Fundamentals of Investor Relations - Boston (2016) Speakers

Ted Allen

Director, Regulatory Affairs and Practice Resources - NIRI

Ted Allen joined the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) in May 2012 and now serves as Director of Regulatory Affairs and Practice Resources. Ted oversees NIRI’s advocacy efforts and the organization’s Standards of Practice for Investor Relations. He is NIRI’s primary contact for inquiries on disclosure and corporate governance issues. Ted has written various magazine articles, moderated NIRI webinars, and made presentations to NIRI chapters on disclosure issues and proxy season developments. Ted was the lead editor for NIRI’s Investor Relations Body of Knowledge textbook and serves as editorial director for NIRI’s IR Update magazine. From 2004 to May 2012, Ted served as Governance Counsel and Director of Publications at Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), where he also was the proxy advisory firm’s primary contact for North American press inquiries. He appeared on various ISS-hosted webinars and represented the firm at panels hosted by law firms, the American Bar Association, and other legal groups. Before ISS, he practiced law as an associate with Proskauer Rose and Semmes, Bowen & Semmes, and worked as a journalist for Bloomberg News, The Deal.com, Legal Times, and newspapers in Florida and North Carolina. He is a member of the bar in the state of Maryland. Ted received his B.A. degree from Duke University, a J.D. from Georgetown University, and a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Howard E. Berkenblit

Partner and Leader - Sullivan & Worcester’s Capital Markets Group

Howard E. Berkenblit is a partner and leader of Sullivan & Worcester’s Capital Markets Group. He specializes in counseling both public and private companies involved in equity and debt financings and ongoing corporate governance and disclosure matters, stock exchange listing standards and Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Dodd-Frank Act compliance. He also advises Israeli and other international companies that seek to have their securities traded in the United States, as well as real estate investment trusts that engage in securities offerings and governance initiatives. In addition, Mr. Berkenblit works with clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and general corporate matters. He has written articles and spoken on many topics including Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank, the JOBS Act and a range of securities law issues impacting U.S. and foreign companies. Mr. Berkenblit’s experience has been recognized in recent publications such as Best Lawyers in America, the Client Choice Guide and Legal 500. He is a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and he received his law degree, summa cum laude, from Boston College Law School.

Rob Bradley

Vice President of Investor Relations - LogMeIn

Rob Bradley is the Vice President of Investor Relations at LogMeIn, a Boston- based technology company, that has more than 1,000 employees and $300M in revenue. Prior to joining LogMeIn in 2011, Rob was employed at Thermo Fisher Scientific where he participated in two year rotational management training program, culminating in a position on the investor relations team. He joined that management program after attending the Carroll School of Management at Boston College where he received his MBA. Rob started his career in finance with introductory roles at State Street and Columbia Management, after serving in the Peace Corps for two years in Ukraine. He lives in Needham with his wife and three children and enjoys golf, reading and the outdoors.

Jim Buckley

SVP of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications - Clean Harbors

Jim is SVP of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at Clean Harbors, North America’s leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services. He plays an integral role in shaping the company’s messaging and facilitating both external and internal communications. Prior to joining Clean Harbors, Jim was EVP and partner at Sharon Merrill, an investor relations firm in Boston. During his 19-year tenure, Jim provided strategic counsel to clients on a variety of corporate communications issues and oversaw the implementation of IR programs for a number of organizations. Previously, he worked as a reporter for the Eagle Times, a regional daily newspaper in Claremont, New Hampshire. Jim has been a member of NIRI for more than 15 years. During his career, he has spoken on IR and corporate communications topics through conferences and panel discussions sponsored by NIRI, PRSA, Business Wire, PR Newswire and The Publicity Club of New England. He has published pieces in Barron's and Investor Relations Review. For six years, Jim served as an adjunct professor of investor relations at Boston University. Jim holds a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University and an MBA from Boston College.

David Calusdian

Executive Vice President and Partner - Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc.

