Judges

Irina Babushkina joined Neuberger Berman in 2005. A member of the global equity research department, she manages Neuberger Berman’s relationships with sell-side partners, among other responsibilities. Before joining the firm, Babushkina worked in the mergers and acquisitions group at Merrill Lynch. She received a B.A. in economics from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Babushkina serves on the board of Chances for Children, a nonprofit organization that provides free parent-child play therapy in three neighborhoods in the Bronx.

Michael Balkin is the CEO of Foresight Acquisition Corporation and chairman of Performance Health Systems, Inc, a private health and wellness company. Previously, he was a partner at William Blair and portfolio manager on William Blair’s small-cap growth strategy. He rejoined William Blair in 2008 after three years as a portfolio manager and chief investment officer of Magnetar Investment Management. Balkin originally joined William Blair in 1990, covering small-cap growth companies for the firm’s sell-side institutional research sales group. Balkin received a B.A. from Northwestern University.

William Benton, CFA, CPA, partner, is a global equity research analyst and is co-director of research for the global equity team. He covers large-cap consumer/communication services companies. Previously, Benton covered mid- and large-cap technology, media, and communication services companies. Before joining William Blair Investment Management in 2007, he was a technology research analyst with the firm’s sell-side research group for 10 years. In this position, Benton was twice named “Best on the Street” in The Wall Street Journal’s annual analyst survey. Before joining William Blair in 1997, he worked at SBC Warburg, U.S. Cellular, May Company, and Monsanto. Benton is a member of the CFA Society Chicago and holds the CMA® designation. He received a B.S. in finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an M.B.A. from Dartmouth College’s Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, where he was a Tuck Scholar.

Tim Beyer, CFA, is a private investor after a 32-year career in investment management. Most recently, he was a managing director and senior portfolio manager at Sterling Capital Management, managing the firm’s midcap value strategy for 17 years. Under his management, the midcap value strategy’s assets under management grew from $100 million to $3.1 billion and finished in the top quartile of his peer group. Before that, Beyer managed the AIM Midcap Basic Value Mutual Fund for AIM (now part of Invesco) and the USAA Value Fund for USAA. He began his investment career at Bank of America, where he spent 12 years as both a fixed-income and equity analyst, and later as co-manager of a large-cap value fund and serving as director of asset allocation. Beyer is a CFA® charterholder and has served on the CFA Institute’s Council of Examiners, writing the equity portion of the CFA exam for a full four-year term; he also served as a CFA exam grader for seven years.

Karl W. Brewer, CFA, is a former principal, partner, and portfolio manager of William Blair Investment Management. He joined the firm in 1996 as an analyst and became a portfolio manager in 1999. Before joining William Blair, Brewer spent six years in the mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance departments at Lehman Brothers. He is a CFA® charterholder. Brewer received a B.A. in economics from Washington and Lee University in 1988 and an M.B.A in finance, accounting, marketing, and management and strategy from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Garland Buchanan is a senior research analyst with the U.S. investment grade research team at Legal and General Investment Management America (LGIMA) where he covers the healthcare & pharma, auto, industrials, and not-for-profit hospital sectors. Buchanan has 14 years of credit research experience, and before joining LGIMA in 2011, he worked within Barings’ Public Corporate Credits Group covering the investment grade and high-yield homebuilder and building materials sectors and investment grade energy, oil field services, and pipeline sectors. Before starting his career in finance, Buchanan was a naval aviator for eight years. He received a B.A. from Duke University and an M.B.A. from Cornell University.

Ryan Burgess, CFA, joined Durable Capital Partners as an investment analyst in 2019. He has 17 years of investment experience. Burgess came to Durable from T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., where he was vice president and portfolio manager of the smaller companies equity strategy, an institutional stock portfolio focused on U.S. small- and midcap stocks. Before that, he was a portfolio manager at SouthTrust Bank and later, a portfolio manager at Evergreen Asset Management. Burgess is a CFA® charterholder. He received a B.S. in business from the University of Alabama and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

J. Brian Campbell, CFA, is a co-lead portfolio manager for the small-cap, small-mid cap, midcap, and all-cap 25 strategies and a member of The London Company’s investment team. Campbell has more than 15 years of industry experience, beginning his career in 2000 as an equity analyst at INVESCO-National Asset Management. Before joining The London Company, Campbell spent six years as a portfolio manager and director of research at Hilliard Lyons Capital Management He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Society Virginia. Campbell received a B.B.A. in finance, with honors, from the University of Kentucky, and an M.B.A. from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Noah Charney is a managing director of the U.S. research team at King Street. He also serves on the firm’s U.S. investment committee. Before joining Kin Street in 2013, Charney served as an analyst at Trilogy Capital and held analyst positions at Och-Ziff Capital Management Group and GoldenTree Asset Management. He began his career at Bear Stearns and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation. Charney received an B.A. in economics from Queen’s University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Steve Cheng, CFA, is a director at Liberty Mutual Investments. He works within the global partnerships and innovation group, which is focused on the distressed portfolio. He has 12 years of investment industry experience, with a focus on credit. Previously, he worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Nomura Securities International, Varde Partners, and Global Bankers Insurance Group. He also has experience in the actuarial pension space with predecessor firms of Willis Towers Watson. Cheng received a B.A. from Duke University and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Kathy Chiang, CFA, is a fundamental research analyst on BlackRock’s global allocation team. As an equities analyst, she is primarily responsible for coverage of the consumer sector. Chiang joined the BlackRock global allocation team in 2018 as a member of the analyst program. She received a B.A. in mathematics and economics from Cornell University.

