Capital Markets Expertise. Entrepreneurial Execution.

Kadenwood’s team is the embodiment of our core thesis, blending institutional capital markets expertise with entrepreneurial agility and modern marketing-driven execution. Our professionals come from the world’s leading investment banks, private equity firms, and financial institutions, and have also built, scaled, and exited businesses themselves. We are bankers, operators, investors, founders, and advisors, bringing a uniquely integrated perspective to every engagement.

From capital markets advisory and merchant banking to strategic growth consulting and investor relations, our team brings decades of transactional experience, sector expertise, and a deep global network of institutional investors, family offices, and strategic partners. We’ve led financial strategy at Fortune 500 firms, guided companies through complex M&A processes, structured capital across every layer of the capital stack, and built high-growth businesses from the ground up.

Our strength lies not only in our experience, but in how we deploy it,  with speed, precision, and a relentless focus on execution. Every client we serve benefits from a team that understands both the discipline of institutional finance and the pace of modern business. This is the foundation of Kadenwood: deep capital markets knowledge, entrepreneurial perspective, and marketing-forward execution, delivered by a team built to meet the demands of today’s evolving financial landscape.

John O’Keefe
Managing Principle & Chief Compliance Officer

John O’Keefe is a seasoned investment banker with decades of experience in the real estate, technical, and financial services industries. As a managing principal and chief compliance officer, he brings a unique perspective to his work, leveraging his technical background to provide innovative financial solutions to clients. His expertise encompasses a wide range of financial services, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, and strategic planning.

John's ability to analyze complex financial data and apply technical skills to financial modeling has been instrumental in achieving successful outcomes for clients across various sectors. His proficiency in balancing quantitative analysis, financial engineering, and capital markets knowledge has made him a valuable asset in the investment banking field.

John is committed to excellence and building lasting relationships with his clients. As a chief compliance officer, he ensures that all financial activities adhere to regulatory requirements and industry best practices, maintaining the highest standards of integrity in his work. His comprehensive understanding of real estate markets, economic factors, and financial trends enables him to provide strategic advice and tailored solutions to meet his clients' specific needs, focusing on value creation and long-term success.

Gary Cuccia
Chief Financial Officer

Gary Cuccia is a seasoned financial executive with over three decades of experience across investment banking, capital markets, and wealth management. He has held senior leadership roles at institutions including Citizens Bank, Gruntal & Co., and CIBC World Markets, where he led financial strategy, operations, and regulatory reporting across complex business lines. Gary is the founder of FINOP & CFO Solutions, an advisory firm delivering outsourced CFO and FINOP services to broker-dealers and financial institutions. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds Series 27, 7, and 24 licenses. Gary brings to Kadenwood a unique blend of institutional rigor, entrepreneurial insight, and deep operational expertise.

Bert Pearsall
Managing Director

Bert Pearsall is a seasoned executive with a dynamic background in financial services, commercial real estate, and corporate leadership. He holds a comprehensive range of securities and insurance licenses, including Series 4, 7, 24, 53, 63, 65, and 79, as well as Florida Life, Health, Disability, Annuity, and HMO insurance licenses, held with Net Shares Investment Bank in Houston. In addition, he is a licensed Commercial Real Estate professional affiliated with Equity Commercial Real Estate in Columbus, Ohio.

Bert has served in senior leadership roles across multiple sectors, including as President of Lifeshirt Products, Inc., Senior Advisor at Equity Commercial Real Estate Solutions, and President of Pearsall Global Consulting LLC. His work spans capital formation, business strategy, investor engagement, and operational growth across both private and public sector initiatives.

A committed civic leader, Bert currently serves on the boards of the Orlando Health Foundation, the Orange County Sheriff Foundation, and the Pi Kappa Alpha University of Central Florida Alumni Board. He is also a certified facilitator with The Pacific Institute, where he focuses on mindset and performance development for individuals and organizations.

At Kadenwood, Bert brings a multidisciplinary perspective grounded in capital markets expertise, strategic advisory, and community leadership, helping clients navigate complex challenges and create lasting enterprise value.

Dan Pastore
Managing Director

Dan Pastore has over 25 years of experience in institutional financial services in both public and private markets. His extensive background includes senior institutional sales and strategic leadership roles at prominent firms such as ABN AMRO, Schwab Capital Markets, Potomac Research Group, Silverwood Partners, and Alira Health. Dan's expertise spans fundamental, regulatory, macroeconomic, and geopolitical research across various sectors, with a dedicated focus over the past decade in the private healthcare market in the US and EU. He has led engagements across medical devices, biotech, specialty pharma, and digital health, closely collaborating with C-suite executives of venture-stage companies on their capital-raising initiatives.

