Unlike any other Firm on the Planet, and because of the highly sensitive nature of some of the Projects we deal with on a global basis and the identity of some of our 22 Family Offices very keen on privacy, Blackhawk Partners is run by 2 separate Teams; one known to the public and the other operating behind the scene.  

Leadership  

Ziad K. Abdelnour - President & Chief Executive Officer -

Once referred to by the New York Times as one of the 100 most creative and fiercest investment bankers on Wall Street, Ziad K. Abdelnour is a dealmaker, trader and financier with over 20 year experience in merchant banking, private equity, alternative investments and physical commodities trading. Since 1985, Mr. Abdelnour has been involved in over 125 transactions  totaling over $30 billion in the investment banking, high yield bond and distressed debt markets and has been widely recognized for playing an integral role in those three key market sectors.

Before founding Blackhawk Partners, Inc. in 2004; a New York based private equity ”family office” that focuses on originating, structuring and acting as equity investor in management-led buyouts, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations, buildups, and growth capital financings, Mr. Abdelnour held numerous senior positions at European American Advisors; Inc.; THCG Inc .(formerly Hambro America Securities); Ladenburg Thalmann and Drexel Burnham Lambert’s High Yield Bond Department where his responsibilities included investing, financing and restructuring over 100 companies spanning the industrial, logistics, consumer and manufacturing industries both in the US as well as in emerging markets.

Since 2001, Mr. Abdelnour has been a trusted advisor to a number of the largest family offices in the United States, Europe and the Middle East and a turnaround investor in a number of companies where Mr. Abdelnour’s corporate capital commitment through Blackhawk came either through acquiring those and other companies through their distressed debt or through the chapter 11 process.

Mr. Abdelnour has extensive connections with the Washington political, government and intelligence establishments having served since 1994 as a friend and advisor to a number of agencies and organizations associated with such entities in various capacities; especially when dealing with fiscal and foreign policy matters.

On a more personal level, Mr. Abdelnour is Founder and President of the US Committee for a Free Lebanon, Former President of the Arab Bankers Association of North America, Member of the Board of Governors of the Middle East Forum and Founding Member of the Financial Policy Forum ; a lobbying organization whose prime mandate is to lobby members of Congress on ways and means of bridging the gap between Washington DC and Wall Street.

Mr. Abdelnour enjoys an American and Lebanese dual citizenship and holds a M.B.A in financial engineering from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in economics, Summa Cum Laude, from the American University of Beirut, is a regular panelist and speaker on private equity and venture capital topics at industry conferences nationwide and is personally a business angel investor in over a dozen ventures; both in the US and abroad.

Hicham K. Abdelnour - Special Partner -

Hicham K. Abdelnour, a citizen of Lebanon and Canada, has been involved in real estate and corporate transactions in the U.S. and Turkey, where he currently resides full time since 1995. 

Among his key achievements, Hicham is the co-developer and owner of the Konak Pier project, a major waterfront retail centre located at the heart of Izmir, Turkey.  Today, Konak Pier is the flagship of the city of Izmir and an essential destination center for international visitors. 

Over the past three years, Mr. Abdelnour has also been advising some of the leading U.S. and European private equity funds seeking investment opportunities in Turkey.  His advisory role includes product identification and origination, transaction negotiation and final execution, all within specific guidelines and parameters dictated by the investor. 

In addition, Mr. Abdelnour provides post-closing asset management services, including performance monitoring, corporate restructuring, financial reporting, debt/equity financing, board membership and other on-going supervision tasks.  Overall, Hicham remains fully involved in the company/project until final exit by the investor. 

Prior to 1995, Mr. Abdelnour has been actively involved in real estate transactions in the U.S. and Europe, including corporate advisory work, cross-border transactions, debt and equity securitization and property portfolio management. During this period, Mr. Abdelnour was associated with the major Wall Street firms of UBS Securities Inc., Kidder, Peabody and Co. and Paine Webber, Inc. 

Hicham Abdelnour received a B.S. in civil engineering and a B.A. in economics from Stanford University and earned a M.S. in real estate development and finance from Columbia University.

