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Insights Series | Checking in on the Consumer

Tune into the Boston Partners Insights Series – going beyond the headlines with our investment team to provide a deeper perspective on the capital markets.

This edition features a conversation with Equity Analyst Volkan Gulen, CFA, who specializes in the Consumer Products, Business Services, Tobacco, Agriculture, and Media & Advertising industries at Boston Partners.  This discussion checks in on the state of the consumer at a complex time for the economy – high inflation, surging gas prices, rising interest rates and the potential for a recession on the horizon. Listen to the podcast below.

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For a full transcript, please click here.

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Mark LeVie, CFA

Quantitative Analyst

Investing since 1996

At Boston Partners since 2019

Mr. LeVie is a Quantitative Analyst for Boston Partners, specializing in data management and system integration. Prior to assuming this role, he was a lead software engineer in the firm’s data management group. Mr. LeVie joined the firm in March 2019 from State Street Global Advisors where he was a data systems architect. Mr. LeVie earned a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Marist College and an M.B.A. from Bentley College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

Newcomb Cole

Consultant Relations
Newcomb Cole

Mr. Cole is a member of the Investor Relations team, with distribution and relationship management responsibilities for consultants and investors in North America. He joined the firm in January 2023 from Intech, where he was a member of the consultant relations team. Prior to this, Newcomb was in a similar role at The Boston Company. Mr. Cole holds a B.S. degree in finance from Syracuse University. He also holds the FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses and began his career in the industry in 1990.

Elizabeth Sheerin

Relationship Manager
Elizabeth Sheerin

Ms. Sheerin is a member of the Relationship Management team at Boston Partners and she joined this team in 2011. She works with many of our key domestic and international clients in a client service and relationship manager capacity. Prior to joining our firm in June 2011, she was a Client Service Representative at Putnam Investments. She also held several financial services related internships including working for Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management and State Street Global Advisors. She holds a B.S. degree in business management from Babson College. Ms. Sheerin began her career in the industry in 2009.

Kara Pattipati, CFA

Product Manager
Kara Pattipati

Ms. Pattipati is a member of the Relationship Management team at Boston Partners. She works with many of our key domestic and international clients in a client service and relationship manager capacity. Prior to joining Boston Partners in November 2016, she was a business development associate at Geode Capital Management. She holds an M.A. in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. Ms. Pattipati began her career in the industry in 2012.

Marlon Thompson

Equity Trading Assistant

Investing since 2011

At Boston Partners since 2021

Marlon Thompson

Mr. Thompson is an Equity Trading Assistant for Boston Partners. Prior to assuming this role, he worked as a portfolio operations analyst. Before joining the firm in May 2021, Mr. Thompson held several roles including Vice President of Operations at Benefit Street Partners LLC and positions at International Fund Services (IFS) and Pioneer Investments. Mr. Thompson holds a B.S. in Finance from Boston College.

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Edward Stansky

Equity Analyst

Investing since 2016

At Boston Partners since 2021

Edward Stansky

Mr. Stansky is an Equity Research Analyst for Boston Partners, specializing in the energy and metals & mining sectors of the equity market. He joined the firm in September 2021. Prior to that, he worked as a high-yield and leveraged loan analyst at DDJ Capital and as an investment banking analyst in debt advisory at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Mr. Stansky holds a B.S. in Economics from Duke University and an M.B.A. from the NYU Stern School of Business.

Jonah Frank, CFA

Equity Analyst

Investing since 2021

At Boston Partners since 2021

Jonah Frank

Mr. Frank is an Equity Research Analyst for Boston Partners, specializing in emerging markets energy and materials sectors of the equity market. Prior to joining the firm in July 2021, he was a student at Boston University where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentrations in Finance and Management Information Systems. Mr. Frank holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

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John Zhao

Equity Analyst

Investing since 2015

At Boston Partners since 2021

John Zhao

Mr. Zhao is an Equity Analyst for Boston Partners, specializing in the emerging markets technology sector of the equity market. He joined the firm in November 2021. Previously, Mr. Zhao worked as a Private Equity Associate in Salt Lake City and an Investment Banking Associate in Hong Kong. He holds a B.A. from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Matthew Donovan

Equity Analyst

Investing since 2022

At Boston Partners since 2022

Mark Donovan

Mr. Donovan is an Equity Analyst for Boston Partners, specializing in emerging markets financials; telecommunications; food, beverage & tobacco; restaurants; hotels; and personal products. Prior to assuming this role, he was a Research Analyst on the firm’s Sustainability and Engagement team where he was responsible for original ESG/sustainability research on companies held in Boston Partners’ portfolios. Mr. Donovan joined the firm in February 2022. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Jack Birmingham

Product Specialist
Jack Birmingham

Mr. Birmingham is a Product Specialist for the Boston Partners value equity strategies based in the London office, responsible for clients, consultants and prospects outside of North America. Prior to this role, he joined the firm in June 2018 as an RFP Writer and Database Coordinator in the Marketing Department, where he supported all of the firm’s equity strategies. He holds a B.A. degree in political science from Hobart College. He began his career in the industry in 2018.

