SPACE & DEFENSE TECH Financial Panel Viewpoints - SD

Panel Discussion: SPACE & DEFENSE TECH

Viewpoints from Venture Lending, Venture Capital and Investment Banking

Panelists:

Everardo Gomez, Director, Technology Banking Group, Bridge Bank, a division of Western Alliance Bank

Arthur Karell, General Partner, First In

Paul Weisbrich, Managing Director, KAL Capital

Panel Moderator: Chris Pannacciulli, Senior Director, Aerospace, Defense & Government Contracting, Western Alliance Bank and Chair, A&D Forum San Diego Chapter

Panelists

Everardo Gomez is a Director in the Technology Banking Group and Space Lead at Bridge Bank, a division of Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, where he leads a team of five bankers for startup companies and Venture Capital firms in the Southern California area. During his nearly 20-year career in banking, He has taken on increasing levels of responsibility, working primarily with tech companies to support them throughout all phases of their growth cycle.

Prior to the beginning of his banking career, Everardo was a manufacturing engineer at Lockheed Martin, which he believes has given him a unique perspective into cutting-edge technologies and then, later, a strong appreciation for how to help young companies grow and thrive. Prior to Bridge Bank, he also worked at Wells Fargo, Silicon Valley Bank and East West Bank, where he launched a national digital media lending practice, building a significant portfolio of leading new media and tech companies.

Arthur Karell is a General Partner at First In investing in defense and dual-use technology. Prior to First In, Arthur was a senior corporate development executive at Anduril, a venture-backed defense technology company providing the U.S. and its allies advanced AI and autonomous systems. Previously, Arthur was an early employee and executive with FiscalNote, an information services technology company that he helped grow from $0 to over $75mm in revenue.

Arthur began his career as an attorney at a major corporate law firm. He then became a United States Marine Corps officer during the Global War on Terror. Arthur served as an infantry officer over three overseas deployments, receiving the Bronze Star with “V” for combat leadership in Afghanistan.

Paul Weisbrich, Managing Director. Since 1989, Paul has focused continuously on the aerospace, space and manufacturing investment banking sectors. Clients have been attracted to the unique depth, breadth and continuity of relevant industry experience, not often available to the middle market segment. He is responsible for deep relationship management, origination of transactions, as well as hands-on execution of a variety of capital market transactions. Paul has led hundreds of successful M&A transaction with buyers from four continents. He is a past recipient of the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “most Influential Investment Bankers” accolade and is on the Executive Committee of the Aerospace and Defense Forum. Paul is a frequent lecturer on investment banking topics and an active Adjunct Professor on M&A topics at USC’s Marshall School’s Executive MBA program.

Paul joined KALCap in 2025 from D.A. Davidson. Earlier in his career he worked in Bank of America and Robertson Stephens Investment Banking Groups. Mr. Weisbrich is a second generation Southern California native, graduated with a business degree from LMU and earned his MBA from USC. He resides in Orange County, CA with his wife and has three adult children.

Panel Moderator

Chris Pannacciulli With more than 25 years of experience, Chris joined the Western Alliance Bank’s Aerospace, Defense & Government Contracting team in 2024. Western Alliance Bank is ranked as a top U.S. bank in 2024 by American Banker and Bank Director and several #1 rankings with the Institutional Investor. He has led over $10 billion of relationship transactions in his career, and in his current role, as Senior Director Chris offers strategic guidance, products and solutions tailored to the unique needs of small and mid-sized aerospace, defense, space and government services firms nationwide. He specializes in credit solutions for acquisitions, working capital, international trade, equipment financing and recapitalizations, as well as risk mitigation through foreign exchange and interest rate programs. Chris also focuses on optimizing working capital and corporate treasury management structures.

Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Rutgers University, School of Business. In addition to his role at the bank, he serves as the Chair of the Aerospace & Defense Forum, San Diego Chapter, is a Board Director for the Aero Club of Southern California and is a member of several industry organizations, including the Aero Club of Washington DC, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA), the Association of the US Army (AUSA), the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), the Navy League of the United States, National Aeronautic Association (NAA), the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA), the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC), the Vertical Aviation International (VAI), and Women in Defense (WID) Los Angeles, San Diego & Washington DC Chapters.

Host or Publisher The Aerospace & Defense Forum