About the Conference
State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli proudly stewards the Common Retirement Fund’s legacy of partnering with new and diverse investors in delivering returns for the more than 1.2 million members, retirees and beneficiaries of the New York State & Local Retirement System.
At our 18th Annual Emerging Manager & MWBE Conference, we will share how the program is innovating and building for the future, while reflecting on our history of success. Attendees will hear from program graduates who’ve transitioned to investing for our core portfolio and have opportunities to network and gain asset class specific insight for future success with the Fund.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Introduction
Sylvester McClearn
Director of Emerging
Manager Program
Introduction
Lisa Melchior
Founder & Managing Partner
Vertu Capital
Keynote Address
Thomas P. DiNapoli
New York State Comptroller
Guest Speaker
Ursula Burns
Co-Founder
Integrum Partners
The Graduates Panel Discussion
The Emerging Manager program’s mission is to cultivate successful managers for the Common Retirement Fund. In this Panel hosted by the Fund CIO Anastasia Titarchuk, graduates will share their experiences, challenges and successes of transitioning to the core portfolio.
Moderator
Anastasia Titarchuk
Chief Investment Officer &
Deputy Comptroller
Private Equity
Tony Lee
Co-Founder
One Rock Capital Partners
Public Equities
A. Rama Krishna
Founder & Chief Investment Officer
ARGA Investment Management
Real Estate
Tammy K. Jones
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Basis Investment Group
Legal: Negotiating Fund Agreements
Early Riser Breakout Session
Negotiating the legal documents with your investors is an essential launch to the GP/LP relationship. CRF’s General Counsel will facilitate a mock negotiation, a series of dynamic conversations between seasoned private fund lawyers representing GP and LP clients that will focus on key terms for institutional investors.
Emerging Manager Program Team
The Emerging Manager team builds relationships with industry partners and new, small and minority- and women-owned firms so that the Common Retirement Fund can benefit from their investment insights.
Sylvester McClearn
Director of Emerging
Manager Program
Deborah A. Vélez Medenica
Senior Investment Officer
Susana Callender
Investment Operations Officer
Ricardo De Albuqerque
Senior Investment Officer
Plan Your Trip
Lodging
Group Rate
Please book early—limited group rate rooms available.
Albany Capital Center
55 Eagle St, Albany, NY 12207
Our venue for the 2025 Emerging Manager & MWBE Conference—located in the heart of downtown Albany, the Albany Capital Center is within walking distance of restaurants, hotels, shops, and more!
Transportation
Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Train Station
525 East St, Rensselaer, NY 12144
Albany International Airport
737 Albany Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211
Parking
Albany Capital Center Garage
7 Wendell St, Albany, NY 12207
MVP Arena Garage
1 Market St, Albany, NY 12207
Additional Downtown Parking
For conference inquiries, email [email protected].