Alan R. Christensen is the president and head of investment risk at Fayez Sarofim & Co. He is a member of Fayez Sarofim & Co.’s executive and investment committees and is on the board of Sarofim Trust Company. Christensen is also a co-manager of the mutual funds that Fayez Sarofim & Co. manages for The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation and a portfolio manager for a variety of institutional and high-net-worth clients. Additionally, he serves as a director of Sarofim Irish Collective Asset Management Vehicle (ICAV). Over the years, Christensen’s areas of research responsibility have included companies in the technology and industrials sectors. Before joining Fayez Sarofim & Co. in 2005, Christensen was a director at Alvarez & Marsal and a senior manager in capital markets at Accenture. He received at B.A. in economics and history from Washington & Lee University, graduating cum laude, and an M.B.A with distinction from Cornell University. Additionally, Christensen is a graduate of the Center for Houston’s Future Leadership Forum and is a member of YPO (Young President’s Organization). He previously served on the boards of Annunciation Orthodox School, Palmer Memorial Endowment Fund, and the Tompkins County Community Foundation.

Tim Codrington is a managing director of research in the equity division at Fidelity Investments, a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing, and other financial products and services to institutions, financial intermediaries, and individuals. In this role, Codrington oversees Fidelity’s research analysts and portfolio managers for the consumer team. In addition, he shares responsibility for managing equity research associates and the undergraduate and M.B.A. campus recruiting and training programs. Codrington also co-manages the Fidelity Enduring Opportunities Fund, Fidelity Disruptive Automation Fund, Fidelity Disruptive Communications Fund, Fidelity Disruptive Finance Fund, Fidelity Disruptive Medicine Fund, Fidelity Disruptive Technology Fund, and Fidelity Disruptors Fund. Before joining Fidelity, Codrington was a partner and portfolio manager at Copper Rock Capital Partners; a portfolio manager at AGF Management Limited; and a portfolio manager and research analyst at Putnam Investments. His prior roles have been focused in the consumer sector, and he has been responsible for portfolio construction, risk analysis, and security selection throughout his career. Codrington has been in the financial industry since 1995. He received a B.A. in government from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Sam Cox is the backup portfolio manager and equity research analyst on the durable equity team at Wellington Management, where he focuses on the durable companies and durable enterprises approaches. Before joining Wellington Management in 2019, Cox was a portfolio manager, analyst, and co-director of equity research at Putnam Investments. In this role, he was responsible for researching U.S. healthcare companies; he served as the assistant portfolio manager for the Putnam Growth Opportunities strategy; co-portfolio manager for the Putnam Research Fund; and co-portfolio manager for the Putnam Global Health Care Fund. Before joining Putnam Investments, Cox worked as an equity research analyst at Fidelity Institutional Asset Management, where he covered global medical technology and life science companies. He received a B.A. in politics, philosophy, and economics and urban studies from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management.

Catherine P. Crain is a vice president at Fayez Sarofim & Co. and co-portfolio manager of the mutual funds that Fayez Sarofim & Co. manages for The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. Crain also serves as a portfolio manager for a variety of institutional and high-net-worth clients. Crain joined the firm in 1993 in equity research. Over the years, her areas of research responsibility have included transportation, media and entertainment, and consumer products. Before joining Fayez Sarofim & Co., Crain was a financial analyst in the investment banking division at Merrill Lynch & Co. She received a B.A. with highest honors in the Plan II Liberal Arts Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Crain received an M.B.A. from the University of Texas. She is a life member of the University of Texas’s McCombs School of Business advisory council and has also served on the board of trustees for The Joy School and Presbyterian School of Houston.

Dan Crowe, CFA, partner, is a portfolio manager on William Blair’s midcap growth, small-mid cap growth, and small-mid cap core strategies. Previously, he was an associate portfolio manager on the firm’s midcap growth strategy, an associate portfolio manager on the firm’s small-cap growth strategy, and a research analyst, where he focused on all sectors across the U.S. small-cap space. Before joining William Blair as a generalist research analyst in May 2011, Crowe was a midcap portfolio manager at Pyramis Global Advisors and a portfolio manager and analyst at The Boston Company/Founders Asset Management. He began his career as a generalist analyst at Marsico Capital Management. Crowe is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Chicago. He received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Anil Daka, CFA, partner, is a global equity research analyst. He covers small-mid cap industrials companies. Before joining the firm in 2011, Daka was an equity analyst at Morningstar, where he was responsible for equity research coverage in the global industrials sector. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Chicago. Daka received a B.Tech. in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina.

