Ziad K. Abdelnour

Founder and Chairman

Ziad K. Abdelnour is Founder, President & CEO of Blackhawk Partners, Inc. a private “family office” in the business of originating, structuring & acting as equity investor in strategic corporate investments and an associate partner with Kenzi Management Inc.; a trading platform focusing on the financing of real estate, infrastructure and project finance properties, the monetization of financial instruments and the trading of bitcoins on a massive scale.

Founder & Chairman of the Board of the Financial Policy Council; a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to give its select group of supporters the opportunity to have direct face-to-face dialogue with the nation’s quintessential powers brokers and policymakers.

Mr. Abdelnour has over 30-years of experience on Wall Street backing over 125 companies & serial entrepreneurs worth in aggregate over 20 billion dollars in the private equity, high-yield bond, and distressed debt markets. He is also the author of the bestselling books “Economic Warfare: Secrets of Wealth Creation in the Age of Welfare Politics” and “Startup Saboteurs: How Incompetence, Ego, and Small Thinking Prevent True Wealth Creation.”

He holds an MBA in Finance, Summa Cum Laude, from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania & BS in Economics, Summa Cum Laude, from the American University of Beirut.

Mr. Abdelnour continues to be featured on hundreds of media channels and in publications every year and is widely seen as one of the top business leaders by millions around the world.

He was showcased as one of the 500 Most Influential CEOs in the World. Richtopia. 24 December 2015. In 2017 he was awarded as a “Global Shaper from the World Economic Forum” and in 2021 Marquis Who’s Who, bestowed upon him the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

Stanford Silverman

VP/Treasurer

Stanford Silverman is CEO and Founder of Silver Betty, Inc.; Devotion Internet, Inc. and  SBS Advertising Inc which are Marketing Advertising Agencies. located in New York City. These advertising companies have represented over 150 private and publicly traded universities, colleges and schools with agency billings having been in excess of $20 million. Additional areas of agency specialization include Political, Automotive, Retail and Transportation advertising as well as SEO, Web Design and Content management.

He is also CEO and Founder of Minerva Inflection Strategies LLC (MIS) and RVAS Capital Management Inc. These alternative hedge funds are primarily involved in the acquisition of businesses involved in the primary, secondary and higher education verticals. The hedge funds provide portfolio-company specific, bottom-up dynamic which adds great performance value to the underlying investments

Stanford has 35+ years of operational line experience marketing, owning and operating for profit colleges and universities and in taking distressed operations and turning them into profitable ventures before reselling them or taking them to IPO status. MIS/RVAS principals and Advisory Board bring a deep knowledge and successful track record of growing schools within the education vertical.  Their experience and talent ranges from assisting portfolio companies with optimizing their revenue growth, maximizing operating efficiencies and restructuring the capital configuration including debt management and financing.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS by Stanford include being a contributor to Prentice Hall, Advertising Proceedures-7th. Edition-by Otto Kleppner, a contributor to Advertising Age, Media Decisions & Radio-Television Age, and a guest lecturer at NYU, Pace, Hofstra & Cornell Universities on media negotiation and target marketing. In addition, he has served as a panelist on NBC Network-Demographic Marketing in the U.S. and as a radio personality with various stations on Marketing & Demographic Studies.

Stanford holds his B.S. in Economics from Hofstra University and Graduate, MBA work at Hofstra and at New York University.

He is active in his interests of Opera, growing Orchids, Religious Philosophy, Photography and Art & Charity Work.

Bret Siarkowski

Board Secretary

Bret Siarkowski is a founder & GP of MedScience Ventures (MSV) and a Member and General Partner. Mr. Siarkowski is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience initiating and leading technology companies in the design and application of innovative market-demanded solutions, as well as creating new markets. His extensive experience spans the mobile, gaming, healthcare, software, semiconductor and electronics industries. 

Mr. Siarkowski is a Limited Partner at Kodiak Venture Partners, angel investor and serves on the Board for several technology companies. 

He has held visionary roles at industry leading corporations including GSN Games, Cadence Design, Synopsys and Digital Equipment Corporation and as well as startups such as Chrysalis Symbolic Design and Verplex Systems. 

Bret is the founder of CaseNET Inc., an enterprise care management healthcare software company. He is a co-founder of AbleRoad, a community effort that connects people with disabilities, families, friends and caregivers with accessible places. Bret is also co-founder and board member of Biofficient Inc., the “Match.com” for the Biotech Industry, automating the RFP/procurement process for clinical trial sponsors and service providers. 

