Speakers

Klaas Baks
Organization: Emory University


Klaas P. Baks PhD, Executive Director of the Emory Center for Alternative Investments & Professor of Finance, is a recognized thought-leader in the alternative investments industry. He serves as director or advisor for over 13 companies and investment funds with over $1.5 billion in assets under management. He studied at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (PhD in Finance), Brown University (Master’s in Economics), Groningen University (Master’s in Econometrics, cum laude) and Leiden University. He spent two years at Harvard as part of his doctoral research at Wharton on the performance of actively managed mutual funds.


Logan Henderson
Organization: Gridline


Logan Henderson, CEO of Gridline. Logan brings deep experience as an entrepreneur and investor, and leads the investment team with responsibilities for the manager sourcing, due-diligence and portfolio construction. Previously, he was CEO of Salesfusion, a marketing technology platform that was acquired by Accel-KKR. Prior to that, Logan worked in investment banking at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey (now Truist Securities), focused on mergers & acquisitions, capital raising and strategic advisory in the technology sector.


Bill Kelly
Organization: CAIA Association


Bill Kelly, CAIA, President & CEO of CAIA Association. Bill has been a frequent industry speaker, writer, and commentator on alternative investment topics around the world since taking the leadership role at the CAIA Association in January, 2014. Previously, Bill was the CEO of Boston Partners and one of seven founding partners of the predecessor firm, Boston Partners Asset Management which, prior to a majority interest being sold to Robeco Group in Rotterdam in 2002, was an employee-owned firm. Bill’s career in the institutional asset management space spans over 30 years where he gained extensive managerial experience through successive CFO, COO and CEO roles. In addition to his current role, Bill is a tireless advocate for shareholder protection and investor education and is currently the Chairman and lead independent director for the Boston Partners Trust Company. He has previously served as an independent director and audit committee chair for ’40 Act Mutual Funds and other financial services firms. He is also currently an Advisory Board Member of the Certified Investment Fund Director Institute which strives to bring the highest levels of professionalism and governance to independent fund directors around the world. A member of the board of the CAIA Association, Bill also represents CAIA in similar capacities via their global partnerships with other associations and global regulators. Bill began his career as an accountant with PwC and is a designated Audit Committee Financial Expert in accordance with SEC rules.


Stephanie Lang
Organization: Homrich Berg Wealth Management


Stephanie Lang, CFA, CIO of Homrich Berg. Stephanie joined Homrich Berg in 2005 and was named Chief Investment Officer in 2014. She oversees a team and is responsible for asset allocation, the selection and monitoring of traditional and alternative investments, as well as the company’s internal private fund-of funds. She also chairs the firm’s Investment Committee. Previously, she was a portfolio manager for Bank of America’s private bank as well as equity research with Robinson Humphrey, where she covered technology and media companies. She has been a repeat guest on CNBC and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal and other publications. She is a member of the CFA Institute as well as on the RIA Advisory Board for both JP Morgan and iCapital.


Blake Patton
Organization: Tech Square Ventures


Blake Patton is the founder and Managing General Partner of Tech Square Ventures and Engage where he leads investments in enterprise software, marketplace, and platform technology companies. Under his leadership, the firm has invested in 90 early-stage companies. He currently represents Tech Square Ventures as a director or observer on the boards of eight companies, two as Chairman. Previously, he was General Manager of the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech – named by Forbes as one of the “Top 12 Incubators Changing the World”. Prior to this, he served as President of Interactive Advisory Software and EVP of iXL, where he helped grow the startup to over $400 million in annualized revenue and an IPO. Blake is an active leader in the technology community, serving on the boards of Engage, Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures, High Tech Ministries, ATDC and Georgia Tech’s Cowan-Turner Center for Servant Leadership. He also teaches Entrepreneurial Finance at Georgia Tech, from where he also earned his engineering degree.