Key Altegris Investments Team Members

The Alternative Investments industry is complex and rapidly changing. At Altegris, we are committed to remain at the forefront of this evolution, leading the industry in serving sophisticated investors and professional wealth advisors. Our team of experienced industry professionals is dedicated to help you with your investment choices. The Altegris team contains the experience, training and knowledge that the industry requires and, just as importantly, takes a flexible approach to how we work with you.

Team Member Biographies

Ken McGuire - Chief Operating Officer
With nearly 20 years of experience in developing and managing operating platforms in support of world-class alternative investment managers, Ken McGuire leads the continued development of operational capabilities within the Altegris group of companies. As Chief Operating Officer of Altegris, Mr. McGuire directs the automation, investment reporting and back office integration Altegris provides wealth managers and investment advisors. Mr. McGuire also brings unique expertise and industry experience to the Altegris Premier Managers platform, ensuring effective, transparent transactions with critical operating partners responsible for fund automation, administration, legal, audit and accounting, as well as cash management and third party custody of client assets. Prior to joining Altegris, Mr. McGuire served as Managing Director of Product Management for single manager hedge funds at BNY Mellon Alternative Investment Services, as part of the team that drove the unit to become the industry’s third largest, single manager hedge fund administrator. Mr. McGuire entered the alternative investment industry in 1990 at Goldman Sachs within the Hedge Fund Strategies Group, where he served as Co-Head of Operations, Finance and Technology. He was also Chairman of the Operations Committee and a member of the Management Policy Committee. Mr. McGuire graduated magna cum laude from Hofstra University with a degree in Computer Science/ Mathematics and received his MBA with a concentration in Management from Adelphi University.

Laura Pyle - Chief of Staff
Ms. Pyle brings 16 years of experience in strategic planning and new business development to Altegris. She was previously a Senior Vice President and Director of Operations for a West Coast multi-strategy fund of hedge funds, overseeing the coordination and communication of the firm's internal departments. Previous to this, Ms. Pyle was President of Orion West, Inc., a management consulting firm that specialized in working globally with CEOs and HR teams, including Fortune 500 level organizations. As Chief of Staff of Altegris, Ms. Pyle plays a key role in aligning the firm's strategic direction and building its infrastructure. Her expertise is critical in helping the management team develop metrics and project prioritization across the company. Ms. Pyle is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a BA in Psychology (summa cum laude) and a MA and PhD in Organizational Psychology.

David P. Mathews - General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer
Mr. Mathews has over 20 years of legal, regulatory and business experience in the financial services industry. This includes over 6 years of experience in legal and regulatory matters specifically relating to hedge funds and other alternative investment products. Immediately prior to joining Altegris, Mr. Mathews served as general counsel for a California-based hedge fund of funds manager, and before that practiced law with the New York law firm of Shearman & Sterling, in its Washington, DC office. From 1991 to 1998, Mr. Mathews was an attorney with the SEC in both the Division of Enforcement and the Division of Investment Management, his work including the proposal, adoption and interpretation of regulations affecting alternative investment products. Mr. Mathews's background also includes experience as an in-house attorney for the insurance affiliate of the Investment Company Institute, the trade association for the mutual fund industry, and experience in general corporate and securities law matters with private law firms in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Mathews is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and received his Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law.

Tricia Zehr - Director, Product Development
Ms. Miller has over nine years of financial industry experience. Prior to the formation of Altegris, Ms. Miller was Director of Administration of the Managed Investments Division of Man Financial Inc, a subsidiary of the Man Group, in its La Jolla, California office. Ms. Miller began her career as a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch’s Private Client Group in La Jolla, CA, where she served on a team of investment professionals focused on business lending and cash management, and estate and tax planning. Upon the separation from Man Financial and formation of Altegris in July 2002, she became a general securities principal and was responsible for supervision and compliance. In her current role as Director of Product Development at Altegris, Ms. Miller works in the processes of initial and ongoing compliance, legal and regulatory review of products and money managers. She leads Altegris’ ongoing efforts in monitoring the administration of the investment products on our platform.

