San Diego Cutter Connect 2023

Angela Centeno has more than 25 years of experience in financial services. Prior to joining Cutter in 2015, Angela worked for The Northern Trust Company in multiple roles including sourcing and procuring enterprise market data, investment operations outsourcing, and vendor and custodian relationships. She previously held senior positions in operations management, project management, data management, and solutions implementation. Angela earned a bachelor of science in accounting and a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Kansas, as well as an MBA in finance from DePaul University. She is a registered CPA.

Recent research assignments and publications include the following:

• AI Use Cases in Investment Management: Infinite Possibilities
• Alternative Investments
• Client Reporting Systems
• Cutter Benchmarking: Alternative Investments
• Cutter Benchmarking: Derivatives and Collateral Management
• Cutter Benchmarking: Firmwide ESG Capabilities
• Derivatives and Collateral Management Solutions
• ESG Data Management
• ESG: It’s a Jungle Out There ─ A Look at the Data Provider Landscape
• ESG Investing: One Vision, Many Lenses
• Market Data Administration
• Private Debt

Jon Chandler has 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Cutter Associates in 2014, Jon was a senior business analyst for State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), where he was involved in a number of projects for the front and middle office, including UAT design and execution for an order management system (Fidessa IMS), the implementation of a web-based due diligence platform (FundInsight), and an enterprise solution to support blended benchmarks. Prior to his project roles, Jon was a principal in fixed income trade operations at SSGA. He has extensive experience with post-trade operations and applications, such as OASYS/CTM, PORTIA, MBSExpert, and FailStation. Jon earned a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Florida and an MBA from Northeastern University.

Recent research assignments and publications include the following:

• Alternative Investment Systems
• Cutter Benchmarking: Alternative Investments
• Cutter Benchmarking: Derivatives and Collateral Management
• Cutter Benchmarking: Investment Risk
• Cutter Benchmarking: Performance Measurement and Attribution
• Derivatives and Collateral Management Solutions
• Execution Management Systems
• Managed Data Services
• Order Management Systems
• Outsourcing Solutions
• Performance Measurement and Attribution Systems
• Portfolio Analytics Solutions
• Private Debt
• Risk Management Systems
• The Evolving Front Office Support Model

Stacia Graham has more than 25 years of experience in investment management, bringing a deep understanding of end-to-end asset management processing and project management to her role as Managing Director, Asset Management Research Lead at Cutter Associates.

Stacia also serves as a subject matter expert for targeted engagements in Enterprise Risk and Compliance.

Prior to joining Cutter in 2018, Stacia worked at Wellington Management Company LLP in Boston in various senior roles within compliance, investment administration, and operational risk, including leading and managing the global Investment Guideline Compliance team for eight years. She earned a bachelor of science in business administration from Bryant University and an MBA from Bentley University.

Recent research assignments and publications include the following:

• Client Portal Solutions
• Client Reporting Systems
• Cutter Benchmarking: Client Reporting
• Cutter Benchmarking: Modern Compliance in Investment Management
• Electronic Communications Surveillance Systems
• Hybrid Work Arrangements and Their Impact on Firm Culture
• Performance Measurement and Attribution Systems
• Portfolio Analytics Solutions
• Research Management Systems
• Using RPA to Automate Business Processes

Recent Consulting Engagements include:

• Assessment of business processes and systems to support regulatory reporting (shareholder disclosure reporting) for a large asset manager

• Assessment of requirements and vendor solutions for Electronic Communication Surveillance for a small asset manager, to rectify SEC findings

Laura Jesson has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry as a project manager, business analyst, and consultant. She joined Cutter Associates in 2013. Prior to Cutter, Laura spent eight years at Wells Capital Management and Evergreen Investments, where she managed investment operations projects, including those focused on outsourcing, client reporting, and trade management. She previously worked at Omgeo as a member of the Central Trade Manager (CTM) product design team. Laura started her career at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) as a process consultant supporting a variety of projects for clients in the financial services industry. Laura earned her bachelor of arts in economics and psychology from Amherst College. She holds the Project Manager Professional (PMP) certification.