Tyler Dunaway, CFA, is an investment research analyst for American Century Investments, a premier investment manager based in Kansas City, Missouri. In this role, Dunaway provides fundamental research and equity analysis for the U.S. small-cap value and small-cap income strategies. Previously, he served as an investment research analyst supporting investment teams within the firm’s global growth-U.S. discipline. Before joining American Century Investments in 2019, Dunaway was a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley. He has worked in the industry since 2014. Dunaway is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. He received a B.A. in business and economics from the University of Kentucky and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Kliton Duri is a senior portfolio manager for the high-yield & leveraged loans strategy at State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB). In this role, he is responsible for a wide range of sectors including airlines and transportation, autos and industrials, financials, homebuilders, and paper and packaging. Before joining SWIB in 2022, he was a managing director at PPM America for 15 years, where he covered corporate bonds, leveraged loans, and private placements across many sectors. During that time, Duri was also a regular investor panelist in several aviation industry conferences. He began his investment career at McDonald Investments (KeyCorp), where he was a senior investment analyst covering equities. Duri has over 18 years of investment experience. He received a B.A. and an M.B.A., both in finance and economics, from Cleveland State University.

Benjamin Ebel is a member of Lord Abbett’s innovation growth equity team. In this role, he is responsible for contributing to the management of the firm’s small-cap growth strategy. Ebel joined Lord Abbett in 2005. Before serving in his current role, he served as research analyst on various teams. Previously, he worked as a senior financial analyst at Dreyfus; senior financial analyst and portfolio manager at Invesco; financial analyst and controller at Armen Partners, LP; controller at Hospitality Restoration Builders, Inc.; and senior auditor at Arthur Andersen & Co. Ebel has worked in the financial services industry since 1992.  He earned a B.A. in economics from Brandeis University and an M.S. in accounting from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Brad Ernst, CFA, is a research analyst at William Blair Investment Management. He focuses on U.S. small-cap consumer companies. Before joining William Blair in 2021, Brad was a research analyst at Columbia Wanger Asset Management for six years, where he covered healthcare and consumer companies. He was also an equity analyst summer intern at Capital Group during business school. Before transitioning to investment management, Brad held various financial analyst roles at Accretive Health, a hospital revenue cycle consulting firm. He is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society of Chicago. Brad received a B.A. in economics (with high honors) and mathematics from Colgate University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Peter Fauler, CFA, is a managing director and senior research analyst at Nuveen. In this role, he serves as a member of the leveraged finance team and is responsible for covering the services sectors. Previously, Fauler covered the automotive, metals and mining, transportation, aerospace and defense, non-bank financials, and industrials sectors. Before joining the leveraged finance team, he worked in structured finance and investment-grade research for global public fixed income. Before that, Fauler served in Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America’s private markets, where he invested in corporate private placements, lease finance, and private equity across a variety of industries. Fauler has 18 years of experience in the financial services industry and is a member of the CFA Institute and the North Carolina Society of Security Analysts. He received a B.S. in business administration and economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.S. in mathematical finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Marina Fayerberg is a vice president of State Street Global Advisors and a member of the firm’s Global Product Group. In this role, she is responsible for high-impact strategic initiatives, management business reviews, and commercialization efforts. In addition, Fayerberg is a member of the Sub-Advisory Oversight Committee and the Independent Fiduciary Committee. Previously, she was a member of the Chief Operating Office for the Investment Management Group, which is responsible for the oversight of portfolio management, ensuring process and operational excellence and a consistent view of IT investments, and was credit risk director in the firm’s Counterparty Risk Management Group. In that role, she was responsible for analyzing counterparties, developing tools to evaluate counterparty risk, and monitoring firm-wide counterparty exposure. Before joining State Street Global Advisors, Fayerberg was a credit analyst at Lehman Brothers, with a focus on financial institutions. She received a B.A. in mathematical economics from Pomona College and an M.B.A, with a concentration in finance, from Columbia Business School.

Alex Fitch, CFA, is the director of U.S. research, portfolio manager, and an investment analyst at Harris Associates L.P. As a generalist analyst, Fitch is responsible for generating investment ideas across a wide range of industries and sectors, including commercial real estate, energy, financial services, transportation, and technology. Additionally, he provides continuing coverage of Harris investments. Fitch joined the firm as a research associate in 2011. Previously, he worked at UBS as an investment banking analyst. Fitch is a CFA® charterholder. He received his B.A. in economics and math from DePauw University.

Jonathan Fox, CFA, is a portfolio manager for the Select Equity team at Allspring Global Investments. He joined Allspring from its predecessor firm, Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM). Before that, Fox served as an associate portfolio manager with the team and earlier, as a research analyst. Previously, he worked at William Blair as an equity research summer analyst, and served as an investment banking associate at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. Fox began his investment industry career in 2007. He is a CFA® charterholder and is a member of CFA Society Chicago. Fox received a B.A. in public policy studies and an M.S. in business administration, with an emphasis in corporate and investment finance, from Duke University.

Jack Fraser co-founded Philadelphia-based Seamark Capital in 2000 and for the past 18 years has co-managed the Seamark Fund, a long/short public equities investment partnership focused on growth industries. From 1996 to 2000, Fraser was a team leader and officer at Friess Associates and the Brandywine Funds equity mutual funds. From 1985 to 1996, he was vice president of institutional equities at Credit Suisse First Boston. From 1983 to 1985, he worked at Merrill Lynch Capital Markets, Institutional Equities. Fraser received a B.S.B.A in economics from Bowling Green State University in 1981 and an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University in 1983.

