Daniel Pena, Chairman

John Ferro, BS in Accounting

John Ferro is a highly experienced financial advisor with over 37 years of valuation, investment banking, and litigation consulting experience. John just recently retired from Grant Thornton, where he had previously served as the leader for valuations services in the Americas for Grant Thornton International, the national head of valuations services in the US and the professional practice leader in the US, the National Leader of Board Services, solutions, and founder of The Grant Thornton Center for Shareholder Disputes and also lead Grant Thornton Financial Advisors LLC. Before joining Grant Thornton, Ferro founded the investment banking and fairness opinion practice at FTI Consulting. Before FTI, Ferro was with a Big Six accounting firm for 18 years, serving as a worldwide partner and the managing director in charge of the technology, media, and communications corporate finance group in the United States, a practice he founded and developed. 

Ferro has performed valuations for M&As, shareholder disputes, financial reporting, estate and gift tax, tax compliance, bankruptcy, and litigation purposes. He has served as an arbitrator and as an expert witness in arbitration disputes, jury trials, and bankruptcy proceedings. As an arbitrator, Ferro has resolved disputes related to claims over $125 million, within manufacturing, financial institutions, revenue recognition, earnout provisions, inventory valuations, and numerous accruals and contingent earnouts.

Daniel Pena, Chairman

Jeff Fisher, MBA, BA

Jeffrey Fisher, MBA Jeff is a seasoned executive with a demonstrated history of working in the healthcare, banking, and investment industries. Jeff has grown and scaled companies to great success through financial execution and turnarounds by building high-performing revenue cycle teams, cleaning up balance sheets, stemming losses, driving high-margin EBITDA, arranging high-return capitalizations/recapitalizations for independent companies or private equity (up to 5x). Jeff brings leadership, resilience, integrity, knowledge, and authenticity to help grow and scale companies to achieve successful financial outcomes. 

Jeff served as CFO for Five Points Healthcare, focusing on banking, treasury management, operational efficiency, revenue growth, and profitability. At RSM, his role as Business Development Director drove business development in Nashville for the healthcare industry and capitalized on longstanding connections in other sectors. Previously, Jeff was the Executive Vice President and CFO at Integrated Healing Technologies, delivering technology-based negative pressure wound therapy. He eliminated over $2M in annual expense, saved angel investor funds, reduced sales team management expense an additional $600K by assuming the sales management role, converted sales team from captive to 1099, and captured $450K for the investors. 

At Covenant Surgical Partners (now Covenant Physician Services), an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) business specializing in gastroenterology and ophthalmology with 46 locations in 19 states, Jeff was the Executive Vice President and CFO. He managed 75 employees across the accounting, accounts payable, payroll, human resources, and revenue cycle management departments and facilitated an EBITDA margin % increase from the mid-teens to low-twenties. Jeff facilitated an initiative to increase organic same-store sales growth from 1% to 3% through improved operational oversight and physician communication. He eliminated over $900K in corporate expense by implementing a company-wide cost reduction plan, and achieved a $1.25M salary and benefit reduction by overhauling the revenue cycle team, processes, and systems. He spearheaded a $130M high-yield bond offering that provided $40M in capital for ASC acquisitions while improving the balance sheet and lowering the Debt-to-EBITDA ratio to 4X. Finally, Jeff implemented a rigorous due diligence acquisition approach that resulted in new ambulatory surgery centers outperforming legacy centers by 25%. 

He also held the CFO and CCO positions for Aegis Sciences Corporation. Previously, Jeff was the Senior Vice President for Pinnacle Financial Partners, where he managed a loan portfolio and client investment assets totaling over $105M, growing the loan portfolio to over $65M from zero in 5 years. Jeff is passionate about building genuine relationships and fostering connections with others. After living in Nashville his entire life, he has a vibrant network and is an advisor to many professionals. 

Jeff is married and has two wonderful daughters.

Daniel Pena, Chairman

Robert E. Slavkin, ESQ.

Robert E. Slavkin most currently sits as chair of Akerman LLP's Healthcare Practice Group, a multidisciplinary team of an AmLaw 100 law firm nationally recognized for representing sector participants in regulatory compliance, insurance, and transactional issues. A former healthcare corporate counsel, compliance, and privacy officer for a publicly-traded healthcare company, Rob represents a variety of clients within the healthcare sector, guiding on complex issues and compliance with all appropriate federal and state statutes and regulations. These include federal anti-kickback, Stark laws, Medicare, Medicaid, HIPAA, and FDA regulations, as well as guiding daily operational and compliance issues facing healthcare entities. 

