Senior Professionals
Daniel R. Gross, CFA – Principal
Dan has over 35 years of experience in the areas of benefit plan consulting, corporate financial planning, portfolio management, systems technology and database/information management. Dan’s primary responsibilities include the design and delivery of investment consulting advice to our clients and the oversight of the firm’s financial and systems functions.
Prior to founding Strategic Capital, Dan was a senior consultant for J.H. Ellwood & Associates, Inc. He was responsible for obtaining and managing relationships for large, multiple investment program clients. He has consulted to a wide spectrum of clients that have included; pension funds, non-qualified benefit plans, hospital-related (funded depreciation, self-insurance, debt-related, etc.) investment programs and foundations. His clients were primarily start-up relationships and have covered all aspects of investment consulting from policy formulation to ongoing monitoring.
Prior to joining J.H. Ellwood, Dan managed assets for the internally managed pension programs at Amoco Corporation and Commonwealth Edison. At these firms, he was involved in analyzing investment opportunities and managing various investment portfolios.
Dan earned a Masters degree from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University with concentrations in finance and economics. His undergraduate degree is a BS from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with majors in finance and accounting. He is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.
Russell K. LaBarge, CFA – Principal
Russ has over 35 years of experience in the areas of benefit plan consulting, investment structure/policy and manager research, portfolio management, and performance evaluation and database/information management. Russ’s primary responsibilities include the design and delivery of investment consulting advice, directing our manager research activities and coordinating the firm’s marketing activities.
Prior to founding Strategic Capital, Russ was a senior consultant with Ennis, Knupp & Associates. Russ provided consulting advice primarily to Taft-Hartley and public fund clients in all areas of their investment programs.
Prior to joining EK&A in 1992, Russ worked for First Chicago for five years as a relationship manager for large corporate clients and an assistant portfolio manager in the trust department. Other past positions include performance analyst for another major investment consulting firm and registered representative for a brokerage firm.
Russ earned an M.B.A degree, with focus in finance and accounting, from DePaul University. His undergraduate degree is a BS from Illinois State University with majors in finance and management and a minor in economics. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute. Russ has been a presenter for the Trustees Masters Program – Advanced Leadership Summit at the annual International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plan Convention.
Michael A. Slonek, CFA – Senior Consultant
Mike has over 16 years of experience in the areas of benefit plan consulting, portfolio management, manager research and due diligence, and performance reporting. Mike’s primary responsibilities include the delivery of investment consulting services, manager research and due diligence, and client portfolio transitions.
Before rejoining Strategic Capital, Mike was a Portfolio Manager within the trust department of a wealth management firm. In this role, Mike was responsible for designing, implementing, and managing high-net-worth client portfolios. Other past positions include senior analyst at Strategic Capital and junior research analyst for a fund of hedge funds investment management firm.
Mike earned a BBA in Finance from Illinois State University. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute.
Albert L. Tew, CFA – Senior Consultant
Al has over 14 years of experience in the areas of benefit plan consulting, portfolio management, manager research and due diligence, and performance reporting. Al’s primary responsibilities include the delivery of investment consulting services, manager research and due diligence, and client portfolio transitions.
Before joining Strategic Capital, Al was an analyst for a financial planning and wealth management firm where he provided manager research, asset allocation, and back office support.
Al earned a BBA in Finance from the University of Iowa. He is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.
Bryant E. Sullivan, CFA – Consultant
Bryant has over 12 years of experience in the areas of manager research and due diligence, performance evaluation and reporting, database/information management, and client portfolio transitions.
Bryant’s primary responsibilities include the delivery of investment consulting services, overseeing performance accounting, investment manager research (focusing on the coordination of manager research work and monitoring), and analytical support for general consulting projects.
Bryant earned a BS from Illinois State University with majors in Finance and Risk Management and Insurance. He is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.
Edwin J. Stanislawski – Senior Associate
Eddie has over 12 years of experience in the areas of performance reporting, manager research and due diligence, and portfolio management. Eddie’s primary responsibilities include overseeing performance accounting, investment manager research activities, rebalancing and restructuring client portfolios, analytical support for general consulting projects, and supporting the delivery of investment consulting services.
Eddie earned an M.B.A degree and a Masters in International Management from Northern Illinois University. His undergraduate degree is a BS from Northern Illinois University with a major in finance.
George Lullo – Senior Analyst
George has over 12 years of experience in the areas of performance reporting, portfolio management, client relations, manager research, and database/information management. George’s primary responsibilities include the delivery of client reports, client portfolio transitions, manager research, and due diligence.
Before joining Strategic Capital, George was an associate at a wealth management firm working alongside a team of certified financial planners. In this role, George was responsible for implementing and helping maintain investment portfolios. Other past positions included a similar role at a separate wealth management firm.
George earned a BS in Finance from DePaul University.