Nick Frelinghuysen is a managing director and an equities portfolio manager at Chilton Trust. In this role, he is responsible for investments in clients’ equity portfolios, with more than 29 years of experience in equity research and portfolio management. Previously, he was a partner at boutique investment firm Eagle Ridge Investment Management, LLC, where he served as a portfolio manager and co-head of research for an organization with $950 million in assets focused on high-net-worth individuals and institutions. Before that, Frelinghuysen worked at Oppenheimer Capital (Allianz Global Partners) as co-portfolio manager on a $2 billion midcap value mutual fund and served as co-head of the $3.5 billion midcap and all-cap investment team. He began his career on the sell side at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Frelinghuysen received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s The Wharton School.

Jeffrey Germain, CFA, is director of the investments group at Brandes Investment Partners. In this role, he has analyst responsibilities on the basic materials research team and is a member of the international large-cap investment committee. He joined Brandes Investment Partners in 2001 and is a limited partner of the firm’s parent company. Previously, he was a financial analyst with Harcourt and CFO of Golf Destinations. Germain received a B.S.B.A. with a concentration in finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Phillip Graf, CFA, is the associate director of research of the leveraged finance team at Nuveen, working with the head of research to oversee and manage the research team and its daily investment process. Graf also serves as a senior analyst and has a long history of covering a variety of subsectors within technology, media, and telecommunications and providing long and short recommendations across the capital structure supporting all mandates. Graf is a CFA® charterholder. He received a B.S. in commerce and business administration.

Dennis C. Greenway II, CFA, is a senior analyst and portfolio manager on the Franklin Street Partners equity team. Before joining Franklin Street Partners in 2015, he gained extensive investment experience in research and portfolio management positions with Belltower Advisors, Proxima Alfa Investments, PENN Capital Management, and Wachovia Securities. Greenway is a CFA® charterholder. he received a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1999 and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2006.

Charles Harris is the director of research and senior research analyst for industrials at ClearBridge Investments, where he leads the firm’s team of sector research analysts. He has 33 years of investment industry experience. He joined ClearBridge Investments in 2011, and has a wide range of experience, having worked as a senior equity analyst at SAC Capital, a managing director at EMS Capital/M. Safra & Co., a partner at Saranac Capital Management, a director at Salomon Brothers Asset Management, a director at INVESCO, a managing director at CIBC World Markets, and an associate research director at Value Line. Harris received a B.A. in political science from Vassar College.

Matthew Healey, CFA, is a research analyst in the fixed-income division at Fidelity Investments, a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing, and other financial products and services. In this role, Healey covers North American insurance companies operating in the life, property and casualty, and bond insurance segments. Previously, he covered finance companies, asset managers, and asset-backed commercial paper; traded high-grade corporate bonds and credit default swaps as part of Fidelity’s credit team; and traded government bonds and worked as a trader in both the taxable money market group and the Muni Money Fund. Before joining Fidelity, Healey served as an assistant vice president at Alliance Capital Management and as a unit trust administrator at U.S. Trust Company. He has worked in the financial industry since 1992. Healey is a CFA® charterholder. He received his B.A. in economics and government from Cornell University.

Jordan Hill is vice president of credit at Kohlberg & Company. Before joining Kohlberg in 2020, Hill served in the U.S. direct lending group at Alcentra, focusing on credit opportunities and direct lending and as a senior associate with Lone Star Funds, where he focused on credit opportunities and special situations. Additionally, he began his career as a high-yield research analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Hill received a B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Paul Howanitz, CFA, is a portfolio manager and senior investment analyst for American Century Investments, a premier investment manager based in Kansas City, Missouri. In this role, Howanitz co-manages the U.S. value yield strategy and provides fundamental equity research and analysis for all strategies managed by the large-midcap value team. He has been a member of the team since joining American Century Investments in 2015. Previously, Howanitz was a quantitative research associate and a regional sales rep with MFS Investment Management. Howanitz has worked in the investment industry since 2008. He is a CFA® charterholder and member of the CFA Institute. Howanitz received a B.A. in administrative science from Colby College and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Matthias Hunkeler joined Liberty Mutual Investments as an associate in 2019, covering the investment-grade telecom, cable, and media sectors from an international and domestic standpoint and the high-yield wireless, wirelines, and cable sectors. Hunkeler also serves as an SME for investments made within the private equity and structured products group. Before joining Liberty Mutual Investments, he was part of the firm’s leadership development program. Hunkeler started his career at FactSet Research Systems, where he primarily focused on fixed-income solutions. He received a B.S. in economics from Hamilton College and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Eric Isch is an assistant vice president in research for Unum. Isch, who joined Unum in 2017, covers autos, building materials, diversified manufacturing. and transportation across investment-grade and high-yield portfolios. Isch has 14 years of experience in credit analysis and fixed income. Before joining Unum, he was the senior analyst covering investment-grade autos at Wells Fargo Securities, while also assisting in coverage across the industrials and materials sectors. Before his stint in fixed-income research, Isch worked in debt capital markets at Wells Fargo Securities, originating investment-grade bond offerings in industrials and financials. He has a B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.B.A. from Duke University.

Drew Johnson is an equity research analyst for Thornburg Investment Management. Before joining Thornburg in 2022, Drew worked as an investment management consultant for FactSet Research Systems. He received a B.S. in finance from Elon University’s The Love School of Business and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’ Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Jim Jones, CFA, partner, is a portfolio manager on William Blair’s Mid Cap Growth and Small-Mid Cap Growth strategies. Previously, he was a research analyst focused on U.S. small-cap industrials companies for the U.S. growth equity team beginning in 2010 and also served as the team’s co-director of research from 2017 to 2019. Before joining William Blair in 2010, Jim was an investment analyst at Federated Investors. Before that, he was a research analyst at Credit Suisse and an associate at Ashton Partners. Jim has the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Chicago. Jim received a B.S. in accounting from Miami University and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina.