David Calusdian is executive vice president and partner of Sharon Merrill Associates, an investor relations strategic advisory firm based in Boston. He combines broad experience in investor relations, public affairs and media relations with a passion for quality service in providing Sharon Merrill Associates clients with ongoing strategic counsel as well as direct support on projects such as investor perception studies, corporate presentations, investor roadshows and analyst days. Calusdian also has significant experience in providing executive presentation coaching. Prior to joining Sharon Merrill Associates in 1995, he implemented communications programs as an account executive for Jack Walsh & Associates, a public affairs consulting firm. For nearly 10 years, Calusdian served as an adjunct instructor of investor relations, public relations and public speaking at Emerson College, where for part of that time he also directed the school's media relations efforts. He has delivered speeches and participated on investor relations panel discussions at conferences sponsored by NIRI, the NYSE, NASDAQ, Public Relations Society of America, and other professional development organizations. He is a past-president of NIRI's Boston chapter and holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in communications from Emerson College.

Mike Cummings

Executive Vice President and General Manager - Alpha IR Group’s East Coast

Michael Cummings is an Executive Vice President and General Manager for Alpha IR Group’s East Coast office. Michael has extensive experience managing client relationships, developing messaging strategies, and conducting strategic investor outreach. Much of his investor relations work has involved crisis management, management transitions, and transaction communications. His experience includes: Establishing best practice communications programs for companies including L-3 Communications, RBC Bearings, Cabot Corp, Stillwater Mining Company, Transocean Ltd, Freeport-McMoRan, Just Energy Group, Constellation Energy, UGI Corporation and Open Text. Prior to Alpha IR, Mr. Cummings was a senior leader at FTI Consulting where he was an SVP and General Manager. Prior to FTI, he spent six years in mutual fund strategic development at John Hancock Advisors in Boston, where he was responsible for evaluating potential corporate and portfolio M&A activity. Previously, Mr. Cummings served in the investor relations department at The Hartford Financial Group. Past Work Experience: FTI Consulting, Senior Vice President (2009-2014) Ashton Partners, SVP (2007-2009) John Hancock Funds, Senior Analyst (2000-2007) The Hartford Financial Services Group, Analyst (1997-2000)

David Dragics

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations - CACI International Inc

David Dragics is Senior Vice President, Investor Relations for CACI International Inc, a professional services and information technology company based in Arlington, Virginia with Fiscal 2016 revenue of $3.74 billion. Mr. Dragics joined CACI in August 1998 to manage the company’s overall investor relations program. At CACI, he has developed and implemented the concept of a Corporate Governance Team, using the resources of investor relations, legal and risk management. Mr. Dragics’ background includes experience in investor relations, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and operations in banking, financial services, aviation services, and information technology firms that support government and industry. His experience also includes financial positions at the operational and staff levels involved with both commercial outsourcing contracts and government programs. The experience Mr. Dragics has in the investor relations area and the financial community, before joining CACI, includes directing and managing the investor relations programs for two NYSE-listed companies, where he won awards for annual reports he developed and produced. He has also presented at numerous conferences and seminars, speaking on corporate governance, finance, and managing investor relations programs. He has also lectured on investor relations to graduate students at The Ohio State University and the University of Pittsburgh. He has been a registered representative, with experience in both the retail and institutional segments of the market. He also has 10 years of strategic planning and merger and acquisition experience in financial institutions. Mr. Dragics holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a major in finance from The Ohio State University and a Master of Business Administration in finance and marketing from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Advisory Board, The Ohio State University Athletic Committee, and the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), where he is on the board of the Capital Area Chapter and an Advocacy Ambassador.

Michael Fitzgerald

Director,Listing Services Team - Nasdaq

Michael Fitzgerald is a Director on the Listing Services team at Nasdaq. Based in Boston, MA, he is responsible for relationship management with Nasdaq’s listed companies that are headquartered in New England and Bermuda. Michael consults with issuers on topics such as trading, corporate actions, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, corporate governance and marketplace regulations. Prior to Nasdaq, Michael was Vice President and Head of Market Data Services Vendor Management at State Street Global Advisors. He began his career in financial services at FactSet Research Systems. Michael holds a B.S. in Finance, M.S. in Finance, and MBA from Bentley University.

