Team
Paul Harrigan • Managing Director
Mr. Harrigan has led Mergers and Acquisition and Strategic Planning activity at several Fortune 500 Companies including: Rockwell Automation, Eaton Hydraulics, ITT Fluid Technologies (now Xylem), and AMETEK’s Electromechanical Group.
He has extensive global experience including deals in: United States, Brazil, China, India, Japan, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia and The Netherlands.
He is well respected and has extensive deal making experience in industrial automation, electric motors and generators, motion control, hydraulics, fluid technology, water and waste water treatment, engineered materials, metals and electrical connectors.
He has lead 37 transactions with a total enterprise value in excess of $2.0 billion.
Mr. Harrrigan graduated with honors from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering and from The Wharton School with an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management.
Professional Credentials
- Registered Investment Banking Representative (Series 79 and 63)
- Registered Representative (Series 7)
- Registered General Securities Principal (Series 24)
- Registered Financial and Operations Principal (Series 28)
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Professional Engineer (PE)
Robert Ventura • Senior Advisor
Mr. Ventura has more than 30 years of experience in investment banking, corporate development, and corporate financial planning analysis.
Prior to joining Wharton Midmarket, he served as Director of Acquisitions and Divestitures and Director of Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis with Rockwell International Corporation, a Fortune 25 diversified manufacturing, and high technology company, from 1983 to 1998.
In addition, he served as a Managing Director with the investment banking firm, Raptor Partners, LLC where he was responsible for the origination, execution, and negotiation of corporate finance transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, company sales, and business valuation.
He has evaluated hundreds of potential transactions with values into the billions and has completed numerous acquisitions and divestitures in the United States and internationally (France, Spain, Germany, and Australia), including business services, manufacturing, high technology, and food.
Bob was named to the Board of Directors of First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE: FCF) in May 2004 and Chairs its Compensation and Human Resources Committee, serves on its Audit Committee and chaired its CEO Search Committee in 2011. From 1998 to 2004, Bob served on the Board of Directors of GA Financial, Inc. (AMEX: GAF) and was Chairman of its Audit Committee. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the National Aviary, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, and Music for Mt. Lebanon.
Bob received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Business Administration degree from Duquesne University. Bob completed specialized merger and acquisition courses at Northwestern University and the University of Virginia.
Professional Credentials:
Previously Registered Investment Banking Representative (Series 79 and 63)
Robert Barreca • Chief Compliance Officer
Mr. Barreca serves as the Chief Compliance Officer of the firm’s FINRA registered Broker Dealer, Wharton MidMarket Securities Inc. He has over 15 years of experience in the capacity of Chief Compliance Officer and Branch Manager at several FINRA registered Broker Dealers.
Mr. Barreca’s focus is leading the firm’s compliance program and ensuring the firms compliance with all state and federal securities laws.
He is experienced in assisting Investment Bankers with transactions including contractual and deal structuring issues. He also has extensive experience in business development and planning in the securities industry.
He graduated with honors from The State University New York at Buffalo. Robert is active in The State University New York Buffalo School of Management’s alumni organization and is a recipient the Intern Supervisor of the Year Award for his volunteer mentoring work.
Professional Credentials:
- Registered Representative (Series 7)
- Registered General Securities Principal (Series 24)
- Registered Options Principal (Series 4)
- Registered Municipal Securities Principal (Series 53)
- Registered Investment Banking Representative (Series 79 and 63)
- Registered Operations Professional (Series 99).
Daniel Beaton • Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Beaton serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the firm’s FINRA registered Broker Dealer Wharton MidMarket Securities Inc. He has more than a dozen years of experience as a professional in the securities industry.
Mr. Beaton has worked for a variety of broker dealers ranging from firms specializing in everything from municipal security underwriting, institutional equity trading, mergers and acquisitions, private placements and third party marketing.
He has extensive experience as a CFO, mastering the regulatory requirements imposed on broker dealers by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This has provided him vast knowledge of the regulatory requirements and security laws and rules broker dealers abide by.
He is also the owner and operator of FINOP Consulting, a financial and operations principal outsourcing firm. Prior to this, he was a partner and CFO of Alpha Equity Research, an institutional equity research broker dealer.
Mr. Beaton graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Hampshire, Whittemore School of Business with a degree in Accounting and Finance. He was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Society.
Professional Credentials:
- Financial and Operations Principal (Series 27 and 28)
- Operations Professional (Series 99)
- General Securities Principal (Series 24)
- Registered Representative (Series 7 and 63).