PROFESSIONALS

Rob Bolandian

CO-FOUNDER & GLOBAL HEAD OF INVESTMENT BANKING

Mr. Bolandian has 25 years of investment management experience across a broad range of asset classes, including private equity, hedge funds, long/short equity, real estate, fixed income and mergers and acquisitions. Rob helped structure and build a de novo multi-billion dollar family office in order to deploy capital on behalf of a single family. He held several C-Level positions and his responsibilities included developing investment initiatives targeting growth, capital preservation and/or income maximization, depending on the individual family member’s risk/return profile. Rob also helped oversee and manage direct principal investments in the Transportation, Energy and Financial sectors.

Prior to the single family office, Mr. Bolandian was a Senior Executive Vice President at MBNA, a $35 billion mono line credit card institution. Mr. Bolandian reported to the Chairman, and provided him with personalized analytics on the financial services industry, macroeconomic environment and competitive landscape. Mr. Bolandian worked on the company’s Merger & Acquisitions deal team and was responsible for executing on company acquisitions. Rob was also a member of the Senior Operating Committee, which was formed to continually implement best practices across the organization.

Rob also has experience trading and managing equity portfolios, S&P futures portfolios, fixed income and merger arbitrage portfolios. Mr. Bolandian’s stock picking was based on deep bottoms-up fundamental research. His portfolios are built to reflect a blend of deep value and GARP and were geared for absolute return.

Mr. Bolandian has his Series 79 & 63 licenses and resides in Westport, Connecticut.

• rbolandian@cambridgewilkinson.com

Howard Chernin

CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Mr. Chernin has over 20 years of experience with lower-middle-market and middle-market businesses, with a particular emphasis on specialty finance companies.

Howard has worked with hundreds of clients in order to facilitate strategic relationships using a network of deep relationships that he has developed throughout his career with specialty lenders, hedge funds, family offices, private equity, credit funds, UHNW individuals and traditional financial institutions.

Howard’s particular expertise and areas of interest lay within accounts receivables financing, asset based loans, trade finance, purchase order financing and international factoring.

Mr. Chernin has sat on several credit committees and has also developed and managed sales staff in the alternative finance space during his career. Additionally, Howard has built one of the country’s leading small business lenders as a de novo initiative, and managed all aspects of the underlying business.

Mr. Chernin is a member of the Commercial Finance Association, The International Factoring Association, and The Turnaround Management Association; and has philanthropic activities which include former board membership of the Jewish Community Center of Bergen County and the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.

Mr. Chernin has his Series 62 & 63 licenses and resides in Northern New Jersey.

• hchernin@cambridgewilkinson.com

Tom McDermott

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Tom McDermott is a global operating executive and advisor in the financial services (lending, payments), consumer products & services, aerospace and the Environment, Sustainability & Governance (ESG) industries. He is the Founder and Managing Director of Money Access Financial, an advisory business to CEO’s focused on innovative strategy, execution and capital raising. A transformative innovator, he has successfully led businesses with up to $1 billion in revenue and $1 billion in loan originations at Fortune 500 firms including First Data Corp, Western Union & Capital One and grown emerging, PE and VC-backed businesses, including Borro. He has a global classical marketing foundation having worked with Unilever, Nabisco and Reckitt Benckiser, where he had marketing, sales and general management roles and included eight years of overseas assignments in Europe and Latin America. He is a long-standing board director and Vice-Chair of Ascendus (fka Accion East), a micro lender to SMB’s. Mr. McDermott received his BS in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, from Boston College and is fluent in Spanish. He is married with two children and lives in New Jersey. Mr. McDermott has his Series 79 & 63 licenses and resides in Northern New Jersey.

• tmcdermott@cambridgewilkinson.com

J. MALTE STOECKHERT

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mr. Stoeckhert has 25 years of commercial real estate finance experience including CRE in North America (since 1997) and the UK and Continental Europe. He originally started his CREF career in Germany in the early 90’s and quickly expanded into European transactions. In 1999 – based on his employers request – he moved with his family to NY to establish a US representative lending office from the ground up. Over time the lending platform evolved into a multi-billion dollar direct origination business which included all steps from the point of origination to full repayment/placement with underwriting/structuring and execution always a special focus of his. During his tenure as a banker Mr. Stoeckhert has worked primarily on office, retail, residential, lodging and logistic assets and has financed fully stabilized properties as well as ground-up construction and repositioning/redevelopments. Financing structures ranged from senior secured mortgage loans backed by covered bonds (“Pfandbrief”) to fully unsecured corporate real estate facilities and B-note and mezzanine loans. In addition he was also involved in establishing a loan advisory group to provide US CRE loan restructuring/work-out advice to a subsidiary bank after the financial market crisis. Mr. Stoeckhert is active in various industry organizations and also volunteers his time in his community and his church. Mr. Stoeckhert holds a Series 79 & 63 license and is fluent in English and German. He resides with his wife and his 4 children in Mamaroneck, NY.

• mstoeckhert@cambridgewilkinson.com

RICHARD TURANO

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mr. Turano serves as a Managing Director of Cambridge Wilkinson and has 15+ years combined experience in the fields of law and finance. He currently focuses on business development and originations within Cambridge for middle-market companies seeking additional financing solutions. To date, Rich has originated $1B+ in transaction volume for his clients with an emphasis on specialty finance and real estate related mandates. Mr. Turano is also an attorney and has represented local and national public entity and private sector clients in New Jersey’s State, Federal, Administrative and Compensation courts, as well as binding and non-binding arbitration proceedings with a regional law firm in Northern New Jersey specializing in defense litigation. He has successfully litigated cases from inception through trial conclusion as lead counsel, and has been able to minimize litigation risk through the negotiation of hundreds settlements on behalf of clients. Rich was previously selected to New Jersey Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list in 2012. (Thomson Reuters issues the Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Starts lists. The selection methodology is located here. No aspect of this Super Lawyers advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey). Prior to law school, Rich started his career on the Chicago Board of Options Exchange (CBOE) with a market making firm and then later became an equity / equity options trader on the proprietary trading desks of two asset management companies. Rich also has experience in distressed investments and has purchased over $1B in distressed receivables through other investment companies during his career. Mr. Turano earned a B.S. in Finance from Boston College, Carroll School of Management and a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law. Mr. Turano is admitted to the New Jersey Bar New York Bar and has his Series 62 & 63 licenses. He currently resides in Northern New Jersey.

