NAIC E-News

NAIC Perspectives: Diversity is a Business Imperative

"As a global firm, it is a business imperative to embrace diversity and inclusion," says Jon W. Zindel, Chief Financial Officer for William Blair. In this installment of Perspectives, NAIC's online video series, Zindel shares how William Blair's diverse workforce has resulted in better outcomes for the firm's clients and how greater diversity would benefit the industry as a whole.

►	VIEW VIDEO

RSVP Today! NAIC Virtual Fireside Chat with Hank Kim, Executive Director and Counsel, NCPERS, Set for August 4th

How are pension plans faring in 2020, in what ways has COVID-19 impacted investment strategies and allocations, and how do diverse managers fit into it all? Please join us as we cover this and much more during our 2 p.m. EDT August 4th webinar, NAIC Industry Leader Insights Series with Hank Kim, Executive Director and Counsel, NCPERS. NCPERS is the largest trade association for public sector pension funds, representing approximately 500 funds throughout the United States and Canada and over $3 trillion in institutional assets.

Kim's responsibilities include strategic planning for NCPERS, promoting retirement security for all workers, and the expansion of NCPERS role in the continuing debate on health care. An industry veteran with a host of board appointments, Kim will also shed light on the associations role in the industry, its advocacy, research and education efforts, and offer valuable insights for investors and GPs alike.

Hosted by Robert L. Greene, our President & CEO, the NAIC Insights Series brings some of the industrys leading decision-makers to the NAIC network in thought-provoking virtual engagements to share their perspectives on market news and trends, its impact on diverse-owned firms, and much more.

►	RSVP FOR THE VIRTUAL CHAT

Save the Date! NAIC Members Meet One-on-One with Leading Capital Allocators on October 6th

Back by popular demand on October 6th, NAICs LP Meetup has gone virtual! Exclusively for NAIC members, LP Meetups provide participants with invaluable one-on-one time with decision-makers from some of the nations leading retirement plans, endowments, foundations, and investment consulting firms. This is a rare opportunity to introduce your firm to capital allocators, share fund updates and investment strategies, learn the portfolio needs of these plans, and discover how best to stay on their radar for future prospects.

Past LP Meetup participants have included: Aberdeen Standard Investments; Advocate Aurora Health; Alameda County Employees Retirement; Brandeis University Endowment; CalSTRS; Cambridge Associates; Colonial Consulting; Dallas Employees Retirement Fund; Ford Foundation; Heritage Group; Invesco; Kern County Employees' Retirement Association; Kresge Investments; Muller & Monroe Asset Management, LLC; State Universities Retirement System of Illinois; Teacher Retirement System of Texas; San Francisco Foundation; TorreyCove Capital Partners; UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust; Wilshire Associates.

For more information, please contact David Smith, Programs and Initiatives Manager: dsmith@naicpe.com.

NAIC is Thrilled to Welcome our Newest Member, Greenspring Associates!

Greenspring Associates (www.greenspringassociates.com) is a venture capital investment platform that manages over $10 billion in committed capital for a diverse group of Limited Partners worldwide. The firm serves as a value-added, lifecycle partner to venture managers and entrepreneurs, making fund and direct investments on both a primary and secondary basis across diversified, concentrated and niche strategies through commingled vehicles and separate accounts. From seed stage through growth investing, Greenspring partners with established and next-generation fund managers, entrepreneurs and Limited Partners to propel growth in the global innovation economy.

We are excited to add Greenspring to our network, which is now more than 90 members strong!

DigitalDx Ventures: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare to Stake its Claim in Silicon Valley

In this NAIC Member Focus, we spotlight DigitalDx Ventures, a woman-owned Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in cutting-edge diagnostics that leverage artificial intelligence. Michele Colucci, the firms Co-Founder and Managing Partner, shares the innovative companies in which DigitalDx has invested, the challenges she faces operating in the insular VC community and why the firms 28 MBA fellows may play a part in creating a more diverse and inclusive Silicon Valley.

►	READ THE ARTICLE

NAIC Virtual Institutional Investor Roadshows Kick-Off with Tulsa-based LPs!

On July 15th, NAIC held its first Virtual Institutional Investor Roadshow of the year, featuring three Tulsa, Oklahoma-based family offices. Available exclusively to NAIC member firms, these Institutional Investor Roadshows connect diverse investment managers with limited partners to network, share insights and market intelligence.

Hosting NAIC and representatives from 22 member firms was Jay Calhoun, Managing Partner of Apis Holdings, a strategic advisory and private investment firm. Joining him were representatives from AMTRA Capital Partners, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Schusterman Family Office. Participating NAIC members were given the opportunity to introduce themselves, share their firms investment strategies and otherwise engage with the LPs.

The next stop for the NAIC Roadshow will be on August 11th with Hall Capital, featuring representatives from Cambridge Associates, Illumen Capital, Hewlett Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Dignity Health (now Common Spirit), Packard Foundation, and the University of Rochester.

SEC Virtual Panel Addresses Lack of Asset Management Diversity

A virtual panel discussion during the SECs July 16 Special Meeting of the Asset Management Advisory Committee addressed the abysmally low participation rates for diverse-owned asset management firms.

Moderated by Gilbert Garcia, Managing Partner, Garcia Hamilton & Associates, participants included NAICs Robert L. Greene; Robert Raben, The Raben Group; Juan Martinez, Knight Foundation; Solange Brooks, New America Alliance; Ron Parker, National Association of Securities Professionals; Brenda Chia, Association of Asian American Investment Managers.

Garcia suggested creating a rating system similar to "Rotten Tomatoes" for consultants, or a version of the NFL's Rooney Rule that requires at least one woman and one underrepresented minority to be considered for open positions. Greene suggested the SEC could require investment managers and consultants to report data and issue formal guidance to asset owners and asset managers about the importance of diversity in their workforce and outside managers. Diversity does not just happen, he said. The status quo is hard to defeat.

Howard University Board of Trustees Elects Fairview's Dr. Laurence C. Morse as Chairman

The Howard University Board of Trustees announces the election of Laurence C. Morse, Ph.D. as Chairman for the 2020-21 fiscal year. Morse, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Fairview Capital Partners, was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2014 and most recently served as a vice chair of the University's Board from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. During his tenure, he has served as chair of the Development and Alumni Relations Committee, vice chair of several committees, including Audit and Legal, Compensation and Succession and Executive as well as co-chair of the Howard University Hospital/Adventist Ad Hoc Committee. He also served as a member of the Finance and Student Life committees. Chairman Morse replaces retiring Chairman Stacey J. Mobley, Esq.

Connect with NAIC on Social Media!

Stay up-to-date on the latest news from diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds, news-making deals, NAIC announcements, interviews with high-profile insiders and other industry happenings by following us on social media.

►	Follow Us on LinkedIn

►	Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel