Food and Beverage Consumer Products and Services Technology Media and Telecoms Industrials Acquisitions Capital Raise Healthcare and Life Sciences

Alfred Music is successfully recapitalized by Crystal Financial and NewStar Financial

Bubbies of San Francisco Acquires Othentic Foods

Diamond Shamrock R&M, Inc

Echlin Inc

Elder-Beerman Stores Corp

Embedded Resource Group

ImaRx Pharmaceutical, Inc.,

J.D. Heiskell & Co

JH Partners invests in Kate Sommerville Holdings

La-Z-Boy of Colorado Springs

The M.C. Gill Corporation acquires Alcore and Alcore Brigantine

Microflex

miVIP and Oband

St. Cloud Invests in MNX Midnite Express

Quiverr Collective

Tarazi Foods sold to Highwood Farms LLC

Tyson Foods successfully completed a $175 million capital raise

Ventana Medical Systems a developer of advanced medical devices acquires BokTek Solutions Inc.

Vinturi the Leader in Wine and Spirit Aeration sold to Focus Products Froup

Westwood One

The Kroger Co was provided with a $72,4 million senior secured term loan

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  Alfred Music is successfully recapitalized by Crystal Financial and NewStar Financial

  Alfred Music's investment banking team, including Robert T. Smith, Roman Lefranc and Tong Liu, successfully completed a financing for Alfred Music, Inc. the world’s largest publisher of educational music. The Company was founded in 1922 and has been owned by the Manus family since 1928. Alfred produces educational, reference music, pop, and performance materials for teachers, students, professionals, and hobbyist musicians across all types of instruments, music styles, and difficulty levels. The Company publishes over 184,000 print and digital products sold at over 10,000 retailers worldwide.

  
  

  Prior to engaging investment bankers, the Company had senior and mezzanine debt and a note held by a previous shareholder that needed to be settled. Senior lenders wanted management to sell the company or replace the debt; but Ron Manus, Alfred Music’s CEO and third generation leader, wanted to preserve the legacy and the jobs of all the people who work there and love music. The investment bankers were retained to find new lenders at reasonable terms that would also allow Ron to maintain leadership. The challenge was to accomplish this and satisfy the interests of four current lenders, a note holder and two new lenders.

  
  

  After months of presentations and negotiations, and with help from Alfred’s CFO Steven Raft, the investment bankers were able to arrange and negotiate a $20 million senior secured term loan with Crystal Financial and a $10 million revolving credit facility with NewStar Business Credit. “What is uniquely great about our bankers was their ability to listen and apply their skills and strengths to our business and to what we’re trying to achieve.” said Ron.

  
  

  The end result was that the three senior lenders were repaid in full, the mezzanine lender’s debt was restructured, and there is new working capital. Most importantly the family legacy will continue. Ron maintained 100% of his equity interest, and leadership of the company without having to personally guarantee the loans.

  
  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner

  Roman LeFranc, Managing Partner
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  Bubbies of San Francisco Acquires Othentic Foods

  Bubbies of San Francisco's completed the acquisition of Othentic Foods by Bubbies of San Francisco. Bubbies investment banking team, including Robert T. Smith and Roman Lefranc acted as their exclusive financial advisor.

  
  

  Bubbies is a leading purveyor of fermented, specialty foods offering naturally fermented pure kosher dills, dill relish, sauerkraut and pickled green tomatoes made without vinegar or artificial preservatives. Bubbies products are sold largely through natural food stores such as Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Organic Food Depot, Sunshine, Westerly and at better independent natural food stores throughout the country.

  
  

  The Deal Team scoured the market to identify accretive acquisitions that met both Bubbies strict quality standards and promised specific cost and market synergies.

  
  

  “What is uniquely great about our investment bankers is their ability to listen and apply their skills and strengths to our business and to what we’re trying to achieve.” said John Gray, Bubbies CEO.

  
  

  Othentic Foods is a New Jersey based importer of USDA certified Organic and All Natural pickles, sauerkraut, beets, marinated peppers, salads and soups from Poland. Othentic’s products are sold at retail stores throughout the United States. Their products are OU Kosher and non-GMO Certified by the European Union.

  
  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner

  Roman LeFranc, Managing Partner
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  Diamond Shamrock R&M, Inc

  Diamond Wire had grown from inception with multiple investment rounds creating a complicated capitalization structure. Meyer Burger (a public company on the Swiss SWX exchange) acquired the company in a transaction involving both cash and stock.

  
  

  The Aaron Capital team was able to navigate the complexities of this sale and act as the intermediary between the historical capital investors.

  
  Deal Team
  Chris Blees, Managing Director
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  Echlin Inc

  $125,000,000 Senior Notes were placed for this Automotive Industry systems provider. Members of the Aaron Capital team managed the placement of these notes in the private market.

  
  

  About Echlin Inc.

  Echlin, Inc. was a worldwide supplier of products used to maintain or improve the efficiency and safety of motor vehicles. Its principal product categories included brake system, engine system, other vehicle parts, and non-vehicular products.

  
  Deal Team
  Larry Johnson, Advisor
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  Elder-Beerman Stores Corp

  Elder-Beerman Stores Corp., a chain of department stores, successfully completed a $25 million capital raise. The private placement was managed by members of the Aaron Capital team.

  
  

  About Elder-Beerman Stores Corp.

  The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. operates department stores in the United States. The stores sell a range of moderate to better branded merchandise, including women's, men's, and children's apparel and accessories; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods. The company’s stores are principally located in small to midsize midwestern markets in Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1883 and is based in Dayton, Ohio.

  
  Deal Team
  Larry Johnson, Advisor
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  Embedded Resource Group

  Embedded Resource Group, Inc., (ERG), a Silicon Valley-based specialty IT engineering recruitment firm, was acquired by Yoh, a leading international talent and outsourcing company and part of Day & Zimmermann. The acquisition expands Yoh’s IT staffing practice area and addresses the demand from businesses of all sizes for flexible, on-demand and sustained recruiting for skilled professionals.

  The Aaron Capital team was engaged by Embedded Resource Group initially to assist with tax planning and structuring of the transaction. Our assistance extended to general financial support including valuation, working capital, and negotiation of other deal points.

  
  

  ERG is a leading Silicon Valley Engineering and IT recruiting practice, started more than 10 years ago with one goal: to place specialized engineers at technology companies in Silicon Valley and throughout the Bay Area and Northern California. ERG has developed a network of high-level development, hardware and software engineering professionals to respond immediately to constantly changing client needs. Founder and President, Tim Penick, who previously worked at Yoh and built one of Yoh’s most successful offices in the late 1990’s, brings a team of recruiting professionals who lead the market in Northern California.

  
  

  Established in 1940, Yoh is the 26th largest staffing firm in the United States according to Staffing Industry Analysts. Yoh has a reputation of maintaining long-term clients that are among some of the world’s largest and leading technology and media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. Yoh is a subsidiary of Day & Zimmermann, a $2.4 billion century-old, third generation family-owned services company. Day & Zimmermann is currently ranked as one of the largest private companies in the U.S. by Forbes.

  
  Deal Team
  Chris Blees, Managing Director

  Austin Buckett, Director
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  ImaRx Pharmaceutical, Inc.,

  Sale of ImaRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to DuPont for $44 Million in DuPont Common Stock. Sale included the rights to the lipid based imaging patent for cardiovascular pharmaceuticals only on a world-wide basis.

  
  Deal Team
  Mike Rodgers, Managing Director
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  J.D. Heiskell & Co

  The company needed some fresh capital to fuel its growing activities. Members of the Aaron team advised and led the capital raise effort. Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Union Bank of California, N.A., and Firstar Bank N.A. provided the $85,000,000 Senior Secured Notes.

  
  

  About J.D. Heiskell & Co.

  JD Heiskell & Company engages in grain and commodity trading business. The company exports grains and commodities to Mexico, the Pacific Rim, and the Far East. It also operates livestock feed manufacturing and trans-loading facilities in the United States. The company was founded in 1886 and is based in Tulare, California with feed handling assets and offices across the United States.

  
  Deal Team
  Larry Johnson, Advisor
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  JH Partners invests in Kate Sommerville Holdings

  JH Partners acquired a majority of Kate Sommerville Holdings, which holds the rights to the skin care line founded by industry veteran Kate Somerville. Somerville set up Health Experts medi-skin clinic in 2004 in California, and subsequently established a skin care line in the fall of last year.

  
  

  Containing a full spectrum of products, the skin care line is sold through the clinic, high-end retailers, spa outlets, direct marketing television channels and the Kate Sommerville website.
  

  Kate Somerville's investment banking team, including Robert T. Smith, initiated the transaction, assisted in the negotiations and served as exclusive financial advisor to Kate Sommerville Holdings.

  
  

  About Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts

  Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts is dedicated to offering clients real solutions to skin concerns through comprehensive, result-driven products and services. With an emphasis on clinical skincare and advanced technologies, Kate Somerville has garnered a devoted celebrity following and has been widely featured in the media. Kate Somerville products can be purchased through the internet, luxury spas, direct-response television, prestige retail locations, as well as at the flagship Kate Somerville clinic on Melrose Place in West Hollywood.

  
  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner
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  La-Z-Boy of Colorado Springs

  La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries operates as a licensed retailer of La-Z-Boy through independently owned retail and distribution businesses. The owners of the Colorado Springs market engaged The Aaron Capital team to assist them in marketing the company for sale and ultimately completing a transition of ownership to another experienced operator.

  
  

  The Aaron Capital has extensive experience in working with licensed retailers, such as La-Z-Boy and Ethan Allen. This experience proved critical when handling the details associated with a transfer of ownership in a retail operation such as La-Z-Boy.

  
  

  About La-Z-Boy, Inc.

  La-Z-Boy Inc. is an American furniture manufacturer based in Monroe, Michigan, USA, that makes home furniture, including upholstered recliners, sofas, stationary chairs, lift chairs and sleeper sofas.

  
  Deal Team
  Chris Blees, Managing Director
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  The M.C. Gill Corporation acquires Alcore and Alcore Brigantine

  The M.C. Gill Corporation has acquired Alcore and its French subsidiary Alcore Brigantine. M.C. Gill is a developer and manufacturer of high performance composite products to serve the commercial aircraft and aerospace industries.

  
  

  Alcore and its subsidiary Alcore Brigantine has long been a leader in providing high-quality, lightweight structural core materials to the aerospace, marine, construction, rail and industrial markets.

  
  

  Alcore’s processing capabilities will build on and add to M.C. Gill’s own expertise in that area. Alcore’s array of equipment that will cut, shape, mill, form, and bond… serves to complement the M.C. Gill competence in the fabrication of different shapes and contoured parts. These processing capabilities include tooling design and manufacture, bonding, potting, insert work, roll-forming, routing, 3- and 5- axis profiling, and horizontal and vertical sawing.

  
  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner
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  Microflex

  The Microflex board sought to maximize shareholder value and retained members of the Aaron capital team to advise the company and represent the company in its recapitalization effort.

  Riverside Fund II, L.P., Key Mezzanine Capital Fund I, L.P., Regis Capital Partners, L.P., Wells Fargo, and HSBC Trade Bank, N.A. provided the funds in this recapitalization.

  
  

  About Microflex Corporation

  Microflex Corporation designs and manufactures disposable and limited-use gloves within the business-to-business marketplace. It offers medical examination gloves, clean environment products, and nitrile examination gloves. The company provides its gloves for professionals and workplaces. It serves automotive, tattoo and piercing, industrial safety, laboratory, dental, first responder, and healthcare customers. The company’s products are distributed through a network of distributors in the United States, as well as internationally. The company was founded in 1987 and is based in Reno, Nevada. Microflex Corporation now operates as a subsidiary of BarrierSafe Solutions International, Inc.

  
  Deal Team
  Larry Johnson, Advisor
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  miVIP and Oband

  The transaction is initially valued at more than $300 million and with earnout may ultimately be valued in excess of $500 million.

  
  

  Aaron Capital, Inc. (“Aaron”), a leading global middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce the sale of miVIP and Oband, Inc. (together “miVIP”, or the “Company”), one of the leading networks of outpatient surgery centers and clinics specializing in robotically assisted minimally invasive surgeries in the United States, to Shanghai Hongxiao Science and Technology Co., LTD., a China-based company.

  
  

  Founded in 2006, miVIP is owned by Dr. Isaac Verbukh. Under his leadership the Company has expanded from a single location to six (6) surgery centers and fifteen (15) clinics and over 80 surgeons. They perform a wide spectrum of surgical procedures including Bariatrics, Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT), Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Gynecology, Joint Replacement, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Podiatry, Spinal Surgery, and Urology. The Company is one of the largest groups of surgical centers in the world to utilize the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System

  
  

  Dr. Verbukh commented, “After years of working towards the successful execution of my growth plan and having associated miVIP with world class surgeons I decided it was time to bring in the right partner to replicate the miVIP system and footprint. I chose the investment banking team, which included Robert T. Smith, Roman Lefranc and Tong Liu for their cross-border experience and ability to help the company navigate the complexities of this global transaction.”

  
  

  The investment banking team provided M&A and industry experience and worked closely with Dr. Verbukh and his management team throughout the sale process, including preparatory activities, marketing the company on a worldwide basis, due diligence and negotiation. Hongxiao was ultimately chosen from over 50 potential bidders. There were a number of contributing factors in miVIP selecting Hongxiao as its transaction partner, but the two most important were the Hongxiao’s willingness to support a continued aggressive expansion plan in the US, while also brining miVIP’s expertise and medical services to the Chinese population.

  
  

  The transaction is initially valued in excess of $300 million and may ultimately be valued in excess of $500 million. Dr. Verbukh added, “My investment bankers hands-on approach allowed me and my team to focus on maximizing the success of the business while they negotiated and closed a very complex, global transaction.

  
  

  About Aaron Capital, Inc.

  Founded in 1989, Aaron Capital is the investment bank for family owned and entrepreneurial driven middle market companies. The Aaron team has provided bulge bracket quality services to its middle market clients. As an entrepreneur owned bank we understand our client’s needs, desires and stress points. This enables us to aggressively pursue our client’s goals and deliver superior results in each of our transactions.

  
  

  The Aaron team has completed hundreds transactions in a wide range of industries including healthcare & life sciences, consumer products & services, food & beverage, industrials, technology, EB5 and real estate. This breadth of experiences enables us to succeed in a number of industries, while individual team members develop deep understanding and expertise in industries in which they are passionate.

  
  

  More information about Aaron Capital, Inc. can be obtained at www.aaroncapital.com

  
  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner

  Roman LeFranc, Managing Partner

  Tong Liu, Managing Partner
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  St. Cloud Invests in MNX Midnite Express

  MNX Midnite Air Corp.'s investment banking team, including Robert T. Smith, is pleased to announce St. Cloud Capital investment in Midnite Air Corp. in the form of senior secured subordinated notes and common stock. The capital was used to fund acquisitions, capital programs and working capital.

  
  

  About MNX Midnite Air Corp.

  MNX Midnite Air Corp. is a specialist courier in the transportation and logistics business, serving 220 countries and headquartered in Inglewood, CA. The Company provides express, supply chain and freight services to customers primarily in the life sciences, entertainment and aviation industries.

  
  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner
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  Quiverr Collective

  Quiverr Collective LLC. Is a digital agency and ecommerce expert. It provides ecommerce consulting and act as a distributor for many well known branded consumer products. The company provides an excellent turn key solution for brands who lack ecommerce experience, it represents more than 20 reputable consumer brands and it develops its own proprietary products.

  
  

  Advantage Sales and Marketing LLC is a national marketing and distribution company. It represents more than 200 consumer product brands in its portfolio.

  
  

  The acquisition of Quiverr Collective LLC creates a great deal of synergies for both companies going forward. Both CEOs saw great fit between the two companies culturally and strategically.

  
  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner

  Roman LeFranc, Managing Partner

  Tong Liu, Managing Partner
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  Tarazi Foods sold to Highwood Farms LLC

  Tarazi Foods is a leading manufacturer of Mediterranean food products. This rapidly growing Company uses only the highest quality ingredients to bring their customers the traditional flavors of the Mediterranean. In business for almost 40 years, the Company’s products are manufactured using proprietary recipes passed down from generation to generation. The Company manufactures the absolute highest quality Mediterranean food products under its own private brand labels for select customers. Its product line has continued to expand and now includes: tahini, falafel mix, sesame seeds, garbanzo and fava beans.

  
  

  Tarazi's investment banking team, including Robert T. Smith and Roman Lefranc helped to find a buyer that would honor the family legacy and continue to produce the highest quality product. It was important that the buyer would agree to keep the original recipes unchanged as they are the result of 40 years of family traditions. After multiple offers, the perfect fit was found in Highwood Farms, LLC.

  
  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner

  Roman LeFranc, Managing Partner
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  Tyson Foods successfully completed a $175 million capital raise

  The company’s board sought to raise capital to fund its growing operation and retained members of the Aaron capital team to represent the company in its capital raise effort. As a result, $175 million in senior notes were raised to fund the operations of this major process control systems manufacturer.
  

  About Tyson Foods, Inc.

  Tyson Foods, Inc. is the world's second largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork and annually exports the largest percentage of beef out of the United States. Together with its subsidiaries it operates major food brands, including Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Sara Lee, Ball Park, Wright Brand, Aidells, and State Fair.