• rturano@cambridgewilkinson.com

ANDREW ALTSCHULER

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Andrew is an experienced finance executive with a proven track record in investment banking, specialty finance, electronic payments, working capital products, merchant acquiring, business development, and client relationship management. His strong sales acumen and strategic approach have consistently delivered results and fostered growth within his organizations. His most recent endeavor was managing partner at White Horse Financial. As the first employee at Capify starting in 2002, playing a pivotal role in establishing Capify as a global leader in SMB lending. During his 16 years with the company, he helped grow the US business to one of the biggest in the industry. His global reach extended across the US, with specific achievements in helping start SMB lending companies in the UK, Australia, and Canada during the mid-2000s. He had previous roles on Wall Street at UBS/Paine Webber. His extensive track record, from business ownership to roles as an ISO sales partner and private equity partner, provides a comprehensive understanding of diverse markets and businesses. Andrew received his business degree from Baruch College, and lives in New York City. He holds Securities Industry Exam and Certified Payment Professional licenses.

• aaltschuler@cambridgewilkinson.com

JOHN BULICEK

MANAGING DIRECTOR

John Bulicek has 30-years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Bulicek has expertise and a record of relationship-building within global equity and fixed income markets spanning US domestic, developed international, and emerging capital markets. Mr. Bulicek has held senior leadership positions in international institutional equity sales for numerous European financial institutions, including UBS, BNP Paribas, Commerzbank and Swedbank. Mr. Bulicek was responsible for the growth and development of North American sales and marketing efforts and was honored for sales excellence within leading Institutional Investment surveys. His salesmanship and business development established numerous advisory achievements and consistently incorporated both a primary and secondary distribution focus. More recently, Mr. Bulicek helped establish a boutique corporate advisory firm that focuses on assisting small and medium sized enterprises through financial transactions, capital events, and mergers and acquisitions with both public and private market structures. Mr. Bulicek earned a BA in Economics from Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, and an MSc in Economics from the University of London, London, England. Mr. Bulicek holds the Series 7, 24, 63 professional licenses.

• jbulicek@cambridgewilkinson.com

TODD FASANELLA

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Todd has over 25 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. Todd’s corporate investment banking transactions exceed $15 billion, and 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, including transactions such as the take private of Kerzner International (famous for its Atlantis Hotel in Bahamas); acquisition of Fairmont Hotels by Prince al-Waleed Bin Talal and Colony Capital; acquisition of Sunterra by Diamond Resorts; spin-off of Interval Leisure Group from IAC Inc; and Columbia Sussex’s acquisition of Aztar (known for Tropicana casinos). Todd is currently Managing Director at Cambridge Wilkinson, LLC; Managing Director at The Carlton Group, a real estate brokerage where he 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 and other consumer loans. Todd began his professional career at The Prudential Realty Group, and previously worked at Credit Suisse, Barclays Capital, Imperial Capital and Aaron Capital in investment banking for the financial services, hospitality/leisure and real estate industries. Todd serves on the Boards of BQ Resorts, LLC, a vacation membership company, and the Yale Alumni Real Estate Association. 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.

• tfasanella@cambridgewilkinson.com

MANNY PAPAS

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mr. Papas has recently joined as a Managing Director at Cambridge Wilkinson. He is known internationally for his experience in corporate consulting and his success in generating deal flow globally with a particular focus on Australia. With his network and industry knowledge, he has cultivated deep and trusted relationships with founders, c-suite executives, and industry leaders. Manny has consistently facilitated diverse debt financing solutions tailored to an entity’s specific requirements. Having amassed experience across various sectors, ranging from sports to real estate and beyond, Manny possesses an understanding of multiple industries. Over the past 5 years, he has played a pivotal role in generating over $5 billion worth of high-quality deal flow, spanning both domestic and international debt markets.

• mpapas@cambridgewilkinson.com

LIZ RABBAN

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Liz is a lifelong entrepreneur, investor, fundraiser and business development executive. She joined Cambridge Wilkinson after decades working with seed-to-growth stage technology companies, including two unicorns. Prior to joining CW, Liz was an Executive Director at DriveWealth, the leading fintech company pioneering fractional investing in US equities and API-driven brokerage infrastructure for partners around the world. Additionally, she has several years of experience in building digital assets and Web2/3 companies. Before her fintech experience, she worked with a variety of new technology and BPO companies in the assistive technology, VoIP, publishing, biotech, and healthcare verticals. Liz is an investor and advisor for several fintech ventures. In addition, she invests in diverse verticals such as Sparrow Golf, which uses AI to help revolutionize the way athletes play and practice golf, a psychedelic medicine startup, and CashorTrade, an ethical ticket marketplace. She is an active volunteer and supporter of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the leading anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization in the state. Liz has a BA in English from Barnard College, Columbia University, and holds her Series 7 and 63 professional licenses.