Robert has significant experience with the Affordable Care Act, and the ever-evolving role accountable care plays in U.S. health reform. Additionally, Robert counsels' clients on Medicare Managed Care and the Part D programs. He possesses a keen understanding of the momentous legislative changes within this sector and potential implications. Maintaining a robust thought leadership presence, Robert conducts frequent lectures throughout the United States on a wide array of healthcare issues, including compliance and development of compliance programs under the federal requirements, HIPAA, and other relevant matters. He is an active member of the American Health Lawyers' Association and served as Vice-Chair of Publications for its Payors, Plans, and Managed Care Practice Group. 

Robert's expertise includes complex mergers and acquisitions, including the brokering and managing of an acquisition by a health system of a client $35 million urology center and radiological oncology center. Robert also has significant experience providing compliance guidance and training, as well as a keen understanding of medical practice operational issues. 

Rob has an array of published books, lectures, and speaking events within the healthcare sector.

Daniel Pena, Chairman

Pam Sotiriadis, RN

Pam is a seasoned executive and home health industry expert with over 40 years of experience in nursing/ home health operations and recognized leadership in home health quality management. She possesses an in-depth knowledge of Medicare requirements for home health coverage and Joint Commission and CHAP accreditation standards. Earning her BSN from Salem State University, Pam initially practiced in fast-paced intensive and cardiac care units in the greater Boston area. She transitioned to a home health practice setting, which became a lifelong passion and primary focus for her nursing career. She entered the home health industry as a field nurse and quickly rose to Branch Director at Home Health VNA in Massachusetts. She then accepted a leadership position as Clinical Coordinator/Director at Rockingham VNA (a subsidiary of Exeter Health Resources in Exeter, New Hampshire), where she led a diverse team of nurses and therapists. Pam initiated and developed Rockingham VNA’s first-ever quality program, encompassing all quality outcomes, Oasis education, and clinician orientation programs. Additionally, she collaborated with the QIO for the Northeast region, researching clinical care models with the VNA of NY and Dartmouth Hitchcock. Following the transition to the Prospective Payment System in 2000, Pam was a key member of her company’s planning and execution team, achieving successful financial results and reimbursement and improved clinical outcomes. In 2005, Pam joined Willowbrook Health Systems/Willowbrook Home Health in Nashville, TN, encompassing multiple branches in Middle Tennessee and the state’s largest city. For over ten years, she spearheaded clinical care initiatives as the Agency’s Clinical Director and Director of Special Projects. Following Willowbrook’s acquisition by Five Points Home Health of Atlanta, she assumed Director/ Administrator for Tennessee. She led her team to increase the census by 400 patients, boost revenues and reimbursement, and improve patient quality outcomes. As Five Points expanded to a multi-state operation, she assumed the Director of Quality Assurance role, leading Willowbrook and other Five Points locations in the improvement of Clinical-Home Health Compare Star Ratings and 5-Star Customer Service ratings. Her record of achievement and leadership at Five Points culminated in her selection as the company’s Assistant Vice President of Clinical/Quality. In this capacity, she assisted in developing orientation programs, implementing processes for the 2020 home health reimbursement model-PDGM (Patient-Driven Grouping Model), Oasis education, regulatory standards, documentation, and quality review/outcomes management processes for seven state locations. She has led efforts to develop disease state management programs, home telemonitoring programs, wound care programs, and successful strategies and focused education to improve clinical outcomes and Star ratings throughout her career. She also has held certifications in quality leadership, home healthcare, and OASIS.

Daniel Pena, Chairman

Mitchell Vogel, MD, FACS

Mitchell Vogel, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist, Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He received his B.A. in Biology from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, and his M.S. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Biochemistry from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his M.D. from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied Internal Medicine at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, New Jersey as an intern. Dr. Vogel completed a residency program at Nassau University Medical Center in New York in Ophthalmology, where he was Chief Resident of the Department. He pursued advanced training as a Fellow at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas specializing in Cornea, External Disease, and Keratorefractive Surgery. 

After training, Dr. Vogel practiced with Ophthalmic Consultants of Tidewater in Virginia, where he developed a laser vision correction program and helped found The Laser Optic Center in Norfolk, Virginia. He is the founder of New Jersey Vision Associates, P.C., and has been recognized as a Top Doctor by the Castle Connolly Guide for the New York Metro Area for the past 18 years. Mitch has also obtained numerous awards from America's Most Honored Doctors. 

He has received the Physicians' Recognition Award from the American Medical Association, as well as year after year nominations as a Top Doctor from Inside Jersey Magazine. Dr. Vogel also participates as an Eye Care Volunteer providing vision services to the community. He served as a Cornea and Refractive Surgery consultant with Omni Eye Services in New Jersey, an integrated eyecare network for eighteen years. Dr. Vogel is also a consultant in Ophthalmology with United Medical RWJ Barnabas Health System. 

Dr. Vogel has had numerous teaching appointments and given lectures and presentations about corneal disorders and general topics in Ophthalmology at the local, regional, and national levels. He has specialty interests in amniotic membrane use in corneal disorders. He serves as a healthcare consultant and advisor with 6 Pillars Strategic Management. 

