Meet Oxford's Board of Advisors

Essel Bailey is a lawyer and private investor with a long involvement in healthcare services to the elderly. He has organized and run two public companies and served as a director of several publicly listed companies. He has spent the last 30 years working with capital markets, investment banks and other financial organizations in real estate, finance, healthcare and manufacturing in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

David Barfield is the founder and Board Chair of BarPellam, Inc. Founded in 2015 in partnership with UK-based Impellam Group, BarPellam is a leading Managed Services Provider that implements and manages large, complex workforce and talent acquisition programs for Fortune 500 clients, overseeing the administration of more than $1 billion in client spending annually. As Board Chair, David is responsible for overall company governance and for supporting management in achieving its strategic and growth objectives.

Dennis Bernard is the founder and President of Bernard Financial Group and Bernard Financial Servicing Group. Founded in 1991, BFG has grown into the largest commercial mortgage banking firm in Michigan, financing on average over $1 billion yearly. Dennis has been involved with over 1,200 commercial real estate financial transactions totaling over $18.6 billion. He specializes in both debt and equity placement with commercial lenders and institutional joint venture participants.

Tim Damschroder is the co-chair of the Business Law Practice Group of Bodman PLC. He specializes in middle market M&A transactions, corporate finance, and corporate counsel to numerous businesses with both local and worldwide operations. His activities involve companies in a broad range of industries including software, IT, big data, pharma and other technology based industries, manufacturing, publishing, automotive, aerospace, transportation, large retail, food and beverage, construction and healthcare.

Tamara Knapp is the founder of Tamara Knapp Advisory, LLC, where she serves as a trusted advisor to private companies, real estate organizations and public-sector entities. Her practice focuses on organizational design, leadership development, operational excellence, transition planning and executive coaching, working closely with leadership teams to strengthen accountability, develop future leaders and navigate periods of growth and change. She brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience in real estate operations, strategic planning and organizational transformation.

Lawrence D. McLaughlin is a retired partner of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP where he served as Chairman of the Real Estate Department for 20 years. He also served as general counsel for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Inc. for 16 years. Following retirement, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Bedrock Detroit. He is currently a member of the Finance Committee of the Archdiocese of Detroit; Chairs its Asset Committee; is a Board Member of Mooney Real Estate Holdings; and is an Emeritus Board Member of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

David Sarns has 25 years experience in leading global organizations in the investment and securities field. He spent 12 years at SG Cowen Securities Corporation as a Senior Portfolio Director and eventually served as both the Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Strategic Development. Previously David was Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director at Rockefeller & Co., Inc.