• lrabban@cambridgewilkinson.com

KEN RHEE

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Ken Rhee is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience in strategic business development and transformation, mergers & acquisitions, and business incubation spanning various industries including banking, IT, manufacturing, consumer products & retail, and hospitality. Ken has a proven track record in creating and implementing business transformation strategies for growing enterprises within fast-moving industries in both the U.S. and Korea. Ken is specialized in global business expansion for Korean and U.S. companies through international gateway advisory services. Services range from market entry strategy and execution, M&A, joint venture partnerships to marketing strategy and execution. Clientele has included a wide range of both Korean and U.S.-based financial institutions, PE, Hospitality, manufacturing, IT and electronic, and distribution companies. Ken previously held the role of Senior Director of Strategy, New Business Development, IT, and Database Marketing for the entire SK group, the 3rd largest conglomerate in S. Korea. In this role, he successfully oversaw the group’s new business development, Database Marketing as well as IT structure and development for SK Telecom and SK C&C. Ken began his career at IBM in New York where he focused on operational research and programming. Following, he led a successful consulting career at Arthur Andersen (now Accenture) in New York where he oversaw Strategy, IT, manufacturing, distribution, and banking industries. After Arthur Anderson opened a Seoul office, he relocated to Seoul to lead Arthur Anderson’s strategic business developments. He received his BA in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Iowa and is a graduate of the School of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a concentration in Industrial Management Engineering and Decision Support Systems.

• krhee@cambridgewilkinson.com

TODD SHERER

MANAGING DIRECTOR

With over 25 years of experience in the commercial finance industry, Todd is a seasoned professional with a proven track record of success. Prior to joining Cambridge Wilkinson as a Managing Director, Todd held key leadership roles at Fora Financial, Valley Bank, Entrepreneur Growth Capital (EGC), and Credit Cash, where he originated over $250 million for lower middle market borrowers across various industries. As a Founder and Director of Business Development at Kind Growth Capital, Todd also provided over $75 million in debt financing to cannabis companies. In addition to his extensive finance background, Todd is actively involved in politics and government, including service as Treasurer for the Northwest Bergen County Utility Authority, member of the Bergen County Community Development board, and District Chairman of the DCBC. He has also held positions as a Councilman in Paramus and Planning Board Chairman in Mahwah, NJ. Additionally, Todd is the founder and managing member of Ardale Capital and owner of several local digital news sites. With his expertise, industry connections, and commitment to community involvement, Todd brings a unique and valuable perspective to the team at Cambridge Wilkinson.

• tsherer@cambridgewilkinson.com

DAVID BABINSKI

MANAGING DIRECTOR

David Babinski has 29 years of experience in investment advisory, deal strategy, and due diligence. Mr. Babinski is a well-known speaker in the Family Office Community, having presented at a significant number of events pre/post COVID. His Family Office networks provides access to interesting and complex capital scenarios across a wide variety of industries. David has been involved in a significant number of transactions over the years. Having consulted on countless scenarios, he is well versed in the various capital structures being utilized in today’s dynamic real estate market. Mr. Babinski brings a unique perspective to the capital markets as well as to the high-net-worth Family. David has won industry awards and recognition for his innovative strategies and planning techniques. David is a co-founder and partner in Stonegate Development Company of Florida and has sponsored several projects including residential, multifamily, and commercial. Stonegate is currently developing three Assisted Living and Memory Care Facilities in the Central Florida area. These facilities have a focus on the middle-market. This is an underserved market made up of ‘middle America’. These residents have income over the threshold to qualify for government aid, but not enough assets or income to be able to afford today’s private pay, expensive ‘resort like’ assisted living facilities. These innovative middle market facilities will serve those ‘stuck in the middle’ by offering the same level of care as the private pay resort style facilities for $500 to $1,000 less per month. In addition, David sold his financial planning practice to National Financial Partners (backed by Apollo) and brings this experience to companies looking to structure their balance sheets for optimal leverage when engaging with VCs and Private Equity. Mr. Babinski was a long-time member of YEO (Young Entrepreneur’s Organization) and a 2005 graduate of their BOG (Birthing of Giants) Program. The Birthing of Giants is a very competitive, limited enrollment 3-year Entrepreneurial Executive Leadership Program held at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This program has exposed Mr. Babinski to some of the most cutting-edge business methods as well as established his network with industry leaders. David is a graduate of the Jesuit University of Scranton with a bachelor’s degree in Finance.

• dbabinski@cambridgewilkinson.com

STEVE LIFTON

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Steve Lifton focuses on helping real estate and specialty finance businesses who have a proven track record and are looking at various growth opportunities. He brings deep product expertise and has developed a highly targeted approach for arranging various forms of financing to meet their needs, working alongside the Cambridge Wilkinson team. Steve’s background in a fourth-generation real estate family based in New York gives him sharp insights on how to help real estate companies scale up. He has been involved in the acquisition, management, financing and disposition of a publicly-traded real estate portfolio with over $2 billion of real estate assets including 42,000 apartments, 8,400 hotels rooms and 5 million square feet of commercial space. He has bought and sold $300 million of double and triple net leased properties and 1,000 rental homes; has repositioned a portfolio of 30 downtown properties in South Florida; and secured a 700 acre parcel for an investment bank that became one of the first new industrial developments in the boroughs of New York City. In addition to his real estate ventures, Steve has worked with a bridge fund and an SBA portfolio, and was a Founding Shareholder of a New York-based commercial bank where he served as a Director, member of the Investment Committee and Head of the Audit Committee. Steve is an active philanthropist, sharing his time and expertise with a variety of organizations. He serves as a Trustee and Chairman Emeritus for Children’s Medical Fund of New York, which raises funds to support Cohens Children’s Medical Center. Additionally, he served as the Chairman of Long Island Chapter of the UJA-Federation Real Estate and Allied Trades Division. He is also a Board Member and Treasurer of Creative Adaptations for Learning. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Economics from George Washington University.

• Slifton@cambridgewilkinson.com

DAVID PAULI

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mr. Pauli has over two decades of start-up, middle-market and Fortune 500 management consulting experience in multiple industries, including insurance, banking, asset management and other diversified financials. David worked with global firms such as Oracle, IBM, CapGemini and Accenture (via merger) developing and implementing customer programs for the sale and delivery of products and services across direct and re-seller channels. As an entrepreneur, David has been a founder or early stage advisor to mulitple firms including SVGi, Klinche and Honeymoon Brands. In the role of Managing Director, David is responsible for assuring total client satisfaction and creating an environment where clients can thrive as valued partners of Cambridge Wilkinson. This includes day-to-day client and investor interaction, systems & technology development and operational support. David holds a Masters in Computer Science from Colorado Technical University, an NSA Center of Excellence institution, and earned advanced certificates from Stanford University and Cornell. David is a former United States Marine and lives in San Francisco with his family. Mr. Pauli has his Series 6, 7, 79 & 63 licenses and resides in Connecticut.

