BBBSMB Celebrates Successful Fiscal Year 2018

An accomplished financial executive with more than 15 years of experience, James (Jimmy) Ahern leads as managing partner and head of capital markets at Laidlaw & Company. Outside of his work at Laidlaw, James Ahern supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay (BBBSMB) and serves as a board member of the organization’s charitable foundation. 

BBBSMB recorded another year of significant achievement in fiscal year 2018 (FY2018), serving more than 3,200 youth and matching nearly 1,200 new children with mentors, representing 19 percent growth from the prior fiscal year. Over FY2018, the organization also raised net operating revenue in the amount of $7.8 million, which it used to expand college-mentoring programs and add the New Bedford region to its service areas. BBBSMB additionally continued its joint initiative with Uber, providing “Bigs” free transportation to meet with their ”Littles” in areas that aren’t readily accessible via public transportation. 

The organization’s progress helped it make significant steps toward its goal of serving 5,000 youth annually. In coming years, BBBSMB will look to raise $40 million in funding from diverse and sustainable sources. To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, visit www.massbaybigs.org.

Red Sox Affiliate Makes History in the Broadcast Booth

An alumnus of The Northfield Mount Hermon School, James "Jimmy" Ahern has served as managing partner and head of capital markets at Laidlaw & Company since 2010. Despite working out of Laidlaw's New York offices, James Ahern is a passionate fan of Boston sports teams, including the Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Women have been receiving more opportunities in sports broadcasting in recent years, yet one Red Sox minor league affiliate is set to make history in that regard. On February 27, the Single-A-Advanced Salem Red Sox announced it had hired Melanie Newman as its play-by-play announcer. Newman will join Suzie Cool who, last season, became the first woman broadcaster in the Carolina League. The two-woman broadcasting team is not only the first of its kind in the Carolina league, but all of professional baseball.

Newman did play-by-play for the Texas Rangers' Double-A affiliate last season and has prior broadcasting experience with GameDay Radio, the ACC Network, and FOX Sports Southwest. She's also a lifetime Red Sox fan. Cool, meanwhile, previously worked as part of the AT&T Sports Network's Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast team.

Despite the historic first, there is still work to be done in providing opportunities for female voices in baseball. There are only four other women broadcasters in MLB and the minor leagues combined.

The Best Players in Boston Red Sox History

Despite residing in New York City, Laidlaw & Company executive James (Jimmy) Ahern enjoys following Boston sports. A fan of the Red Sox, James Ahern cheers on a team whose storied history includes several outstanding athletes. According to experts, the very best players ever to call Fenway Park home are: 

Pedro Martinez

Pedro Martinez spent seven seasons in Boston, during which time he won his second and third Cy Young Awards and compiled a 117-37 record. His 1999 season, in which he finished second in MVP voting, ranks among the most impressive in MLB history. 

David Ortiz

Boston fans could never have predicted that a little-known free agent acquired in January of 2003 would become one of the best players in franchise history. In 14 seasons at Fenway Park, Big Papi made 10 All-Star teams and helped lead the Red Sox to three World Series titles.

Ted Williams

Ted Williams holds distinction the last MLB player to finish a qualifying season with a .400 average. Still considered by some to be the greatest hitter in baseball history, he boasts the best individual statistics of any Red Sox player ever, this despite missing significant time while serving in both World War II and Korea.

Basketball Coach John Carroll Sets Wins Record at NMH

Drawing upon more than 15 years of experience as a financial executive, James Ahern serves as managing partner and head of capital markets at Laidlaw & Company, where he primarily raises funds for private and public health care companies. Beyond his work with Laidlaw, James "Jim" Ahern is president of the Northfield Mount Hermon School's (NMH) Basketball Alumni Council for Excellence.

The NMH boys' varsity basketball team scored a victory over St. Thomas More on February 6 and, in the process, the team's head coach, John Carroll, established a new school record for most wins by a coach. He now has 301 career victories as head coach of the basketball team. The previous record of 300 was held by NMH Hall of Famer and Class of 1959 member Bill Batty. Including his time as a player and assistant coach, Carroll, a member of the Class of 1989, has now been part of 428 NMH basketball wins. 

