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2024 Fall Forum

Innovation as Art: Evolving to Improve

 

Kansas City, MO

October 21-23, 2024

 

Welcome to Kansas City!

 

Forums are not like other conferences you may have been to. They are designed to maximize the free exchange of experiences and interests amongst its member participants in a balanced way. You will find three types of engagement options in three different ways:

 

  • General Sessions with everyone in a ballroom setting and a more formal, directed conversation.

 

  • Breakout Sessions are a mix of topics and agenda items that are participant-driven discussions and working sessions.

 

  • Social Settings such as meals, receptions, activities, and other events to allow more self-directed interaction and networking.

 

These represent the three key mechanics we use to help you and your organizations learn and grow at the Forums.  Every breakout session at the Forum is a dynamic conversation and discussion between members in which to share best practices and successes along with learning from one another about beginning, implementing, and improving on your own efforts.  The breakout sessions are purposely succinct in their titling and description to allow the participants to drive more of the content, priority, and overall direction of the sessions.   Facilitators from each session you register for will be reaching out to you in advance to gain your input for that session and help ensure that you are able to maximize your participation in it.

 

In addition to member participants from a broad spectrum of asset management firms, a curated selection of Vendor Partners has been invited by members for showing deep understanding and dedication to this space in the financial services industry and in particular to Sales, Marketing, Client Servicing and the tools, technologies, and practices that enable them.  However, unlike other conferences, our Vendor Partners do not have booths, tables, or other dedicated space at the events. On the contrary, we invite them to participate in the sessions as a means for them to continue learning about what we are tasked with, how they may be of help and how they have assisted others in similar situations as us. They are forbidden from making sales pitches but encouraged to share their accomplishments and experiences with you as source of expertise and broad exposure to our industry.  As such please be open to learning and sharing with them.  It’s free!

 

Check Out Highlights from Past Forums

Helpful Numbers During Your Stay

 

Hazem Gamal:  (917) 561-9553

Hotel Front Desk: 1-816-531-3000

Main Street Grill: 1-816-531-3000 , Ext. 544

 

Tuesday Offsite Reception Location and Directions

(tap address on your mobile for directions)

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

4420 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64111

 

Getting Around the Venue

Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza

4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111

  • Hotel Website

  • Conference and Dining Facilities Floorplan (pdf)

    Resources

    • Printable Agenda (pdf)

    • Session Descriptions (pdf)

    • Attendee List (pdf)

    • Sortable Attendee List (Excel)

    • Participant Guide (pdf)

    • Past Forum Content on Members Site

        Upcoming SME Forum Events

        Global Roundtable for Asset Managers

        Late November 2024 in London, UK

        Spring 2025 SME Forum

        April 21-23, 2025 in NYC, NY

        2025 Global Forum

        Late June 2025 in London, UK

        Fall 2025 SME Forum

        October 2025 in Denver, CO

        2024 Fall Forum:  By The Numbers

        Attendees

        Firms

        Sessions

        Speakers

        Monday, October 21

         

        All Day:                  Arrivals and Check-in

        5:00 – 8:00 PM:      Welcome Reception, Networking and Interactive Group Activity

         

        Tuesday, October 22

         

        8:00 AM:            Registration and Networking Hot Breakfast

        9:00 AM:            Welcome and Opening Remarks  Hazem Gamal, COO, SME Forum

        9:30 AM:            Connecting the Dots – Using Data to Build a Distribution Playbook, with Alex-Golub Sass and Kristin Gibson, Broadridge

        10:30 AM:          Tuesday Morning Breakout Sessions:

         

        S1  Sales & Marketing     Demonstrating Value:  Sales Enablement Teams

        S2  Data & AI     Paths to Success: Finding AI Projects with Business Results

        RH  Inst/Wealth     Onboarding: Providing Differentiating Services for Retention and Growth

         

        12:00 PM:           Networking Sit Down Lunch in the Plaza Terrace

        1:00 PM:             Enriching Sales Enablement for Institutional Use discussion with Mark Shpizner (Centerbridge), CJ Haas (Goldman), Bill Safarik (Wellington), Zack Helgeson (Nasdaq/eVestment)

        1:45 PM:             Emerging Technologies Usage Panel Discussion with Jonathan Wang (VanEck) Gabe Parras (Thornburg) and Loren Fox (Fuse Research)

        2:30 PM:             Tuesday Afternoon Breakout Sessions:

         

        S1  Sales & Marketing     Navigating Emerging Strategies, Products and Platforms

        S2  Data & AI     Driving Adoption: Use Cases for Emerging AI Solutions

        RH  Institutional     Improving the Buying Experience: Enabling the Sellers

        RO  Vendor Solution     Hike2: A Data and AI Governance Framework to Consider

         

        4:00 PM:               Lessons Learned in MDM Implementations  AM panel:  Danielle Lowe (Janus) Mel Bensouda (PIMCO) Mark Elliott (American Century) along with Echo Gonino and Jill Camper (SS&C) 

        4:45 PM:               Innovation as Art:  Evolving to Improve  a perspective from Neeaj Arora 

        5:30 – 8:00 PM:    Offsite Reception, Exhibition & Sit-Down Dinner for all participants, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (a five minute walk)

         

        Wednesday, October 23

         