Recent research assignments and publications include the following:

• AI Use Cases in Investment Management: Infinite Possibilities 
• Business Intelligence Tools
• Cutter Benchmarking: Client Reporting
• Cutter Benchmarking: Firmwide ESG Capabilities
• Cutter Benchmarking: Managing Vendors and Service Providers 
• DataOps: In Theory and Practice
• Enabling Data Analytics
• ESG Data Management 
• ESG: It’s a Jungle Out There ─ A Look at the Data Provider Landscape
• ESG Investing: One Vision, Many Lenses 
• Execution Management Systems
• Hybrid Work Arrangements and Their Impact on Firm Culture
• Using RPA to Automate Business Processes
• The Role of the CRM for Asset Managers

Lisa Masten has more than 20 years of experience in the investment management industry, leading projects and designing solutions in the areas of performance and attribution, data management, market data administration, portfolio analytics, and investment accounting. Lisa leads Cutter Associates’ Data and Performance practice, where she advises and designs operating models, selects systems, and implements business and technology solutions. She also organizes the Implementation practice for Cutter, including leading development of its adaptable delivery framework and project toolkit.

Prior to joining Cutter, Lisa was a Senior Manager at Invesco, where she managed a global team responsible for designing and implementing data, performance, and accounting solutions. She has held roles implementing and supporting processes and technology across the front, middle and back office at multiple asset management firms. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in finance and computer science from North Central College in Illinois.

Gina McCafferty has 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. She served at Cutter from 1999 to 2011 as Principal and Managing Director of CutterResearch, and she was instrumental in growing that business. Gina returned to Cutter in 2017, and established and ran the company’s Wealth Management research division. In 2019, she was appointed to Head of Research, responsible for Asset Management and Wealth Management product development and delivery to over 200 member firms around the globe. Gina was previously at Investit Ltd., where she served for six years as head of the company’s research service. Prior to that, she held senior positions at DST International with product responsibility for their global accounting and performance measurement systems, and at SunGard as Vice President of Client Services for their securities trading products.

Kathy McDermott has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Kathy, who joined Cutter Associates in 2011, has authored multiple Cutter Research reports on a wide range of topics. She spent ten years as a consultant for a variety of asset management firms, with a focus on business analysis for front- and middle-office projects. Kathy was previously the senior business analyst, equity trading systems, at Wellington Management, specializing in the firm’s proprietary electronic and basket trading applications. Earlier in her career, Kathy worked for Thomson Financial Services (now Thomson Reuters), supporting FirstCall and PORTIA clients in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand, and later went on to manage PORTIA implementations. She also worked at LongView (now Linedata) as an account manager and then product manager of electronic trading. Kathy earned her bachelor of arts in mathematics from Hamilton College.

Recent research assignments and publications include the following:

• Alternative Data and the Expanding Universe of Investment Information
• Cutter Benchmarking: Data Management
• Cutter Benchmarking: Market Data Administration
• DataOps: In Theory and Practice
• Enabling Data Analytics
• The Evolving Front Office Support Model
• Evolving Data Governance: Building a Data Culture
• Making Snowflake Part of Your Modern Data Platform
• Managed Data Services
• Market Data Administration
• Order Management Systems
• Outsourced Trading: Has the Time Come?
• Reference Data Management Solutions

Matt Mueller brings more than eight years of experience in the financial services industry to his Research Analyst role at Cutter Associates. Prior to joining Cutter in 2022, Matt was an investment performance associate at Cambridge Associates before moving onto an investment operations role at 1919 Investment Counsel, an RIA headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. At 1919 Matt was involved in every aspect of the back office, from trade support to Security Master to compliance. Most recently, Matt served as a research analyst at the financial publication Angels & Entrepreneurs, which specializes in early-stage companies raising money via Equity Crowdfunding Platforms. Matt was responsible for sourcing the deals, and evaluating the product, market, and investment viability of each company. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in business from Gettysburg College.

Jason Baldesare is the Head of Solution Strategy as part of the Enterprise Strategy Team in the Capital Markets business at FIS. In this role, Jason is responsible for supporting the definition and execution of the global strategy and growth objectives across all business lines. In addition, Jason leads M&A and strategic product initiatives across the Capital Markets business liaising with broader FIS teams in both the Banking and Merchant divisions. Prior to his current role, Jason was a partner in the SunGard consulting business responsible for Asset Management and Operating Model practices.

Jason’s financial services experience is in the areas of asset management, private equity, and fund administration. In addition, Jason has deep functional experience in process improvement, lean transformation and supporting clients through large change and transformational programs. Prior to FIS, Jason held senior roles in the financial services practices of Booz and Company and other management consulting firms.

Redefining What it Means to Sell for “Non-Salespeople” Great leaders, executives, partners, parents, teammates, engineers, and everyone in between sell every day — but most are afraid to admit it. The word “sales” has been rightfully stigmatized since the days of snake oil. The question is, why does the stigma still exist, and what can we do about it? On a more personal level, how can you be a great seller in any role without trying to be anything other than yourself?