Ozzie DiVinere - Senior Vice President, Private Client Group
Mr. DiVinere brings over 18 years of experience in alternative investments and an understanding of high net worth individuals and institutions to his role at Altegris. Prior to the formation of Altegris, Mr. DiVinere served as Vice President of the Managed Investments Division of Man Financial, a subsidiary of the Man Group, in their La Jolla, California office. As a Vice President of Altegris, Mr. DiVinere is responsible for helping suitable investors access quality hedge fund and managed futures investment products designed to meet their specific individual needs. Mr. DiVinere graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing in 1981.

John P. Scarcella - Senior Vice President, National Sales Director
Mr. Scarcella has 24 years of experience in the organization and marketing of alternative investments, including Managed Futures, Real Estate Investment Trusts and partnerships as well as equipment leasing investments. Prior to joining Altegris, Mr. Scarcella was Vice President National Marketing for Steben & Company, where he was responsible for the development of the broker dealer distribution network for the firm's managed futures funds. Previously, Mr. Scarcella served as Vice President of National Accounts for Lincoln Financial Distributors. Before this, Mr. Scarcella was Senior Vice President of ATEL Securities Corporation, responsible for all sales, marketing, and due diligence efforts for ATEL's public and private equipment leasing investment offerings. Previously, Mr. Scarcella was the Director of Investor Relations and Marketing for Landsing Capital Corporation, responsible for the marketing of real estate limited partnerships and REITS. Mr. Scarcella received his Bachelors Degree in Finance from Santa Clara University in 1983 and his M.B.A. with a concentration in marketing from Santa Clara University in 1992. He is a licensed securities and commodities broker and direct participation program principal.

Kirk Strawn , CIMA, CFA - National Director of Strategic Relationships
Mr. Strawn is responsible for managing the firm’s relationships with wealth advisory firms that access Altegris’ premier manager platform. Previously, Mr. Strawn was responsible for the design, development and servicing of Man Investments national intermediary network, a position he held for more than eight years. Prior to Man Investments, Mr. Strawn was Managing Director of Institutional Marketing and Sales at ING Furman Selz Capital Management. At ING, he was responsible for raising capital for a variety of asset classes and managing the account executive team for the Separate Managed Account platforms serving broker-dealers. Mr. Strawn began his career at Lehman Brothers in New York, where he provided financial services to institutional accounts, hedge funds and private investors. Mr. Strawn graduated from George Washington University with BBA Major in Finance cum laude. He is a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) by the Investment Management Consulting Association and a CFA charterholder.

Michael Stendler - Vice President, Institutional Relationship Management
Mr. Stendler brings over 20 years of experience to his role as Associate Vice President of Altegris. Mr. Stendler was previously Managing Director of the Barrington, Illinois-based Meyer Capital Management - a $250 million Commodity Trading Advisor. Prior to this, he served as a Senior Consultant for Simms Capital Management, a global equity management firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, and was also Vice President and Director of Institutional Sales at Heartland Advisors, a small-cap value manager based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He began his career in the investment and asset management industry in 1984. Mr. Stendler is a 1983 graduate of Concordia University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance.

Peter Cunningham - Vice President, Alternative Investment Consultant
Mr. Cunningham brings six years of experience marketing alternative investment products, in addition to broad-based experience in trading and operations. Peter joined Altegris from Steben and Company, where he served as a Regional Vice President. Previously, he served as Director of Marketing for ClaraVista Capital Management, a Commodity Trading Advisor. Peter gained trading and operational experience with Goldman Sach’s Hedge Fund Strategy Group rising to Execution Trader on the foreign exchange desk. Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Georgia.