The Black Op Team 

Paolo Agnelli - Former ENI Group Official - Private Equity Investments/Advisory Services Group - New York, NY

Vladimir Andropov - Former KGB Operative - Physical Commodities Trading Group - Moscow, Russia

Jeff Branson - Former Royal Deutsch Shell Official - Physical Commodities Trading Group - New York, NY

Herve de Tilly - Former Total Official - Physical Commodities Trading Group - New York, NY

Hu Dingli - Former Sinopec Official - Physical Commodities Trading Group - Beijing, China

Markus Hoener - Former Allianz Official - Private Equity Investments/Advisory Services Group - New York, NY

Mark Humbley - Former Exxon Mobil Official - Physical Commodities Trading Group - Irving, TX

Simon Peden - Former ING Official - Private Equity Investments/Advisory Services Group - New York, NY

John Richardson - Former GE Official - Private Equity Investments/Advisory Services Group - New York, NY

Brent Rothschild - Former J.P Morgan Official - Private Equity Investments/Advisory Services Group - New York, NY

Irwin Stein - Former Bank of America Official - Private Equity Investments/Advisory Services Group - New York, NY

Mark Woolsey - Former CIA Operative - Physical Commodities Trading Group - Dubai, UAE 

The Partners Team  

Dominique Appleby 

A career entrepreneur and financier with extensive background in financing companies and projects throughout Western Europe, Dominique Appleby served from 1989-1996 the Berlusconi group in handling a diversified portfolio of projects including but not limited to venture capital, hedge funds, and real estate.

Since then, Ms. Appleby has founded and co-founded several private and public companies including Harmony Gold Finance, Euro Capital, The Condor Medfund and the Buyback Fund and has been a founding investor/former board member of GOVX Labs, an HIV Vaccine.

Regarding the physical commodities trading side of the business, Ms. Appleby has recently co-founded and served as CFO for the re-launch of Latina Oil along with the former CEO of Citgo and has been particularly involved in investing in and trading Petroleum products in South and Central America. 

Ms. Appleby holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and is Certified in Treasury Management and Finance from The Amsterdam Institute of Finance.

Charles Brooks  

A career international affairs specialist, Charles Brooks served as recently as 2005 as the first Director of Legislative Affairs for The Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appointed by President George W. Bush..

Since then, Mr. Brooks has been instrumental in assisting Blackhawk Partners in expanding our investment efforts in the Home Land Security sector.

Mr. Brooks has recently served as Adjunct Faculty Member of Johns Hopkins University given his extensive background in government relations, international trade, and investment banking that spans over twenty years in the public and private sectors.

Mr. Brooks also worked on Capitol Hill as a Senior Legislative Assistant for Defense, International Business, and Foreign Affairs to Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). In 1986, he was appointed by President Reagan to serve as the Special Assistant to the Director of the Voice of America where he specialized in interagency relations and in domestic & international public affairs.

Mr. Brooks holds a B.A. in Political Science from DePauw University and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Chicago. He also earned a Certificate in International Law from The Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands and has a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.

Barbara d' Amato

Barbara d’Amato in charge of the Firm's West Coast Operation, is a seasoned investment banker and financier with a 20+ year career in corporate banking and capital markets including but not limited to BNP Paribas-Bank of the West as a Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager and Team Leader (2001-2004), Comerica Bank as Vice President and Portfolio Manager (1998-2001), and Bank of America as Vice President, Risk Credit Portfolio Manager and Private Banker (1989-1998).  

Ms. d’Amato holds a B.A. in Business Administration ‘Magna Cum laude’ from UCLA and attended Harvard Business School for Post Graduate Executive Education. 

She is Chapter Co-Founder and Member Vitae of ‘Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society’ the highest national recognition a business graduate can receive ranking in the Top 10% of academic excellence in the US.  She also served as President of the Board of Directors, Chair, and Member of numerous charitable and networking organizations in our community.