In this keynote address, USC professors Colin and Garrett will help Cutter members take the first step and realize you're a salesperson, just as much as you are a leader, manager, problem solver, and influencer. They’ll cover the science behind the shame and fear associated with selling, and what can be done to overcome it. They’ll also discuss why the greatest sellers in the world often don’t have “sales” in their title and why we give them permission to sell to us. Lastly, they’ll share ways to get over the “ick” factor to actually enjoy and thrive at selling.

Dan Driscoll is a Pre-Sales Engineer at Alveo, where he enjoys helping clients and prospects solve their data challenges. Dan provides in-depth software, data management and technical support to Sales and the wider organization. Further to his pre-sales role, Dan has been a driving force behind Data Quality Intelligence and e-Xpress, Alveo’s notification and alerting solution. Dan has a Bachelor’s degree in computer science and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Machine Learning at Georgia Tech.

Randy Dry is chief operating officer for Thornburg Investment Management, Inc. He joined Thornburg in 2001 as an associate portfolio manager, was promoted to director of separate accounts in 2002, director of the institutional group in 2014, chief administrative officer in 2016, and chief operating officer in 2020. As chief operating officer, Randy is responsible for oversight of the firm’s investment operations, technology, data-management and administrative functions.

Randy started his financial career in 1997 at Davis Advisors in Santa Fe, where he helped Davis develop and launch its managed accounts business. He earned a BBA in finance from the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management. Randy is currently registered with FINRA with a Series, 7, 24, 63, 65, and 99.

Matt is a Senior Director in North America, specializing in serving insurance companies and their affiliated asset managers. His primary responsibility is promoting SimCorp's Investment Accounting and Operation Services to potential clients in the North American insurance, asset management, and pension sectors. In this capacity, he formulates sales strategies, evaluates client requirements, and collaborates closely with internal marketing, offer management, and sales support teams to devise tailored solutions for the insurance, asset management, and pension markets. Furthermore, Matt dedicates significant time to staying abreast of industry developments, maintaining connections within the consultant marketplace, and participating in various insurance industry associations.

Ross joined SimCorp in 2017 and is the Product Manager for Alternative Investments. He has worked in the Alternative Investments Software industry for the last 16 years, with global experience in consulting, implementation, presales and product management. He has the mission deliver innovative value-based solutions for Alternative Investors and thrives on continued service to clients across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.

Mahesh oversees Arcesium’s capabilities for institutional asset managers, including the Arcesium Data Platform, middle- to back-office solutions, and associated financial operations.

Previously, he was the commercial director of BlackRock’s Aladdin Data Cloud, the data warehouse platform, supporting large global asset managers and asset owners in their data strategy, data analytics, and data re-platforming needs.

Before BlackRock, Mahesh was Global Head of Portfolio Management and Research at Refinitiv, responsible for Refinitiv’s buy-side data, workflow, and analytics solutions to a diverse set of financial institutions across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. Earlier in his career, Mahesh worked for various hedge funds, including S.A.C. Capital and Calypso Capital Management, and as a consultant with McKinsey & Company.

Education & Credentials

MBA, NYU Stern School of Business

BS/BTech in Engineering, IIIT Mumbai

Fabrice Proust is the head of the Office of Customer Success. The global team helps clients achieve their business objectives by understanding their business requirements and evolving data management needs. Fabrice has 30 years of experience in the financial services industry including 12 years at Alveo.

Piyush has worked with credit-focused funds for over a decade, creating and implementing various data management strategies and custom solution build-outs.

Grant oversees product-related activities at Kurtosys, a leading solutions provider of client reporting, client portals, and multi-region websites for the investment management industry. Grant has spent the last fifteen years delivering software solutions within the asset management, structured products, and hedge fund space. He has a wealth of experience in most areas of investment technology, ranging from client reporting and digital through to trading and risk.

Mr. David Wolfarth is Vice President, Principal Analytics Sales Specialist at FactSet. In this role, he provides expertise across FactSet’s Portfolio Analytics workflows for institutional buy-side firms. He began at FactSet in 2015 supporting fixed income asset managers in the Western region before joining the Analytics Sales team in 2018. Mr. Wolfarth earned a degree in Finance from the University of Arizona.

James Woodford is a Senior Sales Director at S&P Global with a proven track record of delivering software solutions. Prior to working at S&P Global, James held various leadership roles at NYSE, Citigroup and Bloomberg. Working in the financial markets for the last 30 years providing enterprise wide solutions to the buyside across the front, middle and back office.