John W. Allen
A 28-year Hewitt veteran, John is a senior investment consultant based in our Lincolnshire, IL office. He consults with corporate plan sponsors as well as health foundations and charitable funds on the establishment of investment objectives and manager selection. John has extensive experience in working with defined benefit and defined contribution plan investments and has conducted numerous manager, master trustee, and custodian searches. John holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota. He has spoken at stable value industry symposiums and has been published in Institutional Investor. John joined Hewitt in 1979. <Back to Top>

Brett M. Balavender
Brett is an investment consultant in our Norwalk, CT office. He consults with defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans, endowments and foundations on performance evaluation, investment manager selection and investment policy development. Brett is a member of Hewitt's U.S. Manager Evaluation Committee and focuses on domestic large cap value/core equities. Brett earned an MBA in Finance with high honors from the Dolan School of Management at Fairfield University and a BA in Economics from Boston College. His previous experience includes serving as a portfolio analyst at Putnam Investments. Brett joined Hewitt in 2003 and is a Registered Investment Adviser Representative (Series 65).
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R. Scott Cooprider, CFA
Scott is a senior investment consultant in our Atlanta, GA office. He serves as a member of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee, with a focus on developed non-US and emerging markets equities. Prior to joining Hewitt Associates, Scott was a senior investment consultant and a director of research with a regional investment consulting firm located in the South-Central region, where he specialized in defined benefit public pensions and defined contribution plans. He has over 20 years of experience in the investment industry and 13 years of investment consulting experience. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute. For 10 years, he was a CFA Institute grader for the CFA candidate program. Scott graduated with an MBA in Finance from the University of Central Oklahoma and a BS in Business Administration and Behavioral Science (Double Major) from Oklahoma Wesleyan University. He joined Hewitt in 2007.  <Back to Top>

Kevin J. Cress, CFA
Kevin is an investment consultant in our Norwalk, CT office. He consults with defined benefit and defined contribution plan sponsors on performance evaluation, investment manager selection and evaluation, and investment policy development. Kevin's research interests include asset allocation modeling, applications of behavioral finance, quantitative evaluation methodologies, and retirement plan design alternatives. Kevin is a member of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee, with a focus on developed non-US and emerging markets equities. He has 15 years of experience in the investment industry including a consulting role at The 401(k) Company and research positions at mPower and Charles Schwab. He received a BA in Economics from the University of California and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Kevin holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute. Kevin joined Hewitt in 2006. <Back to Top>

John C. Doyle, CFA
John is an investment consultant in our Lincolnshire, IL office. His primary responsibilities are assisting clients with defined contribution plan structure, investment manager selection, performance monitoring, and investment policy setting. John serves as a member of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee, with a focus on domestic large-cap growth equities. Prior to joining Hewitt Investment Group, John worked with Hewitt Financial Services as an investment consultant and was a consultant in Hewitt's Health Management line of business. He received a BS in Finance from Indiana University. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago. John holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and joined Hewitt in 1996. <Back to Top>

William M. Emmett
Bill is an investment consultant and unit manager in our Atlanta, GA office. He assists institutional fund sponsors on developing investment policies, asset allocation strategies, manager selection, and performance evaluation. As a member of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee, Bill conducts manager research for real estate, REIT, and timberland managers. He graduated cum laude with a BBA in Finance from Georgia State University. Bill joined Hewitt in 2000 and is a Level II candidate in the CFA program. <Back to Top>

Debra Galbraith
Debra is a senior investment analyst and unit manager in our Lincolnshire, IL office and manages the investment analyst team. She is responsible for coordinating all processes involved in the production of quarterly client investment reports. Her expertise includes computer systems enhancements, design, and quality control. Debra has a BA from Carthage College and joined Hewitt in 1976. <Back to Top>

David R. Grosner, CFA
Principal
A principal of the firm, David is a senior investment consultant and unit manager in our Norwalk, CT office. He consults with defined benefit and defined contribution plan sponsors on the establishment of investment objectives and selection of investment management organizations. He serves as Co-Chairman of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee and leads asset class coverage of growth equities across the capitalization spectrum. David graduated magna cum laude from Providence College with a BS in Finance. Further, he graduated with distinction as a Stern Scholar from New York University with an MBA in Finance and Management. Prior to joining Hewitt, David worked for Capgemini US LLC and Commonwealth Bank of Australia. David holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and joined Hewitt in 2002.  <Back to Top>