Andrew Gold

A consummate negotiator, deal strategist and problem-solver, Andrew Gold has 20 years experience in finance, technology and law in the US and Europe and brings to Blackhawk Partners operational, strategic and legal support services to growth companies second to none. 

Mr. Gold is also a true global entrepreneur, having lived and worked in a dozen different cultures, including starting businesses in the US, UK, Germany and Malta. Most recently, Mr. Gold served as Chairman and CEO of Straitshot Communications, a Bellevue, Washington based network services provider. Previously, Mr. Gold served as the General Counsel of Claritage Capital, a New York and Tokyo-based Private Equity Fund.  Mr. Gold started his professional career at leading international law firms Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, in Dusseldorf, Germany, and Andrews & Kurth, in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Gold is also a uniquely effective and accomplished communicator and presenter, having served as a spokesman for the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, DC and as a Lecturer in Public Speaking at Stanford University.

Mr. Gold graduated Magna Cum Laude with a law degree from The American University, was a visiting scholar at The University of Pennsylvania Law School and holds a BA in History and Philosophy from Emory University. 

Ashley John Heather

A technology guru second to none, Ashley John Heather has over 15 years of experience in Silicon Alley having founded and operated a number of innovative media/tech companies including Entertainment Media Works, MusiKube and CuttingEdged Technologies and built in the process partnerships with leading interactive groups including ABC, AOL, CBS/Showtime, 20th Century Fox, Fremantle/19, Intel, Microsoft, MTV Networks, MySpace, and Virgin Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Univision. 

Mr. Heather’s companies have received awards from the prestigious AlwaysOn Top 100 in Hollywood award in 2007 to European Interactive Consultancy of the Year in 2001. 

Mr. Heather is also a frequent speaker at leading wireless/media industry events such as iBreakfast, CTIA Wireless, iWireless World, The Digital Media Summit, MoMeMo and the Digital Coast Roundtable and is regularly quoted in press including the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, with frequent appearances on NY1, CCN Headline News too. 

Mr. Heather holds a B.A. in Economics from Sheffield University, England and is a board member of Nextcode Corporation, Cutting Edged Technologies, Zaah Technologies and co-founder of MoMeMo.org.

Munir M. Hussein

Munir M. Hussein is Partner in charge of the Firm's Real Estate activities.  He is a seasoned real estate professional with extensive experience in the investment business and capital markets.

Prior to joining the Blackhawk Partners Team in November 2009, Mr. Hussein was the President and CEO of Mokhus, a finance and investment firm based in New York City. Before founding Mokhus, Mr. Hussein was Managing Director and head of real estate and corporate finance of Friedman Equities, LLC a private equity firm based in New York City, where he sourced, structured and financed a variety of complex real estate transactions in the retail, office, residential and hospitality sectors. 

Prior to this, Mr. Hussein was Vice President for Corporate Finance of National Securities Inc., a Chicago and Seattle-based investment banking firm, where he headed the New York City investment banking office, handling private placement financings in a wide range of industry sectors. 

Prior to this, Mr. Hussein was Director of Corporate Finance and then Interim CFO for Complete Management, Inc. (CMI), a New York-based healthcare and financial services company traded on the New York Stock Exchange. At CMI, Mr. Hussein was instrumental in the raising and management of capital, M&A and restructuring efforts for the Company and its subsidiaries, including spearheading a Chapter 11 reorganization of the parent company. 

Mr. Hussein also has experience in international emerging markets, having worked for five years at BCIU, a leading international business association based in New York and Washington, D.C. At BCIU, Mr. Hussein arranged and financed numerous trade and investment programs in cooperation with the White House, U.S. Department of State and many foreign government leaders. This includes several major conferences with the White House, focusing on areas such as Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Ireland and the Middle East. 

Mr. Hussein is actively involved in several organizations, including the Urban Land Institute and Seeds of Peace, for which he serves on the Board of Directors. Mr. Hussein holds an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School, and a BA from St. John’s College (philosophy and mathematics) in Annapolis, Maryland.

Raz Silberman

Raz Silberman; partner in charge of the Firm's Texas based Operation, is a financial and operational manager with a very broad based ability to combine the strategic, operational, financial, and people aspects of any business which allows him to drive change and achieve results in a company’s bottom line instantly..