        8:00 AM:               Registration and Networking Hot Breakfast

        8:45 AM:               Opening Remarks  Hazem Gamal, COO, SME Forum

        9:00 AM:               Harnessing the Power of Responsible AI an exploration with Kuldeep Singh, Hike2 and Rupi Bhamra, MSCI

        9:45 AM:               Transforming Marketing:  The Impacts of Data, AI and Benchmarking presentation by Oli Knight, Alphix/Fundamental Media

        10:30 AM:             Wednesday Morning Breakout Sessions:

         

        S1  Sales & Marketing     Customer 360 from your CRM Platform

        S2  Data & AI     Data Before the AI: Getting Your Data Ready

        RH  Institutional     Achieving Client Driven Experiences Efficiently

        RO  Innovation     Innovating with AI: Are You Doing It Wrong?

         

        12:00 PM:             Networking Sit Down Lunch in the Plaza Terrace

        1:00 PM:               Wednesday Afternoon Breakout Sessions:

         

        S1  Sales & Marketing     Evolving Structures and Organizations to Meet a Changing Industry

        S2  Data & AI     Emerging Skills, Experiences and Roles Required in an AI world

        RO  Institutional     Leveraging Data Sources to Improve the Growing Wealth Mandate

        RH  Vendor Solutions     eVestment: Client Use Cases for Off-Platform Usage

         

        2:30 PM:             Brand:  How Tech and Ops Help Drive Value Industry Discussion with Jonathan Wang (VanEck), Josh Newton (T.Rowe Price), Bill Safarik (Wellington), and Adam Feldstein (ISSMI)

        3:15 PM:             Closing Reception and Networking

        5:00 PM:             Forum Concludes and Departures

        6:30 PM:             Leadership Council Offsite BBQ Dinner (by invitation)

         

        Thursday, October 24:  SME Leadership Council (by invitation)

         

        8:00 AM:              Leadership Council Breakfast

        8:30 AM:              Leadership Council Meetings

        11:00 AM:            Meeting Concludes and Departures

         

           

          Breakout Rooms:     S1 – Seville I     |      S2 – Seville II     |     RH – Rockhill     |      RO – Roanoke

          Speaker & Panelist Biographies

          Hazem Gamal

          Hazem Gamal

          The SME Forum, COO

           

          In 2018 Hazem took over the SME Forum and focuses most of his efforts there. Since its founding more than 15 years ago, The Forum has been a growing dynamic community of practitioners from the Asset Management industry who have roles in supporting the Sales, Marketing, Operations and Technology departments of their respective organizations.  The deep degrees of trust in sharing best practices, avoiding pitfalls, and learning from one another are hallmarks of how valuable this community continues to be for each firm and the individual employees.

          As one of the original members, he has been a continual driver of the Forum’s growth and maturity since its inception in 2003.  Initially the senior representative for OppenheimerFunds, he grew to be a leader in the development of the CRM Forum,  providing  guidance,  mentorship,  facilitation  and participation in various aspect of the organization’s events over the years.  Hazem took over ownership and primary responsibilities for running the organization in 2018.  He also continues to provide consulting services to the industry under his Thoth Advisory Services organization.

          Prior to the Forum, Hazem spent more than fifteen years at OppenheimerFunds in several different roles, always as a proven change agent to help define and implement appropriate and necessary improvements to propel the business.  He worked  most closely with the sales and marketing divisions directing their technology needs and adoption, onboarding third-party services, in addition to portfolios such as data management, reporting and analytics, business continuity and disaster recovery, among other responsibilities.

          Neeraj Arora

          Neeraj Arora

          Founder, Aggrani Consulting

           

          Neeraj is an analytics and change management expert with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles across Asset Management, Consumer Finance, Insurance and Advertising. Over the past 15 years, Neeraj has successfully led teams of data scientists, analysts, management consultants, and visualization experts to foster a comprehensive data-driven decision-making mindset within organizations. Alongside this, Neeraj has maintained a strong focus on change management aspects. He has been invited to speak at numerous conferences, specifically addressing cultural and operational challenges related to adopting analytics and AI.

          Most recently, Neeraj spearheaded the Analytics and Insights charge at Invesco. Neeraj helped to enhance net sales growth by gaining a deeper understanding of clients and their interaction with the company’s products, supporting the organization’s ongoing commitment to client-centricity. His team strategically utilized data, business intelligence, and advanced analytics across wealth management and institutional business in North America, enhancing effectiveness and efficiency through a combination of analytical insights, visualization, and on-the-ground implementation.

          Before Invesco, Neeraj was a senior consultant at Citibank for their US Retail Bank and Credit Card business. Prior to that, he spent over a decade in leading the development of analytics as well as optimal infrastructure for data driven decision making at Farmers Insurance, AIG and Capital One.

          Mario Barbato

          Mario Barbato

          The SME Forum

           

          Mario began his career at Lord Abbett leading the firm’s effort to build Sales & Marketing data analytics functions, develop digital marketing strategies and create a comprehensive client touch point data analysis to facilitate client segmentation, predictive analytics, lead management, and CRM engagement. Through this work, he initiated a wholesaler training program to drive adoption of both the data & technology to help meet business plan goals.

