Provident Healthcare Partners, LLC

Robert Ciardi is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Provident Healthcare Partners, LLC.

Mr. Ciardi has more than 20 years of experience in investment banking, venture capital, private equity and corporate finance, and has been the lead banker in hundreds of M&A transactions during his career.

A highly sought-after adviser to senior healthcare executives across the country, Mr. Ciardi's transactional and negotiating experience has proved invaluable to clients such as Advanced Care Scripts, Addus Healthcare, Great Lakes and Home Health, SpecialtyScripts Pharmacy, Trinity HomeCare, SpectraCare, Crescent Healthcare, Gericare Providers, and Fisher's Specialized Pharmacy Services. Under his direction, Provident has consistently delivered valuations that are significantly higher than industry averages for its clients. Mr. Ciardi is also a recognized expert on healthcare transactions, negotiations and strategy. He is a featured speaker at many healthcare industry seminars, and is quoted in numerous industry trade publications.

In addition to his vast healthcare experience, Mr. Ciardi has also been a founding member of several investment banking and venture capital groups as well as companies in the areas of real estate development and construction, financial services and professional services. Mr. Ciardi began his career as a member of the Boston Office of Deloitte & Touche, LLP as a CPA in the Audit Department. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Bryant University. Provident Healthcare Partners is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Provident Corporate Finance, LLC of which he is also a Co-Founder. Mr. Ciardi is an active member of several healthcare industry trade groups as well as a number of charitable and community organizations.

Direct Line: 617-226-4210

Edward Bernazzani is the Chief Financial Officer at Provident Healthcare Partners, LLC. Mr. Bernazzani comes to Provident with over 25 years of experience in Finance and Accounting. Mr. Bernazzani is responsible for all financial analysis, due diligence, and custom financial presentations.

Prior to joining Provident, Mr. Bernazzani worked at the Controller/CFO level of various entrepreneurial driven firms, including Northland Investment Corporation and Leggat McCall Properties, LLC. Mr. Bernazzani spent his first six years in Public Accounting, specializing in audit and tax engagements of closely held businesses. His public accounting experience included time with both local firms and international firms including KPMG and Touche Ross.

Mr. Bernazzani earned a Bachelor of Science from Boston College and is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the AICPA and MSCPA.

Direct Line: 617-226-4222

Rebecca Leiba is the Senior Managing Director of Provident Healthcare Partners, LLC. Mrs. Leiba's experience combines 15 years of investment banking expertise with practical knowledge of the inner-workings of corporations of all sizes. She is involved in every transaction and is responsible for leading due diligence, presentation to the marketplace and orchestrates interactions between buyers, clients, attorneys, CPAs and consultants through the entire transaction process. Recent transactions include Griswold Special Care, Advanced Care Scripts, Great Expressions Dental Centers, Great Lakes Home Health and Hospice and Addus Healthcare.

Mrs. Leiba is also responsible for the creation and continual improvement of the company's proprietary ValueBase® software, on-line data rooms and facilitates the company's internal training and development programs. Prior to joining Provident Corporate Finance, Mrs. Leiba worked as a Director for the investment banking firm Boston Bay Partners, LLC. Mrs. Leiba's began her career in healthcare through her work at Cornell Medical Hospital.

Mrs. Leiba earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University, majoring in Biology, English and Pre-Medicine and the recipient of a national scholastic award. Mrs. Leiba was nominated as the "Woman Dealmaker of the Year" in the M&A Advisor awards in 2003 and 2005.

Direct Line: 617-226-4209

Jose E. Clavell is the Chief Information Officer at Provident Healthcare Partners, LLC. Mr. Clavell comes to Provident with over 30 years of experience in the computer industry.

Provident has long recognized the importance of information technology in the Investment Bank industry. Mr. Clavell and the IT team reflect Provident's commitment to be a leader in the industry providing its employees with the latest and best tools to provide each of our clients with the highest quality service, expert guidance, and unparalleled individual attention.

Prior to joining Provident, Mr. Clavell worked as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies in all aspects of Information Technology, delivering systems & applications to the Financial, Manufacturing and Healthcare industries.

Mr. Clavell earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College with concentrations in Accounting & Computer Science.

