Saturday, December 23, 2017

Northfield Mount Hermon School’s Top-Ranked Basketball Team



James “Jim” Ahern joined Laidlaw & Company in 2010 and now serves as managing director and head of capital markets at the firm. Alongside his work with Laidlaw, James “Jimmy” Ahern supports his alma mater, Northfield Mount Hermon School, where he serves as chair of the Basketball Alumni Council for Excellence. 

In addition to top-notch academic programming, Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) boasts one of the nation’s best preparatory level basketball programs. A member of the prestigious New England Prep School Athletic Conference, the NMH basketball team has maintained a top-10 national ranking for the past 12 years and a top-5 national ranking over the past seven years. During that same period, the team reached the National Championship Final Four the last four times and took home the National Championship in 2013. 

Due to its combination of solid academic and athletic programming, NMH produces many athletes who go on to play at the collegiate level. More than 50 NMH basketball players have gone on to play Division I ball for a variety of colleges and universities, including Yale University, Harvard University, Dartmouth College, Brown University, and Princeton University.

Friday, December 8, 2017

Celtics Win 16 Consecutive Games in First Half of 2016-17 Season


Since becoming managing partner of Laidlaw & Company in 2010, James Ahern has helped grow the firm into a nationally-recognized healthcare investment bank with multiple offices throughout the United States and one in London, England. Beyond his work with Laidlaw & Company, James Ahern is a passionate fan of the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Through 23 games in the 2017-18 regular season, the Celtics sit atop the Eastern Conference with a win-loss record of 19-4. The team dropped its first two games of the season but proceeded to win its next 16, including an impressive come-from-behind win against the defending champion Golden State Warriors in which the Celtics trailed by 17 points on two separate occasions. Boston came within three wins of equaling its franchise record of 19 consecutive wins, which was set by the 2008-09 team. That team began the year with a remarkable 27-2 record and finished with a record of 62-20 before being upset by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the playoffs. 

The 2017-18 team's streak came to an end in a November 22 contest against the Miami Heat. Boston had overcome double-digit deficits in games against the Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, and Dallas Mavericks, but suffered a 104-98 loss to the Heat. The 16-game streak tied for the fourth longest in franchise history.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Navigating into Nantucket Harbor in a Small Vessel


Based in Boston, James (Jim) Ahern holds a leadership role with Laidlaw & Company as managing partner. His responsibilities with Laidlaw include raising capital for public and private firms working in the field of health care. James (Jimmy) Ahern enjoys boating in his free time and frequently visits Nantucket to sample favorite eateries such as Cru and Galley Beach.

With a year-round population of 10,000, Nantucket offers regular ferry service that brings most summer visitors to the island’s compact harbor front. When navigating a small vessel into the area, the various shoals along the way make it imperative to keep a close eye on both government marks and detailed charts. The approach to the island is fairly shallow, which means that in rough conditions waves get churned up on the surrounding reefs and increase the risk of encountering rocks.

A typical approach from the west across Nantucket Sound involves maintaining a position within channel markers passing along Cross Rip Channel and navigating past Tuckernuck Shoal on the starboard side. The next landmark to round on starboard is Brant Point Lighthouse, which leads into the main harbor channel and the Nantucket Boat Basin on the harbor's western side.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Tuna Fishing in the Stellwagen Bank Area of Massachusetts Bay


As Laidlaw & Company managing partner, James (Jim) Ahern is an established financial executive with a focus on arranging financing for expansion companies in the health care vertical. In addition to his work at Laidlaw, James (Jimmy) Ahern is a boating enthusiast who enjoys fishing for tuna off the coast of Cape Cod. 

Bluefin tuna can be caught in several spots in Massachusetts as they migrate from early June through September. One well-known area is the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, which encompasses 842 square miles between Cape Ann and Cape Cod at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay. An underwater plateau, it reflects the same geologic processes that created outer Cape Cod, with ice sheets retreating following the last Great Ice Age. 

Above water until 12,000 years ago, the bank today harbors myriad sea life, including haddock, flounder, and cod, and is listed as one of the top ten whale watching sites worldwide. The sanctuary designation does not affect fishing. Rather, it protects commercial and recreational fishing activities through regulations designed to prevent the transfer of petroleum products, gravel mining, and the harming of terrestrial species such as turtles, birds, and mammals. 

Fishing enthusiasts have been known to catch bluefin tuna as little as three miles from the shore, with the largest specimens landed in the Massachusetts Bay each year weighing over 1,000 pounds.

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Popular Tourist Attractions in Nantucket


As a managing partner with Laidlaw & Company, James Ahern raises capital for and advises public and private companies in the health care sector. When he isn't working at Laidlaw, James Ahern enjoys taking boat trips to Nantucket, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. 

Nantucket has a year-round population of roughly 10,000 people, but tens of thousands of tourists and part-time residents descend upon the island in the summer. One of Nantucket's main tourist attractions are its fine sand beaches. The island's north shore beaches, such as Children’s Beach and Jetties Beach, are best suited for families because the waves are frequently low. Jetties Beach, meanwhile, is located near tennis courts, a skateboard park, a playground, and other recreational venues. Those looking to surf are better off visiting the south shore beaches of Surfside, Miacomet, and Cisco. 