Colin Kelly, CFA, is managing director of equities and portfolio manager of equity strategies at Curi Capital following Curi’s acquisition of KDI Capital Partners. Before the acquisition, he was a portfolio manager and senior research analyst at KDI. Additionally, he managed a long/short equity portfolio for Opus Trading Fund; managed the proprietary trading group at Schonfeld; and served as an associate in the structured finance group at Square 1 Bank. Kelly is a CFA® charterholder. He received a B.A. in economics and geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.B.A. from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management where he was a Roy H. Park Fellow. Kelly is currently enrolled in the Master of Applied Data Science program at the University of Michigan.

Philip Kriger is a director at Liberty Mutual Investments (LMI), the investment arm of Liberty Mutual Insurance, with more than $90 billion in assets under management. He works with Liberty Mutual Investment’s global fixed-income research platform, analyzing and investing in healthcare and technology companies across the capital structure and in public and private markets. Kriger received a B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles and an M.B.A., with a concentration in investment management, from University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Abhishek Kumar is an investment analyst and head of ESG at Hunter Capital Management. He began his career a decade ago as an ESG analyst at MSCI. Since then, Kumar’s experience has spanned ESG-driven fundamental investing, advisory, and operating roles at Arisaig Partners, Oberweis Asset Management, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. He received a B.A. in physics and economics from Bates College and his M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Connor Leonard serves as president and board member of Arbour National, an insurance holding company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, that is dedicated to the long-term ownership of specialty P&C carriers. Before forming Arbour National, Leonard was a development lead and shareholder at Investors Management Corporation (IMC), focusing on new acquisitions while also working closely with IMC operating companies such as Golden Corral and Hart Lumber. From 2016 to 2018, Leonard was the public securities manager at IMC, where he invested a dedicated public market portfolio utilizing a long-term, business owner mentality. He has guest lectured on investing at Google, Santangel’s Investor Forum, the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School, and on the “Invest Like the Best” podcast. Leonard received a B.S. in business administration, with a concentration in finance, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Brad Lewis, CFA, is a research analyst on the U.S. high-yield investments team of the high-yield investments group at Barings. In this role, he is responsible for covering the technology sector. Lewis has worked in the industry since 2010, the same year he started at Barings. He is a member of the CFA institute. Lewis received a B.S. in finance from Wake Forest University.

Joyce Lin, CFA, is a research analyst with the Franklin Equity Group at Franklin Templeton Investments. In this role, she focuses on equity research and analysis of companies in the telecommunications, industrials, and life sciences tools industries. Lin’s prior experience includes research in the midstream oil and gas, insurance, industrials, and financial services industries. Before joining Franklin Templeton Investments in 2014, Lin was a research associate at Cooke & Bieler, a value-based investment management firm. She is a CFA® charterholder. Lin received a B.A. in government and psychology from Harvard University and an M.B.A. in economics, finance, and international business from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Todd Ludgate, CFA, is an investment professional with over 20 years of experience in institutional asset management. He spent most of his career on the fixed-income team at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) after joining in 2003. Previously, Ludgate was the head of global extended fixed-income strategies for SWIB and was responsible for overseeing internal active bond portfolios totaling $30 billion in assets, working with eleven fixed-income professionals to achieve risk and return objectives. He served as a member of SWIB’s Investment Committee for 15 years and served on the Management Council, Progression Council, Asset Allocation Committee, Research Task Force, and Credit Task Force. Before joining SWIB, Ludgate spent five years working for Americo Life, Inc. as an analyst in the fixed income and accounting areas. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. Ludgate received a B.A. from the University of Florida and an M.B.A. from the University of Kansas. He also serves as a board member for the Madison College Foundation.

Joe Maguire, CFA, has been with Penn Capital since 2005. As director of research, he is responsible for guiding the firm’s day-to-day global investment research process. He chairs the equity risk committee and serves as a senior portfolio manager for Penn Capital’s Small to Mid-Cap Equity strategy and Convertible strategy. Before joining Penn Capital, Maguire was a senior audit associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and conducted private equity research for AMS Inc. He received a B.B.A. in accounting from The College of William & Mary and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Bill Monroe is the portfolio manager of the Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund. Previously at Putnam, he was an analyst in the equity research group, responsible for conducting fundamental analysis and valuation of small- and midcap companies in the industrials sector and making buy/ sell recommendations. Monroe joined Putnam in 2012 and has worked in the investment industry since 1996. Previously, he was a senior investment analyst at Federated Investors, an investment analyst at American Century Investment Management, an interdepartmental analyst at Ariel Capital Management, an investment analyst at Mercer Investment Consulting, and a fund accountant at Bisys Investment Services. He received a B.A. in finance from Miami University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Before forming XM Capital Partners, Alexander Moore was a portfolio manager of the equity relative value and event-driven strategies at Carlson Capital from 2010 to 2020. In the equity relative value strategy, Moore specialized in the basic materials sector, with a particular focus on agriculture, bioenergy, and chemicals; in the event-driven strategy, he analyzed publicly announced mergers and special situations such as spinoffs, carveouts, and reverse Morris trusts. Before joining Carlson Capital, Moore was an analyst at Brookline Avenue Partners, a multi-strategy hedge fund specializing in merger arbitrage, from 2006 to 2009. He began his career as a vice president in the Latin American research group at J.P. Morgan from 1999 to 2003. Moore received a B.A. in economics and Spanish from the University of the South and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Win Murray is director of research at Diamond Hill. Before joining the firm in 2022, Murray served in a variety of roles at Harris Associates L.P. from 2003 to 2021, including director of U.S. research, co-portfolio manager of the Oakmark Select Fund, and research analyst. From 1999 to 2003, he served as equity analyst for Colonial Management/Fleet Bank; a senior portfolio manager at ASB Capital Management from 1997 to 1999; and an equity analyst at Federated Investors from 1996 to 1997. Murray received a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.B.A. from Georgia State University.