Mr. Siarkowski holds a BSEE from Northeastern University and an MSEE from the University of Southern California. Mr. Siarkowski is an active Mentor in the Northeastern University Health Sciences Entrepreneurs organization. He holds multiple patents that cover both software and hardware industries. 

Barry Moniês

Resident Expert - Blockchain, Cyber Security

Barry Moniês serves as President and CEO of Computronix, LLC an 18 year old technology solutions company that designs, implements and manages data networks and communications infrastructures for small to medium sized businesses in the financial, legal and medical industries.

Almost consecutively, from 2008 through 2015, Computronix has been included in the MSP mentor 501 list, a distinguished list of the world’s top managed technology service providers. In addition, From 2012 through 2015, Mr Moniês has been included in the yearly MSP mentor 250, a global list of the top 250 worldwide executives in the technology managed services industry.

Through Mr. Moniês leadership, Computronix has become one of the forefront managed technology service providers in the New York metropolitan area. Computronix specializes in Microsoft based server environments, multi-office networking (including international implementations), Communications/Exchange server implementation, network security assessment & implementation , data backup & recovery, remote services/VPN implementation, Cloud services, 24/7 monitoring and remote support/maintenance.

Mr. Moniês is also noted for his expertise in the area of internet security and the protection and recovery of electronic data. Several years ago, he was invited to participate in a Congressional Conference in Washington, D.C. with Homeland Security on issues relating to internet security and electronic terrorism. Mr. Moniês has also worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on matters related to electronic security, internet forensics, and issues related to network intrusion.

In 2000, Mr. Moniês spun off Computronix’ security division as a separate incorporated entity. Under the name Computronix Security Systems, Inc. (CSSI), the new company built a state-of-the-art security operations center (SOC) and monitored more than $4 Billion in annual transactions & 50-100 hacker incidents per day. In 2002, Mr. Moniês successfully forged a strong alliance with Sony Electronics to jointly offer an Internet security service for small to medium sized businesses nationwide. In 2004, Mr. Moniês purchased CSSI from the investors and incorporated the business as part of Computronix’ managed services offering.

As a consummate entrepreneur, Over the years, Mr. Moniês also started and/or participated in various businesses including an exotic automotive sales and service business, a day-trading & stock advisory service, a commercial real estate investment firm, an international importing business and several Internet based ecommerce businesses.

Mr. Moniês is an active participant in local, regional and national business organizations. He has served on many Boards and continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of The Soundview Club, a private regional business club located in Stamford, CT. Mr. Moniês and his companies have received media attention in many publications including Forbes magazine, the Connecticut Business Magazine, the Fairfield County Business Journal and various other news outlets.

Mr. Moniês believes strongly in community involvement and has actively participated in several non-profit organizations including Stoneage Incorporated, where he held a position of Chairman of the Board, the United Way, the Outreach Program for the blind, the Special Olympics and many others.

Mr. Moniês enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife Indira and sons, Eric, Brandon and Julien. He also enjoys fishing, day trading and starting new businesses.

Paul Vancea

Resident Expert - Cannabis

Paul Vancea is an aggressive entrepreneur and our youngest board member.

Paul serves as Chief Financial Officer for Kosmik Brands, a Cannabis edible brand company in Oklahoma, and currently runs his Cannabis capital company, WXYD Capital in Denver, where he works with Cannabis lenders, banks, and other financial institutions to bring as much capital as possible into the cannabis industry, through both education and facilitating debt financing deals to other cannabis operators.

Paul started his career as a financial analyst for Lightower Fiber Networks, a $5B telecommunications company in MA. After 1 year, Paul decided it would take way too long to achieve his potential in the corporate world, so he quit his job and partnered with a couple of serial entrepreneurs and investors in Boston. He helped create and operate a few companies, as well as a startup investment fund. Paul also worked with Northeastern University’s Center for Research & Innovation to evaluate the market fit for 10 patents (biomedical, electro-magnetic, medical devices, etc.).

Paul moved to Denver, CO to join a cannabis publicly traded company, where he led the finance and accounting departments. Once in the industry, Paul learned about the lack of access to capital and financial infrastructure in the cannabis industry, and saw an opportunity to use his finance skills and network of financial institutions and private funders to help build the cannabis financial services ecosystem.

Paul is also a Board Member for the Financial Policy Council in NYC, and serves on the Banking and Financial Services Committee with the National Cannabis Industry Association.

Paul moved to San Diego, CA, from Romania with his family when he was 14. In high school, Paul was MVP of his football, wrestling and track teams while maintaining a nearly perfect GPA. His original plan was to win a football scholarship, but when learned in his junior year that he could win a scholarship for academic achievement, he quit all sports and focused on school.