Since taking over as basketball coach in 2001, Carroll has guided the team to its eight most successful seasons in regard to regular season wins, and has led the team to New England Championships in 2012, 2016, and 2018. He was also the coach for the school's only National Championship, which it won in 2013. Moreover, Carroll is a three-time Coach of the Year who earned induction into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

As a player, Carroll was MVP of the team during the 1988-89 season. He went on to become a four-year player at Assumption College, where he holds the school record for most three-point shots made in a career with 342.

Top Lures for Catching Tuna

James (“Jimmy”) Ahern serves as the managing partner and head of capital markets at Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. As such, Jim Ahern facilitates the securitization of financing for private and public companies in the health care sector. Outside of work, James Ahern enjoys fishing for tuna.

Below are several lures that are popular when fishing for tuna:

- Squid rigs: These soft plastic lures are available in a wide range of colors. However, natural colors such as off white and light brown are some of the most popular choices. Anglers can run squid rigs on their own or as part of a group and can choose lures ranging from 11 to 17 inches in length.

- Cedar plugs: A reliable lure for catching tuna, cedar plugs were originally used by commercial fishermen. They are simple lures and consist of a painted piece of cedar wood or wood soaked in menhaden oil to add scent. Similar to squid rigs, cedar plugs can be used as a single lure or hooked up to a spreader bar.

- Feather lures: When tuna are feeling fussy, a feather lure may entice them to bite when other lures have failed. Made from colorful feathers and acrylic heads, most manufacturers suggest using a blue purple and black or blue and white lure when fishing for tuna. However, some anglers have also had success using green and yellow feathers.

Patriots Sign Former Atlanta Defensive End Adrian Clayborn

An alumnus of the Northfield Mount Hermon School, James "Jimmy" Ahern draws upon 15 years of experience in the financial sector in his role as head of capital markets for New York's Laidlaw & Company. Outside of his responsibilities with Laidlaw, James "Jim" Ahern is a passionate fan of the National Football League's New England Patriots.

The Patriots filled a major void in its roster on March 16 with the signing of free agent defensive end Adrian Clayborn. New England's inability to pressure opposing quarterbacks was evident during the most recent Super Bowl, in which its defensive line struggled to pressure Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. Clayborn should provide significant help in this area.

Viewed as one of the league's elite defensive players, Clayborn is an Iowa alumnus who was selected 20th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played four seasons with the team before joining the Atlanta Falcons in 2015. Throughout his seven-year career, the 6-foot-3, 281-pound defensive lineman has recorded 167 tackles, 30 sacks, and seven forced fumbles. The 29 year old is coming off an impressive season in which he recorded career-best figures in sacks (9.5) and fumble recoveries (2).

Red Sox Re-Sign Infielder Eduardo Nunez

Since becoming the head of capital markets at Laidlaw & Company in 2010, James "Jimmy" Ahern has facilitated more than $2 billion in transactions in the healthcare sector. Away from his work at Laidlaw, James "Jim" Ahern enjoys following his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team, the Boston Red Sox. 

In July of 2017, the Red Sox acquired veteran infielder Eduardo Nunez from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor league players Shaun Anderson and Gregory Santos. The 30-year-old Nunez was coming off a year split between the Giants and the Minnesota Twins. 

Maintaining an impressive .308 batting average in 76 games with San Francisco prior to his trade to Boston, Nunez continued his impressive play in 38 games with the Red Sox, compiling eight home runs, 27 runs batted in (RBIs), and a .321 batting average. As a result, Nunez was recently re-signed to a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $6 million with a $4 million player option for the 2019 season. 

A native of the Dominican Republic, Nunez made his MLB debut in 2010 as a member of the New York Yankees and played four seasons with the team before he joined the Twins. Through 669 career games, he has 46 home runs, 245 RBIs, and a .282 batting average.