  
  

  The company was established by John W. Tyson in 1935 and as of 2014, the company employs 115,000 people, who work at more than 300 facilities, 90 of which are in the US.

  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner

  Roman LeFranc, Managing Partner

  Tong Liu, Managing Partner
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  Ventana Medical Systems a developer of advanced medical devices acquires BokTek Solutions Inc.

  Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (ÒVMSIÓ), a Tucson, AZ based manufacturer and supplier of medical devices used in the diagnosis of solid cancer tumors acquired Bio-Tek Solutions, Inc. for $19 million in VMSI common stock. Bio-Tek Solutions was the only other supplier of histology medical devices used in the diagnosis of solid cancer tumors.

  
  Deal Team
  Mike Rodgers, Managing Director
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  Vinturi the Leader in Wine and Spirit Aeration sold to Focus Products Froup

  Vinturi was founded in 2007 to address an untapped market for wine aeration products. The Company’s patented products took advantage of the Vinturi Effect, enabling users to fully aerate a glass of wine while pouring. Sold in specialty retailer such as Williams Sonoma and Bed Bath & Beyond, Vinturi’s product quickly grew in sales and popularity, receiving praises from renowned magazines and websites such as Forbes.com and Wine Enthusiast.

  Founded in 2001, Focus Products Group International, LLC is a leading supplier of consumer and professional housewares, small-wares, bath, furniture slip covers and electric products to the retail, and hospitality sectors in North America with market-leading brands including Amco Houseworks, West Bend and Chicago Metallic.

  Vinturi ownership recognized that the Company’s exponential growth could not be sustained without the operational expertise and financial wherewithal of a larger corporation and engaged their bankers to manage the sale of the company after the current.

  The investment banking team, including Roman Lefranc, Robert T. Smith and Tong Liu, relied on its deep relationships in the sector to organize a blind auction that resulted in the selection of Focus Product Groups International. With proven brands, strong product development teams, along with world class sourcing capabilities and supply chain management, Focus is the perfect partner to insure Vinturi’s long-term growth.

  
  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner

  Roman LeFranc, Managing Partner

  Tong Liu, Managing Partner
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  Westwood One

  Westwood One, a provider of radio programming and traffic reporting, has announced a recapitalization agreement. The company will refinance all of its outstanding long term debt, about $241 million, for $25 million cash, a 25% equity stake and $117.5 million of new senior secured notes. As part of the deal, The Gores Group, Westwood's largest shareholder, acquired $25 million of preferred stock and guaranteed $35 million of new loans. Upon completion of the recapitalization, The Gores Group will own approximately 72.5% of the company

  
  Deal Team
  Robert Smith, Managing Partner

  Roman LeFranc, Managing Partner

  Tong Liu, Managing Partner
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  The Kroger Co was provided with a $72,4 million senior secured term loan

  Members of the Aaron team managed the private placement debt portfolio which invested $72,4 million this major retailer in the form of senior secured notes.

  
  

  About The Kroger Co.

  The Kroger Company, or simply Kroger, is a retailing company founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the United States's largest supermarket chain by revenue. It also manufactures and processes food for sale in its supermarkets. The company operates retail food and drug stores, multi-department stores, jewelry stores, and convenience stores.

  
  

  It operates under banner brands, such as Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, etc., as well as Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic brands.

  
  

  The Kroger Co. was founded in 1883 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

  
  Deal Team
  Larry Johnson, Advisor

SEE ALL TRANSACTIONS

• All
• Executive
• Managing Director
• Operations
• Advisor

David Wolfe

Robert Smith

Todd Fasanella

Steve Besbeck

Tong Liu

Chris Blees

Michael Rodgers

Road Ammons

Austin Buckett

Timothy O'Leary

Andrew Shoemaker

Fred Sussman

Ana Carter

Jan Mansel

Glenn Eisman

Ken Burd

Jeff Lumin

J. Peter McBride

Jerald Welch

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  David Wolfe

  Chairman

  
  

  Aaron Capital - Chairman Mr. Wolfe is the Chairman and sole shareholder of Aaron Capital Inc. a full-service Broker Dealer, which specialties in Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Placements, EB5, Medical devices, real estate syndications and other core market segments. He has been licensed as an investment banker for 35 years starting in 1980 as an Executive Vice President with United Resources, a division of Integrated Resources, Inc., marketing life and annuity products nationally in the 403b TSA vertical and built it to 250M annual sales and managed over 200 sales persons nationwide. David was the President of the broker dealer which marketed mutual funds, real estate limited partnerships and equipment leasing programs in the early 1980’s. He is the owner of Public Properties Management which owns office buildings, retail centers and development sites. Additional experience was gained while performing family trust and pension services for the Guardian Life Insurance Company specializing in small to medium sized businesses. Aaron Capital, while under his watch, has cleared and structured Billions of dollars in transactions.

  David currently holds General Securities Series 7, Securities Principal Series 24, Financial Operating Principal Series 27, Options Principal Series 4, Mergers and Acquisitions Series 79, Uniform Securities State Law, Series 63, Life and Disability Insurance and a Real Estate Broker License. He is also a military veteran serving honorably from 1969-1973.

  
  

  Contact David:

  dwolfe@aaroncapital.com
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  Robert Smith

  President

  
  

  Robert Smith is the President of Aaron Capital, Inc. a 28 year old, full service Broker Dealer specializing in mergers and acquisitions, raising both debt and equity capital, EB5 and real estate syndications.

  
  

  Robert graduated with honors from California State University Long Beach and began his career in the software industry, where he directed the design and production of enterprise software systems for the transportation and logistics industry.

  
  

  After working in software for 3 years, Robert attended law school at the University of Southern California. Upon graduation he joined Prindle, Decker & Amaro where he participated in complex litigation, business and real estate transactions.