Dan previously founded a boutique consulting firm specializing in reimbursement-related due diligence for private equity transactions, as well as strategic consulting on payer relations. At Alira Health, he played a key leadership role in the successful sale of its broker-dealer division to Kadenwood Capital. Dan earned his BA in History from Boston College and holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Jan Wald
Managing Director

Jan Wald has over 30 years of experience working with medical device and technology companies, most recently as a healthcare investment banker. Prior to his investment banking role, he was a sell-side healthcare analyst specializing in cardiology and neurology within the medical devices and specialty pharma sectors, providing institutional research and conducting due diligence for capital markets activities. Jan also held significant management positions at Guidant Corporation and Honeywell Inc., focused on Clinical Sciences and Research and Development.

At Guidant, Jan was responsible for developing software and algorithms for the first implantable dual-chamber defibrillator, while also overseeing clinical protocol development, trial execution, and data analysis within the Cardiac Rhythm Management business. Earlier, at Honeywell, he managed programs developing image processing, robotics, and machine learning algorithms, many of which transitioned into Honeywell's product divisions. Jan completed post-doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota's Center for Human Learning, holds a Ph.D. from Brandeis University, and earned an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

Steve Sacher
Managing Director

Steve Sacher has 30 years of experience in institutional financial services across various sectors, with a specialized focus on healthcare. He possesses deep expertise in analyzing companies within life sciences, managed care, digital health, diagnostics, and medical devices. Steve began his career in academic research, co-authoring several publications at the Harvard School of Public Health, followed by consulting engagements at PwC and Coopers & Lybrand. He further honed his analytical skills as a healthcare analyst at ABN AMRO and Leerink Swann, where he extensively modeled and published research.

Steve subsequently transitioned into institutional sales, cultivating strong relationships with asset managers and hedge funds during his tenure at Leerink Swann, Mizuho Securities, Avondale, and Soleil Securities. Prior to joining Kadenwood Capital, he was dedicated to wealth management at Fidelity Investments. Steve holds a BA in Integrated Sciences from The University of Rochester and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

David Allen
Chief Legal Counsel

David Allen brings nearly three decades of experience in the securities industry, with deep expertise in regulatory compliance, capital markets, and financial firm development. Throughout his career, he has founded multiple financial services firms, provided litigation support in hundreds of legal proceedings, and advised clients on a wide range of SEC and FINRA regulatory matters.

David is a trusted advisor to financial institutions and securities issuers, offering practical guidance at the intersection of compliance, capital formation, and operational strategy. His work spans litigation consulting, regulatory navigation, and compliance infrastructure development. With a nuanced understanding of the challenges associated with raising capital and regulatory scrutiny, David delivers strategic support tailored to the evolving needs of today’s financial marketplace.

At Kadenwood, David leverages his regulatory expertise and entrepreneurial insight to help clients operate with confidence, clarity, and precision in complex capital environments.

John O’keefe
Chief Compliance Officer

John O’Keefe is a seasoned investment banker with decades of experience in the real estate, technical, and financial services industries. As a managing principal and chief compliance officer, he brings a unique perspective to his work, leveraging his technical background to provide innovative financial solutions to clients. His expertise encompasses a wide range of financial services, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, and strategic planning.

John's ability to analyze complex financial data and apply technical skills to financial modeling has been instrumental in achieving successful outcomes for clients across various sectors. His proficiency in balancing quantitative analysis, financial engineering, and capital markets knowledge has made him a valuable asset in the investment banking field.

John is committed to excellence and building lasting relationships with his clients. As a chief compliance officer, he ensures that all financial activities adhere to regulatory requirements and industry best practices, maintaining the highest standards of integrity in his work. His comprehensive understanding of real estate markets, economic factors, and financial trends enables him to provide strategic advice and tailored solutions to meet his clients' specific needs, focusing on value creation and long-term success.

Gary Cuccia
Chief Financial Officer

Gary Cuccia is a seasoned financial executive with over three decades of experience across investment banking, capital markets, and wealth management. He has held senior leadership roles at institutions including Citizens Bank, Gruntal & Co., and CIBC World Markets, where he led financial strategy, operations, and regulatory reporting across complex business lines. Gary is the founder of FINOP & CFO Solutions, an advisory firm delivering outsourced CFO and FINOP services to broker-dealers and financial institutions. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds Series 27, 7, and 24 licenses. Gary brings to Kadenwood a unique blend of institutional rigor, entrepreneurial insight, and deep operational expertise.

