Damon Diamantaras
Chief Executive Officer

Damon is our owner, founder, and Chief Executive Officer – and you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone with more experience in our industry. Damon graduated from Texas A&M in 1992 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, and his immediate work in sales and business management prepared him for the challenge of starting a new business in a budding industry. Damon and his wife Cindy founded Today’s Satellite in January of 1996, literally out of their garage and focused on selling the large satellite dishes that you currently see near TV stations or antique shops. From such a humble beginning, Damon found himself executing every aspect of the business, from sales to marketing to accounting to IT, and even installing the systems! He was able to make the business successful from month one, and a combination of hard work, business savvy, and an introduction to DISH Network placed the organization on the path from supporting just his family to supporting over 200 families.

Damon's business vision serves as a major strength for the organization. As the organization worked to branch out from the Telecommunications space in the Mid-2010s, he identified the independent insurance agent space as one that fit the core competencies of the organization, and a model that we could disrupt. That vision and leadership has turned TGS Insurance Agency into one of, if not the, fastest growing independent agencies not just in Texas, but the entire country.

Damon met Cindy while at Texas A&M, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, and they have been married for more than 20 years. He’s spent the majority of his life in Houston, graduating from Cypress Creek HS in 1988. He has two sons, Evan and Nicholas. Following their parents’ footsteps and keeping the Aggie spirit alive, both sons attended Texas A&M. Evan graduated in 2020 and soon joined TGS Insurance Agency as a Planning & Portfolio Manager with big ambitions to take the agency to the next level. Nicholas graduated in 2022 and has begun a flourishing career in investment banking. Damon is very involved in the St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church community. You may have heard of him from his years as an emcee at their annual Houston Greek Fest. Behind his church and family, Damon’s biggest passion is Texas A&M, and his fall weekends are frequently centered around Aggie Football. His love for sports extends beyond the maroon and white, and you’ll find him rooting hard for the Texans, Rockets, and Astros. He’s an accomplished private pilot, and his other hobbies include golf, hunting, and fishing.

Patrick Gaides
Executive Vice President of The Go Solution

Patrick is our EVP of at The Go Solution, bringing over 20 years of experience across diverse fields, including ranch management, satellite, cable, telecom sales, and insurance agency management. After earning his Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Management from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University), he began his career managing the family ranch before joining the DISH satellite business in its early stages. Patrick's extensive experience spans nearly every area of our business, where he has worked, managed, or been intimately involved in development. Those who work with Patrick know one thing for certain: he knows his numbers. Integrity, one of The Go Solution's core values, deeply resonates with Patrick, as he is outcome-driven. He encourages his team daily, driving excellence through well-planned, executed, and timed campaigns in the constant pursuit of success in a highly competitive and challenging business environment. As Patrick says, "I've learned that success is a moving target that will change dramatically as you go through life."

Like many of us, Patrick learned a valuable lesson from his father at a young age: working hard and striving to be the best in everything you do will take you far in life. This philosophy extends beyond the office to his home life and leisure time. Patrick is married to his college sweetheart, Shirley, and they have a son, Grayson, who became a TGS Insurance Agent just after his 18th Birthday and still sells part time while pursuing his degree at Texas A&M. Growing up in Northwest Houston, Patrick developed a love for the outdoors. He enjoys fishing, hunting, skiing, and working on his "toys". Every weekend is a new adventure as he plans and enjoys outings with family and friends. Whether camping or spending the night on his offshore boat, Patrick embraces nature, constantly refining his outdoor skills. He's a master of difficult knots, effortlessly tying an 80lb Microfiber braid to a 50lb Fluorocarbon leader with a 30-turn Bimini Twist knot, followed by a 10-turn Bristol knot. Yellowfin tuna, beware!

Dale Dickey
Chief Technology Officer

Dale Dickey, our Chief Technology Officer, has 30 years of IT experience, most of which have been in the telecommunications indurstry. After joining the US Army in 1984 as a Combat Engineer, Dale served honorably until his discharge in 1990. He then worked for AT&T, where he was a key member of the team that built the first fiber network in Dallas. Dale joined The Go Solution in 1996, back when we were known as Today’s Satellite, focusing on selling and installing satellite TV systems. As the business evolved into GoDISH.com, Dale held multiple roles, including lead technician and sales. In 2000, he established the IT Department, which today supports all of The Go Solution’s businesses and employees. As one of our longest-standing employees, Dale is a veteran presence in the company. He excels at designing and building systems that give us a competitive edge—an essential requirement for maintaining our leadership in the industry. With a PMP certification, Dale ensures projects are completed correctly and on time. Every day, he embodies our core value of teamwork. As Dale puts it, “Teamwork is so important that it is virtually impossible for you to reach the heights of your capabilities without embracing it. No one is as smart as all of us. That’s just what I believe.” It’s no surprise that Dale understands his success is tied to the success of those around him.