  
  

  Robert then joined Hankin & Co., a mid-market investment banking firm, where he completed buy-side M&A, financing, and sell-side M&A transactions in the diversified manufacturing, retail, distribution, and service sectors. At Hankin & Co., Robert was also deeply involved in providing litigation support to the Regents of the University of Southern California in their securities class action relating to the Enron collapse.

  
  

  After leaving Hankin & Co., Robert was recruited as CEO to assist in the restructuring and turnaround of an advertising agency specializing in print ads for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA, and non-profit groups. There he developed long-term plans to help address the health and financial stability of the company and helped to expand its sports-related business.

  
  

  Upon completing his tenure at the advertising agency, Robert joined Mosaic Capital, a mid-market investment banking firm. At Mosaic, he successfully completed a series of M&A transactions, financings and other investment banking engagements.

  
  

  In 2009, Robert founded and was Co-Managing Partner of Diamond Capital Advisors. At Diamond, Robert specialized in generating highly successful transactions for his clients by driving aggressive auction processes.

  
  

  In his spare time, Robert enjoys coaching football, restoring classic cars, and is a cooking enthusiast.

  
  

  Robert is licensed by FINRA as a Securities Principal holding Series 7, 24, 63, & 79 licenses.

  
  

  rsmith@aaroncapital.com

  562-858-4141
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  Todd Fasanella

  Managing Director

  
  

  Todd has over 20 years of experience in investment banking and asset finance capital markets for the real estate, hospitality / leisure and financial services industries.

  
  

  Todd’s asset finance experience includes structuring and marketing of over $20 billion of asset backed facilities and securities, secured by equipment leases, healthcare receivables, manufactured housing loans, rental vehicle fleets, subprime mortgages and vacation ownership loans.  His corporate investment banking transactions have included advising on mergers & acquisitions and LBOs, and structuring / executing investment grade and high yield bonds, equity security offerings, leveraged loans, private placements and real estate development loans and joint ventures. Todd is also Managing Director at The Carlton Group, a real estate brokerage where he co-heads Hospitality & Leisure, and CEO of Vacation Ownership Funding Company, LLC, which provides portfolio management services for Quorum Federal Credit Union’s investments in vacation ownership consumer loans. Todd serves on the Boards of Finesse Resorts International, LLC, and BQ Resorts, LLC, both of which are vacation ownership companies. Todd began his professional career at The Prudential Realty Group, and previously worked at Credit Suisse, Barclays Capital and most recently Imperial Capital, where he led investment banking for the financial services, hospitality/leisure and real estate industries. Todd is licensed by FINRA as a Securities Principal holding Series 7, 24, 63, & 79 licenses.

  
  

  Todd received a B.S. in Economics and Mathematics from The Ohio State University and an MBA in Finance and Strategy from Yale University.

  
  

  Contact Todd:

  tfasanella@aaroncapital.com

  212-433-2763
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  Steve Besbeck

  Managing Director

  
  

  Aaron Capital - Managing Director Steven M. Besbeck is a managing director at Aaron Capital, Inc. with a focus on healthcare and medical technologies. Steven has a career spanning more than 40 years as an advisor, chief executive officer, and board member of private and public companies. Prior to joining Aaron Capital, Inc., he was a managing director at Diamond Capital Advisors, a middle market advisory firm. Steven has managed mergers, acquisitions, capital transactions, divestitures, and turnarounds. He is proficient in medical devices, healthcare information technologies, healthcare services, and diagnostics, as well as the creation of businesses that develop and market them. As the chief executive officer of three public companies, Steven raised millions of dollars in equity and debt financing including initial public offerings. During his career he has completed over twenty-five acquisitions and managed the integration of their businesses.

  
  

  Steven was a co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Aspyra, Inc., a publically held healthcare information technology provider that specialized in clinical applications. Prior to Aspyra, Steven served as President and CEO of American Cytogenetics, Inc., a public company that provided clinical laboratory services. As CEO he led the company in its expansion of new business services, concluded several acquisitions, and developed clinical diagnostics and related medical devices used in the clinical laboratory. During the course of his career, Steven has served on the boards of several public and private companies.

  
  

  Steven attended California State University at Long Beach and received a Bachelor of Science degree in finance. He is a certified merger and acquisitions advisor (CMAA) through the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors. He holds FINRA Series 79 and 63 licenses.

  
  

  sbesbeck@aaroncapital.com

  818-599-5419
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  Tong Liu

  Managing Director

  
  

  Tong Liu is Managing Partner at Aaron Capital with vast experience in both U.S. and cross-border transactions. Tong is proficient at both speaking and writing in Chinese Mandarin and spends his time between the U.S. and in China where he manages a satellite office in Shanghai.

  
  

  Prior to joining Aaron Capital, Tong spent 4 years as the Vice President at Diamond Capital Advisors, a boutique investment bank based in Los Angeles with a focus on middle market M&A transactions in the U.S. At Diamond Capital, Tong helped to complete multiple transactions in the healthcare, food and beverage, consumer products, manufacturing and various other industries.

  
  

  In his early 20’s Tong started his own business in the aftermarket automotive accessories industry and later successfully exited by selling his stake to his partner. Tong also sat on the board of a U.S public company in the bio-pharma space where he advised the company on all of its strategic initiatives in the U.S.

  
  

  Tong received both his BA and MBA from the Steven G Mihaylo School of Business at California State University, Fullerton. His favorite pastimes include numerous sports, outdoor activities and traveling.

  
  

  Tong is a FINRA registered representative and holds the Series 79 and Series 63 security licenses.

  
  

  tliu@aaroncapital.com

  626-926-7588
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  Chris Blees

  Managing Director

  
  

  Chris began his career with an accounting firm in 1994 after graduating from Western State College of Colorado, and quickly became a Partner in a CPA firm in 1999, at the age of 28.