Bert Pearsall
Managing Director

Bert Pearsall is a seasoned executive with a dynamic background in financial services, commercial real estate, and corporate leadership. He holds a comprehensive range of securities and insurance licenses, including Series 4, 7, 24, 53, 63, 65, and 79, as well as Florida Life, Health, Disability, Annuity, and HMO insurance licenses, held with Net Shares Investment Bank in Houston. In addition, he is a licensed Commercial Real Estate professional affiliated with Equity Commercial Real Estate in Columbus, Ohio.

Bert has served in senior leadership roles across multiple sectors, including as President of Lifeshirt Products, Inc., Senior Advisor at Equity Commercial Real Estate Solutions, and President of Pearsall Global Consulting LLC. His work spans capital formation, business strategy, investor engagement, and operational growth across both private and public sector initiatives.

A committed civic leader, Bert currently serves on the boards of the Orlando Health Foundation, the Orange County Sheriff Foundation, and the Pi Kappa Alpha University of Central Florida Alumni Board. He is also a certified facilitator with The Pacific Institute, where he focuses on mindset and performance development for individuals and organizations.

At Kadenwood, Bert brings a multidisciplinary perspective grounded in capital markets expertise, strategic advisory, and community leadership, helping clients navigate complex challenges and create lasting enterprise value.

Dan Pastore
Managing Director

Dan Pastore is a seasoned professional with a robust background in healthcare reimbursement and business development. In his leadership role at Alira Health, Dan has been instrumental in developing new business and delivering comprehensive healthcare reimbursement solutions. His expertise lies in navigating the complexities of healthcare economics, ensuring that clients achieve optimal reimbursement outcomes in an ever-evolving regulatory landscape.

Dan’s strategic acumen and dedication to client success have positioned him as a trusted advisor in the healthcare sector. At Kadenwood, he leverages his extensive experience to provide clients with insights and strategies that drive financial performance and operational excellence.

Jan Wald
Managing Director

Jan Wald is a distinguished financial services professional with extensive experience in equity research, investment analysis, and capital markets. With a career spanning over two decades, Jan has developed deep expertise in technology and healthcare sectors, providing strategic guidance to institutional investors and corporate clients alike. His analytical approach and sector knowledge have made him a trusted advisor in complex transactions and investment decisions.

Prior to joining Kadenwood, Jan held senior positions at notable financial institutions where he led equity research initiatives and developed comprehensive market insights. His work has encompassed financial modeling, competitive analysis, and growth strategy development across diverse industry verticals. Jan's ability to synthesize complex market data and identify emerging trends has consistently delivered value to clients navigating dynamic market environments.

At Kadenwood, Jan leverages his analytical rigor and industry relationships to help clients optimize capital formation, strategic positioning, and long-term growth initiatives. His commitment to excellence and thoughtful approach to client challenges embody Kadenwood's mission of combining institutional expertise with entrepreneurial execution.

Steve Sacher
Managing Director

Steve Sacher is a seasoned financial services executive with over three decades of experience spanning investment banking, wealth management, and institutional sales. Throughout his career, Steve has built a reputation for developing and maintaining strategic relationships with high-net-worth individuals, institutional investors, and corporate clients. His expertise encompasses capital raising, portfolio management, and financial advisory services across diverse market environments.

Prior to joining Kadenwood, Steve held leadership positions at prominent financial institutions where he successfully guided client investment strategies and capital allocation decisions. His consultative approach and commitment to client service have resulted in long-standing professional relationships built on trust and consistent performance. Steve's deep understanding of market dynamics and investment products allows him to deliver tailored solutions that align with clients' specific financial objectives.

At Kadenwood, Steve applies his extensive network and wealth management acumen to create value for clients seeking sophisticated financial guidance. His blend of institutional knowledge and personalized service delivery exemplifies Kadenwood's commitment to combining capital markets expertise with relationship-driven execution.

David Allen
Chief Legal Counsel

David Allen brings nearly three decades of experience in the securities industry, with deep expertise in regulatory compliance, capital markets, and financial firm development. Throughout his career, he has founded multiple financial services firms, provided litigation support in hundreds of legal proceedings, and advised clients on a wide range of SEC and FINRA regulatory matters.

David is a trusted advisor to financial institutions and securities issuers, offering practical guidance at the intersection of compliance, capital formation, and operational strategy. His work spans litigation consulting, regulatory navigation, and compliance infrastructure development. With a nuanced understanding of the challenges associated with raising capital and regulatory scrutiny, David delivers strategic support tailored to the evolving needs of today’s financial marketplace.

At Kadenwood, David leverages his regulatory expertise and entrepreneurial insight to help clients operate with confidence, clarity, and precision in complex capital environments.