          Most recently Mario served as Chief Transformation Officer responsible for leading change management in Lord Abbett’s Technology and Operations areas in an effort to enhance agility throughout the firm. This included overseeing the integration of data management and analytics, reporting, and technology to increase efficiency, create an information advantage, and drive transformation across the organization. In this role, Mario led key initiatives such as; the migration of the firm’s Middle Office platform through a Strategic Partnership with a leading provider in the industry, provided strategic thought leadership, implementation planning & development for the firm’s move to a new Investment Management Solution and the development of a strategic product & client data platform for new product launches, customer acquisition/onboarding, lifecycle, and retention initiatives through interactive data analytics, visualization, & management tools.

          Rupinder (Rupi) Bhamra

          Rupinder (Rupi) Bhamra

          Managing Director, MSCI Inc.

           

          Rupi Bhamra is a seasoned technology executive with over two decades of experience driving transformative initiatives in the financial services sector. As Managing Director and Head of Business Technology at MSCI Inc., he leads technology strategies across Sales, Marketing, Finance, HR, and Data platforms.

          Rupi has successfully implemented enterprise-wide data governance frameworks and spearheaded the development of a central data warehouse, leveraging AI/ML to enhance decision-making capabilities. His leadership in sales and marketing transformation, including the integration of advanced CRM and contract management systems, has significantly optimized business processes and reduced cycle times, delivering substantial value to the organization. Rupi’s forward-looking approach is evident in his strategic focus on cloud transformation and API integration, ensuring MSCI stays at the forefront of financial technology. Prior to MSCI, Rupi held key roles at Morgan Stanley, where he managed global teams and led the successful overhaul of client reporting platforms and private credit management systems. His ability to align technology with business objectives, combined with his commitment to innovation and operational excellence, positions him as a pivotal leader in driving digital transformation at the board level.

          Rupi holds an MBA in Management Information Systems and is certified in Digital Marketing Strategies, with a focus on Data, Automation, AI, and Analytics.

          Tony Busacca

          Tony Busacca

          The SME Forum

           

          Anthony Busacca is a highly accomplished business professional with more than 35 years of experience in the corporate world, as well as over 10 years of experience as an entrepreneur. He has a proven track record of success in driving growth, managing teams, and delivering results across a range of industries.

          Mr. Busacca began his career in the financial sector, holding senior leadership positions in finance, operations, and business development at several prominent companies. He honed his skills in strategic planning, financial analysis, and team management, and gained deep expertise in industries such as banking, insurance, and investment management.

          In 2009, Mr. Busacca made the leap into entrepreneurship, founding his own company focused on providing innovative solutions in the financial services industry. As the CEO of his own firm, he demonstrated his ability to identify new opportunities, develop effective strategies, and build high-performing teams.

          Over the course of his career, Mr. Busacca has earned a reputation as a dynamic and results-driven leader. He is known for his ability to think strategically, execute effectively, and drive growth in even the most challenging environments. He has a proven ability to develop and motivate teams, and to build strong relationships with stakeholders across all levels of an organization.

          In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Busacca is also actively involved in his community. He has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, and is committed to giving back and making a positive impact in the world.

          Overall, Anthony Busacca is a seasoned business professional with a diverse range of experience and a proven track record of success. Whether in the corporate world or as an entrepreneur, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive growth, deliver results, and create value for stakeholders.

          Maureen Byrne

          Maureen Byrne

          The SME Forum

           

          Maureen is a tenured financial services marketing leader most recently, as Senior Director, Investment Product Marketing at NJ-based fintech FLX Networks, responsible for content creation and executing lead-generating marketing programs for 10+ asset manager members.  Prior to FLX, her career spans from SMA product support at broker-dealer Prudential Securities to many subsequent years at asset management firms – predominantly OppenheimerFunds and PGIM Investments, where she led sales enablement, channel and integrated marketing bringing mutual fund solutions to financial advisors, gatekeepers, analysts and RIAs. Maureen also has membership-centric, B2C marketing experience as she recently headed up media, digital marketing and product growth at Affinity Federal Credit Union.

          Maureen earned a B.A. in Communications and Marketing from St. Bonaventure University and has various leadership certifications and licenses.

          Jill Camper

          Jill Camper

          Head of Data Governance, SS&C Technologies

           

          Jill is a dynamic and motivated executive with a compelling track record of accomplishments, characterized by the adept establishment and nurturing of relationships, innovative thinking that prioritizes business objectives, and a capacity to adapt to the current corporate landscape. Boasting a rare amalgamation of expertise in business, communication, sales, and technology, Jill’s career has been marked by exceptional client adoption and satisfaction, a testament to her passion for leadership and mentorship. 

          Her success is rooted in a unique combination of traits, including a continuous willingness to learn, a genuine ability to actively listen to customer needs, a penchant for challenging the status quo, a preference for embracing disruption over comfort, and a profound dedication to prioritizing customer requirements. Jill’s professional journey reflects a commitment to excellence and a strategic focus on putting the customer at the forefront of every endeavor. 

          Dan Caron

          Dan Caron

          Vice President, Client Experience at Nasdaq - Investment Intelligence

           

          Dan is the Vice President of Client Experience for Nasdaq’s Analytics business, a part of the broader Nasdaq Capital Access Platforms division, the business encompasses eVestment and Solovis.