  
  

  In 2003, Chris expanded its focus beyond traditional CPA services and started the Colorado M&A and Investment Banking practice. Since 2003, Chris has become involved in over 200 merger, acquisition, or sale transactions in California, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Chris’ commitment to the acquisition and sale industry is personified by earning the Certified in Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) designation, and by obtaining his Series-7 and Series-79 securities licenses in 2004.

  
  

  Chris contributes to the national M&A community through his service on the Board of Advisors for the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AMAA), where he chairs the Certification Committee. As Chair of the Certification Committee, Chris currently serves as the lead instructor for the Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) designation, taught through DePaul, Pepperdine and Thunderbird Universities’ Executive MBA Programs, where he coordinates the curriculum, instructors and testing for the program.

  
  

  Chris has contributed many articles and speaking engagements on the subject of private company valuation, mergers, acquisitions and sale transactions. In addition, Chris was retained by Wiley Publishing to co-author a book entitled Middle Market M&A: Handbook for Investment Banking and Consulting, which was released in 2012.

  
  Chris remains active in many professional organizations, including serving as Treasurer for the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance (Chamber), sits on the boards of the UCCS Chancellor’s Leadership Council, the Alliance of M&A Advisors (AMAA), and Trustee for Western State Colorado University (WSCU). He is a member of the Alliance of M&A Advisors (AMAA), Association of Corporate Growth (ACG), Colorado Association of Business Intermediaries (CABI), AICPA, and the Colorado Society of CPA’s.

  
  

  Personally, Chris is active in many outdoor and athletic pursuits. He’s climbed all of Colorado’s 14,000 ft mountains, as well as Mt. Ranier in Washington and Mt. McKinley in Alaska. He also runs ultra-marathons and Ironman-distance triathlons.

  Contact Chris:

  cblees@aaroncapital.com

  719-649-8749
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  Michael Rodgers

  Managing Director

  
  

  Aaron Capital Inc. – Phoenix, AZ Branch Office R. Michael Rodgers Managing Director mrodgers@aaroncapital.com(480) 215 - 5936 Mike Rodgers has more than ten years of investment banking experience serving middle market companies by providing superior advisory services to meet their financial needs. Additionally, Mike has over 30 years’ experience as a C Level executive with both private and public companies. He has completed a number of corporate finance and M&A transactions focusing principally on the life science, technology, alternative energy and consumer products industry sectors.

  
  

  Mike transaction experience as an investment banker and C Level executive approximates $1.6 billion in value covering 54 separate transactions including (i) 4 IPO’s at $80 million, (ii) 14 private debt and equity transactions creating $285 million in capital, (iii) 17 M&A transactions valued at $472 million ; (iv) 4 venture capital transactions totaling $45 million; (v) 5 joint venture product development ventures generating $185 million in milestone payments and (vi) 10 corporate finance advisory engagements generating $485 thousand in fees.

  
  

  Prior to joining Aaron Capital, Inc. Mike was a Managing Director CKS Securities, LLC, Prior to CKS Mike was the Founder of Alare Capital Securities, LLC, a Finra Registered Broker/Dealer, which was acquired by JDB Capital in December 2009. Prior to that Mike served as a C Level executive with The International Genomics Consortium, ImaRx Therapeutics, Inc. Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Fairchild Semiconductor and Instruments, Inc. and Golden Bear International.

  
  

  Mike is a Member of the American Institute of CPA’s (inactive), the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute. and holds the CM&AA designation from The Alliance of Mergers and Acquisition Advisors. Mike received his undergraduate in accounting from Menlo College and an MBA in Finance from the University of Houston. Mike also holds the Series 7, 24, 28, 63. 66, 79 (“grandfathered”), 82 and 99 (“grandfathered”) securities licenses.

  
  

  mrodgers@aaroncapital.com

  480-215-5936
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  Road Ammons

  Managing Director

  
  

  Road Ammons, an Aaron Capital Managing Director,represents clients throughout the United States from his central U. S. location in Memphis, TN. Mr. Ammons has substantial investment banking and corporate development experience in the healthcare sector as well as working with mid-continent entrepreneurial companies in multiple industries. He is responsible for arranging equity and junior capital solutions for both operating and financial services companies.

  
  

  Prior to joining Aaron Capital, Mr. Ammons spent 10 years as a US Marine Corps officer and fighter pilot. After completing his tour of duty, he raced in NASCAR for several years as a driver. Following his NASCAR career, he was employed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals in the specialty medicines division. Most recently Mr. Ammons was employed as a Managing Director with Butler Snow Advisory Services, LLC providing management consulting and transaction advisory services to middle market businesses throughout the Southeast. Before BSAS, Mr. Ammons worked as part of the Capital Financing and Healthcare investment banking teams at FOCUS Investment Banking, LLC. As an investment banker at Duncan-Williams, Inc. in both the public and corporate finance groups, he led numerous public and private transactions where he participated in more than $1.5B in transactions both as a senior and co-manager. Because of his experience in healthcare and finance, Mr. Ammons was recognized as one of the leading citizens in Shelby County and appointed by the Mayor of Shelby County to the task force on improving the Regional Medical Center at Memphis.

  
  

  Mr. Ammons is a fellow of the NC Institute of Political Leadership. He has also served on the City of Charlotte’s Privatization & Competition Advisory Committee. There he was responsible for monitoring the progress of that City in implementing services contracting and asset management programs for possible competition, optimization, or benchmarking with the private sector.

  
  

  Mr. Ammons received a B.S. in Computer Science from Tennessee State University and a M.B.A. in Global Finance with distinction from Thunderbird School of Global Management. He is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma and Pi Sigma Alpha academic honor societies. He also holds the Series 7, 63 and 79 securities licenses.

  
  

  rammons@aaroncapital.com

  901-830-4403
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  Austin Buckett

  Managing Director

  
  

  Austin began his career in the UK, starting out as a Chartered Accountant (UK CPA) in 1994 after graduating from Alton College.