For a respite from the beaches, visitors to the island should check out the Nantucket Whaling Museum, which features ancient whaling artifacts, including a sperm whale skeleton that hangs from the ceiling. The island also offers sightseeing and tourist activities in the form of numerous lighthouses, museums, mills, and performing arts centers. Visitors can unwind at the end of the day by visiting Cisco Brewers, where they can sample world-class beers, wines, and spirits.

Monday, August 28, 2017

Las Vegas Favors the Patriots to Win the Super Bowl



A graduate of the Northfield Mount Hermon School, James Ahern serves as the managing partner and head of capital markets for New York's Laidlaw & Company. When he isn't advising Laidlaw clients or raising capital for health care investments, James Ahern enjoys following his favorite National Football League team, the New England Patriots.

Last season, the Patriots overcame a 25-point deficit against the Atlanta Falcons to win its fifth Super Bowl in 16 years and, according to Vegas oddsmakers, the team is poised to win another this upcoming season. In May, following the completion of the 2017 NFL Draft, one popular betting site gave the Patriots 7-2 odds of winning the next Super Bowl, ahead of the Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and Oakland Raiders, all of which were given 12-1 odds. Since then, the Oakland Raiders have become more popular, and the team's odds of winning the Super Bowl have risen to 6-1. The Patriots, however, are still the heavy favorites with 3-1 odds. 

Rather than resting on its 2016 laurels, the Patriots added potential impact players in free agency, including defensive backs Stephon Gilmore and Duron Harmon, as well as running back Mike Gillislee. The team also acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the New Orleans Saints and tight end Dwayne Allen from the Indianapolis Colts.

Friday, August 18, 2017

Red Sox Select Pitcher Tanner Houck in First Round of MLB Draft


Through nearly seven years as head of capital markets for Laidlaw & Company, James "Jim" Ahern has grown the investment bank to national recognition with offices in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and London. When he isn't busy with his work at Laidlaw, James Ahern enjoys following his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team, the Boston Red Sox. 

The 40-round 2017 MLB Amateur Draft was held in June and the Red Sox had the 24th overall selection. Boston used that pick to choose hard-throwing right-handed pitcher Tanner Houck, who the organization anticipates becoming a member of the starting rotation in the not-so-distant future. One of the hardest throwers available in the draft, Houck regularly reaches 96 miles per hour (mph) with his fastball and has reached 98 mph on occasion.

A native of Collinsville, Illinois, Houck spent this past season at the University of Missouri, where he posted a 4-7 record and a 3.33 earned run average (ERA) to go along with 95 strikeouts in 94.66 innings. He was signed by the Red Sox and has since started four games for the team's A-ball affiliate the Lowell Spinners of the New York-Pennsylvania League. To date, he has a 3.68 ERA and has given up just four hits while striking out nine batters in 7.33 innings.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Boston Celtics Sign Gordon Hayward


A graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School, James "Jimmy" Ahern serves as managing partner and head of capital markets for New York's Laidlaw & Company. Beyond his professional pursuits with Laidlaw, James Ahern is an avid fan of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Boston Celtics. 

After losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics improved its roster in the off-season by signing small forward Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $128 million contract. A native of Indiana, Hayward was one of the most highly sought-after free agents on the market, and for good reason. He averaged a career-high 21.9 points per game with the Utah Jazz last season and was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. 

By joining the Celtics, Hayward is reunited with his former college coach Brad Stevens, who coached him at Butler University. A ninth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Hayward has improved his point totals in each of his seven seasons. In 516 career games, he has averaged 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Gemphire Therapeutics’ Clinically Demonstrated Gemcabene Medication


As the head of capital markets and the managing partner at Laidlaw & Company in New York, James Ahern focuses on an expanding healthcare investment market. James (Jim) Ahern and the Laidlaw team have successfully engineered initial public offerings for Therapix Biosciences, Cerecor, and Gemphire Therapeutics, among others. 

Gemphire, a Michigan-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical enterprise, focuses on the commercialization of treatments for patients living with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, dyslipidemia, and cardiometabolic disorders. Gemcabene, licensed from Pfizer in 2011, is a promising oral drug candidate that effectively decreases inflammation, LDL-C, and fat in the form of triglycerides. 

To date, nearly 200 clinical gemcabene Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials have been accomplished, both as a monotherapy and in tandem with statins of various dosages. The market size for this drug, which has been demonstrated as safe and effective, is estimated at 20 million patients and $33 billion by 2025.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Day Trips by Boat in the Cape Cod Region


As the managing partner of Laidlaw & Company, James Ahern has spearheaded the firm’s emergence as a nationwide leader in the healthcare investment sphere. Beyond his responsibilities with Laidlaw, James (Jim) Ahern’s favorite activities include golfing and fishing. Jim Ahern’s passion for tuna fishing regularly takes him to the Cape Cod area. 

