Dining at Cru and Galley Beach in Nantucket

As the managing partner and head of capital markets at Laidlaw & Company, Ltd., since 2010, James “Jim” Ahern has overseen extensive market expansion for the company's service to public and private firms in the health care industry. Outside of his work at Laidlaw, James “Jimmy” Ahern goes on boating trips to Nantucket to enjoy food at Cru and Galley Beach.

Known as Nantucket's leading oyster bar since its founding in 2012, Cru offers seafood with inspiration from Mediterranean and French cuisine. Located at One Straight Wharf on the waterfront, the restaurant serves lunch and dinner each day from the middle of May to October. It also serves a weekend brunch. The establishment features an extensive array of oyster options, as well as two bars with fine champagne and wines and a full cocktail menu.

Also located on the waterfront at 54 Jefferson Ave, the family-owned Galley Beach has provided an excellent venue for watching the sunset while sitting with feet in the sand since its establishment in 1958. Its menu encompasses a fine array of American cuisine, seafood, and local specialties, along with extensive drink and dessert choices.

3 Players the Boston Celtics Could Take in the 2020 NBA Draft

James "Jimmy" Ahern is an experienced health care investment banker who has served as managing partner and head of capital markets at Laidlaw & Company since 2010. Outside of his professional responsibilities at Laidlaw & Company, James "Jim" Ahern enjoys following the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Boston Celtics.

As of April 13, the 2020 NBA Draft was scheduled to go ahead as planned on June 25, but many teams were pushing the league to postpone it until August 1 as a result of scouting inefficiencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Boston has three first-round picks in the draft and could take any of these three players, according to various mock draft projections:

1. Kira Lewis Jr. - The Celtics would be wise to select Lewis Jr. if he's still on the board when the team makes its pick at 26th overall. The University of Alabama point guard is a premier ball-handler with an explosive first step. He is also a relatively effective three-point shooter who averaged 36.6 percent from beyond the arc this past season.

2. Devin Vassell - Vassell is more highly touted than Lewis Jr. and would likely need to be selected with the first of Boston's three first-round picks at No. 15 overall. The 6-foot-6 Florida State guard shot 41.5 percent from three-point range last season and averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.

3. Isaiah Stewart - Stewart is somewhat of a wild card who could be drafted in the lottery or fall to the second round. The 6-foot-10 forward was a freshman at the University of Washington last season and averaged 17 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game.

What Does Laidlaw Venture Partners Do?

Group of venture capitalist Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

James (Jim or Jimmy) Ahern is an experienced investment banking professional who serves Laidlaw & Company (UK) as a managing partner and head of capital markets. Jim Ahern joined Laidlaw in 2010, and he has been expanding the company, which currently has offices in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and London. James Ahern provides financing for public and private companies, with an emphasis on the healthcare vertical.

Laidlaw & Company is an independent investment banking and securities brokerage firm with a growing network of offices throughout the US and Europe. Among the sister companies of Laidlaw & Company is the venture capital financing arm Laidlaw Venture Partners (LVP).

LVP’s team provides financing to target private companies through an affiliation with the banking arm of Laidlaw Ltd., a broker dealer. The target companies of LVP financing are healthcare companies in any geography and therapeutic area, and in any stage of development. LVP’s objective is to encourage novelty - companies focused on addressing any unmet medical needs, for example, are targeted by LVP.

Besides offering several capital formation options for these companies, LVP provides additional corporate services such as advisory work, operating personnel, a board of directors, strategic partnering, and general business development, among others.

Predictions for the New England Patriots 2019 Season

Game ball on the ground 

Photo by Ben Hershey on Unsplash

With more than 15 years of executive experience in the investment banking industry, James "Jimmy" Ahern serves as a managing partner and the head of capital markets at Laidlaw & Company in New York City. In addition to his professional responsibilities, James “Jim” Ahern avidly follows Boston sports, including the Super Bowl 53 Champions, the New England Patriots.

With Tom Brady as quarterback, the New England Patriots have been to the Super Bowl seven times, and have a 5-2 record. This makes the team a top contender in the 2019 season. Here are some predictions for the New England Patriots from top sports news publications.

Patriots Take Rushing Game to New Heights
NBC Sports foresees the Patriots becoming a top-five rushing team, whether due to head coach Bill Belichick's strategizing or as a way to take pressure off of Brady, who is 42 years old. In 2018, the team ranked eighth in the NFL in run-play percentage.

Brady Will Focus on N’Keal Harry
The Patriots took a big loss when receiver Rob Gronkowski left the team at the end of last season. Chowder and Champions predicts N’Keal Harry, the first-round draft pick from Arizona State, will fill the gap.

Top Contenders for Winning AFC
SportingNews.com sees the Patriots easily winning their division. And while it won't go so far as to say the team will definitely win the American Football Conference, it puts them at the front of the pack.

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.