Dale grew up 20 miles south of Dallas in Red Oak, TX, where his high school graduating class had just 96 students. Competing in 3A football, his team were district champs and made the state playoffs three out of his four years. Today, Dale’s love for football continues, alongside hobbies such as camping, BBQ cook-offs, fishing, and building street rods. He and his wife, Regina, are dedicated parents to two boys, Gabe and Jake. His favorite quote comes from Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Dale’s sense of humor shines through in his favorite movie, Coming to America. In his younger years, Dale was really into hairbands and could be seen wearing spandex leopard pants, a deerskin vest, and moccasins—though he claims his best accessory was his long hair. Dale has worked hard to integrate his community support into his work life, and years ago, he started the semiannual company picnic, which has become a successful and fun way to raise awareness and funds for various national and local causes in Houston. He and his wife, Dr. Regina Dickey, are exceptionally proud of their two sons; Gabe (who is pursuing his degree at Texas A&M) and Jake (a Sophomore in High School).

Lanny Hayes
Chief Experience Officer

Lanny Hayes, our Chief Experience Officer, is a native of Monahans, TX, and has spent the majority of his professional career with The Go Solution. Over the years, he has worked in multiple departments, held roles with increasing levels of responsibility, and was previously recognized as Manager of the Year in 2012. While earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Texas A&M, Lanny worked as a bus driver, a job that provided him with valuable lessons in dealing with different kinds of people and taught the importance of starting the day early. One of the qualities that makes Lanny such an asset to the organization is his unwavering drive to “win.” Whether he’s refining existing systems or building something entirely new, Lanny’s passion is evident in everything he does. It’s no surprise that the TGS core value that resonates most with Lanny is Next-Level Innovation. He says, “Most people just keep doing things the way they always have, because it’s comfortable. To grow, in your personal life or in business, you have to always look to find a better way. When “what’s next” becomes a habit, you can accomplish amazing things.”

Lanny’s drive and enthusiasm for success extend into his personal and family life. He believes that “how you define success will change as you grow, but the most important part of measuring success is ‘when.’ The right answer is constantly. People who constantly win, constantly keep score.” He and his wife, Dr. Felicia Hayes, work together to instill a similar drive in their children, Caitlin and Blake. Lanny is actively involved in community programs both through leadership of TGS’ service initiatives, and through Felicia’s role as a Middle School Principal in the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. He often wears his Aggie Maroon, and is especially proud that his daughter Caitlin followed in her parents’ footsteps to A&M. He also enjoys traveling to new places and learning about astronomy. Those who know Lanny would agree that his favorite quote reflects his approach to life: “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence.” –Vince Lombardi.

Michelle McKinney
Chief Financial Officer

Michelle McKinney, our Chief Financial Officer at The Go Solution, is a proud Texan, born and raised in Cypress, TX. She graduated with a BS in Accounting from Texas A&M University in 1992 and immediately began her career at Deloitte & Touche. When Michelle entered the accounting world, there was a shortage of accountants, and many businesses were either starting up, going under, going public, or merging. This dynamic environment threw Michelle right into the action from the start, allowing her to work with clients from a variety of industries, including oil and gas, retail, government, and manufacturing. This early exposure gave Michelle a broad range of experiences at the very beginning of her career.

A few years later, Michelle left Deloitte & Touche and joined Academy Sports & Outdoors, where she gained insights into every aspect of how a business operates. From accounting and distribution to buying, real estate, and more, Michelle had the opportunity to immerse herself in every facet of the business, deepening her understanding of how all the pieces work together. She began as an accounting manager and worked her way up to Executive Vice President of Corporate Development. At Academy, she met her mentor, the CFO, who challenged her to take on new opportunities, allowing her to thrive and further her understanding of the importance of cohesive business operations. He also taught her the value of work/life balance—something highly valued here at The Go Solution. After leaving Academy just before the company was sold, Michelle brought her talents to several other businesses, including Litton Loan, The Friedkin Group, and The Adam Corporation, before bringing her expertise to The Go Solution.

One of Michelle’s greatest strengths at TGS is her extensive experience and understanding of how different industries and business departments must work together harmoniously. Throughout her career, she has been involved in every aspect of business operations, giving her a deep appreciation for both the operational and financial sides of the business. Michelle has big goals for TGS, but for now, she’s focused on building consistent reporting and ensuring access to the right information for key decision-makers. As TGS continues to grow rapidly, Michelle is dedicated to providing the insights needed to make timely decisions that will position the company for future success. Her ultimate goal is to help TGS grow as quickly and profitably as possible.

When she’s not crunching numbers, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family and helping with duties on their family farm. She’s been happily married to her husband, Phil, since 1991, and they have three wonderful children: Reece, Texas A&M Class of 2017; Trevor, Texas A&M Class of 2019; and Maddie.