PARTNER

Kevin Harrington, an original “shark” on Shark Tank, is the creator of the infomercial and pioneer of the As Seen on TV brand. He is a co-founding board member of the Entrepreneur’s Organization. Kevin’s work has produced more than $6 billion in global sales, launched over 500 products, and created dozens of millionaires. He has worked with celebrities such as Billie Mays, Tony Little, Jack LaLanne, and George Foreman. Known as the Entrepreneur’s Entrepreneur and the Entrepreneur Answer Man, Kevin has a special passion for helping start-ups succeed.

Dominique Wilkins

GENERAL PARTNER

Dominique Wilkins is the Vice President of Basketball and Special Advisor to the CEO of the Atlanta Hawks. The most celebrated player to ever wear a Hawks uniform, he is honored in front of State Farm Arena by an 18,500-pound bronze statue. Dominique has an extensive entrepreneurial career, partnering with consulting powerhouse 3Ci to connect software developers and coders from underserved communities with start-ups. He is involved in various entrepreneurial endeavors and is extremely active in local and national charity work. Dominique is the current board chairman of Kulturecity, a leading nonprofit on invisible disabilities and sensory needs. From building credit to becoming young entrepreneurs, Wilkins states, “This is not only an honor for me, but it’s going to be a blessing for so many.”

Darren Prince

GENERAL PARTNER

Darren Prince, international best-selling author of his memoir “Aiming High,” is a prominent sports and celebrity agent and global advocate for addiction/mental health and recovery. Through his agency, Prince Marketing Group, he represents icons such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, David Goggins, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Chevy Chase, and Charlie Sheen. Darren has also worked with the Icons such as the late Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Jerry West. Darren’s insights have been featured in top media outlets and he is dedicated to helping others overcome addiction and mental health struggles.

Brian Harrington

PARTNER

Brian Harrington is a CEO, Entrepreneur, Investor, and Innovator, known for launching dozens of products with hundreds of millions in revenue. Brian has launched, invested, and advised hundreds of companies, both public and private, creating billions of dollars in value. As the Co-CEO of KBBAT Ventures, he oversees a vast portfolio of businesses, investments, and initiatives. His expertise in scaling companies, marketing, and investing, has made him the go-to authority for Fortune companies and entrepreneurs looking to achieve rapid growth, build iconic brands, and dominate their markets.

Brandon T. Adams

PARTNER

Brandon T. Adams is a 2X Emmy® Award-Winning Producer, Podcaster, Media Expert, and Investor. He founded Accelerant Media Group, producing commercials, social media content, and TV shows like Ambitious Adventures and Success in Your City. As Co-CEO of KBBAT Holdings, he helps scale companies from 7 to 9 figures. Over the last decade, Brandon has raised over $100M through digital marketing, video marketing, and crowdfunding, working with companies like XPRIZE, Kevin Harrington Enterprises, and The Napoleon Hill Foundation.

Karla Dedick

VICE PRESIDENT OF PARTNER RELATIONS

Karla Dedick provides a full range of support services to the Partners at The Legacy Fund. She is high-performing and results-driven with extensive experience in project management, executive administrative support and business management. She is passionate about creating impactful marketing and communication strategies to drive business growth, while building lasting client relationships and delivering professional excellence. Karla is a multi-tasking aficionado striking the perfect balance across various responsibilities and a resourceful leader known for maximizing executives’ time and energy.

Partners

Bill Trzos

MANAGING PARTNER
CYPRESS LEGACY

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Trzos has been in the financial services and insurance related verticals for over 25 years and is guiding Cypress Ascendant Holdings as a niche investment and management company. Cypress Ascendant invests in multiple areas, including consumer product goods, hospitality, sports and entertainment, real estate,technology, insurance, and other financial sectors. The core investment philosophy of Cypress Ascendant includes building strategic partnerships and investors based on strong personal relationships. Bill and his partners at Cypress Ascendant make significant investment into every portfolio company sharing risk with all investors.