Chris Nicholas is a managing director and senior marketer on King Street’s investor relations team. Before joining the firm in 2021, Nicholas served as a managing director at York Capital Management and a partner and head of investor relations at Arrowgrass Capital Partners. He also held various roles at Deutsche Bank and IBM Corporation. Nicholas received a B.A. in history from Colgate University and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kevin Nicholson, CFA, is the chief investment officer of Boardage Partners. He has more than 20 years of experience in the investment management industry, 12 of them focused exclusively on basic materials, mining, and metals. In 2013, Nicholson founded Boardage Capital Management, an investment management firm focused on investing in the basic materials sector. Boardage uses fundamental research to identify investment themes both long and short to generate consistent returns through any market cycle. Nicholson leads the investment process and is responsible for managing all the firm’s assets. Before launching Boardage, Nicholson was a founding principal at Belltower Advisors, a long/short equity hedge fund that invested across the energy, materials, and mining sectors. Nicholson spent three years at Belltower, where he helped launch the fund and guide its growth to $600 million in peak assets. He oversaw the mining and metals portion of the portfolio. Before joining Belltower, Nicholson worked as an analyst with Proxima Alfa Investments, where he focused on the metals and mining industries. Previously, Nicholson was a portfolio manager at City National Asset Management, where he managed large-cap equity strategy and portfolios for foundations, pensions, and high-net-worth individuals. Nicholson began his career at Northwestern Trust and Investors Advisory, where he managed large-cap growth equities and fixed-income strategies. Nicholson is a CFA® charterholder. He received a B.A. in business from the University of Puget Sound and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business.

Keegan O’Brien is a director and member of the strategic solutions team at Artisan Partners. In this role, he is responsible for working with the firm’s ten autonomous investment teams on strategic projects including talent sourcing, product development, portfolio analysis, and competitive intelligence. O’Brien is also responsible for identifying, analyzing, and onboarding new investment teams. Before joining Artisan Partners in 2018, O’Brien worked as an investment director at a multi-billion-dollar single family office and as a manager diligence at Goldman Sachs and Barclays Capital. O’Brien graduated with honors from Tulane University.

Peter Orlando is an analyst at Southpoint Capital. Before joining the firm in 2020, he worked at American Century Investments, a mutual fund manager based in Kansas City, where he analyzed public companies in the technology, financial, healthcare, communication, and industrials sectors. Orlando began his career in 2011 at Bloomberg LP. He received a B.S. in television and radio from Ithaca College, graduating magna cum laude, and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Nate Palmer, CFA, CFP, is a portfolio manager for Diamond Hill. Before joining the firm in 2009, he was a tax consultant with Deloitte & Touche LLP from 2008 to 2009. Palmer received a B.S. in accounting and finance from The Ohio State University, graduating summa cum laude, and an M.S. in accounting from The Ohio State University.

Pratik S. Patel is the chief operating officer of the growth team at Artisan Partners. In this role, he is responsible for the continuous improvement of the research process; facilitating effective communication across the team; and the sourcing, onboarding, and early development of investment talent. Patel also conducts fundamental research as a generalist. He joined Artisan Partners in August 2008 as an analyst after serving as an M.B.A. intern in the summer of 2007. Earlier in his career, Patel was a sales associate for Backstop Solutions Group, a cloud-based software company, and a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs. He received a B.A. in economics from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Serena Perin Vinton, CFA, is a senior vice president and portfolio manager with the Franklin Equity Group and portfolio manager of Franklin Growth Fund and Franklin select U.S. equity strategies. Before joining the Franklin Equity Group in 1995, she served as an analyst and portfolio manager in the international fixed-income group at Franklin Templeton Investments and a research assistant for a British member of Parliament in London. Perin Vinton’s previous equity research responsibilities include analysis of the consumer products and household goods, specialty retail, apparel/footwear/textiles, paper and forest products, building materials, and steel industries. In addition, she was recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business for 2015. Perin Vinton is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. She received a B.A. in business economics from Brown University. Perin Vinton also serves on the Phillips Academy Andover Development Board.