Paul graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brandeis University, where he earned a triple major in Economics, Business, and Film Studies.

Paul lives in Colorado where he likes to hike in the mountains, work out, and be deliberate about doing something that scares him every single day. He has 11+ years’ experience of martial arts, including Tae Kwon Do, Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling and Boxing.

Jerry L. Bastian

Resident Expert - Fundraising

Jerry Bastian is a first class professional with over 35 years working as an Entrepreneur, Mr. Bastian brings a unique knowledge of the obstacles the average person must overcome and remove to conduct business in today’s fast paced and constantly changing environment.

Mr. Bastian started his career building infrastructure throughout the United States, however, before his career started, Jerry chose to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Bastian was chosen to spend his entire enlistment at the Basic School in Quantico, VA. As enlisted personnel, Mr. Bastian was an Enlisted Instructor, training commissioned officers in Combat Tactics and Small Arms. The experience acquired working with 100’s of newly Commissioned Officers would assist in honing Mr. Bastian’s character and building blocks he would need to work for the following 35+ years independently as an entrepreneur.

Achieving many successes throughout his career, Mr. Bastian found that putting his partners and investors before his own needs assisted in building the most favorable work environment possible. “You find very quickly that your ideas and skill sets are valuable, however, money is the power you need to bring your part to fruition, you must never forget the power that money brings.”

Working with major oil & gas and infrastructure companies throughout the United States, Mr. Bastian assisted with the design, development and deployment of numerous large scale infrastructure projects. These initial projects were throughout the Midwest and the Eastern United States. These initial projects consisted of the development of numerous natural gas pipelines throughout the congested arteries in New England, eventually delivering natural gas to millions of households and businesses.

The experience acquired in these initial projects, the understanding of the need to ensure compliance and completion of each Milestone and Task in a large-scale project became invaluable and Mr. Bastian went on to develop a Billion Dollar company with the mindset learned from these initial projects.

In 1994, the FCC started the process of auctioning the 2 GHz frequencies for PCS Communication Systems, what is now carried by almost 100% of us in the form of a wireless phone, tablet, laptop or all combined into one. The initial amounts expected to be awarded to the FCC through the auctions was in the millions of dollars, however, once the auctions started the amounts paid were in the billions, over $20 Billion was initially paid for the right to build a network throughout the United States. Mr. Bastian understood very clearly the infrastructure that would be required to deploy such networks and executed on them. The experience Mr. Bastian had prior to this opportunity became invaluable and the company started by Mr. Bastian and his investor to perform these buildouts went on to create revenues of over a Billion Dollars.

Mr. Bastian has a unique view of what is required to accomplish large scale ideas and projects of any type. His abilities and skill sets acquired over the last 35+ years have ensured the success of numerous other projects throughout the United States. Mr. Bastian looks forward to bringing his years of experience in the development of technologies, companies and large-scale deployments to those at the Financial Policy Council.

Mr. Bastian enjoys spending his time with his wife and partner Kaycee, she is his inspiration and guiding light to move on to the next opportunity and challenge. He also enjoys spending as much time as possible with his 2 daughters, Vanessa and Victoria and of course his one Grandchild Cora Jayne who will be 2 years old on Valentine’s Day, 2022.

Omar L. Hamada

Resident Expert - Health Care, Personalized Precision Medicine

Omar L. Hamada, MD, MBA, MATS (FAAFP | FACOG | FICS), USA Flight & Aerospace, USN Diving & Hyperbarics, USASOC Sports Medicine, a decorated veteran, former Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Special Forces (ABN), is an accomplished physician and business executive/entrepreneur living in Franklin, Tennessee.

Hamada earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry from Union University, a Master of Business Administration (in Finance and Entrepreneurship) from Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Management, a Master of Theological Studies from Columbia Biblical Seminary, and a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He is also an alum of Long Island University and New York Institute of Technology.

After graduating medical school, Hamada completed residencies in both Family Medicine and in Obstetrics & Gynecology and was granted a Fellowship in Sports Medicine for his years serving in the United States Army Special Forces, (ABN) as a Flight Surgeon and Diving Medical Officer. He is currently an Emergency Medicine Physician and has a highly successful private concierge practice for high level executives and celebrities focusing on disease reversal, longevity, and human performance utilizing cutting-edge technologies, alternative regenerative approaches, and biohacking.

Dr. Hamada serves/has served on various nonprofit and for profit boards as Chairman and Member, is a Trustee at Union University, and has held the academic rank of Associate Professor. Hamada has held leadership positions in several Fortune 100 companies to include HCA, Pfizer, and TeamHealth. He is currently Partner at Cocoon Resources, Chief Medical Officer of startups RxGenomix (pharmacogenomics) and Superhuman IV (IV therapy), and CEO of Executive Operations Group (utilizes combat veterans of Delta Force, the Navy SEALs, the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets), and the CIA to train civilians in security and survival skills).

