About Core IR
Founded in 2009, CORE IR (formerly CorProminence) provides Investor Relations, Capital Markets Advisory and Public Relations services for small-to-mid-sized companies. We develop and deliver results-driven strategies by identifying and executing on core objectives specific to each client’s current positioning needs and future exposure goals; a process tailored to the unique circumstances and requirements of each of our clients. Clients experience the CORE IR difference as we validate the most effective capital formation, investor growth and market exposure results through an extensive relationships development methodology, providing incomparable introductions to our proprietary, deeply established, long-term relationships with Investment Bankers, Retail Broker-Dealers, Buy and Sell-Side Institutions, Portfolio and Fund Managers, Family Offices and Analysts. Our dedicated capital markets advisory practice assists clients navigate the myriad of complex structures of today’s financial markets to achieve both their capital formation, funding and aftermarket support goals. Effective investor and corporate communications are core deliverables that serve as a foundation for our strategic success. Our shareholder and corporate communications efforts incorporate effective presentations and investment theses development, professional press release drafting, earnings call script management, investor inquiry response, media management and crisis communications, ensuring the right message is not just delivered, but also received.
The CORE IR TEAM
The CORE IR team is comprised of senior industry veterans who each bring their unique specializations to bear within our “clustered” approach to client management. We manage each of our clients as a comprehensive team, not as a mere assignment to one individual.
Chuck Bennett
Chuck Bennett is a co-founder of CORE IR and manages market outreach/exposure strategies for clients with a focus on Retail BD and Institutional Buy Side relationships development. Mr. Bennett was formerly Vice President of Sales and Marketing for CreditRiskMonitor.com, (CRMZ). During his tenure there he grew sales 350%. Thereafter, in 2003, he created RRADA (REGISTERED REPRESENTATIVES ARBITRATION DEFENSE ASSOCIATES), which provides memberships to individual registered representatives (Stock Brokers) and indirect memberships to Broker/Dealers, whose registered representatives become members of RRADA. RRADA provides various legal services to Broker Dealers and Registered Representatives and has hundreds of broker/dealer members throughout the United States. Chuck is an active philanthropist managing a family foundation; the Beacon Light Foundation, which contributes to over 50 charitable organizations nationwide each year. From 1996 to 2012, Chuck had served as an Associate Trustee at North Shore/Long Island Jewish Health System in Manhasset (now the largest Health System in the US). As an Associate Trustee he has served on the Cardiology Executive Committee, Cardiology Leadership Committee, and the Associate Trustee Executive Committee. Chuck also donates his time and resources to the North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center, the National Center for Disabilities and other charitable organizations in the area. Chuck graduated from Long Island University with a B.S. in Finance. Chuck resides in Sea Cliff, NY, with his wife and two children.
Scott Gordon
Scott Gordon is a co-founder, President and Editor-In-Chief of CORE IR, responsible for managing all aspects of client corporate communications, including development and management of investor and corporate presentations and tear sheets, drafting and disseminating press releases, corporate earnings call scripts and crisis communications. Scott also assists in the development and execution of client roadshow activities and post roadshow feedback reporting and investment conference strategy support. Prior to founding CORE IR, Scott served as Head of Global Markets Trading for Investment Management Services, a $600 million global macro strategy and quantitative systematic based hedge fund and fund administration entity where he managed portfolio trading and risk management for numerous fund managers. Scott began his 15-year Wall Street career on NYMEX as a position clerk in the Crude and Heating oil trading pits and became a futures and options trader for Shearson Lehman Hutton and then Smith Barney, in their global managed futures and futures trading operations. Scott attended New York University where he pursued his BS in Economics. Scott resides in Boca Raton, FL with his wife and two children. Scott is a performing Guitarist/Singer and avid athlete.
Bret Shapiro
Bret Shapiro is a Managing Partner with CORE IR. He began his 25 year Wall Street career in 1991 at Prudential Securities where he was one of the youngest Vice Presidents of the firm. He moved on to become a shareholder at Gruntal and Company and rose to become a member of the Chairman’s Council. In 2004, Bret joined Capital Growth Financial, heading their syndicate investment banking efforts, placing their first IPO. In 2008, Bret joined Dawson James Securities as Managing Partner and Head of Syndicate where he was responsible for assisting scores of public companies achieve their financing and funding goals. Bret joined CORE IR in 2015 and brings his incomparable depth of experience, insight and strategic value to clients in the areas of capital formation, syndicate relationships introductions, strategic communications and retail and institutional relationships development. Bret resides in Boca Raton, FL with his wife and two daughters and is an avid sportsman and training enthusiast.