Mr. Silberman has a diverse industry experience including technology, IT services, outsourcing, software, defense, financial services, and manufacturing and very extensive international experience having lived in both Israel and Canada.

Prior to joining the Blackhawk Team in October 2009, Mr. Silberman held financial and operational management positions with Fortune 500 and mid-sized companies, including L-3 Communications and Amdocs where he was part of a team which was instrumental in leading growth, increased profitability and stronger cash flow.

Prior to this, Mr. Silberman was the CFO of a publicly traded diversified financial services firm in Israel providing such services as asset management, investment banking (in partnership with Piper Jaffray), and acting as the General Partner in a VC fund.

Mr. Silberman earned his CPA in the US, his CGA in Canada, and holds an MBA from the University of Manchester in England. He is also a mentor in the mentoring program of the business schools of the Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the University of Texas in Dallas and a board member of the Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

David B. Workman

With over twenty-five years of experience representing the real estate interests of major corporations and financial entrepreneurs nationwide, Mr. Workman brings to Blackhawk a breadth and depth of experience and relationships second to none as our client list now includes but are not limited to some of the nation’s most recognized investment, hospitality, entertainment, media, financial, and professional service companies, manufacturing firms, and associated entities. 

With previous financial experience on Wall Street, as well as Big Five accounting experience, Mr. Workman combines his respective knowledge of these fields to provide our clients with the most comprehensive and creative service. His real estate experience spans the disciplines of strategic planning, market research, evaluation/implementation, and financial analysis. In addition, Mr. Workman has acted as the lead negotiator and/or process coordinator on his clients’ behalf in all phases of real estate projects—for lease, purchase, or disposition. 

Throughout his career, Mr. Workman has been involved in over $1 billion worth of real estate, leasing, and investment activities. Among some of the most prominent clients with whom he has concluded transactions with are: Phoenix Partners, The Rosen Group, Inc., Safeco Insurance, Dalton Griener (Investments), UPOC/DADA Networks, Studio Instrument Rentals (SIR), Hampshire Hotels and Resorts (HHR), Empire Management Co., Pace University, Metromedia (Muze), Alliance Entertainment, Masco Corporation, Earthtech, Concord Jazz, Gold’s Gym, Wilhelmina Models, Edel Records, Sartorius North America, First Investors Corp., Thomson Financial Services, Fiduciary Trust Company International, NEC America, Zurich-American Insurance Company, Centre Reinsurance Corporation,  Met Life, Interactive Fight Technologies, Argosy Gaming, Greystone & Co., The Equitable Life Assurance Co., and The Principal Life Assurance Company.  

Mr. Workman is an 83’ graduate (B.A. Economics) of Brandeis University. He is married with a two-year-old son, and resides in Chatham, New Jersey.

In addition, David is a partner (with The Related Companies) in a residential and retail complex with over 600 apartments. Mr. Workman is an 83’ graduate (B.A. Economics) of Brandeis University. He is married with a two-year-old son, and resides in Chatham, New Jersey.

The Special Advisors Team  

Yaron Eitan   

Yaron is the founder of Selway Capital and has over 25 years of experience acquiring, building and exiting businesses.  Previously, he was the co-founder of Reshef Technologies, a specialty munitions company, the President of Patlex, an industrial and patent enforcement holding company and the founder and CEO of Geotek Communications, a wireless communications company. Geotek deployed a wireless network in 11 major US markets and nationwide networks in the UK and Korea based on innovative technology previously developed for military applications. The company grew to 1,200 employees and $120 million in revenues.  It later filed for Chapter 11 and was sold to Nextel. Yaron recounted the story of Geotek in a book he authored called Riding The Waves. 

In 1998 Yaron founded Selway Partners a technology-sector holding company. Selway Partners went on to found and build several companies including Magnolia Broadband and DVTel.   In 2002, Yaron became a partner of SCP Partners, an investment firm with over $1 billion under management. At the same time, Selway Partners became a wholly-owned investment company of SCP Partners.  

