Paul J. Brahim, CFP® is CEO, board chair and a principal shareholder of BPU Investment Management, a role to which he brings more than 30 years of experience. Paul joined BPU in 1997 as its managing director of wealth management, leading the firm’s efforts to provide comprehensive financial planning and asset management services. He introduced BPU’s Worksite Personal Financial Education (WPFE) program and was instrumental in creating the firm’s retirement plan offering. Paul was promoted to EVP in 2006. Shareholders elected him to the board of directors in 2011. Subsequently, the board named him as the firm’s chief compliance officer in 2011, its CEO in 2012 and its chair in 2013.

Andrew J. Bianco co-founded Strategic Advisors — a boutique investment bank focused on middle-market mergers, acquisitions and capital raising — in 2001. His prior experience includes three years as a principal with Main Street Capital Holdings, Inc., and eight years as managing director within the Mellon Strategic Advisors Group, providing merger, acquisition and private placement advisory services. With over 30 years in the industry, Andrew has developed an extensive national network of lenders and investors. He is a frequent guest lecturer at universities including Carnegie Mellon, is certified in mergers and acquisitions by the AMAA, and successfully completed the FINRA Series 7 and 63 exams.

James Barnes concentrates his practice on corporate and securities law, capital markets, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions. A significant portion of his practice focuses on structuring equity-based compensation arrangements, incentive compensation plans and executive employment agreements. James has a wide range of experience in corporate and securities law, including working with companies to raise capital in public and private offerings of debt and equity securities. He represents companies, funds and investors in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other complex corporate transactions. James is a frequent speaker for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

Melissa Bizyak has practiced public accounting for nearly 25 years. Her experience includes valuations of companies in the manufacturing, oil and gas and technology industries, for purposes including financial reporting, equitable distributions, buy/sell transactions, dissenting shareholder disputes and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Melissa is a certified public accountant, accredited in business valuation and certified in financial forensics by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Additionally, Melissa carries the credentials of Certified Valuation Analyst. Melissa joined Grossman Yanak & Ford LLP in 1997.