          In his current role, Dan is responsible for retaining and growing the existing client base while driving initiatives that enhance the client experience lifecycle. This includes areas such as Client Success, Onboarding, Client Service, Client Education, and Renewal Success. Dan joined Nasdaq in 2017 following Nasdaq’s acquisition of eVestment. Throughout Dan’s tenure at Nasdaq eVestment, he has held various leadership positions in client management and corporate strategy. Before joining eVestment in 2014, Dan was actively involved in the Atlanta technology startup community, leading early-stage business development efforts.

          Dan holds a B.S. in Business Administration and a Minor in Marketing from Franciscan University. He currently reside in Atlanta, GA, and serves as the location leader for Nasdaq Atlanta, overseeing a location with more than 225 employees.

          Inder Chhatwal

          Inder Chhatwal

          The SME Forum

           

          Inderjit S Chhatwal is a veteran of the Asset Management and Technology domains, with over 30 years of experience in IT, of which about two-third has been in managing IT efforts for Asset/Wealth Management. Inderjit’s broad and deep understanding of mutual funds distribution business, related technologies and data affords him to lend a unique blend of both business and technology perspectives.

          Inderjit managed multiple technology teams working on various CRM and data efforts for the Sales and Distribution business line for Oppenheimer Funds, with overall responsibility from inception to adoption. His keen interest in latest technology trends brought Design Thinking approach to Oppenheimer as well as utilization of data science for predictive modeling. Prior to Oppenheimer, Inderjit was leading the Distribution Technology team supporting sales and marketing efforts at Allianz Global Investors.  

          Alec Crawford

          Alec Crawford

          Founder and CEO, Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.

          Alec Crawford is the Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc (July, 2023). AI Risk, Inc. is a leader in AI safety, security, and compliance. The company created the first AI governance, risk, compliance and cybersecurity management software platform (AI GRCC), a new category of software. The company won the Waters Technology #1 Rank for cybersecurity in 2024. Their customers range from small businesses to large financial institutions. 

          Alec has been working with AI for decades, starting by designing and building neural networks from scratch at Harvard College. Alec is an AI and risk management thought leader, writing a blog and newsletter here, speaking at dozens of events a year, and interviewing high profile guests in AI, cybersecurity, and policy on AI Risk-Reward here.  

           Previously, Alec was a Partner and Chief Investment Risk Officer at Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC. He was responsible for identifying and managing risk in all the firm’s portfolios globally and served as a member of the investment leadership team, the strategic allocation committee, and was a charter member of the ESG committee. He also led the advanced technology initiative for Investments. He joined Lord Abbett in 2012, was named Partner in 2013, and retired in 2022. He is currently a Limited Partner of Lord Abbett. 

          Alec has worked in the financial services industry since 1988, including as Managing Director and Global Head of Risk at Ziff Brothers Investments, as well as roles at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, among others. He received a B.A. in Computer Science from Harvard College, with a senior thesis focused on artificial intelligence. 

          Alec enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, often playing golf, fishing or hiking in the mountains. 

          Loren Fox

          Loren Fox

          FUSE Research Network, Director of Research

           

          Loren Fox is the Director of Research at FUSE Research Network, a provider of business intelligence and consulting for investment management firms. He’s responsible for leading the research team and managing client support, as well as contributing to the firm’s research publications and interfacing with industry executives.

          Before joining FUSE, Loren spent nearly 10 years as the director of Ignites Research, a unit of the Financial Times and complement to the Ignites news site that produced original research on strategic issues in the asset management industry; he also created and ran the annual rankings of US financial advisors that appeared in the Financial Times from 2013 through 2020. Previously, he was a senior research analyst at Strategic Insight, producing market intelligence on the mutual fund industry. Prior to that, Loren was a business journalist for many years, having worked at Institutional Investor, Business 2.0, and other publications, and he is the author of the book Enron: The Rise and Fall (2002).

          As an industry expert, Loren has spoken at numerous conferences and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other publications. He earned his BA from Johns Hopkins University and his MS from Columbia University.

          Alex Golub-Sass

          Alex Golub-Sass

          Principal Data Scientist, Broadridge

          Alex is a Principal Data Scientist at Broadridge and leads the data science group for US Distribution Insight team.

          In his role at Broadridge, Alex partners with leading financial services providers to help translate data and research into meaningful actions that improve business outcomes. Alex works extensively with clients to understand their unique goals and challenges to create bespoke solutions by integrating client data with Broadridge’s unmatched distribution data set. Alex focuses on working directly with clients across all levels of the organization to design, implement, and explain analytic solutions to drive adoption and improve outcomes.

          Alex is a cofounder of Atom Analytics which became part of Broadridge in July 2018. He holds a bachelor’s degree in quantitative economics from Tufts University and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia.

          Echo Gonino

          Echo Gonino

          Product Owner, SS&C Technologies

          Echo is a product owner in the SalesConnect team and has responsibility for implementing and maintaining SalesConnect’s MDM solutions.

          She has been with SalesConnect for 12 years and has held various roles within the SalesConnect team giving her a unique perspective. She is known for her tenacity, diligence, passion for data, and her ability to bridge the gap between technology/change and business objectives. She is a Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP).  

