Women Investment Professionals | Our Board

Our Board

Women Investment Professionals Board Bios

Jennifer Balestrery, Banker, Vice President, Private Wealth Management, J.P.Morgan

As a banker, Jennifer and her team advise high net worth clients on investments, private banking, financial planning, trusts and estate strategies.  She has been in this role since 2009, having spent most of her career in institutional sales.  Previously she was a Director at Barclays Capital, spending time in Fixed Income Sales, Prime Brokerage and Foreign Exchange.  Prior to that she had been at J.P. Morgan in New York, marketing Foreign Exchange, Emerging Markets and Commodity products to hedge funds, mutual funds and plan sponsors.  She started her career at First Chicago in their management training program.  She is on the boards of Ars Viva Symphony and Lynn Sage Foundation and is a member of 100 Women in Hedge Funds.  She has a BA in Economics and Spanish from Wellesley College and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.  Jennifer serves on the Women Investment Professionals' Events Committee.

Katherine Buck, CFA, Portfolio Manager, Fidelity Management & Research

Katherine is a Portfolio Manager for value-oriented funds at Fidelity Management & Research as a consumer sector sleeve manager.  Previously she had worked as a diversified Small Cap Portfolio Manager at Wintrust Capital from May 2008 through December 2010 and Magnetar Capital from March 2006 through December 2007.  Katherine started her career at Fidelity Management & Research in 1996 as an Equity Research Associate, covering equities in various industries for diversified mutual fund and institutional Portfolio Managers.  In 1999 she joined Fidelity’s Small Cap Team as an Analyst, and in 2004 she was named the sole Portfolio Manager of the Fidelity Small Cap Value Fund.  She graduated from Georgetown University with a B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, in Finance with a minor in Government.  Kathy is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago.  Kathy serves on the Women Investment Professionals' Events Committee.

Melody (Barron) Cross, Associate, Schiff Hardin LLP

Melody is an associate at Schiff Hardin LLP, with complementary practices in both finance and energy law. She graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Communications and History. She received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Melody is chair of the Women Investment Professionals' Communications Committee.

Liz Flores CAIA, Director, Interest Rate Products, CME Group

Liz is the Director for interest rate products and services at the CME Group where she is responsible for the development of Eurodollar, Treasury and Fixed Income Index products. Previously, Liz worked for a hedge fund, Crestview Capital. She started her career on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and was a futures and options broker for 13 years. She has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. In 2007 she earned her CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) designation. Liz heads Women Investment Professionals' Sponsorship Committee and is currently Vice President.

Heather Gardner, Principal, CIMA, Principal, National Accounts Director, William Blair & Company, LLC

Heather Gardner is the National Accounts Director for William Blair & Company with product placement responsibility for mutual funds, separately managed accounts, and sub-advisory relationships for outside financial institutions.  Ms. Gardner joined the firm in 2001 as an External Sales and Marketing Executive dedicated to the national wirehouse channel.  Prior to joining William Blair & Company, Ms. Gardner was an Institutional Equi Research Sales Executive with Stephens Inc.  She is currently a member of the following organizations: Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA), Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE), Money Management Institute (MMI), Women Investment Professionals of Chicago, Junior League of Chicago (JLC), and The Springboard Foundation. Education/Designations: Hendrix College, B.A. in Business/Economics, Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), certificate of completion from the University of Chicago, Booth Management School of Business for the Chicago Management Institute program.

Marla Kreindler Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP

Marla is a partner in Winston & Strawn's corporate department and is also a member of the firm's employee benefits and executive compensation department. She concentrates her practice on tax qualified retirement plans and the management and investment of employee benefit plan assets. Marla is well-versed in the application of ERISA's fiduciary standards and prohibited transaction rules, and related banking, securities, and state insurance law requirements. She has substantial experience counseling clients on their qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) and defined benefit plans. Marla represents a wide range of publicly traded and privately held corporations, as well as major banks, investment advisory and financial services firms, insurance companies, broker-dealers, and private and governmental pension funds. Marla received a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1984 and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1987. She also attended the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1982. Marla currently serves on the Events Committee.

Shauna Lambright Managing Director, Loop Capital Markets

Shauna is responsible for Transition Management at Loop Capital Markets in Chicago.  Most recently she was Head of Transition Management at Knight Capital after it acquired her firm, Lambright Financial Solutions, which she founded in 2004.  Previously, she was with Plan Sponsor Sales Division at BNY Brokerage.  Shauna joined BNY Brokerage following its acquisition of Capital Resource Financial Services from Rogerscasey.  Earlier, she worked in the Investment Services Group at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette serving private clients.  Shauna heads Women Investment Professionals' Community Outreach Commitee.