Gerry Gould

Vice President of Investor Relations - Haemonetics Corporation

Gerry Gould is Vice President of Investor Relations at Haemonetics Corporation, a medical equipment and software services company in the blood management business. Gerry is an executive level Investor Relations professional. He brings twenty years of experience in investor relations and corporate communications, having previously held the VP-IR role at RSC Equipment Rental, The Stanley Works (now Stanley Black & Decker) and Wyman-Gordon Company. Gerry has been a member of NIRI for more than 20 years. He has served as a member of the Senior Roundtable Steering Committee, the annual conference committee, NIRI's "Standards of Practice"/IR Certification program development committee and currently NIRI’s Advocacy Ambassador program. He is a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of NIRI’s Boston Chapter. Gerry serves on the Board of Directors of DOVE (“Domestic Violence Ended”) Inc. and chairs on its Finance / Audit Committee. Gerry holds an MS in Accountancy degree from the Leonard N. Stern Graduate Business School at New York University and a BS in Business Administration from St. Michael's College.

Todd Grady

Member - Aristotle Boston

Todd Grady is a member of the Aristotle Boston investment team. Prior to his tenure with Aristotle Boston, Todd served as Senior Research Analyst at Eagle Boston Investment Management. Todd earned his Bachelor degree in Political Science and Business Administration from St. Michael’s College. He later earned his MBA and Certificate of Advance Management Studies from Babson College.

Debbie Hancock

Vice President, Investor Relations - Hasbro

Debbie has over 20 years of experience in investor relations and communications. During her career, Debbie has been a key contributor to corporate and business messaging and a trusted advisor to senior management for strategic events and crises, including communicating strategic business developments, financial results, acquisitions, downsizing, legal matters, management and organizational changes. Debbie is Vice President, Investor Relations at Hasbro, serving in this role since June 2010. She joined Hasbro two years prior as Director, Investor Relations. Prior to joining Hasbro, Debbie was Director, Corporate and Internal Communications for APC by Schneider Electric. At APC, Debbie established and ran the investor relations program until the company was acquired by Schneider Electric in 2007. Debbie led APC’s communications for the Company’s $6.1 billion acquisition, developing messages for all stakeholders including investors, customers, vendors and employees. Immediately following the acquisition, Debbie served as Chief of Staff, serving as strategic advisor to the incoming chief executive officer and executive committee during the integration process. Debbie has a BS in Business Administration from the University of Vermont (1991) and a Certificate in Investor Relations (1998) from Bentley College. She has been a member of the National Investors Relations Institute (NIRI) since 1995. Debbie serves on the Certification Council for NIRI’s IRC Certification Program and was previously a member of the NIRI Senior Round Table Steering Committee.

Amy W. Junker

Head of Global Corporate Access, Associate Director of Research - Baird

Amy Junker is Baird’s Head of Global Corporate Access and Associate Director of Research. Amy previously served as the Senior Analyst covering Education Services. Prior to joining Baird in 2003, Amy was a junior analyst at Lehman Brothers, a research associate at William Blair & Company and an associate instructor of mathematics at Indiana University. In 2007, StarMine ranked her among the top three for stock picking skills in Diversified Consumer Services. Amy received a BA in mathematics from Kalamazoo College and an MA in mathematics from Indiana University.

Jenny Kobin

Partner - Investor Relations Advisory Solutions

Jenny Kobin is a veteran IR practitioner with 25 years of partnering with corporate executives and board of directors on investor communications, capital markets, industry competitive intelligence, crisis communications and event management. Jenny began her career as an investment banker at J.C. Bradford, working on IPOs, M&A, and equity/debt deals. She then transitioned to the IR team at NationsBank (now Bank of America), followed by senior roles leading the IR and corporate communications functions for small and mid-cap Nasdaq and NYSE-listed companies, including Inspire Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Merck), PSS World Medical (acquired by McKesson), Web.com and SciQuest. Jenny has served on the NIRI National Board of Directors, as chair of the Senior Roundtable, as co-chair of its Annual Conference and as an officer and director of its Charlotte and Research Triangle Park, NC chapters. In 2016, Jenny was named a NIRI Fellow, which recognizes four experienced executives per year for their commitment and contributions to the profession of investor relations. Jenny received a B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Andrew M. Kramer

Vice President, Investor Relations - NetScout Systems, Inc.