Michael Plage, CFA, is a portfolio manager at Fidelity Investments. He and his team manage over $200 billion in diversified institutional portfolios and retail funds. Previously, Plage traded corporate bonds before assuming portfolio management responsibilities in 2009 and served as a trader on the rates desk, where he was responsible for strategy and execution within U.S. treasury, agency, and various derivative markets. Before joining Fidelity Investments in 2005, he worked as a trader responsible for managing investment-grade, fixed-income asset classes, including mortgage-backed securities and other securitized products and corporate bonds and other credit products, and as a quantitative analyst, from 1997-2005 at Travelers Insurance, then a unit of Citigroup. Plage received a B.S. from the University of South Carolina and an M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut.

Patrick Quinn, CFA, partner, is the director of research and head of the U.S. growth and core equity strategies for William Blair Investment Management. He is also a member of the leadership team for William Blair Investment Management and sits on the firm’s extended leadership group. Before joining William Blair in 2004, Quinn was an institutional equity trader with Strong Capital Management. He is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Chicago. Quinn received a B.S. in accounting and finance from Indiana University and an M.B.A. with honors from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Pratyasha Rath is a domestic equity analyst at Columbia Wanger Asset Management. In this role, she covers clean technology, industrials, materials, and consumer staples. Previously, she served as director of investment risk and quantitative research at the firm. Before joining Columbia Wanger Asset Management in 2017, Pratyasha was vice president and global macro specialist for Credit Suisse’s HOLT®, an equity analysis and valuation tool. Before that, she was a quantitative equity research analyst at Credit Suisse. Pratyasha has been a member of the investment community since 2007. She received a B.A. in economics from Delhi University and an M.S. in finance and risk management from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where she is currently pursuing a PhD in finance.

David Rowlett, CFA, is the portfolio manager for the U.S. impact equity strategy in the U.S. equity division at T. Rowe Price. He is a vice president and member of the Investment Advisory Committees of the U.S. large-cap growth equity, U.S. large-cap core equity, and global industrials equity strategies, and a vice president of T. Rowe Price International Funds. Rowlett is also a vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. He joined T. Rowe Price in 2008, beginning as an investment analyst focusing on aerospace and defense and multi-industrial companies in the U.S. equity division. Before that, Rowlett was an analyst and a portfolio manager at Neuberger Berman; he also served as an investment banker within the financial institutions group at Merrill Lynch. Rowlett is a CFA® charterholder. He received a B.B.A., cum laude, with high honors, in finance from the University of Georgia and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Susan J. Schmidt. CFA, is the head of public equity at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB), overseeing the fund’s internally managed equity investments. She has over 20 years of experience in the asset management industry, having been involved in both public and private markets. Previously, Schmidt served as a portfolio manager, director of research, and research analyst, as well as president and chief executive officer, of an industrial manufacturing company. Additionally, she served as head of U.S. equities for Aviva Investors, managing the U.S. equity team and their small-mid and large-cap portfolios. Before that, Schmidt was senior portfolio manager and senior research analyst at Westwood Holdings Group in Dallas, Texas, and a portfolio manager and head of U.S. equities for Mesirow Financial in Chicago, Illinois. She is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago. Schmidt received a B.A. in economics from Smith College; a general course diploma in economic history from London School of Economics; and an M.B.A. in finance from Northwestern University.

William E. Schramm, CFA, is a member of the credit team at MetLife Investment Management, focusing on municipal bonds. Before joining the firm, he was a foreign exchange trader in Ford Motor Company’s derivatives execution group. Schramm also spent over four years as a fixed-income analyst in the portfolio management group at RBC Global Asset Management, performing credit research and trading money market, corporate, government, and municipal securities. He began his career as an investment accountant at Thrivent Financial, where he supported the private equity and fixed income groups. Schramm is a CFA® charterholder. He received a B.S. in finance and a B.A. in economics from St. Cloud State University and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. Schramm also serves on the Advisory Council for the School of Public Affairs at St. Cloud State University, and on the Foundation Board at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School.

Trey Snow, CFA, is the director of research and senior research analyst at The London Company, a long-only equity manager in Richmond, Virginia. In this role, he coordinates the firm’s research activities and manages the analyst team. Previously, he was a senior equity analyst for the Teachers and Employees Retirement System of Georgia, where he helped manage multiple domestic and international equity portfolios. Snow has worked in buy-side, sell-side, and hedge-fund roles as an equity analyst at IronOak Advisors (Ridgeworth Capital Management), Priority Capital Management, BB&T Capital Markets, and Mentor Investment Group. Snow began his investment career in 1995 as an analyst at the Virginia Tech Foundation. He is a CFA® charterholder and an active member of the CFA Society of Richmond. Snow received a B.S. in finance and an M.B.A. with a finance concentration, both from Virginia Tech.

Brian Solomon, CFA, is an investment analyst on the Capital Appreciation Fund at T. Rowe Price; this fund seeks long-term capital appreciation through investments in large-cap equities, fixed income, options, and other securities. Before joining the Capital Appreciation Fund in 2020, he was a consumer analyst at T. Rowe Price, where he covered gaming, leisure, and lodging, a role he held upon joining the firm in 2015. Before that, Solomon was in various financial planning and analysis roles at Delta Air Lines. He is a CFA® charterholder and member of the CFA Institute. Solomon received a B.S. in finance from Clemson University and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Henry Song, CFA, is a portfolio manager at Diamond Hill. Before joining the firm in 2016, Song was a portfolio manager at J.P. Morgan Asset Management from 2005 to 2016. He received a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Greg Spencer is a managing director and member of the global allocation team within BlackRock’s multi-asset strategies group. He is a senior investor, responsible for global fundamental credit and coverage of the media and communications services sectors. Spencer joined the BlackRock global allocation team in 2010. Before joining BlackRock, he was a high-yield fixed-income portfolio manager at MacKay Shields and spent 13 years at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, initially as a high-yield fixed-income analyst and most recently as a portfolio manager for the Global High Yield Bond Fund and the MLIIF U.S. Dollar Fund. Spencer received a B.B.A. from The George Washington University and an M.B.A. from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business.

