7:00 AM - 4:30 PM

ellington pre-function

Check In / Nasp partner expo
 

7:00 AM - 8:30 am

ellington pre-function

Networking & Continental Breakfast     

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

ellington ballroom

Strategic asset allocation from africa: exploring opportunities and challenges from the perspective of africa cios and us fund managers 

the continent of africa as an investment destination is gaining momentum from us institutional investors. less well known, however, are the significant capital flows from african pension funds and other capital pools into the united states. several large african allocators such as the $150 billion government employee pension fund of south africa, the $9.8 billion bank of botswana and the $1.3 billion sovereign wealth fund of nigeria have been utilizing us asset management firms for decades. recent legislation from south africa has increased the amount of assets that can be managed offshore to 45%, up from 30%. this panel will explore business opportunities for us asset management firms with african allocators while highlighting the progress of us allocators successfully deploying capital on the african continent. 

moderator:

donna sims wilson, chief operating officer, kah capital management

panelists:

phathu mabogo, deputy chief investment officer, eskom pension & provident fund

angela miller-may, chief investment officer, illinois municipal retirement fund (imrf)

fernando vinzons, chief investment officer, chicago teachers' pension fund

9:00 AM - 9:20 AM

Program Break

9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

institutional track

mercer ballroom salon h

expanding business in capital markets: Can we talk?

corporate treasurers play a leading role in managing the financial needs of their organizations, including working capital, asset management of funds and raising capital. broad relationships with large banking situations may be one solution to balancing expanded needs within a limited wallet, but what might these corporations be missing? what differentiating capital raising skills and advisory services are available from diverse-owned financial service firms? how can these smaller firms complement, or event compete with, a treasurer's other banking relationships? this session, led by scott flieger, senior director at NeuGroup, will be a discussion between participants active in the capital markets to identify challenges, address misconceptions and engage in open dialogue to expand consideration of diverse-owned firms and increase opportunities to establish strong capital markets relationships. 

moderator:

scott flieger, senior director, peer groups, neugroup

panelists:

larry goldman, managing director, capital markets, ramirez & co.

meredith (odom) bromley, director of treasury, the southern company

lajohn mcfadden, director capital markets & syndicate, castleoak securities

michael murray, assistant treasurer, coca-cola company

9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

private wealth track

mercer ballroom salon i

angel investing & true black wealth building:

angel investing is a proven path to build black generational wealth. let's define, demystify, qualify, and energize all potential parties to be invited into the "angel investing" game. this session will cover topics including: who founders are, who funds them, how the angel investing process works, how to find "typical" angel investors, who gains, and how wealth management professionals can build a wealth management practice/business/platform with an angel investing focus. 

moderator:

dawn batts, chief executive officer, milestones

panelists:

jewel burks solomon, managing partner, collab capital

jackson georges, jr., partner, capitalG

kennie taylor sr., client advisor & vice president of investments, alex brown-raymond james

9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

alternatives track

mercer ballroom salon g

On the Private Markets Highway: What Will Drive Value?

In a higher-rate environment -- where the cost of capital has risen and achieving target returns has become more challenging - have LP's shifted their expectations of the role played by private markets in an institutional portfolio? Many who are experienced in this space are taking a more granular and segmented approach to their allocations, and they are more discerning in manager selection. For GP's, where are they seeing deal flow and how are they meeting investment objectives in an increasingly competitive environment? A panel of LP's and GP's discuss the paths forward in an increasingly complex market.

moderator:

joseph haslip, managing director, valor equity partners

panelists:

emily bertsche murto, director, growth strategies, public and private equity, uaw retiree medical benefits trust

stephen cammock, managing director, private equity investments, gcm grosvenor

floyd simpson, director, multi-asset class management, pfm asset management

Shawn Wooden, partner and chief public pension strategist, apollo global management

10:20 AM - 10:40 AM 

Program Break

10:40 AM - 11:40 AM
municipal track

mercer ballroom salon g

Municipal Finance Headwinds: 
financial challenges and meeting capital needs

the dynamics of the municipal finance market continue to evolve post covid-19. how will issuers navigate budgetary constraints while addressing both operational necessities and essential capital investments? the panel will examine the impact of the evolving market conditions and explore innovative approaches to optimize revenue streams and fund capital projects. this panel will also explore the importance of disclosure and how municipal issuers are adapting to heightened investor demands by expanding risk disclosure to maximize investor participation.

moderator:

trey casey, vice president public finance/debt investment banking, raymond james

panelists:

mohamed balla, chief financial officer, city of atlanta

chris hollins, controller, city of houston, texas

fidelis malembeka, chief financial officer, city of jackson, mississippi

10:40 AM - 11:40 AM
private wealth track

mercer ballroom salon i

not your father's wealth management

explore top black wealth management producers and practices of today vs those of yesteryear. this discussion will compare and contrast new and traditional practices, while answering questions including, "does the big financial services firm strategy/formula still work?" "what considerations are there regarding diverse wealth managers building businesses?", and "how can both new and old strategies be best operationalized for maximum returns?" join the conversation with industry veterans who will share their expertise and best practices. 