Direct Line: 617-226-4206

Michael Patton is a Managing Director at Provident Healthcare Partners, LLC. Mr. Patton has managed numerous transactions in many verticals within the healthcare industry. He maintains relationships with both strategic and private equity buyers and assesses and monitors each client's growth and profitability strategies. He is also responsible for seeking out acquirers and advising clients, negotiating the definitive purchase agreements and acting as a liaison throughout the deal process. He is directly involved in all aspects of M&A transactions, including, financial analysis, negotiation, due diligence and inter-company correspondence.

As a veteran of financial analysis and strategy, Mr. Patton honed his practical knowledge of corporate operations and investment banking through strategic and financial training while at Merrill Lynch where he worked as a Financial Consultant.

Mr. Patton graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with a degree in Business Administration.

Direct Line: 617-226-4205

Justin Hand is a Managing Director at Provident Healthcare Partners, LLC and the Head of Business Development. Under his direction, the Business Development team is responsible for monitoring and identifying trends in all areas of the healthcare industry. Justin also leads his team in monitoring transactions, and ultimately, informing healthcare executives of its findings through the publication of numerous quarterly reports and targeted phone conversations and meetings. In addition, the Business Development team is responsible for client procurement, orchestrating the mergers and acquisition process and oversight of the entire due-diligence process. Mr. Hand has spent considerable time in the home healthcare, hospice, DME and pharmacy sectors and was an integral part of the Addus HealthCare, Great Lakes Home Health and Hospice, Great Expressions Dental, Specialty Medical Supply and Trinity HomeCare transactions, among many others.

Prior to joining Provident, Mr. Hand worked for Kayne Anderson in their Growth Private Equity Group - focused on a multitude of industries, including both healthcare services and healthcare IT. Mr. Hand is a graduate of Northeastern University, where he received a B.S. in finance and international business. He received his M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Direct Line: 617-226-4243

Kevin Palamara is a Managing Director at Provident Healthcare Partners, LLC. Mr. Palamara maintains relationships with key industry consolidators and equity firms to assess their growth and profitability strategies. He is also responsible for seeking out strategic acquirers for all current clients, evaluating different acquisition opportunities and facilitating the negotiation process. Prior to his position at Provident, Mr. Palamara worked as an Associate in the healthcare practice of a major Boston-based investment banking firm.

Mr. Palamara is a graduate of Bentley College with a degree in Finance

Direct Line: 617-226-4221

Samuel Vaill is a Director of Business Development at Provident Healthcare Partners, LLC. The Business Development team is responsible for monitoring and identifying trends in all areas of the healthcare industry. Sam helps lead the team in monitoring transactions, industry trends, and strategic relationships that, ultimately, allows the team to consistently keep healthcare executives informed of the current marketplace and how it may affect their companies today and in the future. The team looks to build long-term relationships with executives through meetings, phone calls, and the sharing of numerous proprietary publications. In addition, the Business Development team is responsible for orchestrating the mergers and acquisition process and oversight of the entire due-diligence process. Mr. Vaill has spent significant time working with executives, their firms, and potential buyers on putting together transactions that best fit the client.

Prior to joining Provident, Mr. Vaill worked for several private equity firms in both a business development and financial analyst role working on many transactions in valuations ranging from $10M to $1.5B, in a variety of industries.

Mr. Vaill received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University and his M.B.A from Babson College’s F.W. Olin School of Business.

Direct Line: 617-226-4215

Sarita Gavhane is a Director at Provident Healthcare Partners. Ms. Gavhane works closely with Provident’s CFO, the Business Development and M&A teams to provide accurate and in-depth financial analysis during all stages of the transaction process, from deal inception through due diligence and closing.

Prior to joining Provident, Ms. Gavhane worked as a senior audit associate for BDO Seidman, LLP, a public accounting firm providing assurance, tax, financial advisory and consulting services to publicly traded and privately held companies in a variety of industries, and as an operational turnaround associate for private equity firm that specializes in lower middle-market investment opportunities.

Ms. Gavhane earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Boston College in 2003 and an M.B.A from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2010. Ms. Gavhane is also an actively licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Massachusetts.

Direct Line: 617-226-4267

Mr. Aguiar maintains relationships with key industry consolidators and private equity firms to assess their growth and investment strategies. He is also responsible for seeking out strategic acquirers and financial sponsors for all current clients, evaluating different acquisition opportunities and facilitating the negotiation process.

Prior to joining Provident, Mr. Aguiar worked for a Chicago-based private equity firm focused exclusively on healthcare services. Mr. Aguiar is a graduate of Bentley University, where he received a B.S. in corporate finance and accounting. He also earned his M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.

Direct Line: 617-226-4256