Bios 2016

Board of Directors Bios

2016-2017 Officers

Chris Rae
Elevation Marketing Advisory

Chris is Founder and Managing Director of Elevation Marketing Advisory, an outsourced marketing and client service business. Elevation Marketing Advisory, established in February 2016, is a business division of Elevation LLC, a Charlotte-based broker-dealer. In addition to its marketing advisory and execution businesses, Elevation LLC has an exclusive distribution arrangement with Variant Perception, a leading provider of cross-asset class, data-driven market commentary and research.

Elevation Marketing Advisory’s first client is Sorin Capital Management, LLC, a Stamford, Connecticut-based management firm focused on CMBS and REITs. Sorin runs hedge fund and liquid alternative strategies within these markets. Sorin currently manages over $760mm in AUM from institutional investors including pension funds, family offices, and fund of funds. Chris joined Sorin in 2014 as the Managing Director and Head of Business Development.

From 2008 to 2013, Chris was a Director of Marketing at S.A.C. Capital Advisors, L.P. focused on covering all investor types across the Americas. Prior to joining S.A.C., from 2006 to 2008 Chris was a Managing Director, Client Relations at Chilton Investment Company. From 2003 to 2006, Chris was a Vice President at Goldman, Sachs & Co. working within the Equities and Fixed Income Divisions as a member of the Pensions Services Group providing institutional sales coverage for pensions, endowments, and foundations. Prior to 2003, Chris was an Associate in Goldman’s Investment Banking Division primarily covering natural resources and industrial companies.

Chris received both his AM and BA in Philosophy from Stanford University and his JD/MBA from Duke University. Chris is on the board of AIMSE (Association of Investment Management Sales Executives) and currently serves as President.

Carolyn Patton, CFA
Deutsche Asset Management

Carolyn Patton, CFA, is Managing Director, Head of Consultant Relations, Americas at Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management. She joined the Company in 2014 with 22 years of industry experience. Prior to joining, Carolyn was Executive Managing Director, Principal leading the global distribution team at Turner Investments. Previously, she was Global Head of Consultant Relations at Janus Capital Group. Before, she was a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management and worked at Delaware Investments. Carolyn started her career at SEI Investments. Carolyn received her BA in Economics from University of Virginia and is a CFA Charterholder.

Christopher Paolella
Liquid Strategies, LLC

Chris Paolella has over 29 years of investment industry experience, is a founding partner of Liquid Strategies and is a member of the firm’s management committee. Chris is actively involved with Liquid Strategies’ firm-wide strategy, operations, marketing and investor relations. Most recently, he served as Principal, Managing Director for the Concourse Capital Partners, L.P., a global long/short equity fund that he co-founded in 2008. Chris also co-founded affiliated, institutional investment management firm Perimeter Capital Management in 2006. At Perimeter, Chris was one of the firm’s Managing Partners and was actively involved in all aspects of the firm’s day-to-day operations. Prior to 2006, he served in senior positions with both Trusco Capital Management and Great-West Life & Annuity. Chris is a graduate of the University of Richmond, where he received a B.A. in Economics.

P. MacKenzie Hurd, CFA
Jennison Associates

MacKenzie Hurd joined Jennison Associates in November 2013 and is responsible for developing and managing consulting relationships. Prior to joining Jennison, MacKenzie was a principal and director of client service and consultant relations at Rainier Investment Management, since 2011. From 2007 to 2011, he was with The Capital Group Companies, where he was a consultant relationship manager. MacKenzie was a partner and general consultant at Callan Associates in San Francisco from 2001 to 2007. He received his BA in English from Dartmouth College and is a CFA charterholder.

2016-2017 Board of Directors

Alejandra Argüello
Caspian Capital LP

Alejandra Argüello has 13 years of experience in the investment management industry. She is a member of the marketing and investor relations team for Caspian Capital, a NYC-based hedge fund manager focusing on long/short credit and distressed debt investing. Previously, Ms. Argüello worked as Director of Marketing at Moneda USA and Senior Associate at Everest Capital, a global hedge fund advisory firm specializing in emerging markets. Prior to joining Everest, she was a Vice President at BiscayneAmericas Advisors. She also worked as Assistant Director of Development at the Cato Institute in Washington, DC. Fluent in Spanish, Ms. Argüello received a B.S. in Economics and Political Science from Florida State University. Ms. Argüello is a board member of Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE) and a member of the Alternative Investment and Global Investment Committees for the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA).