Jason Reid

Senior Compliance Manager
Jason Reid

Mr. Reid is Senior Compliance Manager for Boston Partners and Chief Compliance Officer of Boston Partners Securities, LLC, the firm’s limited purpose broker/dealer. He joined Boston Partners in August 2022. His primary responsibilities are sales and marketing compliance and broker/dealer regulatory oversight. Mr. Reid is a member of the GIPS® Committee and the Governance Committee. Previously, he was a member of the Boston Partners Sustainability and Engagement team where he managed the proxy voting process on behalf of the Governance Committee, prepared all engagement materials with issuers regarding proxy matters, and conducted original ESG research on issuers held in the firm’s portfolio. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Reid was Compliance Manager, Assistant Vice President, at Natixis Investment Managers. He holds the FINRA Series 7 and 24 licenses and has successfully passed the Chief Compliance Officer Qualification Exam. Mr. Reid holds a B.S. from Fitchburg State University. He began his career in the industry in 2004.

Kathryn Y. Burke

Director of Client Service
Kathryn Y. Burke

Ms. Burke is Director of Client Service for Boston Partners, responsible for managing the firm’s client service associates and proposal team. In this role, she helps ensure client needs are met with world-class service and satisfaction while driving new business initiatives to develop and enhance relationships in the firm’s institutional and sub-advisory businesses. Ms. Burke joined the firm in February 2023 from Putnam Investments where she spent 15 years as Director of Client Service, managing day-to-day oversight of its Japanese and North American clients. Before that, she was an Account Executive and Proposal Writer at Fidelity Investments in its institutional division. Ms. Burke earned a B.A. in Asian Studies from Dartmouth College and an M.A. in East Asian Studies from Duke University. She holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses. Ms. Burke began her career in the industry in 2006.

Verne Garin

Equity Research Analyst

Investing since 2023.

At Boston Partners since 2024.

Mr. Garin is an Equity Research Analyst for Boston Partners, specializing in the energy and metals & mining sectors of the equity market. He joined the firm in September 2024. Prior to that, he worked as an equity research associate at Wolfe Research LLC covering energy. Mr. Garin holds a B.S. dual degree in Economics/Statistics from Carnegie Mellon University.

Timothy Strakosch

Taft-Hartley & Public Funds

Mr. Strakosch is responsible for Business Development and Relationship Management of the firm’s Public Fund and Taft-Hartley clients. He joined the firm in 2023 from AllianceBernstein where he was a Vice President in the Institutional Client Group with responsibility for Public Fund and Taft-Hartley clients throughout North America. Previously, he was at Putnam Investments responsible for marketing Putnam Investment solutions to Financial Advisors at the wire house firms. Mr. Strakosch is a member of the Leadership Advisory Council at The Cristo Rey Boston High School and a team captain for the Pan-Mass Challenge. He serves on the Gold Leadership Council at Boston College and is a Class Agent at The Belmont Hill School. Mr. Strakosch holds a B.A. degree in Finance from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College and holds the FINRA securities licenses 7 and 63. He began his career in the industry in 2013.

Connor Watson, CFA

Taft-Hartley & Public Funds

Mr. Watson is responsible for Relationship Management and Business Development for the firm’s Public Fund and Taft-Hartley clients across the U.S. He joined Boston Partners after nine years at BNY Mellon Investment Management where he was a Vice President in the North American Distribution group with responsibility for multi-employer, public and other clients. In prior roles, Mr. Watson was with The Boston Company Asset Management as a Client Service Analyst, and he started his career at State Street Global Services. Mr. Watson earned a B.A. degree in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross. He holds FINRA Series 3, 7, and 63 licenses, and the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. Mr. Watson began his career in the industry in 2012.

Jacqueline Kelliher

Intermediary Sales

Ms. Kelliher is a member of the Investor Relations team and joined the firm in March 2023. In this capacity, Ms. Kelliher has business development and relationship management responsibilities of the firm’s financial intermediary relationships. Prior to this, Ms. Kelliher was a Director of Platform Distribution at John Hancock Investment Management. In this role she supported the Investment Research and Due Diligence efforts of the gatekeeper and professional buyer clientele within broker-dealer platforms and financial institutions. Additionally, she managed a team of internal sales professionals supporting the Broker-Dealer/Platform and DCIO channels. Before that, Ms. Kelliher held various sales roles across channels including RIAs, Family Offices, and Bank/Trusts. She holds a B.S. in business administration from the University of Richmond and is currently pursuing an M.B.A. at Babson College. She holds the FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, and 66 licenses and began her career in the industry in 2014.