Prior to shifting his focus exclusively to Cypress Ascendant, Trzos started several companies which he sold, the latest being Atlas General Holdings in 2009 and grew it to one of the largest privately held insurance program administrators in the nation. In January 2021, he presided over the sale of Atlas to Arthur J. Gallagher, one of the most prominent, multinational firms in the insurance services space.

Ken Manqueros

CO-MANAGING PARTNER
CYPRESS LEGACY

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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. He is also a current Board Member of Cypress Ascendant Services, Sunshine Beverages, and others.

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

CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER AND OPERATING PARTNER
CYPRESS LEGACY

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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 in the Cypress portfolio including Rhone Apparel, Sunshine Beverages and PayBack Provisions, Inc. 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. Matt spent his early career working for major corporations such as Visa USA where he was Director of Travel and Entertainment Marketing, MCI Communications (now Verizon), and SBC (now AT&T).

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

OPERATING PARTNER
CYPRESS ASCENDANT

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As Chief Revenue Officer for Cypress Ascendant Holdings. 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.

Stephanie Zambrana

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
CYPRESS ASCENDANT

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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.

Katie Kezele

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF PARTNER RELATIONS
CYPRESS ASCENDANT

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

Katie specializes in building and maintaining strategic partnerships that drive growth and innovation. She is also 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 13 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.

Hannah Carman

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISANT
CYPRESS ASCENDANT

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Hannah Carman serves as an Administrative Assistant at Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC, an investment management firm based in San Diego. Since her start in February 2022, Hannah has been a cornerstone in managing office operations, including scheduling, administrative tasks, and lending her expertise to special projects and event planning for the executive team.

Hannah attended Southern Oregon University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a minor in Psychology. This education has provided her with a solid grasp of both the strategic and interpersonal facets of business.

James Williams

PARTNER
CYPRESS ASCENDANT

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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.

David Trzos

VICE PRESIDENT OF IT AND FACILITIES
CYPRESS ASCENDANT

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David Trzos is Vice President of IT & Facilities for Cypress Ascendant Holdings, LLC a San Diego based investment management firm.

Mr. Trzos has been in in information technology for over 30 years and is responsible for overseeing the information technology infrastructure. Prior to Cypress Ascendant since 2001 he has worked closely alongside Bill Trzos at Cypress Point Insurance Services, Arrowhead General Insurance and Atlas General Holdings.

Scott Lewis

OPERATING PARTNER
CYPRESS ASCENDANT

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Scott is a C-Suite Sales Executive with a proven track record of success identifying, developing, and capturing market opportunities to accelerate sales, increase brand distribution and motivate personnel to deliver sales results. A strong, balanced sales background developed through various leadership sales roles in Fortune 500 and entrepreneurial companies that included PepsiCo, Naked Juice, Monster Energy, Venturing & Emerging Brands Group of Coca-Cola, Evolution Fresh and ZICO Coconut Water. Scott is currently Operating Executive at Cypress-Ascendant working on various portfolio companies for our Consumer Fund. Scott is a graduate of Long Beach State University after attending on a baseball scholarship and resides in Long Beach, CA with his wife and three kids. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with Family, Friends and enjoying various outdoor activities Southern California has to offer.

Guillermo Olortegui

VICE PRESIDENT OF INVESTMENTS
CYPRESS ASCENDANT

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With over 7 years of investment experience in real estate, Guillermo brings a wealth of expertise to Cypress Ascendant. At Realty Income Corporation (NYSE: O), he was instrumental in over $1.5 billion in acquisitions, showcasing a deep understanding of the market and a strategic approach to investment.

Holding a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University, Guillermo is well-equipped to handle the complexities of financial analysis and due diligence. Currently, he leads the financial analysis and due diligence efforts for all of Cypress Ascendant’s investments, ensuring that each decision is backed by thorough research and a meticulous approach.

Bryan Faith

PARTNER
CYPRESS ASCENDANT

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Bryan Faith is a seasoned executive and has been an innovator and leader in business since 1985. He has been a principal and owner of healthcare startup companies, and he has led all to highly successful liquidity events. His strengths include business development, management and marketing. He is a result-oriented leader with expertise in staff development and team communication with experience in building entrepreneurial ventures.

Corporate Partners