Moderator:

sheena gray, interim CEO, association of african american financial advisors (AAaa)

panelists:

blaine gibson, cfp, cpfa, vice president & financial advisor, rbc wealth management

solitaire dasher-smiley, financial advisor, raymond james

jason pace, senior vice president & financial advisor, morgan stanley

gail perry-mason, senior director of investments, oppenheimer & co., inc.

10:40 AM - 11:40 AM
institutional track

mercer ballroom salon h

Nailed It! Constructing resilient Portfolios

from return-seeking to income-generating to inflation-hedging strategies, there are multiple avenues to success, all depending on an investor's goal. both asset allocation and manager selection are important to delivering against return and risk objectives. this discussion will explore how institutional investors consider the impact of traditional and alternative investments and how decision making can drive both inclusion and more resilient portfolios, while targeting optimal diversification. 

moderator:

deanna jones, consultant, nepc

panelists:

christina kellar, multi-asset solutions strategist, t. rowe price

sylvester mcclearn, director of the emerging manager program, new york state common retirement fund (nyscrf)

valarie shultz-wilson, managing partner, shultz & co.

11:40 AM - 12:00 PM

Program Break

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

ellington ballroom

Joyce Johnson Awards Luncheon

why access to opportunity is so challenging - diversity, equity and inclusion

diversity, equity and inclusion (dei) is under attack by any measure in the U.S., and the campaign against this approach has intensified in the last year. while significant progress has been made over the last 50 years, there has been an alarming retrenchment in recent times. in the spirit of nasp founder, maynard h. jackson, jr.'s legacy, this discussion will examine the state of dei today in financial services and more broadly. we will explore questions related to navigating such realities and reversing errant narratives. 

Moderator:

brett pulley, atlanta bureau chief, bloomberg news

panelists:

paul francisco, senior vice president & chief diversity officer, state street

paulette granberry-russell, president, national association of diversity officers in higher education

robert marchman, senior policy advisor on diversity and inclusion. u.s. securities and exchange commission

1:30 PM - 1:50 PM

Program Break

1:50 PM - 2:50 PM
institutional track

mercer ballroom salon h

beyond the benchmark: generating alpha in traditional asset classes

in today's ever-evolving landscape, traditional asset managers find themselves at a crossroads. in the midst of economic conditions and market volatility, allocators have increasingly diverted attention away from traditional asset classes in favor of alternative options. asset managers committed to thriving within the familiar confines of traditional investments must remain steadfast and innovative in their pursuit of consistent returns and growth. join our esteemed panelists as they discuss their time-tested techniques for generating alpha, mitigating risk, and retaining investor interest despite the allure of alternative options.

Moderator:

Kweku obed, managing director, marquette associates

panelists:

douglas gimple. senior portfolio specialist, diamond hill capital management

samantha grant, senior consultant, verus investments

leo harmon, senior managing director, chief investment officer & portfolio manager, mesirow equity management

unoma okolo, emerging market portfolio manager, artisan partners

1:50 PM - 2:50 PM

municipal track

mercer ballroom salon g

How can major cities make housing more affordable and tackle the housing crisis?

Rising interest rates and the continued inflation of housing prices has put affordability further out of reach for many residents of metropolitan cities. Can cities help their citizens by relaxing zoning requirements, voucher systems, workforce, and / or other public private partnerships to tackle the issue.

Additionally, over the last 10 years, political unrest in other countries has created a crisis among some major cities. Most recently, the Venezuela migrant crisis has affected cities throughout the country as cities struggle to provide among other things, adequate housing. How can major cities help facilitate the building of affordable housing for their current residents and also new entrants who are seeking refuge.

