James A. Unruh
Founding Principal
jimunruh@alerion.com

Mr. Unruh's extensive experience includes general management, marketing and financial positions in several large publicly held companies where he successfully completed turnarounds, joint ventures, acquisitions, divestments, and debt and equity financings.

His industry background has been with multinational businesses providing computer hardware and software, semiconductors, information technology systems integration, consulting and support services, as well as electro-mechanical products for consumer and industrial markets.

Immediately prior to founding Alerion, Mr. Unruh was the Chairman and CEO of Unisys Corporation. When Mr. Unruh became CEO in 1990, Unisys was in serious distress. By mapping a new strategic course and implementing his vision through a restructuring of the business portfolio, reengineering the cost structure and spearheading organizational and cultural changes, Unisys was repositioned, financially revitalized and growing again with information technology services representing two-thirds of its $6.6 billion in revenue.

Earlier in his career as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Unruh was key to the revitalization of Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation (semiconductors) and of Memorex Corporation.

Mr. Unruh has also served as an outside director with ten corporations including three of middle-market size. Current board memberships include Prudential Financial, Inc., Tenet Healthcare Corporation, BioVigiliant Systems, Inc. and LumenIQ, Inc. In addition, Mr. Unruh serves as non-executive Chairman of Apex Microtechnology.
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Ricardo DeAvila, CFA
Managing Director
rickdeavila@alerion.com

Mr. DeAvila's background includes traditional corporate, merchant and investment banking activities. Prior to joining Alerion, Mr. DeAvila was an Associate at Banc One Capital Partners Inc. (BOCP), assisting in the establishment of its Western regional office supporting mezzanine investment opportunities in acquisitions and recapitalizations.

Prior to joining BOCP, Mr. DeAvila was a Commercial Loan Officer for LaSalle Bank, NI in Chicago, focusing on the middle-market.

Mr. DeAvila received his B.S. in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance and a minor in Spanish from Marquette University. He received his MBA from Arizona State University, and he is a CFA charterholder. Current board memberships include BioVigilant.
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Jeffrey A. Unruh
Managing Director
jeffunruh@alerion.com

Mr. Unruh's experience has focused on new business development, strategic alliances, and product/service introduction within the technology industry. This experience has included functional roles spanning business development, marketing, finance, procurement, supply chain management, engineering, support, and general management. Prior to joining Alerion, Mr. Unruh was a Senior Director of Business Development with Oracle Corporation. Prior to Oracle, he was primarily involved in formation and development of new divisions, business units, products and services within Hewlett-Packard, Unisys, Memorex, and Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp.

Mr.Unruh is an elected trustee of the Utah Information Technology Association, serves on the MBA Technology Advisory board of Westminster College, serves on the Utah Science Center board and is technology advisor for The Leonardo and the Utah Science Center, a combined science and arts center in development in Salt Lake City. Mr. Unruh has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
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Betsy Heffron
Research Associate/Business Development
bheffron@alerion.com

Ms. Heffron brings a diversified background to the Alerion Capital team adding a unique and creative blend of research and public relations experience. Prior to joining Alerion, Ms. Heffron provided secondary research services and administrative support to public relations and financial companies such as Burson-Marsteller and Goldman Sachs in New York City.

Ms. Heffron earned her degree from Phoenix College in Business and then moved to New York City to obtain certificates of Painting and Fine Arts from the Art Students League and the National Academy School of Fine Arts.
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