• dpauli@cambridgewilkinson.com

MICHAEL STEINER

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Michael Steiner is a highly accomplished executive with a proven track record in new ventures, general management, sales, marketing, and technology. With over 30 years of experience in the travel and technology industries, Michael has directed the growth of enterprises from $100M to $1.5B, demonstrating his passion for business development and marketing. He has successfully driven highly-profitable B2B revenue with global Fortune 100 and mid-market enterprises. As Partner and Executive Vice President at Ovation Travel Group, Michael directed the company’s growth to become one of the top 10 largest business travel companies in the world. He was responsible for global sales, marketing, technology, and meetings & events. Additionally, Michael was integral in the international expansion of Ovation. Under his leadership, Ovation Travel Group became one of the most sought-after travel management companies. In 2020, Michael and his partners successfully sold their business to American Express Global Business Travel, where he served as Executive Vice President from 2020-2023. Prior to Ovation Travel Group, Michael served as Senior Vice President at Direct Travel and EVP of DirectLink Technology for 14 years, where he helped launch one of the first online travel booking platforms. He also held Senior Vice President positions at various business and consumer travel technology companies including GORP.com and Neo Technology Group; previously known as KDS. Michael’s expertise and insights have been recognized in the travel industry, and he has been featured in the New York Times, Travel + Leisure, and The Global Business Travel Association. He has also served on the board of various organizations, including Travel + Leisure Co., the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, and the Radius Travel Network. Michael is married with three children and resides in Northern New Jersey.

• msteiner@cambridgewilkinson.com

BRUCE HABER

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Bruce I Haber has been in the business of accessing capital for debt financing for over 27 years. He has spoken before several groups on alternative financing structures. The debt financing has included working capital from banks and non-banks for businesses, asset-based lending ,lines of credit factoring, purchase order financing, inventory financing equipment financing and SBA lending. Many of the debt financing loans have included Investment real estate projects, including ground up construction (spec homes, condo buildings,) ,fix & flips, cash out refinancing, recourse and non-recourse. Bruce I Haber has a current law license from New York State and is listed as an attorney in good standing although no longer practicing law and no longer living in New York State. The License is kept current for fiduciary purposes.

• bhaber@cambridgewilkinson.com

GLENN MEDWAR

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Glenn Medwar has over 25 years of investment banking experience and has led complex transactions for private equity firms and corporate clients. He has completed over $130 billion of capital markets financings across industry sectors and through market cycles. Recently, Mr. Medwar has advanced the businesses of boutique financial advisory and private credit firms, been instrumental in private placement fundraising efforts and consulted to both corporate and non-profit institutions. Mr. Medwar has also served as Head of Leveraged Finance for Mizuho Securities USA where he led transaction development, held responsibility for acquisition financings and oversaw a multi-billion dollar loan portfolio. Previously, Mr. Medwar was the senior credit strategist for a leading, global hedge fund where he directed credit investment strategies during the 2008 financial markets crisis. He was also a senior member of the Financial Sponsors Group of Credit Suisse and began his investment banking career in the Global Leveraged Finance Group of Lehman Brothers. Prior to attending graduate business school, Mr. Medwar was a consultant at Camp Dresser & McKee where he directed project development, engineering and construction management. Mr. Medwar earned an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

• gmedwar@cambridgewilkinson.com

ANDREW KAYE

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Andrew is a finance and business development professional with decades of experience as a corporate attorney, investment banker, portfolio manager, family office investor and cannabis lender and investor. His experience and comprehensive expertise in all aspects of finance across a large number of industries provides him with in-depth domain knowledge, acquired judgement, transactional acumen and creative structuring skills. Upon graduation from Cornell University, Andrew attended NYU School of Law. He joined the faculty of Hunter College, City University of New York, as an Assistant Professor in the Economic Department immediately after law school. Andrew began practicing law as an Associate Attorney at Sullivan & Cromwell in NYC, focusing on securities law. He has also worked at Thacher Proffitt & Wood on corporate finance and securitization transactions, and in Tokyo, Japan at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto where he practiced international finance. Andrew was recruited into the Business Development/Corporate Finance Department of Nikko Securities America, a “big three” Japanese securities firm, where he remained at the New York City office for a decade. At Nikko he executed international and domestic M&A, debt issues, corporate securities, real estate and securitization transactions, becoming a Senior Vice President and member of the Executive Committee. Thereafter, Andrew joined Madison Capital Management where he originated and managed investment of the fund’s assets into multi-family, hospitality, industrial, infrastructure, natural resource and financial instruments transactions. Upon closure of MCM’s NYC office, Andrew joined the G4 Group, a family office in Long Island, where he oversaw investments in real estate assets in office, multi-family and hospitality. Most recently, Andrew was Chief Commercial Officer of Sweet Leaf Madison Capital, a non-bank specialty lender to the middle-market compliant US cannabis industry, where he managed origination, new business development and capital raising. SLMC earned “Top Lender Awards” for 2023 from Benzinga and The Green Market Report and Andrew was awarded Notable Executive in Cannabis for 2023 by The Green Market Report. Andrew resides in New York City.

• akaye@cambridgewilkinson.com

CHUCK WHITMAN

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Chuck Whitman brings over 35 years of Wall Street and wealth management experience to Cambridge Wilkinson. Chuck started his career in Merrill Lynch's Mangement Training Program in New York City. He went on to cover institutional investors including hedge funds and family offices. Chuck has extensive knowledge of alternative investments and portfolio management. More recently, Chuck has worked with high net worth individuals as a senior portfolio manager and investment specialist at TIAA in New York City and PNC Private Bank in Millburn, New Jersey. In addition, he has been consulting with RIAs on alternative investments including structured notes, private equity and private credit. Chuck graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business with a BBA degree in finance and accounting. He earned his MBA in finance from NYU.