Opening remarks:

courtney knight, treasurer, city of atlanta

moderator:

lorraine palacios-germain, managing director, ramirez & co.

panelists:

damon burns, chief exectuive officer, finance new orleans

jill jaworski, chief financial officer, city of chicago

terri lee, president and chief executive officer, atlanta housing

1:50 PM - 2:50 PM
private wealth track

mercer ballroom salon i

ai & wealth management
ai is here to stay. this panel delves into the present and future trends of ai within wealth management, exploring questions such as, "what is the role of ai in wealth management?", "what are the advantages of using ai?", "will ai take over wealth management?". amidst the rapidly evolving landscape of ai, the sec grapples with how to regulate the use of algorithms generated to provide financial advice, and how companies ensure the efficacy of these algorithms. learn about ai's value as a tool within wealth management, and on the other hand, the potential pitfalls of this technology.

Moderator:

devon drew, chief executive officer, assetlink

panelists:

chanel frazier, head of blackrock atlanta, blackrock

eric-andre vigroux, technology executive, wealth investment management technology, wells fargo

1:50 PM - 2:50 PM
college day program

overlook east

from campus to corporate: crafting professional habits to navigate the financial industry

in this session, students will learn the essential habits necessary to confidently transition from college to the financial services industry. they'll engage with seasoned financial professionals who will share their journeys, the habits that contributed to their success, and the designations they acquired to enhance their professional and technical toolkits. students will gain insights into effective networking, continuous learning, and personal branding — key elements for professional growth. this session is crucial for understanding the corporate world's expectations and laying a strong foundation for a successful career. 

Moderator:

bobby kannady, internal market consultant, invesco

panelists:

quinton bennett, banker, j.p. morgan private bank

alexandria jenkins, senior manager, rfp, invesco

christian mackey, private equity associate, icv partners

pamela peace, head of north america institutional client management, pgim fixed income

2:50 PM - 3:10 PM

Program Break

3:10 PM - 4:10 PM

Mercer Ballroom Salon I

leadership in alternative investments: evaluating the broad opportunity set in alternatives
for most institutional investors, long gone are the days of a 60/40 portfolio split between stocks and bonds. the overwhelming majority of investors have alternative investments in their portfolios - investing in real estate, real assets, private credit, private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and much in between. we will explore how different types of institutional investors build multi-asset portfolios, how they use alternatives to mitigate risk and address liquidity concerns, and how incorporating alternatives widens the opportunity for meeting target returns.

moderator:

nikki tanner, investment consultant, crewcial partners

panelists:

terrance davis, caia, senior portfolio manager, state board of administration of florida

jason howard, founder & managing partner, new catalyst strategic partners

reynold martin, former managing principal and  head of infrastructure and energy, allstate investments

duke williams, managing director, disciplina group llc

4:10 PM - 4:25 PM

PRogram break

4:25 PM - 5:25 PM

Mercer Ballroom Salon I

PRIVATE EQUITY AND VENTURE CAPITAL: OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS

according to pitchbook, the us private equity industry weighs in at $4.4 trillion. that includes buyouts of mature companies, venture capital funding for start-ups, and much in between (e.g., growth equity, special situations, etc.). while deal making was down in 2023, there were more than 7,000 private equity transactions across all company stages, deal types, and industries. we will explore the impact of last year's deal activity across the spectrum of general partners and entrepreneurs as well as consider opportunities 2024 and beyond.

Moderator:

marquette chester, senior managing director and head of alternatives, xponance alternative solutions

panelists:

zaid abdul-aleem, head of partner and capital solutions, invictus growth partners

gennell jefferson, partner, investor relations, the vistria group

rachel wilson, managing partner, the bfm fund

willie woods, president and co-founder, icv partners

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
college day program

overlook west

first impressions matter. make it count.

during the multi-faceted interactive session, students will learn the art of making a lasting first impression in the professional world. they will tour sponsor exhibition booths, receive professional headshots, participate in simulated mock interviews, and receive real-time feedback from financial professionals across various sectors. mock interviews will include hiring managers, early professionals, and industry veterans who have been in the shoes that students are in now. this interactive experience is vital for students to refine their interview skills and understand the nuances of effective communication and presentation in today's competitive job market.

mock interviewing participating companies:

alt finance

blackrock

invesco

pgim fixed income

state street

t. rowe price

wells fargo

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
college day program

overlook east

college day networking hour
after students finish the first impressions matter. make it count. session, they are invited to meet and mingle with sponsors. this is an opportunity for students to put the skills they've learned throughout their sessions into practice with potential employers.

4:10 PM - 6:30 PM

program break

6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

ellington pre-function

pre- dinner cocktails

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

ellington ballroom

nasp awards dinner

attire: business formal

emcee:

eugene duffy, managing director, global investment management distribution, mesirow

speakers:

mayor andre dickens, city of atlanta

marlon kimpson, member at motley rice llc, white house appointee to united states trade advisory committee for policy and negotiations, former state senator