Among the popular day trips near Cape Cod is Washburn Island, which lies within a state park and offers sandy beaches with exceptional swimming and fishing. The local waters are warm throughout the summer months, and campsites on the island serve as ideal bases for Vineyard Sound excursions.

Another noteworthy destination is the busy Menemsha Harbor on Martha’s Vineyard. The picturesque port town is known for its seafood. Lobster rolls, fried fish, and stuffed quahog clam are staples of local eateries such as The Bite and Larsen’s Fish Market.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Biotech Investing Pointers- Paying Attention to the FDA


The former vice president of Casimir Capital and managing director of Aegis Capital, James “Jimmy” Ahern serves as managing partner of Laidlaw & Company in New York. James Ahern has helped build Laidlaw into one of the world’s leading healthcare investment firms. At the firm, he raises capital and provides oversight to both private and public healthcare organizations.

Before investing in biotech, individuals need to have a clear idea of how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) works and the potential roadblocks it could cause to biotech companies. In the most general sense, companies must prove to the FDA that a potential drug is both safe and that it actually works for its intended purpose. Proof involves the collection of a sufficient body of clinical information, which usually takes place over three phases of clinical trials. 

Most companies set goals for safety and efficacy in collaboration with the FDA. Once goals are met, the company submits a New Drug Application (NDA) and the FDA provides a date for its final decision regarding the drug. Often, an advisory committee is assembled to help the FDA decide whether or not to approve a drug. If the FDA rejects the drug, it gives the company a complete response letter (CRL), which outlines concerns. A company can reapply once these concerns are addressed, however this could involve considerable expense. 

Sometimes, FDA decisions are based on mood. During conservative periods, equivocal drugs can be rejected. However, the FDA has liberal periods during which drugs with less favorable risk-benefit profiles earn approval. Sometimes, rules are not applied as rigorously for drugs that address disease with few other options for treatment.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Benefits of Mentoring for Youth





A financial executive based in New York City, James “Jimmy” Ahern serves as head of capital markets at Laidlaw & Company. In addition to his responsibilities at Laidlaw, James “Jim” Ahern has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, a nonprofit organization providing one-on-one mentoring opportunities for at-risk youth.

There are many benefits of youth mentoring, and some center on academic performance and behavior in school. According to a 2007 study conducted by Kennelly & Monrad, students who keep to regular meetings with their mentors are 37 percent less likely to skip class and 52 percent less likely to skip an entire day of school. In terms of behavior issues, a 2002 study suggested that young children facing an opportunity gap are 55 percent more likely to attend college if they have a mentor supporting them.

The mentoring relationship also has numerous benefits for children outside the classroom. Young people with regular mentors are significantly less likely than their non-mentored peers to start drinking or using illegal drugs. Mentoring makes youth 81 percent more likely to participate in extracurricular activities, which coincides with a major improvement in communication skills and a reduction in the symptoms of depression.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Three Delicious Lobster Recipes


A managing partner for New York's Laidlaw & Company, James "Jimmy" Ahern has over a decade of experience as a financial executive. When he isn't advising public and private health care companies through Laidlaw, James Ahern enjoys cooking seafood, such as steamers and lobster. Below are three lobster recipes.

1. Grilled lobster with garlic-parsley butter - Begin by combining butter, parsley, garlic, lemon zest, chili flakes, and salt and pepper. Cook cracked lobster halves shell side up on the grill until slightly charred and then coat with the garlic-parsley mixture. Grill for an additional 3-5 minutes or until meat is tender.

2. Lobster rolls - In a bowl, stir together lime juice, mayonnaise, hot sauce, salt, and pepper and then add celery and green onion. Lightly mix in cubed cooked lobster meat and stuff filling into carved-out Kaiser rolls. Sprinkle with parsley, tarragon, or basil and serve.

3. Broiled lobster tails - After placing lobster tails on a baking sheet, carefully slice the top of shell lengthwise and season meat with butter, salt, pepper, and paprika. Broil the tails for 5-10 minutes and serve with lemon wedges.

Friday, March 17, 2017

A Handful of the Best Restaurants on Nantucket


Possessing extensive experience in finance, James "Jimmy" Ahern Laidlaw is managing partner and head of capital markets with Laidlaw & Company. Outside of work, Jimmy Ahern Laidlaw enjoys taking trips to Nantucket, especially for the excellent restaurants that exist on the island.

One of the best restaurant on the island is Cru Oyster Bar, which serves excellent lobster rolls and boosts a full raw bar. Located in the middle of the Nantucket Boat Basin, Cru also provides diners with incredible vantage points.

Another great choice is The Pearl, which uses local seafood and regional heritage meats to put a unique spin on Eastern dishes. One of the must-try dishes at the restaurant is the Salt & Pepper Wok Fried Lobster.

Galley Beach, located right on the sand, is another classic choice. Dining her transports people to the Caribbean, especially if they dine al fresco during the sunset. The restaurant offers casual lunches and exquisite three-course dinners.

Located in the heart of the island, American Season boasts a quintessential seasonal menu. The restaurant remains one of the oldest on Nantucket and is known for its fun takes on classic American cuisine.