Heather Conforto Beatty
First Eagle Investment Management, LLC

Heather is a vice president on the Institutional team at First Eagle Investment Management, and is responsible for managing relationships with institutions and consultants primarily in the Midwest and on the West Coast. Prior to joining First Eagle in March 2016, she was a senior vice president at TCW and, before that, co-director of global consultant relations for Thornburg Investment Management. At both firms, she focused on managing and cultivating consultant and institutional relationships. Heather began her career in investment management at Palisades Investment Partners, where she drove all efforts related to institutional business development, client service and marketing. She is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio and holds her Series 7 and Series 66 licenses. Heather is involved in several national and regional organizations. She is a co-founder of Women in Institutional Investments Network (WIIIN), a Los Angeles-based 501c3, and a board member at Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE).

Gus Catsavis, CFA
Pinnacle Asset Management, L.P.

Prior to joining Pinnacle in June 2008, Mr. Catsavis was a Principal at Focus Capital Management LLC from February 2000 to May 2008. From July 1986 to January 2000, he was the President of Asset Consulting Group, Inc. Mr. Catsavis received a B.A. in Economics from Southern Methodist University and an MBA in Finance from Washington University.

Matthew Crowe
Proprietary Capital, LLC

Matthew J. Crowe is the Director of Marketing & Investor Relations for Proprietary Capital, LLC. Mr. Crowe is responsible for managing the firms marketing and investor relations efforts. Prior to joining Proprietary, Mr. Crowe was a Principal of Anchor Point Capital, LLC, a Coral Gables, FL-based fund-of-hedge fund. Prior to Anchor Point, Mr. Crowe worked on the U.S.-based sales & client services team at Fjord Seafood ASA, a leading global commodity company specializing in the production of farmed salmon. Mr. Crowe started his career working in the publishing industry. Mr. Crowe received his BA in business administration from Western State College of Colorado.

Proprietary Capital, LLC, a Denver, CO-based investment management company that was founded in 1997 and specializes in the Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (RMBS) market.

Brian Crowell, CFA
Millennium Management LLC

Brian is the Global Head of Liquid Alternative Solutions for Millennium Management. Brian joined Millennium in 2016, after spending 8 years at AQR Capital Management in a variety of roles, including work in their Portfolio Solutions Group, and most recently as the Global Head of Consultant Relations. Prior to joining AQR, Brian was a Summer Associate at UBS Global Asset Management in their Equities Long/Short Group and earlier as a proprietary equity trader at Trillium Trading. He became a CFA charter holder in 2009 and is a member of the CFA Institute, as well as a Board Member of Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE). Brian earned his AB in Chemistry from Dartmouth College and his MBA with concentrations in Analytic Finance, Economics and Accounting from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.

Jack C. Ebenreiter, CFA
Federated Investors

Jack C. Ebenreiter, CFA is Senior Vice President, Consultant Relations at Federated Investors where he is responsible for developing and strengthening the firm’s relationships with investment consultants. He joined Federated in 2009 and has 18 years of experience in client relations and business development in the investment management industry.

Prior to joining Federated, Jack served as Director, Principal and was responsible for institutional business development, consultant relations and client service at Turner Investments from 2004-2009. He spent the previous seven years at Delaware Investments as Assistant Vice President of institutional distribution.

Jack earned a BS in business administration from Rowan University and is a CFA charterholder. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Philadelphia, and serves as a board member for the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale and Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE).

Paul D. Foster, CFA
The London Company

Paul D. Foster, CFA is the Head of Consultant Relations at The London Company where he is responsible for developing and strengthening the firm’s relationships with institutional consultants worldwide and providing them with necessary information about the firm for their clients. He joined The London Company in 2014 and has 27 years of experience in client relations and business development in the investment-management industry.

Prior to joining The London Company, Mr. Foster served as Global Head of Consultant Relations at Turner Investments, before which, he was employed at Delaware Investments as vice president of consultant relations. Paul was also employed with Sturdivant & Co.

Mr. Foster graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Furman University with a BA in history and earned his MA in ancient history from the University of Missouri where he was a Brady Fellow. He is a CFA charter holder and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Philadelphia.

Michael R. Gillis
Greystone Managed Investments Inc.

Michael Gillis is Senior Vice-President, Business Development of Greystone Managed Investments Inc.

Immediately prior to joining Greystone, Michael held the position of Vice-President Institutional Marketing and Sales for a number of years with Seamark Asset Management. Previously, he worked for the Halifax Grammar School for 2 years, as a Teacher. Michael has also worked as a Director of Business Development for National Trust, and has held the position of Senior Account Representative for both Royal Trust and National Trust.