Anne Lundberg, Senior Vice President, Consultant Relations Manager, Putnam Investments

Anne is a Senior Vice President, Consultant Relations Manager with Putnam Investments. In this role, she is responsible for managing relationships with investment consultants in the Midwestern region of the United States. Prior to joining Putnam in 2008, Anne worked for William Blair & Company and before that she was with Capital Guardian Trust Company from 1993 to 2007. Anne holds an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a B.A. in English Literature from The University of Northern Iowa. She holds her Series 7 and 63 licenses with FINRA.  Anne co-chairs the Communications Committee for WIP.

Patricia McKinell, Managing Director, Head of Marketing & Sales, Rogerscasey

Patricia is responsible for directing the strategy and growth of the various lines of business at Rogerscasey. Prior to her current role, Patricia served as a senior consultant working with clients in the design, analysis and monitoring of investment portfolios. Patricia serves as the Editor of the Editorial Board, which is charged with developing, leveraging, and sharing the firm's thought leadership in the investment community. Prior to joining the firm in 2002, Patricia worked at Morgan Stanley and Holy Cross College. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A., cum laude, in Government and International Studies with a second major in Music. She also holds an M.A. in Politics from The Catholic University of America. She is Series 7 and 66 licensed with FINRA. Patricia has served on Women Investment Professionals' Communications Committee, as Vice President and currently is President.

Linsey Schoemehl, General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer, Illinois State Board of Investment

Linsey is the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer to the Illinois State Board of Investment, a commingled fund that invests on behalf of the State Employees’ Retirement System of Illinois, Judges’ Retirement System of Illinois and the General Assembly Retirement System of Illinois.  In this position, Linsey has many responsibilities with respect to the Board’s investments, including contract negotiation, corporate governance and overall portfolio compliance.  She earned her B.A. in Political Science and Peace Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia and her J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.  Linsey serves as Secretary of Women Investment Professionals.   

Kelli Schrade, Vice President and Director of Manager Research, Marquette Associates

Kelli serves as the director of the firm's manager research, with primary oversight of the domestic equity managers. In addition, she oversees the other asset classes as Chair of the Investment Manager Search Committee. Before joining Marquette, Kelli was an investment advisor with Christian Brothers Investment Services. She also served as a managing editor and fund analyst at Morningstar, Inc. for seven years, specializing in domestic-equity funds. Kelli has been quoted as an expert on the mutual fund industry throughout the national media, including Barron's and The Wall Street Journal. Education: A.B. English, Kenyon College. Kelli is also a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of Chicago. Kelli heads Women Investment Professionals' Membership Committee.

Jennifer Tippins, Vice President, Fixed Income Sales, Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Jennifer is a Vice President at Citi, concentrating on corporate bonds in Fixed Income Sales.  Previously she completed Citi's Analyst and Associate training programs working in securitized products and structured credit.  In her current role Jennifer is primary sales coverage for investment grade corporate credit, covering institutional accounts in the Midwest including insurance companies, asset managers, and hedge funds.  She is also responsible for private placement sales in the Midwest and Western regions.  Prior to joining Citi, Jennifer worked at Mutual of Omaha in their Investment Management Department in structured securities.  She graduated from Creighton University with a B.S.B.A in Finance and a B.S. in Healthcare Administration and Policy.  Jennifer currently serves on the membership committee.

Board of Directors Contact Information


  • Jennifer Balestrery

    Banker, Vice President
    Private Wealth Management, J.P.Morgan
    312-732-6057

  • Melody (Barron) Cross

    Associate
    Schiff Hardin LLP
    312-258-5883

  • Liz Flores, CAIA

    Director, Interest Rate Products
    CME Group
    312-338-2801

  • Marla Kreindler

    Partner
    Winston & Strawn
    312-558-5232

  • Shauna Lambright

    312-913-2251

  • Anne Lundberg

    SVP, Consultant Relations Manager, Putnam Investments This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
    617-595-5426

  • Patricia McKinell

    Director, Business Development
    Rogerscasey
    312-575-1894

  • Kelli Schrade

    Vice President and Director of Manager Research
    Marquette Associates
    312-527-5500

  • Heather Gardner, CIMA

    Principal, National Accounts Director
    William Blair & Company
    312-3644-8818

  • Jennifer Tippins

    Vice President
    Citi Global Markets Inc.
    312-876-8432