Scott Arnold
Scott Arnold is a Managing Partner with CORE IR. Throughout his career, Scott has evaluated companies from the perspectives of a corporate communications consultant and investment banker. Having held his Series 3, 6, 7, 63, and 65 licenses, Scott adds a unique perspective to clients undergoing IPOs, capital formation strategies, market exposure, secondary offerings, crisis communications, and strategic acquisitions. Before CORE IR, Scott was a Senior Vice President at ICR, an investor relations firm, where he concentrated on the Green Technology and Metals and Mining industries. He draws upon extensive domestic and international institutional and retail financial services relationships and has been quoted in national publications including Seeking Alpha, as well as being a featured expert at the Harvard/USC Business Growth Conference. In his spare time, Scott enjoys being with his family in Los Angeles and is a Board Member of Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills. He has a B.A. in Political Science from Syracuse University. Scott resides in Beverly Hills, CA with his wife and three children.
Tristan Traywick
Tristan Traywick is a Managing Director, responsible for client market outreach and executing market awareness strategies with Institutional Buy-Side and Retail relationships. He began his career in financial services in 2008 with Seattle based investment bank, Barretto Securities. During his time at Barretto, Tristan worked with in both the investor relations and investment banking divisions of the firm. In 2013, Tristan joined Heritage Wealth Advisors, an Ameriprise sponsored private wealth management firm on Mercer Island, WA. There, Tristan was a registered representative in the client services department. Tristan has been with CORE IR since July of 2014, and holds his series 7 and 63 licenses, as well as his Washington State Producer of Life, Disability, and Variable Line Insurance licenses. Tristan grew up on Bainbridge Island, WA and resides in Seattle, WA and is a graduate of Washington State University.
John Marco
John Marco is a Managing Director at Core IR brings more than 20 years of capital markets experience including more than a decade with investor relations agencies and as a sole IR practitioner in Los Angeles. Throughout his IR career he has helped formulate the design and delivery of integrated investor relations programs for domestic and Asian OTC, NASDAQ and NYSE companies. John has helped C-suite executives navigate a variety of situations including capital raises, crisis communication, shareholder activism, investment community targeting and outreach, as well as other field-level issues that impact a company’s reputation and valuation. John is also proficient at providing quality program deliverables such as press releases, shareholder analysis, investor presentations, media materials and social media programming. Earlier in his career he spent more than 10 years as a licensed financial advisor to high-net-worth individuals and managing private company pension portfolios for Morgan Stanley and UBS Securities in Los Angeles and Long Beach, CA, respectively. John earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the State University of New York at Albany. He resides in Redondo Beach, CA with his wife and two children.
Tom Caden
Tom Caden is Vice President at CORE IR responsible for investor outreach, roadshow development and execution. Tom has more than 20 years of expertise as an investor relations and financial services specialist having spent 15 years on the retail side of the business. He was a Multi-Lines Agent with the Prudential Insurance Co. and VP Wealth Management with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Tom has honed his considerable experience from his work with both Dian Griesel International and Edison Investment Research. He is a graduate of Montclair State University.
Jules Abraham
Jules Abraham is Director of Public Relations at CORE IR, responsible for media outreach and placement. Jules brings 22 years of healthcare public relations experience, having worked in nearly all aspects of the healthcare industry, including large and specialty pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical diagnostics and medical device companies, as well as small health systems, regional hospitals, managed care organizations, Medicare Part D providers and advocacy groups. He has supported market conditioning, clinical trial recruitment, financial/investor and milestone communications, corporate communications, product launches and post-marketing publicity. He also has worked extensively in issues management and has provided presentation and speaker training for physicians and client executives. Previously Jules initiated and oversaw the healthcare public relations divisions at Feintuch Communications and investor relations firm, Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc. Prior, he served as Vice President in the global healthcare group at GCI Group, and held positions at Manning, Selvage & Lee, Zeno Group and GTFH public relations, in New York. He has also served as an independent communications consultant to several investor relations firms, healthcare companies and not-for-profit organizations. Jules earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the College of William & Mary and a master’s degree in Public Communications/Journalism from Fordham University. A songwriter and performer for many years, Jules is also a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in Paraguay, where he trained local teachers about prevention of intestinal parasites and other health issues. After residing nearly 20 years in New York City, he currently resides in Encinitas, California.