  
  

  In the late 90’s Austin started focusing on financial due diligence and moved to the US for the first time in 2000, joining Dixon Odom (now Dixon Hughes Goodman) in Raleigh, NC. During this time Austin lead financial due diligence teams for the second largest Auto Group in the US, assisting in their national growth strategy.

  
  

  Austin returned to the UK in 2002 to manage the Corporate Finance department of a top 10 accounting firm, focusing on providing investment banking and buy-side assistance to privately held businesses. In 2005 Austin moved back to the US and joined Aaron Capital to help develop and grow the Investment Banking arm of its Colorado Springs office.

  
  

  Since focusing on M&A work Austin has been involved in 100’s of merger, acquisition, or sale transactions in the UK, Colorado, and across the US. Austin earned the Certified in Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) designation in 2006 and obtained his Series-7 and Series-79 securities licenses in 2007. Austin is a member of the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AMAA), and is on the Board of the Colorado Chapter.

  
  

  Austin is also a contributing author to the Wiley Publishing book entitled Middle Market M&A: Handbook for Investment Banking and Consulting, which was released in 2012.

  
  

  In his spare time, Austin can be found riding road bikes up long mountain passes, trying to get a golf ball to fly in a straight line, or suffering the emotional rollercoaster of being a Liverpool FC supporter.

  
  

  Contact Austin:

  abuckett@aaroncapital.com

  719-640-0831
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  Timothy O'Leary

  Managing Director

  
  

  Tim brings nearly 30 years financial services and investment management experience to Aaron Capital, focusing on capital raising and complex wealth and relationship management.

  
  

  He was a founding member of an independent, placement advisory firm that partnered exclusively with leading managers of alternative investment products seeking to raise capital from sophisticated institutional investors. His primary responsibilities were for sourcing and evaluating alternative investment and long-only fund manager clients from around the globe, and working closely with the sales team, which achieved over $1b in capital raise for fund manager clients. He was instrumental in the capital raise of a $100mm for the purchase of Vulcan Ventures a wireless communications provider with operations in 7 states and 11 cities and served as President.

  
  

  Tim was Senior Vice-President of J. Michael-Patrick, a wealth management boutique providing asset allocation, manager selection, and portfolio construction services with emphasis on alternative investments and SMA’s.

  
  

  Tim was Senior Vice-President at Oppenheimer & Co where he procured client assets and acted in a fiduciary capacity for ultra-high net worth individuals, family offices, and small- to mid-size businesses. Tim also initiated the firm’s participation in over $2b of underwriting, primarily in natural resources including oil and gas exploration and production companies, royalty trusts, timber, and pipelines.

  
  

  Tim currently holds FINRA Private Securities Offerings Series 82, Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination Series 65 and Finra administered NASAA Series 63.

  
  

  Contact Tim:

  toleary@aaroncapital.com

  314-488-1975
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  Andrew Shoemaker

  Managing Director

  
  

  Andy has 17 years of financial services and investment sales experience primarily focused sourcing new Manager Clients and on selling a range of private placements, mutual funds, Hedge Funds, PE Funds, TAMP Platforms and separately-managed account products. He has successfully sourced over 30, Long-only, Hedge Fund and Traditional Managers/product for TAMP Platforms. Mr. Shoemaker has been responsible for sourcing new Clients and products, developing sales initiatives, planning new business development strategies, managing key investor relationships and hiring and managing new Sales specialists. He has raised over $1b for TAMP Platforms and other Fund Manager Clients.

  
  

  Mr. Shoemaker worked with SEI Investments, a diversified financial services firm with $200 billion in AUM.  As a fund wholesaler, Mr. Shoemaker placed over $60 million in mutual fund investments through advisor and RIA channels across a multi-state territory.

  
  

  Mr. Shoemaker is FINRA Series 7 and 63 licensed and earned his B.S. in Marketing with a concentration in Finance from The Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business.

  
  

  ashoemaker@aaroncapital.com

  484-716-9032
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  Fred Sussman

  Managing Director

  
  

  Fred is based in St. Louis and has decades of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions specializing in IT service companies, alternative energy, healthcare, and private and public debt placement. He also has specialty finance experience in purchase order, factoring and accounts receivable financing

  
  

  Mr. Sussman sold and remained with the buyer of his IT Consulting and Professional Services firm. Serving as Vice President of the M&A group he acquired and integrated over $700MM in assets in roll- up strategy. He knows how to get deals done.

  
  

  Mr. Sussman received a BS in Management from the University of Missouri and an MBA in Finance from the John Cook School of Business at St. Louis University. Mr. Sussman holds Series 63, 79 and 82 licenses.

  
  

  fsussman@aaroncapital.com

  314-495-0910
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  Ana Carter

  CFO

  
  Financial and Operations Principals (FINOPs) Ana Carter is a hands-on problem solver with advanced computer skills who has spent her entire career in the financial services industry. She has specific strengths in financial reporting, net capital management, examination and evaluation of fixed income and institutional trading, cash management, financial statement, operational analysis and day-to-day accounting functions. Her experience also includes involvement with systems and clearing platform conversions, financial integration of acquisitions and management of accounting operations of a broker/dealer generating annual revenues in excess of $150 million. Most recently, she served as the CFO and FINOP for a full service introducing broker-dealer in Tampa, FL. Ms. Carter is the founder/owner of Cartana Consulting Solutions, LLC - an Atlanta based consulting firm offering outsourced FINOP, CFO and general accounting services to small to medium size broker-dealers. She holds FINRA Licenses Series 7, 27, 28, 63 and 99.

  
  

  Contact Ana:

  acarter@aaroncapital.com

  813-442-1645
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  Jan Mansel

  Director, Administration

  
  

  Jan managed a portfolio of commercial buildings and shopping centers for PPM Realty a commonly owned company since 2009 and performed some work for Aaron Capital. In 2013, she started performing administrative work for Aaron Capital assisting with the back-office operations. Her extensive management background has contributed to her successful supervision of the day to day operations at the home office.

