U.S. Growth and Core Equity Team
Four pillars set the foundation for the U.S. growth and core equity team’s investment process—and align with our larger purpose of delivering strong client results.
| Independent Perspectives | We seek to uncover alpha-generating insights by focusing on traditional and non-traditional indicators of quality that others may overlook. |
| Deep Discovery | As part of our bottom-up analysis, we ask challenging questions and have candid conversations to gain insights into management motivation, business models, and industry structures. |
| Cultivating Collaboration | Because collaboration is so important to our process, we strive to create an atmosphere that is conducive to the sharing—and debate—of ideas. |
| Stewards of Capital | Our clients are always top of mind—inspiring us through challenging times, keeping us humble as we succeed, and reminding us of our work’s importance. |
Independent Perspectives
We seek to uncover alpha-generating insights by focusing on longer time horizons, analyzing qualitative inputs that drive company fundamentals, and studying management teams’ motivations.
Patrick Quinn, CFA, Partner
HEAD OF U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM AND DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
Video | 00:32
We believe cash-flow, financial returns, and other traditional quantitative makers of performance provide a good picture of present-day quality, but more difficult-to-quantify qualitative attributes indicate a company’s enduring quality.
We pay attention to the near term because quarters add up to the long term. However, we spend most of our time thinking about a much longer time horizon, which doesn’t get as much attention from other investors.
Dan Crowe, CFA, Partner
PORTFOLIO MANAGER, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM
Deep Discovery
When investing in small-cap companies, it’s all about turning over as many rocks as possible. When a company looks promising, we dig deep by talking to competitors, customers, suppliers, and more to help raise the probability of being right.
Brad Ernst, CFA
RESEARCH ANALYST, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM
Video | 01:21
While we account for macroeconomic factors in our analysis, we believe we add the greatest value for our clients through our rigorous approach to fundamental analysis—delving into business models and industry economics. Our team members explain what that means to them.
INFORMED INVESTMENT DECISIONS
Nancy Aversa, CFA, Partner
Nancy Aversa, CFA, Partner
Management teams–recognizing our aim to grasp their businesses’ key drivers and competitive advantages–typically appreciate our challenging questions.
Arun Sharma
PORTFOLIO MANAGER, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM
Management teams–recognizing our aim to grasp their businesses’ key drivers and competitive advantages–typically appreciate our challenging questions.
Arun Sharma
PORTFOLIO MANAGER, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM
Video | 00:59
Because management decisions are a key driver of company performance, we work to become deeply familiar with the mindset and temperament of each management team.
Cultivating Collaboration
I love the culture. Since my first day at William Blair, I’ve felt like people were rooting for me to be successful. It’s a fundamentally different feeling from the other places I’ve worked.
David Ricci, CFA, Partner
PORTFOLIO MANAGER, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM
Video | 00:51
Because collaboration is so important to our process, we strive to create an atmosphere that is conducive to the sharing—and debate—of ideas. Hear what that means to some of our team members.
Success can create overconfidence, so a deep sense of humility runs throughout our team.
Corey Tobin, Partner
RESEARCH ANALYST, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM
FLAT STRUCTURE, DIFFERENTIATED PERSPECTIVES
Jim Jones, CFA, Partner
Jim Jones, CFA, Partner
We get the best results when everybody’s bringing something to the table. As an associate, I’m struck by how everyone makes me feel like my point of view is valuable to the conversation.
Christine Chen, CFA
Video | 01:11
Just as we believe in giving everyone on the team a voice, we create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to take on real responsibilities, regardless of tenure, and colleagues feel a sense of ownership because they’ve grown with the team. Danny Goode, a research analyst, explains.
Stewards of Capital
Our quality growth philosophy stems from an effort to be good stewards of our clients’ capital. All of our efforts are focused on driving the best possible outcomes for clients.
Nick Zimmerman, CFA, Partner
PORTFOLIO MANAGER, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM
EMPHASIS ON CAPITAL PRESERVATION
Tara Patock, CFA, Partner
PORTFOLIO SPECIALIST, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM
Tara Patock, CFA, Partner
PORTFOLIO SPECIALIST, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM
Quality companies typically have strong competitive moats that can lead to earnings compounding over multiple years—and we believe this compounding effect should ultimately be reflected in the stock price.
James Golan, CFA Partner
Quality companies typically have strong competitive moats that can lead to earnings compounding over multiple years—and we believe this compounding effect should ultimately be reflected in the stock price.
James Golan, CFA Partner
We distinguish ourselves by the people we attract and retain over time. It’s said that our team is only as good as our most recent hire. At the same time, with everyone pulling together, we can change outcomes. And in doing so, we build not just a stronger culture, but a more resilient organization that can better navigate through good and difficult times, while making each of us feel better about ourselves and those around us.
Robert Lanphier
FORMER PARTNER AND PORTFOLIO SPECIALIST, U.S. GROWTH AND CORE EQUITY TEAM
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