Jason ZumBerge , CAIA® - Director, Strategic Relationships
Prior to joining Altegris, Mr. ZumBerge was Vice President at Presidio Financial Partners, a firm specializing in financial planning for high net worth individuals and entrepreneurs. At Presidio, Mr. ZumBerge was responsible for manager research, and gained extensive experience in custom hedge fund and managed futures portfolio construction. Prior to his position at Presidio, Mr. ZumBerge served as Director of Investments at Quintessence Group, an independent multi-family office advising wealthy families in their investments. Mr. ZumBerge has also gained experience at Morgan Keegan and Morgan Stanley. Mr. ZumBerge is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, where he received a BBA degree in Finance and Organizational Psychology. He holds the designation of Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA®).

Bret Undem - Vice President, Institutional Relationship Management
Before joining Altegris Investments, Mr. Undem was a Managing Director at Strata Partners LLC, an investment banking firm that provides corporate finance and strategic advisory services to middle-market companies. Prior to joining Strata Partners, Mr. Undem spent seven years as Vice President of Acacia Research, a NASDAQ-listed technology company. At Acacia, he was responsible for Investor Relations and Media Relations. Prior to Acacia, Mr. Undem served as an institutional investment consultant in Los Angeles, California. From 1994 to 2000, he oversaw investment assets in excess of $2.0 billion for institutional clients throughout the United States. Mr. Undem graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Finance.

Todd Trusso , CAIA® - Director, Private Client Group
Mr. Trusso brings over 10 years of experience in asset allocation and investment consulting with high net worth and family office clients. Prior to joining Altegris in 2005, Mr. Trusso was the Manager of Financial Services with Prudential Financial. Mr. Trusso was responsible for overseeing a team of 12 Financial Advisors who were responsible for retirement, estate, and tax planning for over 200 clients. Mr. Trusso’s team specialized in managed account and managed research implementation dealing with $50+ million in client assets. Mr. Trusso holds a BA in Political Science from California State University, San Marcos. Mr. Trusso holds the designation of Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA®).

Charles F. Fowler , CFP® - Vice President, Private Client Group
Mr. Fowler previously served as a Vice President for the Private Client Group of Charles Schwab and Co. for more than seven years, advising and/or directly managing assets in excess of $200 million. Prior to that, he was a financial advisor for Prudential Securities and a financial consultant for A.G. Edwards and Sons. He has been a consultant in the financial services industry for more than a decade and holds a BA from Rutgers University as well as a Masters in Finance and Tax Planning from San Diego State University.

Greg Brucher , CFP® - Vice President, Alternative Investment Consultant
Mr. Brucher is responsible for overseeing sales in the intermediary channel for the Midwest territory at Altegris. Mr. Brucher brings 15 years of investment industry experience to his role of serving clients in the Registered Investment Advisor and broker-dealer space. Prior to joining Altegris, Mr. Brucher was National Sales Manager at SMH Capital Advisors in Dallas, where he was responsible for wholesaling mutual funds and separate accounts throughout the United States. There, he worked with advisors from a number of broker-dealers including LPL, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James and UBS, as well as with RIAs affiliated with Envestnet, Schwab and Fidelity. Previously, Mr. Brucher held sales positions at Franklin Templeton Portfolio Advisors, Prudential and GE Private Asset Management. Mr. Brucher holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Arizona at Tucson, as well as his Series 7, 24, 63 and 66 licenses.

Chris Maudlin - Vice President, Private Client Group
Mr. Maudlin brings over 7 years of experience in asset management and investment consulting. Prior to Joining Altegris Mr. Maudlin was Managing Partner of a boutique wealth management group at Merrill Lynch, where he was awarded “Rookie of the Year.” At Merrill Lynch Mr. Maudlin’s group managed in excess of $600 million between a small number of affluent families and institutions with a heavy focus on alternative investments. Prior to Merrill Lynch Mr. Maudlin was a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley. Mr. Maudlin holds a BA in Communications from University of California at Davis.