  
  

  Contact Jan:

  jmansel@aaroncapital.com

  901-573-4484
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  Glenn Eisman

  Advisor

  
  Glenn A. Eisman is the principal partner at Eisman Technology Consultants, LLC; Adjunct Professor of Materials Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His previous positions include Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer, H2Pump LLC; Chief Technology Officer, Plug Power, Inc.; Technical Leader, The Advanced Materials Program, The Dow Chemical Company; Project Leader, Discovery Research R&D and Inorganic Chemicals Research, Dow Chemical Company; and a Robert A. Research Fellow, University of Texas-Austin. Dr. Eisman has over 35 years of experience in R&D and product development in fuel cells, hydrogen technologies, electrochemical engineering, physical and inorganic solid state chemistry, and new technology commercialization and business development. He received the Inventor of the Year Award—The Dow Chemical Co. (1993). He received a B.S. in chemistry, Temple University; and a Ph.D. in physical inorganic chemistry, Northeastern University.He holds 22 patents and has published 42 papers
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  Ken Burd

  Managing Director

  
  

  Ken Burd joined Aaron Capital in the spring of 2018 and has over 35 years of experience in real estate, in the areas of valuation, advisory, investment, management and finance. He has worked in the U.S. and internationally. During his career, Ken was the Head of Real Estate Valuation, Western United States for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Los Angeles. Following that, he transferred to the PricewaterhouseCoopers Real Estate Advisory Services group. In this role, he led major advisory engagements in the U.S. and South Korea. This led to his appointment as the Head of PricewaterhouseCoopers (the result of the merger between PricewaterhouseCoopers & Lybrand) Real Estate Advisory Services for Asia, based in Tokyo.

  
  

  Ken next became the Chief Operating Officer of Capital Servicing in Tokyo. Capital Servicing was the consolidated real estate asset management entity for Lehman Brothers in Asia. It was responsible for managing all of Lehman’s real estate investments in Asia, both equity and debt (performing and non-performing). When Lehman’s real estate fund entered the Asian markets, he was appointed the Head of Asset Management–Asia for Lehman Brothers Real Estate Partners, based in Hong Kong.

  
  

  After Lehman, Ken was a Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal Real Estate Advisory Services in the Dallas office. When Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy in September 2008, the bankruptcy court appointed Alvarez & Marsal as the restructuring firm for the Lehman estate. Ken worked with that team on the unwinding of Lehman’s Asian real estate portfolio. He was also a Managing Director at Vesta Partners, a boutique corporate finance advisory firm where he focused on real estate and financial services.

  
  

  He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in English from Metropolitan State College in Denver, CO.

  
  

  On October 1, 2018 FINRA instituted the Securities Industry Essential Exam (SIE) as a prerequisite to taking any other FINRA exams. Ken passed that exam and today he is a FINRA registered representative. Ken currently holds the FINRA Series 63 and 82 Brokers Licenses and serves as Managing Director at Aaron Capital.

  
  

  Contact Ken:

  kburd@aaroncapital.com

  406-560-6337
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  Jeff Lumin

  Advisor

  
  

  Jeff Lumin advised, founded or invested in several early-stage life science companies, with breakthrough products that can potentially transform medical practices: AI imaging analysis for lung cancer, anti-influenza virus drug, 3D mammography device, CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) device, 3D printing of drug tablets, PD1/PDL1 inhibitor (not antibody).

  
  

  Partnered with EverPine Capital, Bohai Life insurance, TUS Park ventures, CICC private equity, to source deals and to raise funds. Recommended and advised several large pharma companies to acquire innovative drugs for gout, for breast cancer, for migraine, for COPD, and for diabetes and NASH.

  
  

  Jeff has hands on experience in drug research and development. He has extensive experience with biotech startup, medical tech devices, and immune-oncology drugs. He is a hands-on individual and will review and advise ACI clients. Jeff has in depth knowledge of Chinese investment community and pharmaceutical industry. Trained as a scientist at a Nobel Laureate’s research laboratory with focus on signal transduction of complex immune responses. He received his M.S. and M. Phil. in Physiology from Yale School of Medicine, and MBA from Yale School of Management.

  
  

  jlumin@aaroncapital.com

  917-969-4949
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  J. Peter McBride

  Advisor

  
  

  Mr. John Peter McBride has spent more than 40 years in the healthcare industry. His focus on cardiac medicine includes his service as a US Corpsmen with the Marines in Vietnam to a business leader in cardiovascular feasibility assessment, business development, service line hospital administrator, physician integration and alignment strategies. He is the Founder and CEO of Cardiovascular Resource Solutions and is a Business Analyst for GE Healthcare North American Division. Mr. McBride is the Founder of the Electrophysiology School of Medicine at Loma Linda University where he is an Associate Clinical Professor. He is an esteemed consultant by emerging medical technology companies and has developed multiple Heart and Vascular Institutes Nationally, as well as, Internationally. Mr. McBride also holds degrees in Cardiovascular Medicine and Finance.

  
  

  Contact Allan:

  pmcbride@aaroncapital.com

  619-889-3253
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  Jerald Welch

  Advisor

  
  

  Jerald has 25 years of experience in FinTech, Intelligence Community, and Technology companies coordinating the efforts of multiple cross-functional teams conducting strategic planning and decision making in a dynamic global environment. His leadership and execution skills in multiple industry segments makes him an effective and goal-oriented advisor. He has an extensive insurance background in life and annuity marketing and distribution, software, Fintech, telecommunication, SELAC and operations. He graduated from West Texas A&M university and was honorable discharged from the USMC where serves as an Intelligence Officer attaining the rank of Major

  
  

  Contact Jerald:

  jwelch@aaroncapital.com

  512-334-8181