Michael’s professional credentials include a Bachelor of Education, which he completed at Mount Saint Vincent University and a Bachelor of Business Admin., which was obtained from St. Francis Xavier University.

Michael is also an active board member for Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE) and Benefits and Pensions Monitor. Michael is also actively involved in the Canadian Benefits and Pension Institute (CPBI), the Association of Canadian Pension Managers (ACPM), the Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO), and the International Foundation of Employee Benefits (IFEBP). Michael serves on the board of two charities, MAGICANA and Georgetown Walk for Wishes (Ontario).

Timothy P. Hill

Timothy Hill is a member of the AIMSE Board of Directors.

Tim started his career as an equity derivatives trader for O’Connor and Associates. Swiss Bank Corporation bought OCA in 1992, and Tim held various institutional sales roles for SBC focusing on equity, FX and precious metals derivatives in the USA, UK, and Switzerland.

Tim held other derivatives sales and trading positions before joining Lehman Brothers in 2002. At Lehman Brothers and Neuberger Berman, Tim was a salesperson and Product Specialist in Hedge Fund, Private Bank and Fund-of-funds groups.

More recently, Tim was Head of North American Institutional Sales for Mirae Asset Global Investments (USA) and then Global Co-Head of Consultant Relations at Thornburg Investment Management, covering primarily East Coast Consultants.

Tim graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Economics in 1990.

Kevin A. Joy
Weitz Investment Management

Kevin is responsible for Midwestern business development at Weitz Investment Management. In his role he identifies, develops and cultivates strategic relationships with institutional investors, consultants, and financial intermediaries. Prior to joining Weitz Investments, Kevin spent five years at Heartland Advisors as Head of Institutional Sales and Marketing. Prior to his time there, Kevin was with New York Life Insurance Company/NYLEX Benefits as a Managing Director. For much of his career, he was a Vice President and Regional Director in the Private Wealth and Investment Management divisions of Goldman, Sachs & Co. where he focused on business development and advisory services.

Kevin earned his undergraduate degrees in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA in Finance from Washington University in Saint Louis. He holds Series 7 and 65 licenses and has earned the Claritas® Investment Certificate. In 2012, Kevin was included in DiversityMBA Magazine’s Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Executive & Emerging Leaders. Prior to his roles in financial services, Kevin was an Advisory Client Manager at IBM, where he was the recipient of several IBM Marketing Excellence Awards.

In his spare time, Kevin serves on the Board of Directors for both City Year Milwaukee and the Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation. He is also an emeritus member of the Auxiliary Board of the Art Institute of Chicago.

John S. Larson
Syntax, LLC

John is Managing Director, Head of Institutional for Syntax, LLC. John joined HGK Asset Management in 2014 and was responsible for developing and managing consulting relationships. John has 20 years of institutional asset management experience serving in both client service and business development capacities. Prior to joining HGK, John was a principal and Executive Director for Echo Point Investment Management. From 2000 to 2011, he was Managing Director with Gardner Lewis Asset Management where he led the institutional business development and client service teams. Previous experience includes Philadelphia firms Cooke & Bieler and Penn Capital Management where he began his investment management career in 1995. John received his BA from the University of Virginia. He is an active participant in AIMSE events. John is an Executive Committee member and Vice President of the Board of the Delaware Museum of Natural History.

John P. Mirante, CFA, CPA
BMO Global Asset Management

John is a member of BMO Global Asset Management’s institutional client relationship team. In this role, John acts as a key advisor to the firms’ clients, managing and expanding relationships across multiple asset classes. John is also a member of the BMO GAM’s Responsible Investing-ESG Committee. He began his financial services experience in 1994, and joined BMO Global Asset Management U.S. in 2013.

Prior to joining the firm, he was an Investment Relationship Manager with Northern Trust Asset Management’s institutional client group. Prior to Northern Trust, John was a Vice President with Credit-Suisse, and served as a Portfolio Consultant for their CS HOLT research division. Prior to Credit-Suisse, John was an internal auditor for Kraft Foods, and an external auditor for Crowe Chizek.

John received a B.S. in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation. He is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago, and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Society’s Career Management Advisory Group. He holds the Series 3,7 & 63 securities licenses, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mark Robertson
Proprietary Capital, LLC

Mark Robertson is the Director of Business Development at Proprietary Capital in Denver, Colorado. Prior to joining Proprietary, Mr. Robertson was the COO and Founding Partner of Silvergate Capital Management, a Denver based health care hedge fund. Prior to starting Silvergate, Mr. Robertson was a Vice President at Morgan Stanley in New York City. He worked in the Institutional Equity Division selling the firm’s equity products to US based asset managers. Mr. Robertson started his career in investment management at Paine Webber selling the firm’s diversified research product to West Coast based asset managers.