          Hugh Head

          Hugh Head

          SVP, Client Engagement and Success, Nasdaq eVestment

          Hugh leads engagement and support projects with clients as they deploy Nasdaq eVestment data within off-platform proprietary sales and client retention workflows.  These projects equip revenue teams with curated investor information and market knowledge which contributes to positive custom acquisition and retention results.

          Zack Helgeson

          Zack Helgeson

          Head of Product Strategy, Analytics, Nasdaq eVestment

          Zack oversees product strategy and innovation for the Analytics business, including eVestment. His role involves defining and delivering product roadmaps, driving product-led growth initiatives, and creating strategic growth plans for the Analytics business. He handles resource allocation, product positioning, go-to-market strategies, and validating new product developments commercially.

          Zack’s previous experience includes leadership roles in product, data, and technology at Brighthouse Financial, and Cambridge Associates. He is currently pursuing a Master of Information Technology at Virginia Tech and holds a B.S. in Business Management from George Mason University with a concentration in Consulting. He also holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation, the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM) designation, and is a member of the CAIA Association and the CFA Institute.

          Oli Knight

          Oli Knight

          Global Director of Innovation, Fundamental Group

          Oli is responsible for driving innovation for Fundamental Group globally. Recently Oli has been leading the technical product development of a new MarTech business unit; Alphix which focuses on delivering cookie free marketing intelligence aimed at Asset Managers.

          Prior to Fundamental Group, Oli has spent over 10 years working at the forefront of the data enabled advertising industry, focusing on programmatic and marketing automation having worked at the Financial Times as global programmatic manager, Publicis Media as Programmatic Solutions consultant and eBay as Head of Advertising, UK.

          Morgan Llewellyn

          Morgan Llewellyn

          Director AI, Hike2

          Morgan Llewellyn envisions and implements data and AI solutions for government, healthcare, SaaS, IoT, retail, and manufacturing clients.

          An expert in diagnosing customer challenges and innovating unique solutions that are durable and sustainable, Llewellyn’s notable achievements include a SaaS product of the year award, writing the algorithm used to de-identify Medicaid data, and a Brandon Hall AI Innovation of the Year award.

          He has held positions as the chief data scientist at Employ and the chief operating officer of a large Midwest consulting firm before founding the AI-consulting company Predictive Partner. Llewellyn holds a Bachelor of Arts from Hope College and a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology.

          Danielle Lowe

          Danielle Lowe

          Senior Business Analyst, Janus Henderson Investments

          Danielle Lowe is a Senior Business Analyst with over 10 years of experience within data and records management.

          A postgraduate of Regis University, she has spearheaded strategic projects at Janus Henderson Investors to create automation and initiate company wide data quality processes for client data. Danielle is passionate about creating clean data sets and lowering manual operational tasks that enhance user’s experience and lowers risk.

          Outside of all things data, she enjoys tabletop gaming and gardening. Danielle is driven by the principle of leaving things better than she found them, a philosophy that propels her to continuously enhance and refine data processes.

          Lyndsay Noble

          Lyndsay Noble

          Director of Analytics Programs, Rockhurst University School of Business & Technology

          Lyndsay Noble serves as the Director of Analytics Programs at Rockhurst University, where she is responsible for the design, development, and oversight of innovative graduate programs in data analytics and emerging technologies. With over 8 years of experience at DST/SS&C, she led the Data Science Center of Excellence and the advanced analytics consulting practices, working with top-tier clients in the asset management space.

          Lyndsay holds a master’s degree and is ABD in Applied Statistics, with a deep focus on predictive modeling, data visualization, and AI. Her passion lies in helping organizations align their analytics departments with strategic objectives, facilitating a seamless blend of technology, people, and processes. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes adaptability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

          Beyond her role in academia, Lyndsay actively contributes to industry forums and conferences, sharing insights on best practices in business intelligence, data science, and AI. She is also committed to building collaborations between Rockhurst and leading industry partners to provide experiential learning opportunities for students. Looking forward, she is focused on expanding the university’s offerings to include cutting-edge certifications in AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to meet the demands of the modern workforce.

          Gabriel Parras, CFA

          Gabriel Parras, CFA

          Thornburg Investment Management, Distribution and Marketing Data Intelligence Team

           

          Gabriel currently manages the Distribution and Marketing Data Intelligence Team at Thornburg Investment Management in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

          Gabriel graduated with a BS in Biology from the United States Military Academy, and then went on to obtain both an MS in Electrical Engineering and an MBA at the University of New Mexico. He started his career at Thornburg five years ago as a BI Developer and Data Analyst and began managing the Data Intelligence Team three years ago. Gabriel and his team work closely with Thornburg’s Distribution and Marketing teams, providing data and insights to efficiently drive brand awareness, product interest, flows, and ultimately AUM to the firm.

          William Safarik

          William Safarik

          Director of Client Platform Mgmt and Analytics/Sales Enablement, Wellington

           

          As the Director Business Intelligence/Sales Enablement for the Client Platform, Bill is responsible for the program to drive growth and better retain business through the development and implementation of sales enablement technology and data & analytics across the Client Platform.  Bill is an experienced leader in asset management focusing on sales enablement solutions and client data and analytics with a strong track record of effective global leadership – successfully implementing numerous solutions, including: Relaunching a sub-optimal global enterprise Salesforce CRM and gaining 100% adoption by enhancing the data and building functionality and making the CRM the golden source of truth and a beneficial and necessary tool in serving clients, prospects, and consultants; Establishing a centralized data source for all client data and analytics by bringing together siloed data elements to better support management reporting, data-driven insights, and business insights, enabling management to run the business more effectively and understand business trends while allowing client-facing teams to enhance the client experience.   