• cwhitman@cambridgewilkinson.com

MARC GOLDIN

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Marc Goldin brings over 35 years of Securities, Insurance, and Investment Banking Experience to Cambridge Wilkinson. Marc started his career in the Insurance Industry at Aon Risk Services, and leveraged this experience as a co-founder of Pay MD.com, filing a patent for the online adjudication and payment of health Insurance claims. Marc successfully arranged the seed capital and negotiated a merger between Pay.MD and a NASDQ listed company. After several years at Aon Risk Services in New York, Marc formed Yorkstone Capital Group LLC, a boutique investment bank serving a global client base. Marc has advised C-suite executives and closed transactions across the real estate; mining; natural resources; technology, media & telecommunications (TMT), and hospitality sectors. He brings project-finance experience through engagements with private companies, including petrochemical plants, solar energy projects, and gas-to-liquids technologies, in addition to rights offerings and RTO (reverse takeovers) with public companies Recently, Marc advised top law firms, not-for-profit hospital systems, and private companies valued at over $1 billion on asset restructurings and employee benefit programs that optimize retirement funds and improve balance sheets—a natural fit with Cambridge Wilkinson’s financing and leverage capabilities. Marc graduated from the University of Virginia and maintains his Series 7, 79 and Life & Property Casualty Insurance licenses.

• mgoldin@cambridgewilkinson.com

CHIP LEAKAS

MANAGING DIRECTOR

William W. “Chip” Leakas – Managing Director Chip Leakas is a seasoned capital markets professional specializing in sourcing and structuring debt and credit financing opportunities for corporations and institutional investors. In his role at Cambridge Wilkinson, Chip leverages deep market insight, targeted research, and an extensive network to connect clients with strategic funding partners. With over three years of success in specialty finance outreach, he excels at identifying high-value opportunities, engaging C-suite decision-makers, and fostering relationships that lead to mutually beneficial transactions. Chip partners closely with debt advisory and capital markets teams to design financing solutions aligned with client objectives, from middle-market corporate growth capital to complex institutional credit structures. His disciplined approach to pipeline management, combined with a proven ability to navigate investor networks, positions him as a trusted connector between innovative businesses and the capital they need to scale.

• cleakas@cambridgewilkinson.com

AMANDA CHERNIN

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

Amanda Chernin has joined Cambridge Wilkinson in the summer of 2021. Amanda joins with over 10 years of experience in corporate retail where she has been continually promoted to larger corporate roles to strategically build, grow, and manage a wide variety businesses in many several categories including: women’s and men’s apparel, and most recently served as a Director of Children’s Apparel at Macy’s. Amanda graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. Amanda holds a series 79 and 63 license.

• achernin@cambridgewilkinson.com

MAXWELL BABINSKI

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Maxwell Babinski joined the Cambridge Wilkinson team in the second quarter of 2022 and continues to work alongside the team across a broad range of sectors. After holding various sales and marketing positions, Maxwell has been working in the financial industry since 2019. In addition, Maxwell possesses direct experience in the real estate development industry’s senior living, residential, and multi-family sectors. Originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania, he currently resides in the greater Orlando, Florida area. Maxwell currently holds both a series 7 and series 63 license.

• mbabinski@cambridgewilkinson.com

BLAKE SMALL

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Blake joined Cambridge Wilkinson in 2021 following the successful completion of his Master of Science in Finance degree at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School. During his tenure at Simon, Blake stood out as a selected member of the school’s venture fund, where he played a crucial role in conducting comprehensive due diligence on seed-stage companies. His assessments were being leveraged in determining the fund’s investment decisions, ranging from $25,000 to $50,000. Before his time at the Simon Business School, Blake gained hands-on experience at Landmark Management, a distinguished $3 billion AUM multi-family office in New York. In this role, he engaged directly with Private Equity fund managers, evaluating investment opportunities for Landmark. Blake’s responsibilities included in-depth analysis and the creation of comprehensive reports that assessed the merits and risks associated with investing in specific fund managers. Currently, Blake is supporting companies in the specialty finance and sustainability (ESG) sectors. His focus revolves around assisting these businesses in securing additional financing, whether through debt or equity capital. Beyond the world of finance, Blake finds enjoyment in supporting San Francisco Bay Area sports teams, showcasing his musical talents by creating electronic music beats, and engaging in active pursuits such as playing pickleball, squash, and bowling. Blake holds his series 79 and 63 licenses.

• bsmall@cambridgewilkinson.com

ALEX ANDERSON

SENIOR ADVISOR

Alex Anderson is the founder and CEO of Impact Sustainability Group, a global private equity and advisory firm that has helped shape the industry’s landscape. Alex started the firm with a focus on investing and partnering with the leading technology, real estate, energy, and infrastructure companies. Prior to ISG, Alex worked in a variety of roles for family offices and leading companies, where he managed multi-disciplinary teams, advised on diverse portfolio investments, and created joint ventures between several multinational firms. Alex and his team have developed an extensive network of partners, advisors, and institutions with whom they work closely. Their access to robust company, industry, and market information gives them a proven advantage in every endeavor and they’re able to provide their partners with a level of insight and expertise that few other firms can match.