Andrew Kramer is vice president of investor relations at NetScout Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTCT), a leading provider of network and application performance management solutions. He joined NetScout in July 2014 following a decade at Interactive Data Corporation, a top provider of financial information. In the year since joining NetScout, the company completed a transformative $2.3 billion acquisition that involved securing the approval of the transaction by its shareholders and, in the process, increased its market capitalization from approximately $1.5 billion to approximately $4 billion. In his most recent role as senior director of investor relations and corporate development at Interactive Data, Kramer was responsible for debt holder communications, regulatory affairs, market and competitive intelligence as well as for supporting strategic partnership, alliance and acquisition projects. He joined Interactive Data in March 2004 as director of investor relations to oversee the company’s communications with the investment community, including financial analysts, institutional investors, stockbrokers and individual investors. Kramer’s contributions helped strengthen relationships with influential sell-side analysts and institutional shareholders as the Company’s valuation more than doubled from $1.5 billion, culminating in a successful $3.4 billion sale of the company in July 2010 to private equity. Prior to joining Interactive Data, he held senior investor relations positions at leading network technology companies such as Sycamore Networks and ArrowPoint Communications, as well as Sharon Merrill Associates, a nationally recognized, Boston-based investor relations consulting firm. Kramer served on the Board of Directors for the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), the world’s largest professional association for IR, from 2009 through 2013. He also served on the Board of Directors for NIRI’s Boston chapter, concluding his tenure as chapter president. Kramer is an adjunct professor at Boston University, teaching investor relations to undergraduate and graduate communications students. He received a BA degree in communication as well as an MBA degree from Boston College.

Jeffrey R. LaRocque

Director, Market Intelligence Desk - Nasdaq

Jeffrey LaRocque is a Director on the Market Intelligence Desk, covering U.S. equities, with over 10 years of experience. Previous to joining the MID, he learned market structure while working on institutional trading desks and as a stock surveillance analyst. Mr. LaRocque offers diverse professional knowledge, including IPOs, Technical Analysis, and Options Trading. Jeffrey holds BS degrees in Finance and Political Science from Coastal Carolina University. He continued his education with MBA studies at Fordham University and New York University. Since 2011, he’s been a mentor at Career Gear, a non-profit organization that develops economically disadvantaged men with career development advice.

Sam Levenson

Chief Executive Officer - Arbor Advisory Group

Sam Levenson is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arbor Advisory Group, an investor relations and corporate communications advisory firm composed of senior level advisors whose experience includes decades as corporate executives driving communications programs. Mr. Levenson has served as a trusted advisor to CEOs, CFOs and Boards of Directors for over 25 years in the Investor Relations, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Global Security functions. His extensive experience includes designing and implementing strategic communications plans, crisis management, mergers and acquisitions as well as other strategic and financial transactions for global companies including Sony Corporation, Cendant Corporation and Staples, Inc. Mr. Levenson has served on the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) Board of Directors, as chair of its external affairs committee, as chair of its Senior Roundtable, as co-chair of its Annual Conference and as an officer and director of its Boston and CT Chapters. For the Investor Relations Association, he served in each of the officer roles, including president, and subsequently as a director. In addition, Mr. Levenson co-chaired the CFAI/NIRI Joint Task force on Issuer and Analyst Relations which published Best Practice Guidelines subsequently endorsed by both the NYSE and NASDAQ. Mr. Levenson previously served on the FASB’s Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Committee as well as the Client Advisory Board of IPREO LLC. He is also the recipient of numerous awards from IR Magazine and Institutional Investor Magazine, a guest lecturer at universities and a frequent speaker at professional conferences. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Boston University with a concentration in Accounting.

