VHS Management Team

Kevin J. Esval
Founder and Executive Managing Director
esval@velocityhealth.com

Kevin J. Esval has served as Executive Managing Director of VelocityHealth Securities since founding the company in 2000. Mr. Esval is experienced in private equity, mergers, and acquisitions in many sectors of health care including health care services, HCIT, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors.

Previously, Mr. Esval served as a divisional SVP and COO for UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), one of the largest health care services companies in the world with annual revenues exceeding $25 billion. As one of the original startup executives of his division, Mr. Esval was instrumental in taking it from $0 to $400 million as of his departure. His career in health care began with a venture-backed startup Complete Health Services, Inc. This firm was one of Inc. Magazine’s “Fastest Growing Private Companies” in 1994. During this period, Mr. Esval was this company’s top sales executive, and managed the startup of two new divisions.

Additionally, Mr. Esval spent 5 years in sales, financial analysis, and trading roles at several financial derivatives companies, including Chicago based Rosenthal-Collins Group and R. J. O’Brien. During this period, his roles included working on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

Mr. Esval received his BA degree from Furman University while on a football scholarship. Additionally, he studied internationally in Lausanne, Switzerland. Mr. Esval is a dual citizen of the USA and the Republic of Ireland.

Licenses & Professional Designations: NASD Series 24, 7 & 63 Licenses

Karen L. Alvarez
Chief Financial Officer and FINOP

Karen L. Alvarez has serves as the CFO of VelocityHealth Securities, and is founder and CEO of Capital Markets Compliance. Formerly, she worked as a Compliance Examiner in NASD Regulation, Inc.'s (NASDR) Atlanta District office. While with NASDR, she conducted routine examinations of NASD member firms, assisted in bringing new members into the Association and supported cause examiners with on-the-record testimonies of Spanish speaking respondents and customers.

While with NASDR, Ms. Alvarez also assisted the district with its ongoing training of new examiners. She served as a mentor guiding new hires in the routine examination process. Ms. Alvarez's earlier Broker Dealer financial experience enabled her to progress through her employment at NASDR at a fast pace. She arrived at NASDR with an existing understanding of the mechanics of compiling financial statements, calculating the required net capital computation, and the electronic filing requirements of member FOCUS reports.

Ms. Alvarez is a member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals, Inc. and obtained her Bachelors of Science degree in Finance from Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, Florida). In addition, Ms. Alvarez is a Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional through the NASD Institute at Wharton Certificate Program (Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania).

Licenses & Professional Designations: NASD Series 27, 24, 7 & 63 Licenses

Andrew H. Ward
Associate
ward@velocityhealth.com

Mr. Ward is an Associate for VHS, and he is focused on the health services and HCIT sectors. Additionally his responsibilities include M&A client origination, deal execution, industry research, and financial analysis. Prior to his role with VHS, Mr. Ward was in management for US Bank Corp/First Union’s commercial banking operations. He earned a BS degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and received his MBA degree from Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Management, while on a full academic scholarship.

Jose Manuel Torres
Analyst
torres@velocityhealth.com

Mr. Torres is an Analyst for VHS, and he is focused on the health care services sectors including facilities, insurance, and HCIT, and also other health services related sectors. His responsibilities include due diligence, financial analysis, and research. Mr. Torres is also the Marketing Director for Velocity International, which is a beverage importing company. Mr. Torres was most recently a Product Manager for Gloria, SA, which is the largest dairy products company in Peru. Prior to working with Gloria, Mr. Torres was a Product Manager with the multinational Dutch lighting company Philips Peruana SA. Mr. Torres earned a BA degree from Pontificia Universidad Catolica Del Peru, and an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. Additionally, Mr. Torres is a dual citizen of Spain and Peru.

Christopher L. Howard
Corporate Secretary

Mr. Howard is VelocityHealth Securities' Corporate Secretary and is also Executive Vice President, General Counsel of Psychiatric Solutions, Inc.  Prior to Psychiatric Solutions, he was an attorney and partner with Waller Lansden, which is VelocityHealth Securities' outside legal counsel. Mr. Howard is experienced in the areas of business transaction and securities law, including mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and venture capital financing. He is a member of the Nashville, Tennessee and Alabama Bar Associations and serves on the American Bar Association's Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities.

Mr. Howard received his BS degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He received his JD degree from Vanderbilt University, where he was the managing editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review.