Elizabeth C. Hanig
Beth is an investment consultant in our Norwalk, CT office. She consults with defined contribution and defined benefit plans, endowments, and foundations on performance evaluation, investment manager selection, and investment policy development. Beth is a member of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee and focuses on domestic large cap value/core equities and alternative investments. Beth graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Vermont. Beth also earned an MBA with high honors in Finance/Investment Management from Pace University in New York. Previously, Beth held positions with Credit Suisse First Boston and KPMG Consulting and most recently as a Financial Consultant with Smith Barney. She joined Hewitt in 2005 and is a Level II candidate in the CFA program.  <Back to Top>

Diane Vallerie Improta
Principal
A principal of the firm and senior investment consultant in our Norwalk, CT office, Diane is Co-Director of Hewitt Investment Group's Defined Contribution Practice and a unit manager. She consults with institutional plan sponsors on developing investment policies, asset allocation strategies, manager selection, and performance evaluation. Diane's research interests include manager evaluation, performance attribution, asset allocation modeling techniques, and defined contribution plan issues. Diane has over 20 years of investment experience consulting on both defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Her previous experience includes consulting positions with Evaluation Associates (EAI) and Segal Advisors. Diane has a BA from Lynchburg College and is a Registered Investment Adviser Representative (Series 65). Diane joined Hewitt in 1998.  <Back to Top>

Phillip M. Kivarkis, FSA, EA, MAAA
A senior investment and actuarial consultant, Phil is the Director for U.S. Pension Asset-Liability Studies at Hewitt. Based in our Lincolnshire, IL office, he consults on all aspects of retirement plans. His work with clients includes evaluation of liability-driven investment and risk management strategies, ongoing actuarial valuations and financial measurement, and the development of retirement plan design alternatives. Phil also serves as the actuarial expert and conducts capital market research for Hewitt Investment Group.

Phil has been with Hewitt since 1994. He has co-authored Hewitt's retirement income adequacy report, titled "Total Retirement Income at Large Companies: The Real Deal 2005." He has also advised the Illinois Business Roundtable on the State of Illinois pension funding policy, and has been quoted as an actuarial expert by "Forbes on Fox," on the Fox News Channel. In July 2007, Phil co-authored an article titled "The Evolution of Pension Investment and Risk Management in the U.S." for EBRI's Benefits Quarterly publication.

Phil is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, an Enrolled Actuary, and a CFA Level 3 candidate. Phil holds a BS degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Illinois. <Back to Top>

Mark A. Klimek
Principal
A principal of the firm, Mark manages the Central/West region from our Lincolnshire, IL office and is Co-Director of Hewitt Investment Group's Defined Contribution Practice. Prior to joining Hewitt in 1999, Mark was the Director of Benefits Finance and Investments for Pharmacia Corporation. Mark's 20-year tenure at Pharmacia Corporation included 11 years of direct plan sponsor experience with the company's US and international pension and savings plans. He is an honors graduate of Western Michigan University, from which he also holds an MBA in Finance. Mark is a previous executive member of CIEBA (Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets), the plan sponsor pension advisory body of the Association of Financial Professionals. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago. <Back to Top>

Nicole L. Kramer, CFA
Nicole is an investment consultant in our Norwalk, CT office. She consults with defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans, endowments and foundations on performance evaluation, investment manager selection and investment policy development. Nicole serves as a member of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee, with a focus on domestic small/mid cap growth equities. She earned a BA in Economics and Mathematics; and an MA in Economics from Boston University. Her previous experience includes serving as a Risk Manager at American Express and as a banking industry strategy consultant analyst at First Manhattan Consulting Group. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts. Nicole joined Hewitt in 2007. <Back to Top>

Nate Krogman, CFA
Based in our Lincolnshire, IL office, Nate is an investment consultant to plan sponsors on a variety of topics including investment manager selection, asset-liability modeling, investment policy development, and performance evaluation. Nate serves as a member of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee, with a focus on domestic small cap equities. He graduated from Augustana College where he received a BA in Economics and Finance. Nate holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago and the CFA Institute. Nate started with Hewitt in 1998. <Back to Top>