          Mark Shpizner

          Mark Shpizner

          Head of Sales Strategy and Execution, Centerbridge Partners

          Mark is the head of sales strategy and execution at Centerbridge Partners, an alternative asset management firm that invests across private equity, private credit, and real estate.

          Prior to joining Centerbridge in 2023, Mark spent nearly nine years at BlackRock in a variety of leadership roles across Product Development & Strategy, Financial Markets Advisory, and the Office of the Chairman and CEO. Prior to BlackRock, Mark worked in the Global Client Management division of BNY Mellon, where he was responsible for developing mutual, strategic partnerships with a subset of the company’s most complex, global financial institution clients.

          Mark earned a BA degree in American Studies and English, magna cum laude, from Northwestern University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mark resides in New York City, where he was born and raised, with his wife and two young daughters. Outside work, Mark is a passionate advocate for closing the achievement gap for talented young people from under-resourced communities and serves as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Minds Matter NYC, a nonprofit that helps over 500 high-achieving, low-income students succeed in and beyond college.

          Kuldeep Singh

          Kuldeep Singh

          Chief Data Officer, Hike2

          Kuldeep Singh is a distinguished Chief Data Officer and global analytics leader with over 20 years of experience in driving transformative data strategies across various industries, including financial services, retail, and public utilities. Currently serving as a Director and Chief Data Officer at HIKE2, Kuldeep is at the forefront of advancing data and analytic capabilities through innovative use of AI, cloud technologies, and automation. His expertise in developing and executing data and AI governance frameworks, along with his ability to architect robust data platforms, has consistently empowered organizations to enhance decision-making, drive operational efficiency, and achieve strategic objectives. 

          Kuldeep’s career is marked by a series of impactful roles, including Vice President of Data Strategy at CoBank and BECU, where he led initiatives that revolutionized data management and business intelligence functions. His leadership has resulted in significant cost reductions, regulatory compliance improvements, and the successful migration of legacy systems to modern, cloud-based architectures. Kuldeep is a strategic thinker with a forward-looking approach, continuously exploring the intersection of data, AI, and business innovation to drive competitive advantage. His educational background, including executive programs in AI and Data Science from the University of Chicago and Texas McCombs School of Business, further reinforces his commitment to staying at the cutting edge of technology and leadership.

          Jonathan Wang

          Jonathan Wang

          Van Eck, CTO

           

          Jonathan Wang is the Chief Technology Officer at VanEck Associates, a global asset manager with offices in US, Europe, Australia and China. Before joining VanEck, Mr. Wang was a partner and Chief Technology Officer at Antecapio LLC, a multi-strategy hedge fund in New York.

          Mr. Wang holds a MS in Computer Science from Yale University, and MBA in Finance from New York University.

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          HSO/AKA

          For more than 30 years, HSO has focused on helping organizations get sustainable results through the use of technology. We have grown into one of the world’s leading Microsoft partners, supporting local and international businesses in pursuit of digital transformation. We use state-of-the-art technologies, including Microsoft Dynamics 365, Azure cloud platform, and our unique, industry-specific solutions, along with expert cloud services, business process consulting, and custom application development to help you get to where you want to be.

          Ready to pave the way to innovation? Whatever you’re ready for, we have the people, experience and solutions to make it happen. 

          Learn More:  https://us.hso.com/

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          Broadridge

          Broadridge, a global Fintech leader with over $4 billion in revenues and part of the S&P 500® Index, enables corporate governance, powers capital markets and helps wealth and asset management… 

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          Q

          Broadridge

          Broadridge, a global Fintech leader with over $4 billion in revenues and part of the S&P 500® Index, enables corporate governance, powers capital markets and helps wealth and asset management firms grow. We provide communications, technology, data and analytics that help enrich engagement, navigate risk, optimize efficiency and drive revenue growth. We process $5 trillion in fixed income and equity trades daily, manage shareholder voting in 90 countries and deliver essential communications for 5,000 brands. From our unique vantage point, working side by side with our clients, we help businesses get ahead of today’s challenges and capitalize on what’s next.

          Learn More:  www.broadridge.com

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          eVestment

          The Source for Institutional Intelligence

           eVestment, a part of Nasdaq, provides institutional investment data, analytics and market intelligence covering public and private markets. … 

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          Q

          eVestment

          The Source for Institutional Intelligence

           

          eVestment, a part of Nasdaq, provides institutional investment data, analytics and market intelligence covering public and private markets. Asset managers and general partners reach the institutional marketplace through our platform, while institutional investors and consultants rely on eVestment for manager due diligence, selection and monitoring. eVestment brings transparency and efficiency to the global institutional market, equipping managers, investors and consultants to make data-driven decisions, deploy their resources more productively and ultimately realize better outcomes.

