Jack Brown, CFA, Chief Investment Officer
Mr. Brown is a partner and the firm’s Chief Investment Officer. He was
the founder of Laureola Asset Management, a private investment firm that merged with Aviance Capital Partners. Prior to Laureola, Mr. Brown was a Director for Prudential’s Strategic Investment Research Group, managed a due diligence team at Smith Barney, and was a sell-side analyst for UBS. In 2011, Mr. Brown was named CFA Society of Naples “Citizen of the Year.” His value investing strategy has been recognized as a “Top Gun” performer within the All-Cap Value and broader U.S. Equity categories by Informa Investment Solutions, and his research has been published in multiple peer-reviewed professional journals. Mr. Brown earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a past president of the CFA Society of Naples.
James Neel, CFA, Founding Member / Sr. Portfolio Manager
Mr. Neel 
was most recently with YHB Investment Advisors as a Senior Portfolio Manager. Prior to YHB Investment Advisors, Mr. Neel was the Senior Resident Officer at Bessemer Trust, Resident Manager at Brown Brothers Harriman, Chief Executive Officer and President at Dreman Value Advisors, and Portfolio Strategist and Equity Mutual Fund Manager at Kemper Financial Services where he won a Lipper Award for finishing first in the Growth and Income category. Mr. Neel has managed portfolios for pension plans, foundations, mutual funds, and high net worth individuals throughout his more than thirty-five years in the investment industry. Mr. Neel earned both a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Michigan State University prior to serving four years as an United States Naval Officer. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Orville D. Ward, Founding Member / Sr. Portfolio Manager
Mr. Ward was most rec
ently with YHB Investment Advisors as the Resident Manager. Prior to YHB, Mr. Ward was Vice President of Portfolio Strategy and Marketing at Brown Brothers Harriman, a Partner at Capital Assets Investment Management, and Vice President at Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company of Florida. Mr. Ward has specialized in portfolio management, fundamental equity research, complex strategies for concentrated stock positions, as well as working with Trusts and fiduciary tax strategies throughout his more than twenty-four years in the investment industry. Mr. Ward earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University. He holds the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation.
Jeffrey Pike, Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Pike was most recently with Private Capital Management as an Assistant Vice President Operational Risk Manager. Prior to Private Capital Management, Mr. Pike was a Control Analyst at Times Square Capital Management and a Portfolio Analyst and Mutual Fund Trader at Advest Inc. Mr. Pike is proficient in many aspects of financial operations ranging from the back-office to equity and fixed income trading throughout his more than fifteen years in the investment industry. Mr. Pike earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Lynn Petkus, Managing Director
Mr. Petkus was most recently with Churchill Management Group as a Vice President. Prior to Churchill Management Group, Mr. Petkus was in Institutional Sales at TD Waterhouse Institutional Services, a Business Development Officer and Assistant Branch Manager at Waterhouse Securities, and a Financial Consultant at Smith Barney. Mr. Petkus has worked extensively in both retail and institutional financial sales throughout his more than twenty years in the industry. Mr. Petkus earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Texas A&M University.
Meredith Ward, Wealth Relations Associate
Ms. Ward was most recently with Keiser University in the Financial Aid Department where she was responsible for the individual funding of the current population of students. Prior to Keiser University, Ms. Ward was a Marketing Associate with Gilman Ciocia, Inc., a tax and financial planning firm based in New York. As an Associate of Wealth Relations for Aviance Capital Partners, she is responsible for directly managing client relationships in the Naples/Miami Market. Ms. Ward earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of South Florida and is currently pursuing her MBA.
Alisha Danno, Portfolio Administrator, Operations
Mrs. Danno was most recently with CPWR, LLP in Dallas, TX as a Business Office Manager. At CPWR, LLP, she was responsible for managing the daily operations of the firm. Prior to CPWR, LLP, Mrs. Danno was a Business Office Manager at a sole proprietor CPA firm and a Housestaff Administrative Coordinator at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Mrs. Danno earned an Associates of Science in Medical Business Administration from Rochester Business Institute.