Our People

Areas of Speciality/Focus:  LS: Healthcare/Life-Sciences; CT: Clean-Tech; LA: Latin America; AI: Alternative Investment Funds (HF/PE/VC/RE).

Investment Banking

Peter Formanek, Managing Partner, Peter has 30+ years experience advising fund managers, family offices and companies. He is a CPA, and previously worked as Financial Analyst at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and Spear, Leeds & Kellogg. Peter received his BS in Accounting, and an MBA in Finance from the University of Bridgeport.  FINRAlicenses 7, 24, 28, 63, 79, 99.  LS,CT,LA,AI

Bruce Kaufman, Bruce has 30+ years experience in investment banking, restructurings, capital raising, and public accounting.  Prior firms include Rothschild Venture Capital, Lehman Brothers, Compass Advisers and Coopers & Lybrand.  Bruce received a BS in Accounting from SUNY Albany, and an MBA in Finance from Columbia University.  FINRAlicenses 7, 63, 79.  LS, CT

Bruce Forrest, MD, MBA ,  Dr. Forrest brings 30+ years experience in the pharmaceutical industry in senior executive, scientific and R&D roles at Wyeth (US & Japan)  and Chiron.  Dr. Forrest received a MB/BS and an MD from the University of Adelaide School of Medicine, and an MBA from the University of Warwick-UK.  Conversational in Japanese.  FINRA licenses 79, 63, 65.  LS

Stanley Tobin, CIMA, Stan has 30+ years experience in fundraising and business development, at Golub Capital, Institutional Credit Partners, Guggenheim Partners & DB/Alex Brown.  Stan received a BS in Marketing from Lehigh University, and is proficient in Spanish.  FINRAlicenses 7, 63.  CT, LA

Cori Investment Advisors � Latin America Investment Banking

Stormy Byorum, Stormy has 30+ years experience in Latin America investment banking, including senior executive and board roles at Andina Acquisition (the 1stLatAm SPAC), Stephens, TCW-Latin America, Violy-Byorum and Citicorp.  Stormy has a BBA from Southern Methodist University, and an MBA from University of Pennsylvania.  FINRA licenses 7, 24, 63.  LA

Mauricio Aurellano, Mauricio has 20+ years experience in Latin America including roles at Stephens, TCW-Latin America, Emerging Markets Partners, IADB, BNP and Grupo Asincro.   Mauricio has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Universidad Central de Venezuela, and an MBA from IESA-Venezuela.  FINRA licenses 62, 63. LA

Alternative Investment Funds Marketing

Capital Alternatives Group

George Lucaci, George has 30+ years of senior financial services experience, including senior roles at DAP Trading, Channel Capital Group, Hedgefund.net, Chemical Bank, Citibank, Merrill Lynch Nomura Securities and at private equity and hedge funds. George received has a BA from Duke University, and an MBA from George Washington University.   FINRAlicenses 7, 24, 63.  AI

Eric Blessing, Eric has 25+ years of senior sales experience with a focus on Europe and the Middle East, including DAP Trading, Channel Capital Group, Hedgefund.net, First Union Capital Markets, Chase Manhattan Bank, World Corporate Group and Citicorp Venture Capital.  Eric has a BS from Purdue University, and an MBA from Fordham University. FINRAlicenses 7, 24, 63.  AI

Robert Wood Jr, Robert has 35+ years banking experience at Chase, AIG, Banco Real, Far Hills Group, Vega Asset Mgmt, Galleon Group, Fator Securities and Risk Advisors. He is fluent in Portugues and Spanish, and active in Brazil alternative investments. Robert has an MA in Intl Relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS, and a BA in Political Science from Duke University.  FINRA licenses 7, 63.  AI

Edward Kuhnel, CAIA,  Ed has 15+ years experience in fund analysis, due diligence and marketing for DAP Trading, Channel Capital Group, Hedgefund.net, Withers LLP-London, and the Small Business Administration.  Ed has a BA from Cornell University. FINRAlicenses 7, 63.  AI

George Gowdey, George has 30+ years financial services experience, including DAP Trading, Hedgefund.net, Lockwood/BNYMellon, Twenty First Securities, LJH Global, Smith Barney, Dillon Read, Chemical Bank and Furman Selz.  George has a BBA from Iona College. FINRAlicenses 7, 63. AI

Additional Fund Marketing Executives

Marcel Melis, Marcel has 30+ years experience atBP, Statkraft, Reliant, DELTA Energy, Energy Capital Mgmt/MMT Energy Fund.  He received his BA and MBA from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (Neth). FINRA licenses 22, 82, 63.  AI

Nancy Hu, CAIA, Nancy specializes in hedge fund manager due diligence at prior firms including TD Securities, Banc of America, and Deloitte Consulting.  Nancy is fluent in Mandarin, and received her BS in Engineering from Northwestern, and an MBA in Finance from MIT.  FINRA licenses 7, 63.  AI

Chris Hopgood, Chris focuses on hedge funds.  Prior experience includes Ramius/Cowen, BTIG.  He is a Founder/Director at Vesel Interactive servicing hedge funds, banks and broker-dealers.  He received his BS from the University of Vermont.  FINRA licenses 7, 24, 63.  AI

Edward Mahoney, Ed has 30+ years experience in intitutional sales, at Merrill Lynch and Fuji Securities.  Ed is a graduate of Adelphi University, with a BA in political science and economics.  FINRAlicenses 7, 63, 79.  AI

Additional Executives

Tom Bronner, Business Development, Tom's prior experience includes Lloyds Bank, National Bank of Canada, Federal Reserve Bank of NY and TD Bank.   Tom received his BA in Economics from Columbia University.  FINRA Licenses 63, and studying for 79.

Roy Kalan, Director of Compliance, Roy was previously Director at Pershing/BNY-Mellon and IFMG.  He has a BS in Finance from URI, and MBA in Finance from PACE University.  FINRA licenses 7, 24, 63, 79, 99.

Cliff Mickenberg, CPA, Compliance and Operations, Cliff had prior senior finance and operations including roles at IFMG, Corroon & Black.  Cliff has a BA from SUNY Stonybrook, and an MBA from NYU.