Jett Dziama

Equity Analyst

Investing since 2023

At Boston Partners since 2023

Mr. Dziama is an Equity Analyst for Boston Partners, focusing his analytical efforts on banks and the financial services sector of the equity market. He joined the firm in August 2023. Mr. Dziama holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Economics from Boston University.

Stephen Ferrara

Equity Trader

Investing since 2014.

At Boston Partners since 2023.

Mr. Ferrara is an Equity Trader for Boston Partners. Prior to joining the firm in June 2023, he held the position of senior trader at Man Group. Mr. Ferrara holds a B.S. in Business Management from Suffolk University.

Sam Lieberman

Client Advisor

Mr. Lieberman is a Client Advisor at Boston Partners. In this capacity, he is responsible for delivering Boston Partners investment solutions to premier financial advisors at the major wealth management firms. Prior to joining the firm in 2024, Mr. Lieberman held similar roles at Angel Oak Capital and Putnam Investments. Mr. Lieberman holds a B.S. degree from Northeastern University and the FINRA series 7, 22, 63 and 65 licenses. He began his career in the industry in 1989.

Sean Thomas, CFA

Product Manager

Mr. Thomas is a Product Manager for Boston Partners and has extensive experience with all the firm’s strategies. In this position, he works with our team of investment professionals in formulating, developing, and communicating the investment narrative for Boston Partners. He joined Boston Partners in September 2015. Prior to this role, Mr. Thomas was a Portfolio Analyst within the Portfolio Research Group. Before that he was an RFP Writer/Database Coordinator in the Marketing Services Department. Mr. Thomas holds a B.A. degree in Economics and a minor in Mathematics from Bates College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. He began his career in the industry in 2015.

Andrew McCue

Institutional Sales

Mr. McCue is a member of the Investor Relations team at Boston Partners. In this capacity, he is responsible for distribution of Boston Partners products to corporations, foundations, and endowments. Prior to joining the firm in June 2023, Mr. McCue was head of investor relations at Atlas Merchant Capital and a director in the institutional client business at BlackRock. Mr. McCue holds a B.A. degree from Boston College and the FINRA Series 7, 63, and 3 licenses. He began his career in the industry in 2011.

Christopher Bowker

Director of Equity Trading

Investing since 1999

At Boston Partners since 2000

Mr. Bowker is Director of Equity Trading for Boston Partners. His responsibilities include overseeing the trading desk in Boston, managing technological and regulatory change as it impacts trading and the investment process, and heading up the Trade Management Oversight Committee, which is charged with ensuring trading complies with the firm’s best execution practices. Previously, he held numerous positions on the trading desk including senior equity trader and equity trading assistant. Before joining the desk, he worked as an associate in the firm’s Operations department. He joined the organization in July 2000 from Putnam Investments where he was a corporate actions analyst. He is a member of NOIP (National Organization of Investment Professionals), CBOE IAC (Institutional Advisory Council), and NASDAQ ITAC (Institutional Traders Advisory Council). Mr. Bowker holds a B.A. in Economics from Stonehill College.

Molly Clements

Research Analyst

Ms. Clements is a Research Analyst for Boston Partners, serving on the Sustainability and Engagement team. She joined the firm in January 2024. Ms. Clements is responsible for original ESG/sustainability research on companies held in Boston Partners’ portfolios. She holds dual B.A. degrees in Economics and Psychology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Ms. Clements began her career in the industry in 2024.

Megan Zona

Equity Analyst

Investing since 2021

At Boston Partners since 2024

Ms. Zona is an Equity Analyst for Boston Partners, specializing in the healthcare sector of the equity market. She joined the firm in July 2024 from Goldman Sachs where she worked in alternative investments. Ms. Zona earned a B.S. in Neuroscience with a Finance concentration from Boston College.

Haesu Lee, CFA

Equity Analyst

Investing since 2012

At Boston Partners since 2024

Ms. Lee is an Equity Analyst with Boston Partners covering developed non-U.S. financial services and machinery. She joined the firm in March 2024 from Robeco Hong Kong, where she was an Investment Analyst for four years covering Asia Pacific financial and consumer sectors. Prior to that, she spent three years at Fidelity International in Hong Kong covering Korean financials and consumer stocks. Ms. Lee obtained B.B.A. degree from Schulich School of Business at York University and an M.B.A. degree from Columbia Business School, where she completed the Value Investing Program. Ms. Lee holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

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