The firm’s executive management team is composed of seasoned professionals with proven expertise and long-standing industry relationships. Each member has a successful history of owning and operating investment banks as well as holding key positions at firms such as Lehman Brothers and Black & Co.
With over 200 years of combined industry experience, particularly in private equity, our executive management team has performed due diligence on thousands of companies. Additionally, each individual has a network of experts who can be called upon to assist in their research of potential investments.
We encourage you to get to know our executive management team to give you a confident foundation to begin our relationship.
Chris Clark
Chairman of the Board
Chris Clark is a consummate financial professional and entrepreneur whose noteworthy career spans over 34 years. His track record is one of serial commercial and professional success, with him currently serving as our Chairman of the Board.
Chris has held various positions within the brokerage and investment banking industry including Senior Managing Director, Executive Vice President, and Head of Executive Services, working at notable firms such as Black & Co. and Lehman Brothers. Chris co-founded a regional broker/dealer which, between 1994 and 2010, under his management, never reported an unprofitable quarter after the start-up year. At the time of divestiture, the firm was one of the largest broker/dealers in the Northwest. During approximately the same time, he additionally co-founded and operated both a second broker/dealer and a fund family, which managed over half a billion in assets.
Chris assumed his current position after co-leading an outside syndicate of investors and industry professionals in the recapitalization and reorganization of Paulson Investment Company, LLC.
Thomas Parigian
Senior Managing Partner
Thomas Parigian brings over 35 years of experience to Paulson Investment Company, LLC’s Executive Management Team as a Managing Partner. During 20 of those years, he specialized in investment banking and sales.
Prior to joining Paulson Investment Company, LLC, he worked with several investment banks where he sourced, structured and raised well over $500 million in direct and indirect financing for small to medium sized companies. Though a generalist, Thomas has an affinity for the life science sector and has directly raised over $750 million in capital for pharmaceutical company transactions through institutions.
Thomas assumed his current position after co-leading an outside syndicate of investors and industry professionals in the recapitalization and reorganization of Paulson Investment Company, LLC.
Robert Setteducati
Managing Partner | Director of Business Development
Robert Setteducati adds more than 36 years of industry experience to the Executive Management Team. Long before he came aboard at Paulson Investment Company, LLC, Robert served in various capacities at several broker/dealers while raising capital for small to medium sized companies.
During his tenure in the industry, Robert has held roles ranging from Executive VP of Sales to Senior Managing Director of Business Development at such firms as National Securities, Fordham Financial Management, and Advanced Equities.
Robert assumed his current position after co-leading an outside syndicate of investors and industry professionals in the recapitalization and reorganization of Paulson Investment Company, LLC.
Trent Davis
Chief Executive Officer
Trent Davis currently serves as our Chief Executive Officer and brings over 28 years of industry experience. Prior to rejoining the Paulson team, Mr. Davis provided executive advisory services to small entrepreneurial companies, as well as serving as Director, Lead Director and Vice Chairman for several public companies. Formerly, Mr. Davis was also the Chief Executive Officer of Paulson Investment Company, Inc. from 2005 – 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Davis served as Senior Vice President of Syndicate and National Sales of Paulson Investment Company, Inc. He has extensive experience in capital markets and brokerage operations and is credited with overseeing the syndication of approximately $600 million for over 50 client companies in both public and private transactions.
Alex Winks
President | Chief Financial Officer
Alex Winks is Paulson Investment Company, LLC’s President, Chief Financial Officer, and FINOP. He has over 17 years of experience in broker/dealer, RIA and PE/VC fund financial and operations management. Alex has had increasing positions of responsibility with firms including JP Morgan Chase, Advanced Equities and Wachovia Securities. Over his years of experience, Alex’s areas of expertise are financial statements preparation and analysis, securities valuation, performance analysis, accounting, operations management, regulatory reporting and investor relations. Alex has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Charleston, an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University, and holds FINRA Series 7, 24, 27, and 66 licenses.
Harry Striplin
Chief Compliance Officer
Harry has more than 42 years of experience working at small firms and more than 33 years serving as a Chief Compliance Officer in the small firm environment. Mr. Striplin was formally the Chief Compliance Officer for Umpqua Investments, Inc., a broker-dealer headquartered in Portland, Oregon for 11 years. From 1991-2006 Harry was CCO, Paulson Investment Company, Inc. and COO of the same from 2006-2008. He is currently a member of the Securities Industry Regulatory Council on Continuing Education, has served numerous times on FINRA’s West Region Committee, and has been a panelist at numerous FINRA securities conferences. Mr. Striplin was a member of the Securities Industry Continuing Education Content Committee for over 22 years. Harry serves as an arbitrator for FINRA Dispute Resolution and has attained his Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP) certification through the FINRA Institute at Wharton.
Amal Amin
General Counsel
Amal comes to Paulson from the United States Railroad Retirement Board (“RRB”), an independent agency in the executive branch of the Federal Government, where he served as the Chief of Staff and Counsel to the Chairman. At the RRB Amal guided the Chairman on all matters related to the management of the agency and its interactions with Congress and the White House. Amal also advised the Chairman on legal issues impacting the Board as well as proposed regulations and litigation. Prior to joining the RRB Amal spent almost two decades working in the securities industry in varying roles, including serving as in-house and outside counsel to broker dealers, investment advisers, and financial services holding companies. Amal counseled clients on securities matters relating to broker dealer and investment adviser compliance, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and general risk management.