Jacob M. Punnoose, CAIA
Jacob is an investment consultant and unit manager in our Lincolnshire, IL office. He consults with defined contribution and defined benefit plan sponsors as well as foundations and charitable funds on the structuring of investment programs, establishment of investment objectives, and selection of investment management organizations. He is co-chairman of Hewitt's U.S. Manager Evaluation Committee and is a member of Hewitt's Global Manager Evaluation Steering Committee. His primary areas of manager evaluation focus are balanced/lifestyle/lifecycle funds, real estate funds, timberland funds, and infrastructure funds. Jacob has previous investment experience as a research analyst covering hedge funds for an alternative asset research firm. Jacob received a BA in Economics from Northwestern University and an MBA with Honors with concentrations in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and is a member of the CAIA Association. He also is a Registered Investment Adviser Representative (Series 65). He joined Hewitt in 1998. <Back to Top>

Michael Scotto, CFA
Principal
A principal of the firm, Mike is a senior investment consultant and manages the Northeast region from our Norwalk, CT office. He directs the firm's research in liquid alternatives, including the review of hedge fund and fund-of-funds investments. He serves as a member of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee, with a focus on alternative investments. Mike also assists corporate pension plan sponsors with asset-liability studies, investment manager selection, and performance evaluation. He has an MA in Industrial Relations (Finance Concentration) from the University of Minnesota and a BSM with a Finance Concentration from Tulane University. Mike holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and joined Hewitt in 1997.  <Back to Top>

Bradley S. Smith, CFA
Principal
A principal of the firm, Bradley is the US Practice Leader for Hewitt Investment Group and manages the Southeast region from our Atlanta, GA office. Prior to joining Hewitt Investment Group, he was a senior consultant and practice leader for a regional investment consulting firm located in the Mid-Atlantic region, where he specialized in defined benefit and defined contribution plans. He has over 19 years of experience in the investment industry. He is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) and a member of the CFA Institute. Bradley graduated with a BA from Hampden-Sydney College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and joined Hewitt in 2003. <Back to Top>

Mike Swinney, CFA
Mike is an investment consultant in our Atlanta, GA office. His clients include defined benefit and defined contribution plans, foundations, and other not-for-profit organizations, for which he conducts performance evaluation, investment manager selection, and investment policy development. Mike is a member of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee, with a focus on the domestic small and mid-cap value universe. Mike graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting and from Life University with a BS in Computer Information Management. Prior to joining Hewitt in 2005, Mike worked for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, where he conducted quality assurance on in-house developed financial software. Mike holds the CFA designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the Atlanta Society of Financial Analysts. <Back to Top>

Robert P. Van Den Brink, CFA
Principal
A principal of the firm, Rob is a senior investment consultant in our Central/West region. He consults with institutional plan sponsors on developing investment policies, asset allocation strategies, manager selection, and performance evaluation. He also serves on Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee, with a focus on fixed income and real estate. Rob graduated summa cum laude from Miami University (Ohio) with a BS in Business Administration. Previously, he was an investment consultant with Fund Evaluation Group and a fixed income analyst with Goldman Sachs. Rob is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Cincinnati. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and has been with Hewitt for 12 years. <Back to Top>

Bryan R. Ward, CFA
Principal
A principal of the firm, Bryan is a senior investment consultant and a unit manager in our Lincolnshire, IL office. He consults with defined benefit and defined contribution plan sponsors, as well as foundations, endowments, and other charitable funds on the establishment of investment objectives and the selection of investment management organizations. Bryan serves as a member of Hewitt's US Manager Evaluation Committee, with a focus on private equity. Bryan has previous investment experience as a vice president and senior consultant with Northern Trust; as a product manager with Allstate Financial; and as an investment consultant with Mercer. He has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BSC in Finance from DePaul University. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago. Bryan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and joined Hewitt in 2005. <Back to Top>

Sherry Zhou, CFA
Sherry is an investment consultant in our Norwalk, CT office. She consults with endowments, foundations, and defined contribution and defined benefit plans on investment manager selection, performance evaluation, and investment policy development. Prior to joining Hewitt, Sherry worked for Mercer and CRA Rogers Casey. She has an MBA from Northeastern University and a BA from Shanghai International Business Institute. She is a member of the CFA Institute and the Stamford Society of Financial Analysts. Sherry holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and joined Hewitt in 2005. <Back to Top>