          Learn More:  www.eVestment.com

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          ForwardLane

          ForwardLane is an applied artificial intelligence company that accelerates digital advisory and distribution in wealth management, asset management and commercial banking. We do this by…

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          Q

          ForwardLane

          ForwardLane is an applied artificial intelligence company that accelerates digital advisory and distribution in wealth management, asset management and commercial banking.
          We do this by synthesizing vast quantities of collective firm intelligence and market data, dramatically accelerating the productivity of financial services professionals.

          Learn More:  http://forwardlane.com/

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          Hey Dan

          Serving 5,000+ wholesalers in the asset management industry from firms with over $7.6 trillion in total market capitalization, Hey DAN (formerly Dial-A-Note) is the premiere voice to CRM solution…

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          Q

          Hey DAN

          Serving 5,000+ wholesalers in the asset management industry from firms with over $7.6 trillion in total market capitalization, Hey DAN (formerly Dial-A-Note) is the premiere voice to CRM solution. Salespeople simply dictate and Hey DAN deposits the information directly into your CRM. Drop-down menus, check boxes and other unique fields are quickly filled out, without the salesperson’s help. Hey DAN is the first voice to CRM solution that combines technology and intelligence, ensuring meeting note entry is fast, accurate, and complete.

          Hey DAN is also the only voice to CRM solution that passes all security requirements within the asset management industry.

          Beyond CRM entry, Hey DAN has built a sterling reputation for low-cost, high quality data management solutions. From expense entry to data scrubbing, list building and data mining, Hey DAN does the work behind the scenes so your sales team and support staff can work on high value tasks resulting in a phenomenal ROI.

          Hey DAN was founded in 2006 specifically to support the asset management industry. It has since launched its own nonprofit foundation helping deliver relief to the poorest of the poor around the globe. To learn more visit http://www.feathersproject.org/

           

          Learn More:  https://heydan.ai/civicom/

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          ISS Market Intelligence

          Institutional Shareholder Services group of companies (ISS) empowers investors and companies to build for long-term and sustainable growth by providing high-quality data, analytics and insight. ISS Market Intelligence (MI) division provides critical data and insight to global asset managers…

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          Q

          Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS)

          Institutional Shareholder Services group of companies (ISS) empowers investors and companies to build for long-term and sustainable growth by providing high-quality data, analytics and insight. ISS Market Intelligence (MI) division provides critical data and insight to global asset managers, insurance companies and distributors to help them make informed, strategic decisions to manage and grow their business.

           Through its industry-leading combination of proprietary and integrated datasets, in-depth global research and reliable executive engagement, ISS MI delivers solutions for market sizing, competitor benchmarking, product strategy and opportunity identification across a wide range of financial products including funds, annuities, insurance, mortgages, and other instruments. The ISS MI group includes the industry-leading data platforms Simfund, BrightScope, Local Market Share, and Financial Clarity, as well a full collection of global research and analytic services including Investor Economics, Market Metrics, and Plan for Life.

           

          Learn More:  https://www.issgovernance.com/si-joins-iss/

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          Kyloe

          Kyloe is a software provider with an exclusive focus on Salesforce solutions for Asset Managers. Kyloe’s offerings include end-to-end Salesforce overlays and modules for Institutional and Intermediary Distribution Sales and Marketing, as well as pre-built Salesforce integrations… 

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          Q

          Kyloe

          Kyloe is a software provider with an exclusive focus on Salesforce solutions for Asset Managers.

          Kyloe’s offerings include end-to-end Salesforce overlays and modules for Institutional and Intermediary Distribution Sales and Marketing, as well as pre-built Salesforce integrations for many of the leading data providers servicing the Asset Management Industry. Our team has been delivering Salesforce solutions since 2004 for many of Salesforce’s leading financial services clients.

           

          Learn More:  www.kyloe.digital

           

           

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          Mertius Business Solutions, Inc.

          Meritus focuses on large, enterprise-sized, complex engagements with strategic customers in Financial Services, Healthcare, and Manufacturing.  Co-Founders, Barney Holmes and Bill Zarbock…

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          Q

          Meritus Business Solutions

          Meritus focuses on large, enterprise-sized, complex engagements with strategic customers in Financial Services, Healthcare, and Manufacturing. Co-Founders, Barney Holmes and Bill Zarbock have more than 40 combined years of CRM and business process experience. We were Infor CRM Partner of the year in 2016, 2017 and 2020 and are a top-tier Creatio partner (formerly bpm’online).

          Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Bedminster, New Jersey. Meritus has built a reputation for time-to-value delivery and high levels of customer satisfaction. End users are at the heart of our delivery and service processes.
          We have the largest and most tenured team of certified Infor and Creatio employees. We hire skilled Software Engineers and train them on supported CRM product suites and our unique service methodologies. Each consultant is degreed with at least five years of applicable business experience.

          For large customers, consultant teams cross-train to learn their implementations, organizational and business processes. Our focused service offerings include; Customer Relationship Management (Infor CRM and Creatio), Mobile Solutions, Business Process Management and Workflow Automation, Service Integration, Big Data/Data-Driven processes and Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence.

          Meritus blends elements from Agile and Waterfall methodologies. We have found that this approach lowers overall delivery costs, reduces future rework and provides insight into end-state delivery budgets as Sprints take into consideration broader views of workflows and future anticipated integrations. Our highly experienced analysts’ partner with you to understand and utilize the most appropriate process to meet your needs.