Craig Sterling is a managing director, head of equity research, U.S., director of the core equity team, and a portfolio manager at Amundi. As head of equity research, U.S., he directs the Boston-based central research team of fundamental and quantitative equity analysts. This team serves as the primary analytical resource for the firm’s U.S. equity and multi-asset strategies, and contributes to Amundi’s global equity research expertise. The team’s focus is on high-conviction ideas and superior portfolio surveillance based on extensive analyst industry experience, comprehensive creative and independent research, and a common corporate performance and valuation framework grounded in business model economics demonstrated through the firm’s proprietary economic value added (EVA) model. As head of equity research, Sterling also helps manage research on environmental, social, and governance (ESG), which is used throughout the firm’s U.S.-managed equity and multi-asset portfolios. As director of the core equity team, Sterling also oversees the portfolio-management teams leading the firm’s large-cap core equity portfolios. He is also a member of the portfolio-management teams managing the research-based, “best ideas” strategies. Sterling also serves on the Amundi U.S. investment committee, ESG committee, fair valuation committee, and retirement plans committee. Before joining Amundi, Sterling was managing director and global head of equity research at EVA Dimensions LLC, an independent equity research firm. At EVA, he served on the executive committee and managed a research team that published company, industry, and thematic research based on the EVA-based framework. Additionally, Sterling consulted with asset-management and hedge fund clients on all aspects of their fundamental investment decision process; engaged in bespoke client projects; and actively contributed to continuous improvement of the EVA platform. Before June 2011, Sterling was a director in the HOLT group at Credit Suisse, where he led the firm’s effort to develop HOLT into a highly valued provider of equity research. He developed strategic frameworks for hundreds of company and sector analyses that integrated a common economic framework with fundamentals and themes. Sterling also co-authored papers on merger and acquisitions, corporate life cycles, and understanding the valuation of companies and industries in secular decline. Before joining Credit Suisse, Sterling worked in the global industrials group of the investment bank of UBS and the investment services division of Mesirow Financial. Sterling received a B.S.B.A from Washington University (St. Louis) and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Adam Sues is a partner and portfolio manager of the AMG Yacktman Special Opportunities Fund at Yacktman Asset Management; he also co-manages the AMG Yacktman Focused Fund, AMG Yacktman Fund, and AMG Yacktman Global Fund. Before joining Yacktman Asset Management in 2013, he founded and authored “Value Uncovered,” an investment website focused on value-oriented stock research and fundamental analysis. Sues received a B.A. in business administration from Mount Union College and an M.B.A from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Andrew Walsh is currently an associate investment officer in the investment research department at Unum, providing credit research for the company’s $44 billion investment portfolio. In this role, Walsh covers securities across the capital structure in the midstream, metals and mining, and environmental services sectors. Before joining Unum in 2020, Walsh worked at The Tradition Group in Stamford, Connecticut, where he focused on the global gas and power markets. He received a B.A. in economics from Boston College and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Tab Williams, CPA, is a director, equity analyst at Sterling Capital Management, which he joined in 2019. He began his investment career in 2012. Before joining Sterling, Williams worked as a research analyst at Sasco Capital. He has also worked in audit and private company valuation for Ernst & Young’s global private equity practice. Tab is a licensed CPA in the state of New York. He received a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; an M.S. in accounting from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School; and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, where he was a member of the value investing program.

Charles Wilson, PhD, is a portfolio manager at Thornburg Investment Management. Previously, he worked as ­an associate portfolio manager. Before joining Thornburg Investment Management in 2012, Wilson served as co-portfolio manager for Marsico Capital Management in Denver, Colorado. In that role, he was responsible for portfolio investments across multiple strategies and geographies, with specialization in materials, energy, technology, and payments sectors. Wilson earned a B.S. in geology from the University of Arizona in Tucson and a PhD in geophysics from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Todd D. Young is a senior equity analyst and portfolio manager at Franklin Street Partners. Before joining Franklin Street, he ran Echelon Point Advisors, an investment consulting firm that advised institutional clients and high-net-worth family offices. Previously, Young was an analyst and portfolio manager at KDI Capital Partners. He has also held equity research analyst positions at RS Investments and Morningstar. Before entering the investment industry, Young served as an infantry officer with the 82nd Airborne Division. He is an Army Ranger School graduate and was awarded two Bronze Stars for meritorious achievement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Young received a B.S.B.A. from the University of Tennessee in 2000 and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2007.

Nick Zimmerman, CFA, partner, is a research analyst for William Blair Investment Management. In this role, he focuses on U.S. small- and mid-cap resources companies. Before joining William Blair in 2017, Nick was an equity analyst at Holland Capital Management, where he covered energy, materials, aerospace and defense, and transportation companies. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Chicago. Nick received a B.S. in finance, with high honors, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an M.S. in finance from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.