Adam Gallegos - Vice President, Alternative Investment Consultant
Adam Gallegos, Vice President, and Alternative Investments Consultant, brings over 15 years of experience in the industry to the Altegris team and is responsible for business development of the broker/dealer channel in the Western U.S. region. Mr. Gallegos joined Altegris from Kensington Investment Group, where he was responsible for business development and promotion of Kensington's investment products, as well as overseeing marketing and wholesaling efforts in the Western U.S. regions. Prior to joining Kensington, Mr. Gallegos was the Director of Business Development at Getrelevant.com, an internet marketing firm. Mr. Gallegos began his career in financial services at Barclays Global Investors. Along with his financial services experience, including analyst training with J.P. Morgan Chase, Gallegos has also been involved in entrepreneurial endeavors in the golf industry. Mr. Gallegos received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from California State University, Sacramento, in 1992.

Jason Pemberton - Vice President, Private Client Group
Mr. Pemberton has eight years of financial industry experience. Prior to joining Altegris as Client Relationship Manager in 2006, Mr. Pemberton was an accountant at Hedgeworks, a hedge fund administration firm. Before this, he worked as a trading specialist at National Planning Corporation, providing fixed income and equity trading support to financial advisors, portfolio managers and private clients. Mr. Pemberton also gained experience as an equity/mutual fund trader at AIG SunAmerica, and began his career as a Lead Operations Controller at Merrill Lynch in 1999. Mr. Pemberton graduated San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance.

Vance Barse - Associate Vice President
Mr. Barse joined Altegris as an Associate Vice President in 2007. Mr. Barse has eight years of professional experience and worked most recently at Pyrysys, a behavioral healthcare firm in La Jolla, CA. In his role as Business Administrator and Corporate Officer, he led a seven member team in managing finance, marketing, operations, and human resources. Prior to Pyrysys, Mr. Barse gained experience as general manager of Allied Counseling Group in Frederick, MD where he was responsible for profit and loss management and strategic sales and marketing initiatives. Mr. Barse graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Neurophysiology and Neurobiology and was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellow.

Eric Nielsen - Associate Vice President
Mr. Nielsen brings over eight years of asset management experience to the Altegris team. Prior to joining Altegris in 2008, Mr. Nielsen served as an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments, responsible for designing client portfolios as well as consulting clients on retirement income by leveraging prudent tax planning and asset allocations. Previously, Mr. Nielsen worked as a Trading Associate for Chicago-based Envestnet, where he was responsible for directing and executing trades in supporting various wrap account trading platforms. Mr. Nielsen also gained experience as an Operations Portfolio Analyst for ABN AMRO Asset Management (now part of Fortis North America). Mr. Nielsen graduated from Buffalo State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics.

Chris Vigliatore - Associate Vice President
Mr. Vigliatore has been in the alternative investment arena since 2005 starting his career with a division of Man Financial, the world's largest futures broker, serving individual and institutional investors. Mr. Vigliatore constructed trading systems and risk management policies for clients trading in the global futures and options markets. He then went on to service external sales forces, providing global execution and clearing to a diverse client base of institutions and financial intermediaries. In 2007, Mr. Vigliatore co-founded Herron Capital Management (HCM), an NFA Introducing Broker and Commodity Trading Advisor. In his time as Senior Vice President and Managing Partner of HCM, he managed a team that provided managed futures expertise and global execution services to Broker Dealers and Registered Investment Advisors. Mr. Vigliatore joined Altegris in 2009 to help expand the company's growing client base of investment advisors and independent broker dealers. He graduated from San Diego State University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Finance.

Anne Peterson - Associate Vice President
Ms. Peterson brings over eight of years experience in sales, customer service and project management to the Altegris team. Ms. Peterson began at Moore Wallace as a Sales Representative managing key accounts for a leading international printing firm. She went on to become a Client Financial Analyst with Citibank. Following her role with Citibank, Ms. Peterson was an Internal Wholesaler with Ridgewood Capital, where she worked with the top producing sales team, before joining Altegris. Ms. Peterson obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University.

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