           

          Learn More:  https://www.meritusbusinesssolutions.com/

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          Olmstead Associates

          Olmstead is a data-centric consulting firm with an exclusive focus on the asset management industry. We provide consulting expertise to help with operational transformation and sales enablement solutions. We have the data management expertise that makes all those solutions play nicely together…

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          Olmstead Associates

          Olmstead is a data-centric consulting firm with an exclusive focus on the asset management industry. We provide consulting expertise to help with operational transformation and sales enablement solutions. We have the data management expertise that makes all those solutions play nicely together.

          Our experience is deep and includes sales and marketing enablement, client reporting and communications, CRM, distribution & customer intelligence, and digital/web projects. Our Operations, Technology, and Data experts, along with proven methodologies and leading-edge tools help our clients make better decisions and lower project risk.

           

          Seismic

          Olmstead is also the only certified Seismic implementation and development partner. Our focus on the asset management industry allows us to deliver best practices and develop industry-specific solutions based on practical use cases. We have a deep understanding of how the Seismic solution can integrate with your suite of distribution solutions and deliver the full value of the tool.

          Salesforce

          Seismic

          Marketo

          PowerBI

          Tableau

          Solution Architecture

          Data Lifecycle Management

          Data Warehouse

          Data Governance

          Modern Data Strategies

           

          If these ideas resonate with you, please contact Scott Kasper. Scott is a 15-year member of the SME Forum and recently joined Olmstead.  Please visit the Olmstead website for additional information about our practice and blog entries about many of these topics.

           

          Learn More https://www.olmst.com/

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          SalesPage

          SalesPage Technologies helps asset managers utilize data to retain and grow their asset base more effectively. SalesPage solutions function within each client’s data architecture, providing data management, sales operations, and reporting…

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          Q

          SalesPage

          SalesPage Technologies helps asset managers utilize data to retain and grow their asset base more effectively. SalesPage solutions function within each client’s data architecture, providing data management, sales operations, and reporting—all while integrating with their sales enablement solutions such as CRM, BI platforms, and other systems. The SalesPage family of products includes SalesPage distribution data platform solutions, SalesStation outsourced data management, Advisor Atlas team data, LumaSuite data service, and Clarity Compliance for 22c-2. SalesPage’s total value combines our industry-specific solutions, a staff with deep industry knowledge, and a close-knit client community who help guide our product development. SalesPage works directly with over 90 asset managers.

          Contact:

          team@salespage.com

           

          Learn More:  https://www.salespage.com/

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          SS&C Technologies

          SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices around the…

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          Q

          SS&C Technologies

          SS&C has been helping investment and financial firms of all types gain that advantage for more than 30 years. Grounded in our deep knowledge and understanding of your business, our technology-powered solutions and services help you run your operations more efficiently, compete more effectively and grow more profitably. Through data management, market share services, advisor practice analysis, industry research and consulting, we provide you with distribution intelligence and expertise to manage your data, gain insights and ignite growth in your business.

           

          Learn More:  www.ssctech.com

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          Synthesis Technology

          Synthesis Technology is an end-to-end content automation and publishing platform that empowers investment companies to improve their marketing efficiencies and grow AUM. Since 1998, Synthesis Technology has leveraged its industry expertise to enable global asset managers to…

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          Q

          Synthesis Technology

          Synthesis Technology is an end-to-end content automation and publishing platform that empowers investment companies to improve their marketing efficiencies and grow AUM. Since 1998, Synthesis Technology has leveraged its industry expertise to enable global asset managers to automate, scale, and improve the efficiency of their data-driven content across their enablement and regulatory documents. Our flagship solution, Synthesis Publisher, is proven to improve content automation and publishing processes by 50%.

           

          To learn more about how Synthesis Technology can transform your business, visit:  https://www.synthesistechnology.com/

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          XALT Sales Optimisation

          XALT is an industry-leading sales optimisation platform for global Asset Managers which puts data and insights at the heart of Asset Management distribution and enables digital-first sales teams to deliver maximum value to their clients…

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          Q

          XALT

          XALT is an industry-leading sales optimisation platform for global Asset Managers which puts data and insights at the heart of Asset Management distribution and enables digital-first sales teams to deliver maximum value to their clients. 

          Winner of Best Use of Data at the Investment Week Innovation Awards 2020 and a FinTech Start-Up award at the Digital Client Engagement Summit 2019, XALT currently supports global Asset Managers with over $4tn of assets across 15 countries and 5 continents, transforming sales teams so they have greater insights, can go further for their clients, and deliver asset growth.

          XALT delivers three core benefits to global Asset Managers:

          1. Deeper sales intelligence – providing the technology to unite all relevant data to generate timely and relevant insights.
          2. Stronger client experience – enabling more personalised, digital-first client-specific communications before sales opportunities are missed.
          3. Better business results – delivering data-led insights that help maximise impact on asset retention and growth.

          XALT helps its clients stand out from the crowd and achieve profitable growth through a combination of technology and human insights powered by deep industry expertise and data knowledge.

          XALT is a PureGroup application. PureGroup is a UK-based financial technology business focused on empowering global Asset Managers to grow assets, increase profitability, and become tomorrow’s leaders.

          PureGroup was established in 2013, has its HQ in London, and development centres in Portugal and Lithuania.

          Website:  https://xalt.io/

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