Dr. Vogel's hobbies include golf, blockchain technology, martial arts, and music. He is married and has two sons, one in Optometry School and another as a Chemical Engineer.

Daniel Pena, Chairman

Mark F. Weiss, JD, AB

Mr. Mark Weiss is the founder The Mark F. Weiss Law Firm. He represents healthcare clients on a national and international basis. His firm’s primary areas of focus are large, physician-owned medical groups, extremely entrepreneurial physicians involved in a wide range of healthcare ventures, and physician-controlled outpatient facilities such as ASCs, imaging centers, and similar such ventures.

 Mark was also the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Steering Advisors, LLC, a middle-market healthcare investment bank headquartered in Dallas, TX. He focuses on sell-side M&A representation of large physician practices, other healthcare service and product businesses, and entities that sell into the healthcare market. 

From 2002 to 2013, Mark held an academic appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, where he developed and taught an annual seminar series on the business and legal issues affecting physicians. 

Mark’s interests center on empowering physicians to empower patients. He writes and speaks extensively on business and legal issues of interest to physicians and healthcare entrepreneurs.

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Daniel Pena, Chairman

Bruce Whipple, Founding Principal

Mr. Bruce Whipple is a senior executive with year after year success achieving revenue, profitability and business growth objectives within diverse platforms, from underperforming Fortune 500 corporations to private companies with 5x-10x improvements in revenue. He is the founder of brucewhipple.com, where he leads and motivates worldwide mentees in business and leadership. 

Bruce is a Senior Principal of The Guthrie Group. The Guthrie Group (TGG), is an investment consortium specializing in facilitating transactions, founded in 1997. 

Bruce has held executive positions at various companies including Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc., CEO of Annicott Worldwide Enterprises, Inc.; General Manager of FiroResources, Inc.; Founder and CEO of Property Tax Consultants, Inc.; Co-Founder and Vice President of Audit Cost International, Ltd.; and Director of Automotive Sales of The Torrington Company. 

Before founding Property Tax Consultants, Inc. Bruce co-founded Audit Cost International, Ltd., which represented Fortune 500 companies on a national basis in the areas of school and property taxes, telecommunications, and utility billing reductions. His companies’ clients included AT&T, DuPont, General Motors Pension Fund, IBM, International Paper, Jack Frost Sugar, JWP, Key Corp., Kodak, Kraft, General Foods, Lexmark, Lifetime TV, MetLife, Reader's Digest, Schlumberger, and Toyota. 

Bruce is a true entrepreneur by heart, businessman, and weekend warrior, who, despite injuries, surgeries, and less than world-class skills, has run marathons and ridden centuries. 

Bruce holds a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Northeastern University

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Daniel Pena, Chairman

Daniel Pena

Daniel S. Peña is Chairman and Founder of The Guthrie Group (TGG), an investment consortium specializing in facilitating transactions, founded in 1997. With offices in the UK and Asia, it has acted as principal, advisor and agent to global and regional companies and institutions. Mr. Peña was also founder, former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Great Western Resources Inc., (GWRI), a Houston-based natural resource company public on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). At the time of Mr. Peña's decision to retire, GWRI was operational in the US, the Gulf of Mexico, the UK and South America and had a public market capitalization of $450 million (approximately $1 billion today), with interests in coal, and oil and gas exploration and production, drilling and construction pipeline. At the time the company was acquired in January 1997, he was the biggest individual shareholder. 

In an 8-year period, starting with only $820, Mr. Peña grew Great Western Resources to $450 million while energy prices collapsed, the price of oil dropped from $40 to less than $8 per barrel and more than 10,000 energy companies in the US alone went out of business. During this massive energy decline GWRI grew a phenomenal 55 million percent. 

Prior to Mr. Peña's founding of GWRI, he was the Chairman of JPK Industries, Inc., a vertically integrated company in the petroleum industry, involved in oil and gas drilling, operating, production, crude oil refining and marketing. As cofounder he helped grow the company to $50,000,000 in three years. Prior to JPK Industries, he was with the investment banking firm of Bear Stearns and Co. where he advised clients throughout the US and internationally. 

Subsequent to this tenure at Bear Stearns, he served as President and CEO of Kennedy Industries Inc., a company with major interests in real estate, insurance, financial services, and the entertainment industry. While in the entertainment business Kennedy Industries was involved in TV/movie production and investment. 

Since leaving Wall Street and while building his own companies exponentially, Peña has successfully negotiated transactions with many multinationals, all BIG 4 accountancy firms, many major international financial institutions and law firms and several foreign governments. In addition, he has successfully transacted business with both the Church and Bank of England. 

Dan Peña currently serves as Chairman of his personal holding and other growing companies in various industries in the US, Europe, Australia, Canada, Asia and South America.