In 2007, Yaron launched the Vector Intersect Security Acquisition Corporation, which raised $60M with the goal of making a single acquisition. Vector purchased Cyalume Technologies in 2008. In 2009, Yaron decided to reinvigorate the Selway name and created Selway Capital. Selway Capital manages several portfolio companies on behalf of SCP and Selway Partners. Yaron is Chairman of a number of companies including Cyalume, DVTel, Inc., The Q Group and Magnolia Broadband. He also serves as a director of XVionics, Inc. 

Yaron served in the Israeli Defense Forces for seven years, where he reached the rank of Major. He has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and BA in economics from Haifa University.

Amir Heshmatpour

With the Firm's increasing exposure to China through its strategic investments in Linktone and China Security & Surveillance Technology, Inc., one of Blackhawk's key advisors leading the efforts in the Asian markets at large is Mr. Amir Heshmatpour. Amir is also the Founder and Managing Director of AFH Holding & Advisory LLC, an integrated advisory and consulting firm serving U.S. and international clients who seek strategic counsel and sophisticated access to global capital markets. Since founding the Company in 2003, Mr. Heshmatpour has led AFH through numerous successful transactions both in the United States and China.

Prior to this, Amir was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Metrophone Telecommunications, Inc., a company he began in 1994 with $ 30,000. At the age of 24, Amir completed his first reverse merger between Metrophone and Datawave Communications, a prepaid telephone card company, which was then affiliated with AT&T.

Over the next ten years, Amir spearheaded Metrophone’s growth, leading it through a total of 17 acquisitions and growing the business to over $100 million in revenue. Metrophone was twice named among the 100 fastest growing companies in the Northwest and by 2003 the company operated in 34 states and was ranked among the top 10 public service providers in the U.S.

Mr. Heshmatpour was recognized as "Businessman of the Year" by the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2003 and served as Head of the Republican Congressional Business Advisory for the year. Together with his family, he founded Holding Hands Pediatric Therapy & Diagnostics, an organization serving children with special needs and their families.

Mr. Heshmatpour has also served on the Board of "Young Life", a teen-mentoring organization and currently serves on the board of the California Council on Economic Education (CCEE), an organization promoting financial and economic literacy.

Sampath Kumar

Mr. Kumar has  nearly three decades of international / U.S Senior Management  banking experience in India, the U.S, the U.K and the Middle East with cutting edge expertise in International Correspondent Banking, International Trade Financing, Treasury Management, Credit Management & Marketing, Private Debt & Equity Financing and Foreign Exchange Risk Exposure Management.  

As the CEO/President of Comp Systems Inc, New York; established in early 1998, Mr. Kumar advises large Arab groups out of Dubai (UAE) & has deep & close connections with Oil Rig owners, Government owned Oil Majors in South America, investment banks in the United Arab Emirates and Private Equity firms in both the U.S and the U.K.   

Through close affiliations, Mr. Kumar has built up over the years prized relationships with High Net worth entities and individuals including Single/Multi Family offices both in the U.S & South Asia. 

Mr. Kumar headed an Arab International bank’s North American operation as the Executive Vice President/ Country Head & General Manager in New York for five years. 

Prior to that, he had the responsibility of Group Treasury of the bank headquartered in Dubai as Group Treasurer & directed the resources of all the trading desks in different major centers of the world including the U.K, the U.S & Hong Kong. 

Mr. Kumar has a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce( with Distinction) from Chennai, India, a Master’s Degree in Business from Mumbai University- India & is a Certified Associate of the Institute of Bankers- India.

Joe Mancuso

Joe Mancuso is the founder of the 33 year old not-for-profit Chief Executive Officers Club (CEO Club) and the entrepreneur's entrepreneur.

Joe brings to Blackhawk a broad array of entrepreneurs looking for funding as the CEO Club is composed of CEO’s running businesses with about $20,000,000 of average annual sales and has over 15,000 current active members.

