18th Annual Emerging Manager and MWBE Conference

INNOVATING & BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE 18TH ANNUAL FEBRUARY 14, 2025 ALBANY CAPITAL CENTER REGISTER NOW
Comptroller DiNapoli speaking behind a podium
 

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

 
Headshot of Sylvester McClearn

Introduction

Sylvester McClearn

Director of Emerging
Manager Program

Lisa Melchior, Founder & Managing Partner of Vertu Capital

Introduction

Lisa Melchior

Founder & Managing Partner
Vertu Capital

Headshot of Thomas P. DiNapoli

Keynote Address

Thomas P. DiNapoli

New York State Comptroller

Headshot of Ursula Burns

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.

 
 
Headshot of Anastasia Titarchuk

Moderator

Anastasia Titarchuk

Chief Investment Officer &
Deputy Comptroller

Headshot of Tony Lee

Private Equity

Tony Lee

Co-Founder
One Rock Capital Partners

Headshot of A. Rama Krishna

Public Equities

A. Rama Krishna

Founder & Chief Investment Officer
ARGA Investment Management

Headshot of Tammy K. Jones

Real Estate

Tammy K. Jones

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Basis Investment Group

Agenda

 
Registration / Continental Breakfast Legal: Negotiating Fund Agreements
 Early Riser Breakout Session
 Joyce Abernethy
 Drew McLelland
 Kimberly V. Mann
 Jon K. Jurva
 General Counsel
 New York State Common Retirement Fund
 Managing Investment Counsel
 New York State Common Retirement Fund
 Shareholder
 Shulman Rogers
 Partner
 ArentFox Schiff LLP 8:00–⁠⁠9:30 8:30–⁠⁠9:15 Welcome & Opening Remarks
 Introduction
 Keynote Address
 Guest Speaker
 Break The Graduates Panel Discussion
 Moderator Private Equity   Public Equities Real Estate Luncheon & Open Networking  Asset Class Breakout Sessions Private Equity
 Introductory Remarks 
 Presenters
 Public Equities
 Introductory Remarks 
 Presenters
 Fixed Income, Credit and Opportunistic/
 Absolute Return Strategies
 Introductory Remarks 
 Presenters
 Real Estate & Real Assets
 Introductory Remarks 
 Presenters
 Sustainable Investments 
 & Climate Solutions (SICS)
 Comptroller's Dessert Reception 
 & Open Networking Nav Patel
 Michael Lombardi
 Jon Lieber
 Aksia Manuel Casanga
 GCM Grosvenor 
 Artemis Real Estate Partners 
 Albourne Partners One Rock Capital Partners ARGA Investment Management Basis Investment Group Chief Investment Officer & Deputy Comptroller
 Director, Private Equity 
 New York State Common Retirement Fund
 Director, Public Equities
 New York State Common Retirement Fund
 Director, SICS Program
 Muller & Monroe Asset Management 
 HarbourVest Partners  
 Farol Asset Management Jennifer Cardiff
 Xponance
 Leading Edge Investment Advisors Andrew Siwo Director of Emerging Manager Program
 Founder & Managing Partner
 Vertu Capital New York State Comptroller Co-Founder
 Integrum Partners Co-Founder
 Founder & Chief Investment Officer
 Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
 Director, Credit
 Director, Fixed Income
 New York State Common Retirement Fund
 Director, Real Estate & Real Assets 
 New York State Common Retirement Fund
 Sylvester McClearn Lisa Melchior Thomas P. DiNapoli Ursula Burns Deputy Chief Investment Officer New York State Common Retirement Fund New York State Common Retirement Fund New York State Common Retirement Fund New York State Common Retirement Fund New York State Common Retirement Fund Anastasia Titarchuk Tony Lee A. Rama Krishna Tammy K. Jones Joe T. Dawson 9:30–⁠⁠10:30 10:30⁠–⁠10:45 10:45–⁠11:45 1:30⁠–⁠2:45   2:45–⁠4:00 11:45⁠–⁠1:30

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.

Headshot of Sylvester McClearn

Sylvester McClearn

Director of Emerging
Manager Program

Headshot of Deborah A. Vélez Medenica

Deborah A. Vélez Medenica

Senior Investment Officer

Headshot of Susana Callender

Susana Callender

Investment Operations Officer

Headshot of Ricardo DeAlbuqerque

Ricardo De Albuqerque

Senior Investment Officer

 

Plan Your Trip

 

Lodging

 

Group Rate

Renaissance Albany Hotel
144 State Street

$239/Night
if booked by 1/16

Book Renaissance Group Rate

Please book early—limited group rate rooms available.

 
Hilton Albany
Downtown Albany

40 Lodge Street

Hampton Inn & Suites
Albany-Downtown

25 Chapel Street

Fairfield Inn & Suites
by Marriott Albany Downtown

74 State Street

Ramada Plaza
by Wyndham Albany

3 Watervliet Avenue Extension

 

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
 

Register for the 2025 Emerging Manager Conference

 
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Are you a Fund-of-Funds and/or Manager-of-Managers?
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For conference inquiries, email [email protected].