JOHN DONOVAN

SENIOR ADVISOR

John Donovan is a financial technology veteran with global experience at start-ups, as well as established Fortune 50 companies. Currently, John is co-founder, President, and GM of mySMBscore and Head of Marketplace for CHARM Solutions – an AI-powered SMB Scoring and Lending Marketplace with a mission of helping businesses prosper. As a co-founder, COO, and Board Member of Lending Club, John was critical in raising initial start-up capital and A/B round financing, built and managed credit risk, finance, treasury, and overall operations. As the business started to scale, John created the corporate development function, developed new borrower products, and onboarded the first key institutional investors. John also co-founded OfferBoard – a JOBS Act company that helped businesses raise equity via crowdfunding. As a venture capital partner with Finsight Ventures, John identified investment opportunities and represented the company as a board member of portfolio companies. John restructured the inefficient operations of a highly levered SMB lender, Bizfi, and assisted with the wind-down and sale of assets. In association with Wheat Financial, John built a Chinese blockchain-based lead generation platform that helped partners monetize their user base and enabled advertisers to accurately target customers. While at MasterCard, John launched new products resulting in 200M+ new cards, $200M+ in incremental revenue, and over $20B in card spending in 40+ countries. In addition to working in headquarters, John spent 5 years managing debit products for a MasterCard joint venture based in Belgium. John is active on the boards of Kickfurther and Tima.vn. He is an empty nester with his wife in Connecticut. Two of his children are in university, and one is working in Denver.

AMANA MANORI

SENIOR ADVISOR

Amana is the CEO of two global entities under the Highness Group of Companies: Highness Global Capital Inc. (financial services and securities dealership) and Highness Global Inc. (creative agency). Amana has over two decades of experience in the global capital markets space across multiple assets classes and in roles from fund formation, regulatory compliance, marketing to business development/capital introduction (specializing in sophisticated capital). After earning her law degree, Amana began her career in-house to ultimately becoming the CLO & CCO of the Canadian arm of one of the world’s largest hedge fund providers – the Man Group, plc. Amana then transitioned to the relationship-brokering at a boutique exempt market dealership where she co-built one of the most active placement agency firms in Canada. At Highness Capital, Amana provides local dealer services to global issuers, liaisons sophisticated capital introductions and actively originates and sources deals (debt, equity and speciality finance) for her global clientele. Amana has been instrumental in the creation and growth of number of businesses and continues provide business architecture services. She remains a trusted advisor, business consultant, and active mentor as a seasoned legal and capital markets veteran. Amana obtained her J.D. and B.A. from the University of Victoria. She continues to be a practicing member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario. Throughout her career, she has frequently contributed to various industry publications and is currently a contributing writer for Family Office Elite Magazine. Amana is devoted to her philanthropic organizations under Highness Humanity, the charitable division of Highness, supporting vulnerable members of society with a strong focus on youth and marginalized women.

SCOTT MACDONALD

SENIOR ADVISOR

Mr. MacDonald has allocated capital for institutional investors since 2002. During his 30+ year career he is proud to have learned from some of the best firms and leaders in the business. He has deep domain experience in public and private markets. A natural connector, his operational focus involves partnering with clients to provide best in class solutions for their specific needs. Scott has also developed and led all aspects of asset management including but not limited to investor relations, legal, tax, operations, finance, compliance, risk, operational due diligence, information technology and other critical functions. He is frequently sought out for best practices and processes for investors and capital allocators. Most recently Scott was a founding Partner and the Chief Operating Officer of Spruceview Capital Partners which creates bespoke investment programs for some of the world’s leading family offices, pension plans and institutions. Prior to the launch of Spruceview, Scott was part of the founding team at HighVista Strategies which created one of the first endowment funds following the ‘Swenson model” for institutions and family offices seeking attractive, risk-adjusted investment returns through investing across public and private markets. Mr. MacDonald currently serves as a a strategic advisor to Genuitec Inc and Helix Inc. Previously, he was on the advisory board of Solovis Inc. which sold to Nasdaq in 2020. In his free time Scott can be found in the mountains of northern Arizona. He currently volunteers at Selah Care Farm, an innovative restorative destination for parents who have experienced traumatic loss. Scott has an MBA from Babson College and a BA in International Relations from Lake Forest College.

ALON FEIT

SENIOR ADVISOR

As co-founder and former president and CEO of Splitit, a patented card-based installment payment solution company, Alon Feit led the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) company in raising US$150m in equity and US$230m for a debt facility, leading up to the company’s IPO on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Alon has over 25 years of experience as a senior executive in the international payment industry, serving as a country manager of MasterCard in Israel and executive director of ITAU-Unibanco Cards, one of the leading credit card issuers in Brazil. In addition to his executive positions, Alon was the CEO for 8 years at Shufersal Finance (a joint venture of the biggest grocery retailer and the leading bank in Israel). Under his management, this joint venture developed the leading national co-branded Visa card. Prior to this, Alon has achieved over 10 years of experience in senior positions in the insurance industry with a strong background in product development and business development. Alon is serving Cambridge Wilkinson as an advisor for the Israeli market. He is based in Tel Aviv with his wife and children.

ALAN BROWN

SENIOR ADVISOR

After attending Seattle University, Alan Brown began his career in the entertainment industry working in various low-level production positions. In 1986, he joined Joseph E. Levine Presents as a story editor. Upon the passing of Joseph Levine, Alan became President of Production. His job duties ranged from supervising the overall production of feature films, debt structuring, and the worldwide rights sales of such films as And Now My Love and A Bridge Too Far to the producing and story editing of Thunder Born. He also supervised and managed both the assets and debts of the Levine film library on behalf of the Estate and Citibank. In 1990, Alan was the executive producer of the Year of the Comet for Castlerock Entertainment/ Columbia Pictures; and in 1991, he was contracted to produce Sea Kings for Universal Studios, starring Sean Connery. Both screenplays were written by William Goldman. From 1993 to 1995, while serving on the Board of Directors of National Video Industries, a Production/Post Production facility in New York, Alan also directed and edited the story and film, Three Golden Keys for Marly Rusoff at DoubleDay. In 1995, he was contracted to produce Pat Conroy’s Beach Music with Alan Ladd Jr. for Paramount Pictures. From 1999 to 2000, Alan served as a consultant to the Board of Directors of Digital Animations Group, Inc., a publicly held company in Glasgow, Scotland Between 2001 and 2003, Alan was under contract to a European film fund. He had the responsibility of identifying, structuring the financing, and negotiating long-term distribution contracts with the studios. His job also included distribution, and general entertainment consulting duties (identifying and packaging scripts, directors and talent). In 2007, under his own company banner, Mr. Brown arranged the funding for a foreign film fund, and coordinated the bridge and outside independent financing for their clients. Mr. Brown continues to work as a story editor for both novels and screenplays. He also lectures on screenplay writing, novel writing, and film finance. In April 2010, he lectured at the Unicorn Writers’ Conference with Gene Wilder, in Stratford, Connecticut. Currently, besides running Manuscript Edition Solutions, he is the Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board of Veritone, Senior Advisor to Cambridge Wilkinson Investment bank, and consults to numerous companies.