Hamada is in demand as an award-winning speaker and is a regular contributor to FOX News, Laura Ingraham, NewsMax, America’s Voice Live, SekulowLive, Huckabee, EpochTimes, Focus on the Family, Moody Radio, and others on geopolitical, medical/health, social, and business topics, and is a Contributing Editor at the Western Journal and Spy & Survival Magazine. Hamada’s driving passion of representing Christ and advancing His Kingdom in all he does reflects the Special Forces mottos “to liberate the oppressed” and “to win hearts and minds” through relationship, mentoring, serving the less fortunate, living by example, writing, and speaking.

Hamada is a classically trained spinto tenor (NY/Vienna) in the style of Mario Lanza, and plays classical and jazz trumpet. He is multilingual, enjoys worldwide travel, is an aspiring author, and adores his four children Gabriella, Annelise, Nicholas, and Josiah.

Tim Kaelin

Resident Expert - Renewable Energy, Intelligence

Timothy J. Kaelin is CEO of Impact Analytics LLC a media and marketing company specializing in high volume, high profit, aggressive email marketing programs in the health, finance and conservative political space. The company generates several billion customer touches per year on behalf of its clients.

Previously, he was a founder of DigitalSelect the first commercial DSL company on the East Coast (acquired by Primus Telecom), lead online marketer for the $2 billion equipment manufacturer STIHL Outdoor Equipment and served as CTO of Newsmax Media, tripling its revenue in 2 years through his innovations in marketing operations and growth.

Tim began his career with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), running operations and developing technology and analytics, working targets in more than 30 countries in 12 years. He worked against communist insurgencies in El Salvador, Honduras, the Philippines and Nicaragua, Narcotics traffickers in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, terrorist targets in Beirut, Iran, Somalia and India, and counterintelligence in Russia, Liberia, and much more.

Mr. Kaelin is conducting original research in his primary field of expertise, mass influence and psychology. He has written books about socialized healthcare and climate change and has presented research papers at conferences on a conservative capitalist solution to climate change. He trains in mixed martial arts and plays a mean jazz piano.
Tim holds a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Louisville and a Master of Arts in International Transactions from George Mason University.

Vladimir Lounegov

Resident Expert - Banking, FinTech

Vladimir Lounegov is co-founder and CEO of Mbanq, a Silicon Valley-based FinTech. In three short years Mbanq developed and brought to market the next generation digital banking core and became one of the fastest growing and most comprehensive Banking Service (BaaS) providers in the world. 

Vladimir is an expert at the intersection of financial services and technology. He gained deep leadership experience through diverse projects involving FinTech startups, investment, consulting, and M&A due diligence. His key skills are the ability to assemble and inspire top FinTech teams and to build ecosystems of investors, partners, developers and advisors. 

Previously, Vladimir had a senior role at PwC’s FinTech practice, where he led a research and analysis team that evaluated over 1,600 FinTech startups worldwide. He also held consulting roles at EY and KPMG in which he worked to optimize the inner workings of banks. 

Throughout his career, Vladimir collaborated closely with the most influential financial institutions in the world such as Citigroup and Barclays, as well as FinTech leaders like LendingClub and cutting edge innovators including Google. 

Vladimir is adept at spotting and cultivating star-potential new talent. He is founder and co-founder of several other FinTechs and helps to mentor FinTech startups through Mbanq’s FinTech accelerator program. 

Vladimir gained international recognition in this capacity and served as a judge at the Citigroup Citi Mobile Challenge program. 

As a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science, holding a BSc in International Relations, Vladimir keeps up-to-date with global affairs and markets. In his spare time he also enjoys travel, skiing, good food, spending time with his family and the occasional trip to the gym. 

Hiba Osseiran

Executive Director

Ms Osseiran’s work focuses on global networking, communication, database collection and connecting corporate CEO’s seeking business partnership and collaboration.

A professional education and organization fundraiser with more than ten years of experience and a proven record of fundraising success, Ms Osseiran has many years of experience supporting various charitable and non – profit organizations and committed to making a significant contribution.

Hiba is a member of the Society of International Business Fellows, Middle East Leadership Academy Chapter and Co-Founder of an NGO that supports patients with multiple sclerosis.

Ms Osseiran enjoys worldwide travel to explore new destinations with unique experiences and to expand her network of connections. She maintains strong relationships with influential and professional leaders worldwide.