Mr. Mancuso is undoubtedly best known as an author. His books and tapes have been heard or read by more small business people than those of any other management author, according to Simon & Schuster. He has edited or written twenty-six books, and currently ten books are classified as backlist books, which sell about the same quantity every year.  In addition, Joe has authored numerous magazine articles and booklets; in such a diverse magazines as Playboy, Penthouse, Success, Harvard Business Review, The Journal of Marketing and The Journal of Small Business. His materials about business plan preparation have outsold all other authors combined.

Most recently, Joe has traveled to China; fifteen times in eight years and brought with him on the trips over 500 diverse CEOs. Today the Clubs have chapters in China/India/Dubai/and Greece..

Joe holds an Electrical Engineering degree from WPI and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. His Doctorate is from Boston University in Educational Administration. He was the Chairman of the Management Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts before launching the CEO Clubs in 1977. He lives in Manhattan, with his wife and business partner, Karla and their two children Max and May.

Kamyar Shadan

Kamyar Shadan is the founder of Diginome™ Inc. a Data Intelligence Platform firm in Silicon Valley. Mr. Shadan invented and holds Patent(s) in the concept and methodology of creating a “Genome for digits”.  Diginome™ is the first company of its kind with patented technologies to create “embedded” DNA for any Digital Object.  Mr. Shadan is also Chairman of Private Client Services, Inc (PCSFamilyOffice) based in Tiburon, CA.  PCS is a comprehensive multi-family office platform offering service for Family Protection, Asset Management, Global Oversight, International Real Estate, Due Diligence and Private Jet/Yatch charters.

Prior to the founding of Diginome™ Kamyar was Chief Operating Officer of Coherity Inc. a Silicon Valley based Database Software Company funded by Softbank and Accenture Technology Ventures.  Coherity was later sold to a Draper Fisher backed firm.  Mr. Shadan has served as a board member, provided corporate/financial strategy, executive coaching and raised venture capital for various companies over his career. His domestic and international advisory networks have included former CEO/Chairman of fortune 50 Companies along with Silicon Valley serial entrepreneurs, thought leaders and executives.

Mr. Shadan also served as President & COO of Internet Technology Group, a technology business accelerator, in Silicon Valley. He was a Managing Director at the Private Consulting Group and has held a private banking position at a major private bank and at Morgan Stanley, where he co-led development of a “specialized situation” investment management group – The Goldman Group.    

Kamyar holds degrees in Bio-engineering, Industrial Organizational Psychology, with special studies in peak performance, Martial Arts and holistic health and has attended Programs and received certification from the Venture Capital Institute, SF Law School along with Executive programs at HAAS School of business. 

Lissa Tucker

Lissa Tucker has over 15 years of experience in business development and legal research, serving as a licensed wealth management advisor/strategist and development officer in the financial and intellectual property sectors.  In this capacity, Lissa has worked for the Japanese government, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Endeavor Agency, Fulbright & Jaworski, Apollo Group, Columbia Medical Center, Qualcomm, Inc., S&P, GMA and as a Wealth Manager for the founders of the ultra-net group at UBS. 

Lissa is a highly skilled researcher having conducted key-trend analysis and business analytics (to include patents) for her clients at UBS and Standard & Poor’s Expert Network that led to increased client revenue via innovative (ahead-of-the-curve) investment strategies, and significant reduction of costly investment miscue. Lissa has also served as a Capitol Hill liaison for Fulbright & Jaworski during the key-initial structuring and passage of Sarbanes-Oxley legislation; and as a patent specialist for Qualcomm’s first-ever Patent Audit Group. 

Lissa obtained a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology with a minor in Japanese from UCLA, her credentialing in Fundraising Management (Annual, Capital and Major-gifts Campaigns) and Financial Communications from Columbia University; an MBA in Global Management from UOP and is completing her Ph.D. from Walden University’s remote research and publication based (KAM) Financial Policy program. Her research is centered on Financial Terrorism in the area of anti-money laundering (AML), loss-prevention and fraud related matters. 

In her free time, Lissa can be found researching, running marathons, fund-raising, and serving as an advocate for UCLA and for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).