Thomas F. Puckett
Founder (1952 - 2023)
 
Thomas F. Puckett formed HPC Puckett & Company in September 1983.  Prior to starting HPC Puckett, Mr. Puckett practiced law in Topeka, Kansas from 1977 to 1983, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, coupled with an emphasis in specialized taxation.  Since 1983, Mr. Puckett completed hundreds of transactions, including numerous specialty engagements in the areas of cable television, optical retail, and optical manufacturing.  In 1987, Mr. Puckett relocated HPC Puckett's corporate office to San Diego.  That transition expanded the Firm's activities to a national presence, resulting in HPC Puckett being a dominant optical retail and manufacturing, and optical supply and distribution advisory firm, currently serving clients worldwide.

Mr. Puckett was recognized by both the cable television and optical industries as an industry leader. In 2003, Mr. Puckett was inducted into the Cable Television Pioneers, was a past member of the Board, and an honorary member of the Board of Directors, where he maintained an active role with the Cable Television Pioneers Cable Center located on the campus at the University of Denver.

In 1999, Mr. Puckett founded the Optical Pioneers organization, and was Chairman or Co-Chairman of the Optical Hall of Fame Committee. Mr. Puckett was a 2011 inductee into the Optical Pioneers Hall of Fame, and a recipient of the 2015 Director's Choice Award by The Vision Council, for his outstanding contributions to the ophthalmic industry.  

Mr. Puckett received a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in accounting from Washburn University in 1974, and a Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law in 1977.  In 1994, he was recognized as only the second Alumni Fellow for the Washburn University School of Business.  

Hunter T. Puckett
San Diego Office

Hunter T. Puckett is the Managing Director of HPC Puckett Advisory Company, located in the Firm's Rancho Santa Fe, California office. Mr. Puckett joined HPC Puckett in August 2007 and manages the transaction process, from strategic planning to the preparation and negotiation of closing documents for each of the Firm's sectors. During his tenure with the Firm, he launched the retail and eye care professional sectors and has initiated hundreds of transactions in those areas. He works with both existing and new clients to design innovative business models respecting possible divestiture, acquisitions, spin-offs, financing, and other industry-related endeavors.  In this regard, Mr. Puckett is responsible for the strategic development and overall management of the Firm's business. Since joining the Firm, he has been directly involved in the generation of and closing of hundreds of transactions, and coordinates the various sub-sector interrelationships within the optical industry and their effect on the Firm's clients.  In addition, Mr. Puckett assists in the management of the Firm's investments and those of related entities, in combination with strategic planning for the Firm and specialty projects.

Mr. Puckett has been a regular speaker and panel moderator at the Vision Expo bi-annual meetings, chairing panels on optical e-commerce, optical retail, and eye care professional consolidation and valuations.

Mr. Puckett received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of San Diego in 2004, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, with combined coursework with the University of Denver Graduate Tax Program in 2007.  Mr. Puckett is a member of the American Bar Association and the Kansas Bar Association.  

Jason A. Meyer
Midwest Office

Jason A. Meyer is a Managing Director of HPC Puckett Advisory Company, located in the Firm's Topeka, Kansas office.
Mr. Meyer joined the Firm in 1998, having worked with the Department of Veteran Affairs.  He was initially responsible for representing the Firm's clients in communications but expanded his role into the optical division.  In that capacity,
Mr. Meyer has assisted the Firm in the implementation of an industry network of extensive industry guidelines for valuation procedures, and assisted in setting the financial standards for mergers and acquisitions for the optical industry, both in the United States and internationally.  Mr. Meyer is well recognized for his published optical sector articles and expertise in the industry.

His responsibilities allow him to work closely with the Firm's clients in order to understand every aspect of the business. Mr. Meyer oversees the financial aspects of the closing process, including, but not limited to, the reconciliation of the closing and post-closing financial procedures.  He has direct involvement in the financial analysis, valuations, information memorandums and marketing of HPC Puckett's optical engagements.  During his tenure with HPC Puckett, Mr. Meyer has been involved in hundreds of completed transactions.

Mr. Meyer graduated with his Masters of Business Administration degree, with an accounting emphasis, at Washburn University.  Mr. Meyer graduated magna cum laude from Washburn University, where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration with majors in finance and economics.

Derek J. Adams
San Diego Office

Derek J. Adams is a Managing Director of HPC Puckett Advisory Company, located in the Firm's Rancho Santa Fe, California office.  Mr. Adams joined the Firm in August 2019 and is tasked with overseeing the workflow process to ensure that transactions advance through underwriting, valuation, marketing, due diligence, and closing as expeditiously as possible.  Prior to joining HPC Puckett, Mr. Adams spent close to two decades in various management roles in the commercial banking industry, providing financing and advisory services to companies and commercial real estate investors throughout Southern California.

Mr. Adams received a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of San Diego in 2001.  Mr. Adams has served on numerous non-profit and economic development Boards of Directors, and in 2018 was the Chairman for the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce. 

Alexander F. Stapley
San Diego Office

Alexander F. Stapley serves as in-house counsel at HPC Puckett Advisory Company.  Located in the Firm's Rancho Santa Fe, California office, Mr. Stapley is responsible for preparing legal memoranda, reviewing legal documents, and processing financial, statistical, and operational due diligence information from clients.  His department formats the information for presentation in offering documents, closing documents, associated disclosure schedules, and purchaser due diligence requests.

Mr. Stapley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrated Marketing Communications, magna cum laude, from San Diego State University.  He received his Juris Doctor with a concentration in business and corporate law from the University of San Diego School of Law.  He later received his LL.M. in Taxation, magna cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law.  Mr. Stapley is a member of the State Bar of California and the American Bar Association.

Dr. Steve Klein, O.D.
San Diego Office

Dr. Steve Klein, O.D. joined HPC Puckett Advisory Company in the Summer of 2023 as Director of Business Development. 
He graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 1983 and obtained his Doctor of Optometry from Southern California College of Optometry in 1989.  He started practicing in 1990 and was the founding doctor of Total Vision, LLC.  Dr. Klein assisted in the growth of the platform, which now operates 59 locations in California.  With his vast experience in the eyecare industry, Dr. Klein has consulted for numerous companies within the ophthalmic sector, including device, optical, and pharma spaces. In addition, he has worked closely with all facets in the consolidation and acquisition of optometry practices.  He is currently the head of Collaboration and Growth for SmartLens Inc., which is a glaucoma platform company located in California.  HPC has a long history with Dr. Klein and is fortunate to have him on its team. 
 
Melissa R. Snethen
Midwest Office

Melissa R. Snethen is an Associate with HPC Puckett Advisory Company, located in the Firm's Topeka, Kansas office.  
Ms. Snethen is responsible for data room management, including overseeing the gathering and processing of financial, statistical and operational due diligence information from HPC Puckett's clients.  Her department formats the information for presentation in offering documents, closing documents, associated disclosure schedules, and purchaser due diligence requests.  With over 20 years of client relationship experience, Ms. Snethen provides the Firm's clients with her vast skills in database management and organization.  

Ms. Snethen received a Bachelor of Business Management from Washburn University.  Prior to joining the Firm,
Ms. Snethen had eleven years of experience in the insurance industry.