Carol Murray-Negron

Executive Coach and Business Consultant
Keynote Speaker

Carol Murray-Negron coaches senior executives and business leaders to optimize their performance effectiveness, leadership presence, and strategic communications. With over 25 years in corporate management, Carol understands what today’s leaders are up against. Carol’s broad corporate experience includes senior positions with Avon Products, “the company for women,” in both their U.S. and international businesses. She held vice-president positions in U.S. sales, Asia-Pacific marketing and investor relations. Her global experience includes ex-pat assignments in Mexico and Hong Kong. She is widely known in the field of investor relations where she coaches senior executives to communicate more effectively with investors. Coaching specialties include executive and leadership coaching, organizational leadership, career development, and presentation skills, as well as strategic and financial communications. A keynote speaker, Carol speaks on a variety of topics that resonate with executive women and investor relations professionals – everything from “transitioning in the first 30 days” to “five key things you need to know” to be successful. Carol is also executive coach with Right Management. She holds a Certificate in Executive and Life Coaching from NYU is and is member of the International Coaching Federation. A long-time member of National Investor Relations Institute and NIRI’s Senior Roundtable, Carol is a NIRI Fellow and a recipient of Investor Relations Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She’s an adjunct professor of investor relations at New York University’s School of Professional Studies. Carol earned a Master of Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama and a B.A. from Chatham University. To contact Carol: Email: carol@equanimityinc.com Tel. 732-706-3467 Cell: 732-896-5155.

Erica Smith

Vice President, Investor Relations - CyberArk (Nasdaq CYBR)

Erica Smith is Vice President, Investor Relations at CyberArk (Nasdaq CYBR). Prior to joining CyberArk, Erica served as Vice President of Investor Relations for Demandware. Having joined Demandware prior to the initial public offering, she helped the organization prepare for and transition to a publicly traded company. During her tenure at Demandware, Erica helped build the investor relations program, execute the initial public and follow on offerings, and develop communications strategies for three acquisitions. Earlier in her career, she held various investor relations, corporate communications and finance positions at leading companies including Boston Private Financial Holdings, Network Engines, StorageNetworks, Sharon Merrill Associates and Lehman Brothers. Over her 20 year career, Erica has built trusted relationships with Wall Street by consistently communicating a deep understanding of corporate strategy, technology, competitive positioning, financials and key operational performance metrics. She has worked with senior leadership to determine strategies for crisis communication, competitive positioning, guidance, investor and analyst targeting, corporate financings as well as disclosure requirements. Erica received a B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross.

Thang To

Director of Investor Relations - Corbin

Thang To joined Corbin in 2016 as Director of Investor Relations and serves as an advisor to the firm’s clients. His motto is to exceed client expectations by combining his extensive consulting and Wall Street experience with an unparalleled work ethic. For over 15 years, Mr. To, CFA, CPA has analyzed companies and consulted clients on various financial matters including valuation, business communication, financial risks and special situations. He enjoys assisting clients with gaining a full understanding of the dynamics affecting their valuation, more effectively telling their story and identifying new and potential investors. Prior to joining Corbin, Thang was a Lead Analyst covering the Financials sector at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG) since 2013. Prior to MUFG, he served on the sell side at various firms including ISI Group (now Evercore ISI), Banc of America and Bear Stearns. Prior to his days on Wall Street, Mr. To was an Investor Relations Manager at AT&T, where he provided executive management with clear insights into drivers of business and financial performance. Thang started his career as an accountant and risk consultant at Arthur Andersen, where he consulted numerous Fortune 500 companies on business risks. Thang graduated with a B.A. in Business Economics with a Minor in Accounting from the University of California, Los Angeles and obtained an MBA with Specializations in Finance and Financial Instruments and Markets from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. He enjoys chasing his two boys around and successfully completed the 2016 New Orleans Full Marathon.

Maureen Wolff

President & Partner - Sharon Merrill

Maureen Wolff is President & Partner of Sharon Merrill, a nationally recognized investor relations strategic advisory firm. For 30 years, Sharon Merrill’s principals have earned wide recognition for award-winning programs, innovative approaches to investor relations and leadership in IR best practices. Maureen is a national thought leader in investor relations and corporate communications, and leads the implementation of the firm’s strategic vision and provides high-level strategic counsel to clients. She is a past chairman and board member of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) and a current member of NIRI’s Senior IR Roundtable steering committee as well as vice chairman of the NIRI IR Certification committee. Maureen is a trusted advisor to CEOs, CFOs and boards of directors on critical communications issues related to corporate governance, shareholder activism and proxy contests, and Regulation Fair Disclosure.

The Association for
Investor Relations

Boston 2016 Speakers