Mr. Robertson received his bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in finance, from the University of Vermont.

Christine Sasse, CFA
AB

Christine Sasse has 20 years of investment industry experience. Currently, she is a Managing Director on the consultant relations team at AB. Prior to joining the firm, she was a member of the consultant relations group at Epoch Investment Partners. Prior to joining Epoch in 2014, she spent nine years as Director of Consultant Relations and Institutional Sales at Philadelphia International Advisors (PIA), a non-U.S. and emerging market asset management firm where she was also a partner. Prior to PIA, Christine worked at CRA Rogers Casey. During her tenure, she worked as a consultant directly responsible for client programs then later was a member of the U.S. Equity Manager Research team. She earned a BS in accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Miriam Tai, CFA, CAIA

Miriam Tai was most recently Managing Director at CIFC Asset Management, where she was responsible for managing consultant relationships and business development. Previously, she was Global Head of Consultant Relations at Itaú Asset Management, a Brazilian manager specializing in Latin American investments. Prior to Itaú, she was Head of US Consultant Relations at Man Investments and a Director of Consultant Relations at BlackRock (formerly BGI). Before her asset management days, she spent time in structured finance as well as management consulting. Miriam has a MBA from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, and an A.B. in Political Science from the University of Chicago. She holds both the CFA and CAIA designations. She’s a native from Hong Kong, fluent in Cantonese and passable in French and Portuguese. She spends her spare time on circus activities, golf, teaching Pilates, and traveling.

Kurt P. Terrien
Clarkston Capital Partners

Kurt joined Clarkston Capital Partners in 2013 and oversees the firm’s institutional business, including sales, consultant relations and client service. Kurt has over 20 years of industry experience. Most recently, he was the Director of Sales and Consultant Relations for Johnson Institutional Management. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Institutional Asset Management at National City Bank and a Senior Client Services Manager at World Asset Management.

Kurt received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Walsh College and a MBA from Wayne State University. He is a member of MAPERS (Michigan Association of Public Employees Retirement Systems) and serves on the board of AIMSE.

Holly Verdeyen, CEBS
Russell Investments

Holly Verdeyen is responsible for working with Russell’s institutional consulting, sales, and client service groups to promote Russell’s DC investment services. More specifically, her focus is on default investments – target date collective trusts, custom target date portfolios and Russell Adaptive Retirement Accounts. Holly also shares Russell’s perspective on trends in the defined contribution market while offering advice on best practices in institutional plan design. Holly joined Russell in 2013 from UBS Global Asset Management, where she was a DC specialist in the Defined Contribution and Retirement Solutions group, focusing on investment solution support and client relationship management, as well as broad retirement solutions and guaranteed lifetime income. Holly joined UBS Global Asset Management in 2003 from Blackrock (formerly Barclays Global Investors), where she was in a business development role within the Defined Contribution Group.

Holly is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and serves on the Boards of Directors for the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago and Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE).

B.A., St. Norbert College
M.B.A., Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management

Greg Weissman
Putnam Investments

Mr. Weissman is a Consultant Relations Director for Putnam Global Institutional Management. In this role, he is responsible for managing relationships with investment consultants in the Eastern region of the United States. Mr. Weissman, who holds his Series 7 and 63 licenses with FINRA, is on the board of Proctor Academy and Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE). He joined Putnam in 2011 and has been in the investment industry since 2000. Past experience includes Old Mutual Asset Management as Senior Vice President, Director of Consultant Relations and Cowen & Company, Jefferies, Pacific Crest Securities, SoundView Technology Group. Mr. Weissman received his BBA from Southern Methodist University, B.B.A.

Kimberley Woolverton
Aberdeen Asset Management

Kimberley joined Aberdeen Asset Management in 2009 and is responsible for business development and client servicing for Aberdeen’s Canadian clients. Prior to joining Aberdeen, Kim spent almost 5 years at Burgundy Asset Management in Toronto where she was responsible for business development and client servicing. She also spent over 3 years with Merrill Lynch in Denver, Colorado as a Special Services Financial Planner, prior to returning to Toronto.

Kimberley earned her BSc (Distinction) degree from McGill University, completed her Canadian Securities Course (Honours) in 1995 and became a CFA charterholder in 2004. She has also completed numerous Executive Education programs including those through the Harvard Kennedy School, the Rotman School of Management and Columbia Business School. She is a member of the CFA Institute and currently serves on the Canadian and US Board of Directors of AIMSE.