Richard Herstein

Richard is a Commercial Real Estate finance professional with broad, growth-oriented skill set developed over a progressive and diverse career of thirty-five years at the General Electric Company with the majority of time spent in GE Capital’s commercial real estate business.

Among Richard’s expertise are: Risk Management, Underwriting, Asset Management, Workouts/Restructuring and Originations as well as Business Development. He has experience with all major collateral types (office, retail, industrial, multi-family) as well as many speciality property types (hotels, mini-storage, mobile home parks, etc.) and Structures: straight debt, mezzanine debt, participating debt, standby commitments, equity.

He is familiar with primary and secondary domestic markets as well as major international markets. He has a BA in Economics from St. Lawrence University and an MBA from UCONN.

Gary Hirsch

For companies from start-up to exit, Gary has managed legal costs, contracts of all kinds, intellectual property, exit strategies, corporate governance and compliance. He enjoys working closely with executive and operational management and company staff, primarily to help teams execute. Perhaps most importantly, he understands first hand and respects what it takes to create and grow a business.

Gary has engaged over 50 companies since starting his own practice in January 2012. He has over 10 years prior experience as General Counsel of two successful venture-backed B2B tech companies. Gary also has over 25 years in practice including major law firm and Fortune 500 corporate law work. He also Co-led one of 2010’s most successful tech IPOs.

Gary is an accomplished negotiator and manager of commercial transactions, strategic alliances, acquisitions and divestitures, debt and equity financings, and financial & operational restructurings. He has managed global legal service delivery, supporting operations in Europe, South America and Asia/Pacific and has deep SaaS experience.

Companies include IntraLinks (NYSE: IL), Currenex (now owned by State Street Bank, Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), and Willkie Farr & Gallagher, New York.  Gary earned his BA degree in Economics with Distinction and is a graduate of New York University School of Law.

Richard L. Kelsey

Founder of Paragon, Richard offers expert and experienced valuation counsel reflecting over 35 years of business and intangible asset valuation opinions and counsel to private and public corporations in many business sectors. Before founding Paragon, Richard developed his valuation skills and experience as an office of Bank of American Investment Banking Group (Mergers and Acquisitions) and an officer of American Appraisal Associates, a global valuation consulting firm.  Richard has provided valuation advice to large multinational corporations as well as middle market companies and small businesses in many business sectors.

Richard has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University and an MBA from the University of Denver Daniels College of Business.  He has a professional affiliation with the American Society and Appraisers as a Senior Accredit Appraiser in Business Valuation and Past Connecticut Chapter President.  He has served as Chairman at the Darien Chamber of Commerce and is a mentor and lecturer of SCORE business counselor organization.

Allen Rosenberg

Allen is currently a mentor for SCORE, a volunteer national organization that provides free one on one mentoring services to small business in the United States.  SCORE is a resource partner with the US Small Business Administration. Leadership skills encompass direct marketing, catalog development, strategic planning, advertising, promotional strategies, team building, as well as, multi-channel marketing are all areas of expertise for Allen.

Allen co-founded Marke Communications in 1979, and today still provides integrated marketing strategies for the internet, retail, direct marketing catalog businesses, and major corporations. In 2013, began the Allen Rosenberg Group, which currently provides marketing strategies, collateral advertising materials, implementation of broadcast advertising production, client media placement,  consulting services for retail, graphic art and pre-media companies.

Allen’s proven track record in retail, direct response and omnichannel marketing enables The Allen Rosenberg Group to offer clients cross-capabilities assistance in building strategic teams, establishing dynamic brand identities and launching web-based and mobile initiatives. The Allen Rosenberg Group is results driven, pushes the envelope, and helps to maximize ROI by fostering customer relationships and experiences at every touchpoint.

Previously, Allen was a founding partner of one of the most respected direct mail advertising agencies in the industry, with clients that included Talbots, Reader’s Digest, Macy’s, Anthropologie, Nordstrom, Sears and IBM Direct. Allen broadened the company’s focus and scope to include a spectrum of corporate leaders in finance, nutrition, technology and entertainment. Allen obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Business & Communications from Parsons College.