OLIVER FINLAY

SENIOR ADVISOR

Oliver has recently joined Cambridge Wilkinson as a Senior advisor. After 23 years as a performance director, performance coach, and physiotherapist in various sports including soccer (English, Scottish, Thai Premier Leagues, national teams), basketball (Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi, Euro League), motorsport (Formula 1), athletics (Team GB), hockey (NHL), tennis (ATP, ITF) and rugby (Pro 14, national team), Oliver accepted a Ph.D. position at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Oliver’s Ph.D. research focused on identifying the objective markers of success and processes of change and performance management relating to high-performance sports organizations around the world. Applying this knowledge to develop strategic plans for investors seeking to buy sports teams, Oliver refined the parameters for the assessment criteria used to establish current valuations and growth potential of professional sports organizations. Oliver’s interest in how sport could influence communities developed whilst representing Scotland’s national field and indoor lacrosse teams at several world and European championships, latterly as captain. Since his school days, Oliver contributed to the development of the grassroots game as a coach and later as the national performance director. Oliver’s purpose is to support individuals, high-performance sports organizations, and communities in reaching their full potential and achieving sustained success, through the medium of sports, science, health, and wellbeing. Oliver is responsible for the strategic planning and identification of assets for the Beautiful Game Group.

JACK TACKAS

SENIOR ADVISOR

Jack Takacs brings over 35 years of experience in asset management, securitizations, portfolio sales/purchases and related financial services in the successful acquisition, management and disposition of asset management and private equity firms, and servicing and operating companies in the US, Europe and Latin America. He has longstanding and successful relationships with both large institutional investors and asset managers globally, serving as a trusted advisor and reliable execution partner and advising on the structuring of warehouse lines, acquisition finance and portfolio purchases. He serviced as CEO of a bank holding company with primary responsibility for the divestiture of various origination and servicing units. Jack previously served as Director of Corporate Finance for Cornerstone Partners, a subsidiary of GKM, a New York Stock Exchange member firm. Jack is a former Partner and Managing Director of Stone Pine Companies, a principal investor, private equity money manager and fund administrator. He has also held various executive management roles with Scudder, Deutsche Asset Management, Hamilton Lane, Highland Capital and others. Over his career, Jack has executed more than US$8 Billion of real estate, corporate, and consumer finance transactions in the US, Europe and Asia.

MICHEAL SCHOENBACH

SENIOR ADVISOR

Michael Schoenbach is a professional with a 45-year journey in the fields of finance, accounting, consulting, and risk management. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated expertise in developing innovative insurance products that have revolutionized risk transfer in various domains, including M&A, litigation, and the convergence of insurance and capital markets. Presently, Michael serves as an investor and Special Advisor at Option3, a cyber security investment firm headquartered in both New York City and Virginia, and as a Board Observer for Dellfer, a portfolio company of Option3 that is an IoT and automotive cybersecurity startup that provides tools for DevOps to add endpoint protection. Michael is also a Special Adviser to Phil Moyles, at Epic Brokers + Consultants in NYC. Prior to this, he dedicated three decades to Aon Risk Services, where he played a pivotal role in building the preeminent global broker in the area of Transactional Risks. Notably, Michael spearheaded the development and placement of M&A insurance products ( Reps + Warranties, Tax Insurance, Litigation and Judgment Preservation, and other bespoke risks ) for Private Equity firms and a diverse clientele. Commencing his career at Deloitte, Michael honed his skills in finance and treasury operations while serving at a prominent public oil & gas company. Following this, he embarked on a four-year tenure in strategic consulting, culminating in his engagement with a renowned global insurer as his last consulting client. It was during this association that he forged a significant connection with Aon, leading to his subsequent tenure with the company. Michael currently resides in New York City with his wife, with whom he has shared four decades. He takes joy in the accomplishments of his three adult children, and their families, and the thoroughly enjoys his four grandchildren, skiing, and golf. He and his wife are active in various philanthropic endeavors.

BALJIT SINGH

SENIOR ADVISOR

Baljit is a leader with over thirty years of experience in creating, managing, and developing businesses. Mr. Singh is an entrepreneur with a strong strategic perspective and understanding which has led him to start a multitude of successful businesses in India, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, and the Middle East over the past three decades. Aside from his own ventures, Mr. Singh has advised medium to large-size organizations through periods of debt, equity, and acquisitions. Mr. Singh’s network ranges throughout many industries, investor classes, and geographies around the world. Over the years, Baljit has worked and travelled extensively across various countries and territories across six continents, and is intimately familiar with international corporate finance and business development throughout these regions. Through his interest in investing and knowledge of finance and accounting, he has been active in financial services, mining, healthcare, education, disaster management, workforce housing, reconstruction, and has extensive expertise in franchising as well. Mr. Singh’s business acumen has led him to cultivate a widespread network that is rooted in the world of private equity and venture capital across Asia and the Middle East. Mr. Singh is a pioneer in deal-making successful projects in the private and public sectors for the past decades. Baljit is the Chairman of Northvale Capital Partners which has controlling stakes in various technology and financial services companies in Singapore, India, and the United Arab Emirates. The financial services companies have done Three Billion in trading turnover with over One Billion in assets under custody. Mr. Singh has served on multiple boards for various public companies and is currently serving as a Chairman. Mr. Singh is a Graduate of the National Defense Academy.

