Steven N. Bronson, President

Mr. Bronson, the firm’s president and founder, has over 26 years of Wall Street experience, and securities industry contacts.  For the last 19 years, Mr. Bronson has been a founding principal of two brokerage firms.  In July of 2010, Mr. Bronson became the CEO and Chairman of Interlink Electronics, Inc., a sensor technology company.  He also sat on the NASD (now known as FINRA) OTC Bulletin Board Committee for two years.  Mr. Bronson is a successful value investor who has been personally involved in over $300 million in financings, mergers and acquisition transactions for small and middle market companies.  Mr. Bronson currently holds the series 4, 7, 24, 53, 55, 63, 65, 66 and 79 licenses. 

Paul Appelbaum, Senior Investment Banker 

Mr. Appelbaum has over 20 years of industry experience.  In addition to his corporate finance expertise, Mr. Appelbaum brings a wealth of both buy and sell-side relationships to the Catalyst team.   Prior to joining Catalyst Financial, Mr. Appelbaum worked at I-Bankers Securities and M.H. Meyerson and Company.   Mr. Appelbaum holds a B.A. in International Affairs & Economics from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and holds series 7, 55 and 63 licenses.  

Joseph “Joey” Smith, Senior Investment Banker

Mr. Smith has a diversified background of nearly 25 years in all aspects of the securities industry.  As a tenured investment banker Mr. Smith brings tremendous creativity to the Catalyst team in the structuring and negotiation of transactions, and the organization of the funding components.  Mr. Smith has experience working with the large wire houses, including Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney, and spent over eleven years with First Equity Corporation of Florida, one of South Florida’s oldest and most respected local brokerage firms.  Mr. Smith earned a B.A. in History from Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva, and holds the series 7 and 63 securities licenses. 

Ravi M. Ugale, Senior Investment Banker
Mr. Ugale has 24 years of total operations and investment experience, bringing a well-defined ability to successfully source, build and exit investments. Prior to joining Catalyst Financial, Mr. Ugale was a Managing Director with Crossbow Ventures for ten years where he focused his investment activities in the information technology and health care sectors. Mr. Ugale is a past Chairman of Florida Venture Forum and currently serves on advisory board of Launch Pad, University of Miami; industry advisory board at FIU; is a member of YPO (Young Presidents Organization) and charter member of TiE Florida.  Mr. Ugale earned an MBA in International Business and Finance from Florida Atlantic University, a MS in Computer Science from Marquette University, a BS in Engineering from Pune University, and currently holds the series 79 securities license.