Opifex-Synergy Appoints Jay Vaughn as Chief Executive Officer

July 31, 2025 at 10:14 AM EDT

New leadership marks key milestone in company’s plan to scale operations, deepen local roots & invest in long-term growth

Opifex-Synergy, one of the largest independent equipment rental companies in the United States, has named Joseph “Jay” Vaughn III as Chief Executive Officer. The appointment follows the successful 2024 merger of Opifex LLC and Synergy Equipment, which brought together two high-performing operators to form a top-tier provider serving infrastructure, commercial, and industrial markets across the Southern U.S.

Vaughn, co-founder of Opifex LLC, steps into this new role with a clear mandate: to unify the company’s strengths and scale its presence across the Sun Belt, building on a year of rapid expansion, strategic alignment, and operational momentum. He succeeds Synergy founder J.C. Mas, who will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board. A fifth-generation builder and member of the construction industry, Vaughn is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

“This is a proud moment for the team that’s helped build something truly special,” said Vaughn. “We’ve united two strong, values-driven organizations with deep local roots in the country’s most important markets, including 10 of the 22 U.S. cities that drive half of all construction spending. I’m excited to lead this next chapter alongside Stefan Gresham, CCO, Jeff Karter, COO, and Scott McPhail, CFO—and we’ll continue to stay close to the field, listening, learning, and building with our people. I’m especially grateful to J.C. Mas, who approached me with a vision for a national rental platform, and I look forward to his continued mentorship.”

Under Vaughn’s leadership, Opifex recruited a dynamic management team that grew its footprint across Texas from a startup with a single machine into a regional force. The combined business now has more than 30 branches across Texas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Vaughn has spent recent months embedded in day-to-day operations—working alongside frontline teams, sourcing acquisitions, and restructuring the sales team.

“Jay’s track record of disciplined growth and innovation makes him the ideal CEO to lead Opifex-Synergy into its next chapter,” said J.C. Mas, Founder and Chairman of Synergy Equipment. “In my many years in this industry, I have rarely seen a leader possess such a powerful combination of entrepreneurial energy, operational expertise, and financial acumen. Jay understands this business from the ground up and moves seamlessly between service technicians and institutional investors. He’s a true student of the industry who has built businesses from scratch, led high-performance teams, and believes in listening closely, learning constantly, and challenging convention. Under his leadership, we believe Opifex-Synergy is well-positioned to deliver long-term value for our customers, employees, and all stakeholders.”

As Opifex-Synergy charts its path forward, the company is focused on strategic priorities to fuel its next phase of growth: expanding fleet offerings to meet customer needs, making it easier to do business through technology and streamlined processes, and fostering a culture of engagement and hands-on leadership across every branch.

About Opifex-Synergy

Formed through the merger of Opifex LLC and Synergy Equipment, Opifex-Synergy is one of the largest independent equipment rental providers in the Southern U.S. With more than 34 locations, the company serves infrastructure, commercial, and industrial sectors with a robust fleet that includes aerial, earthmoving, trench safety, material handling, compaction, and specialty equipment. Backed by Avance Investment Management, funds and accounts managed by Blackrock, J.C Mas, and executive leadership, Opifex-Synergy is committed to operational excellence, local responsiveness, and long-term growth.