NEIL WOLFSON

SENIOR ADVISOR

Neil serves on the Board of Directors for IOU Financial (IOU.V) (where he also chairs the Audit Committee and serves on the Nominating and Governance Committee), ExcelFin (XFINU) where he serves on Audit, Governance and Compensation committees, Nextivity, Exchange Robotics, Paper Trader, UPTIQ, Finitive and SALT Blockchain (Chairman of the Board and Chair of the Audit Committee). Until its recent sale to Enova, he served on the Board of Directors for OnDeck (ONDK) where he chaired their Audit Committee, served on the Risk Committee and was the company’s Financial Expert. He is a former board member of Cloud Lending (Sold to Q2), FastPay (Sold to AvidXchange), TodayTix (Sold to Great Hill), Patch Lending (Sold to Lafayette Re) and the Wilmington Funds. Neil is co-managing partner at JPX Investments, a VC fund specializing in blockchain games. Neil Wolfson was President and CIO of SF Capital Group for the past 10 years, where he oversaw all investments, direct private investing, asset allocation, tax, estate planning, performance reporting and operations for a billion-dollar multi-generational family office. At SF Capital he invested in over 30 direct debt and equity investments in emerging technology companies with a focus on FinTech. Prior to joining SF Capital Group, Neil spent five years as Chief Investment Officer and President of Wilmington Trust Investment Management, a $40 billion investment management firm, where he was responsible for the firm’s investment management, brokerage and mutual fund group. He was also President, CEO and Chairman of the Wilmington Funds, a $10 billion mutual fund family. Prior to Wilmington Trust, Neil served for eight years as a Partner at KPMG LLP and National Partner in Charge of KPMG’s Investment Consulting Practice, representing over $100 billion in assets. Neil also spent over a decade at Kidder, Peabody & Co. where he ran the managed money area, co-founded the Analytical Investment Strategies Group, was a senior portfolio manager for Kidder Peabody Asset Management and the Kidder Peabody Asset Allocation Fund and ran the firm’s PRIME Asset Consulting Group. Prior to Kidder, he developed a multi-factor security selection system currently employed by several investment management firms. He started his career developing financial futures and options contracts for a commodity exchange. Neil holds an MBA in Finance and a BS in Management from New York University. A member of the New York Society of Security Analysts, he became a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) in 1993. Neil is an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers Graduate Business School where he teaches Portfolio Theory. Neil frequently provides market commentary to the media. His quotes have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Week, Forbes, Washington Post and USA Today. He has appeared more than a hundred times on CNBC, Bloomberg Television, CNN and Fox News. In 2007, Institutional Investor selected Neil as one of the 20 Rising Stars of Wealth Management.

HOOMAN SHAHIDI

SENIOR ADVISOR

Hooman is a serial entrepreneur, technology executive, and energy infrastructure expert with a track record of building and scaling transformative companies. He is the co-founder and former CEO of EVPassport, a global EV software and infrastructure company, where he led the company from inception to a $200M capital raise and pioneered the industry’s first Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) program. A recognized innovator and evangelist in electrification, Hooman helped shape the first truly interoperable EV charging network. His expertise spans electrification infrastructure, AI infrastructure, and energy transition, with a focus on reimagining how technology powers the built world. Before his leadership in the energy sector, Hooman held strategic roles at Booz Allen, Salesforce, and Oracle. He currently serves on numerous boards, including Ice Energy, a leader in thermal energy storage, and Intersection Strategies, a global government affairs firm. In addition, he is a Senior Advisor to Cambridge Wilkinson, a leading global investment bank, a Partner at Mendoza Ventures, and a member of the Advisory Council at Concordia. A sought-after industry speaker, advisor, and contributor, Hooman has been named one of the top voices in energy and digital infrastructure. His insights have been featured in CNBC, Yahoo Finance, TechCrunch, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and MarketWatch. Driven by a vision for a fully energy and digital innovation, Hooman is committed to reshaping global infrastructure and paving the path forward. Originally from Massachusetts, he splits his time between Los Angeles and the East Coast.

KHUSHBOO JHA

SENIOR ADVISOR

Khushboo Jha is an accomplished fintech entrepreneur, and corporate leader with a career spanning strategy consulting, global operating roles, and company building. She combines deep execution expertise with leadership in scaling technology-enabled businesses. Khushboo began her career in strategy consulting with Accenture, where she advised Fortune 500 clients on revenue growth, market entry, and large-scale turnarounds. She then joined the Mergers & Acquisitions team at Deutsche Bank, executing cross-border transactions across healthcare and financial services sectors. She went on to hold senior leadership roles at Amazon across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, where she launched and managed large P&Ls, launched and scaled new business lines including the Hazardous Materials Marketplace and the Consumer Electronics Trade-In platform, and led the Alexa Offline Engine product development team. Building on her capital markets and operating experience, Khushboo founded BuyProperly, a fintech marketplace platform democratizing access to alternative assets that allows retail investors, to invest in private alternatives through an easy Amazon like experience. BuyProperly was recognized by UBS as a Top 10 Women-Founded FinTech and by CIX as one of Canada’s Top 20 Innovative Companies among several other awards over the years. Khushboo also launched Ashta.ai, a technology-enabled fund services platform focused on investor onboarding, compliance, and administration for mid-sized private capital managers. Across these ventures, she has led multiple capital raises, structured real estate and private credit transactions, and worked with institutional investors, family offices, and fund managers on growth and capital strategies. Khushboo holds an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated summa cum laude, as a Palmer Scholar (Top 5%), and received the Diane & Levy Endowed Fellowship and the J.N. Tata Scholarship. She earned her B. Tech from IIT Kharagpur, graduating in the Top 10% of her class. She has been recognized with multiple leadership and innovation honors, including Women of the Year by Bay Street Bull and DMZ. In addition, Khushboo is active in governance and philanthropy. She currently serves on the boards of Operations Eyesight Universal and Agni Capital Corp. She previously served on the boards of GNU Pharmaceuticals, and as Board Chair of the Wharton Finance Conference.