Our Team

Ms. Amey is a Senior Associate for StepStone Private Wealth’s business development team.

Prior to joining Stepstone, Ms. Amey was a Client Relationship Associate at a boutique planning firm serving high net worth families. Prior to that, she worked in the hospitality industry with Marriott International in both Operations and Human Resources.

Ms. Amey received her BA in Hospitality Business from the Broad School of Business at Michigan State University.

Ms. Bauman is a Director and Controller for StepStone Private Wealth.

She brings over 12 years of experience rooted in financial services. Prior to joining StepStone, Ms. Bauman was a Director with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where she spent the entirety of her career providing professional audit and advisory services to some of their largest financial clients including those in the banking, insurance, and asset and wealth management industries. She has led and supported clients with complex transactions, divestitures, implementations and other technical accounting matters spending time in both their New York, NY and Charlotte, NC offices.

Ms. Bauman holds a BS in Accounting from Florida State University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of South Florida. She is a licensed CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Mr. Bermel is the Rocky Mountain Regional Director for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone Private Wealth, Mr. Bermel spent 10 years as the Vice President of Regional Distribution for Altegris/Artivest Investments, a leading provider in alternative investments, where he led a team in capital raising efforts to RIAs, Family Offices and Broker Dealers. Previously, he was Vice President at ICON Advisors Inc, raising assets in traditional investment strategies.

Mr. Bermel received a BS in International Affairs and Business from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He holds FINRA 3, 6, 7, 30 & 63 licenses and CAIA Plus Certification.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Mr. Blum is the Southeast Senior Regional Associate for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Blum was an Internal Wholesaler for Brighthouse Financial providing sales and marketing activities across two territories.

Mr. Blum received a BS in Business Administration from North Carolina State University. He holds FINRA 7 and 66 licenses and is also a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/ 

Mr. Brookes is a Managing Director for StepStone Private Wealth’s business development team.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Brookes co-founded Carolon Capital, a distribution firm that focuses on third-party funds with differentiated, long-only strategies. He also co-founded Carolon Investment Funds, an Irish umbrella fund that serves US-based asset manager clients. Previously, his career in sales and marketing included specialist roles at Edmond de Rothschild Group and Bear Stearns International before becoming Head of Investor Relations at Conversus Capital, the largest publicly traded fund of private equity funds with $ 3 billion of AUM.

Mr. Brookes is qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Mr. Cho is the West Regional Director for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Cho was a senior vice president for the Inland Private Capital platform. Prior to Inland, Mr. Cho was a regional director for CNL institutional group. Over his career, Will has exclusively raised capital for the RIA and family office channel representing various alternative investment managers.

Mr. Cho received a BA degree from the University of Washington.  He holds FINRA 7, 63 license and is working towards his CFP certification.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Mr. Collins is a Vice President – Portfolio Specialist for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Collins was a Director at CNL Financial Group as a part of the private equity fund CNL Strategic Capital. In his role, Mr. Collins was the product specialist responsible for the education of CNL Strategic Capital and served as a liaison to the distribution team. He was also responsible for industry, demographic, and economic research related to the private equity space. Before that he held other positions within CNL including sales strategy and working cross functionally within due diligence and key accounts.

Mr. Collins obtained a B.S. in Finance from Florida State University and is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst.

Ms. Davis is an Analyst for StepStone Private Wealth

Prior to joining to StepStone, Ms. Davis was a Payment Solution Specialist with Project Resources Group a Management Consulting Company.

Ms. Davis graduated from Virginia State University with a bachelor’s in History and a minor in Political Science.

Mr. Edstrom is the Southern California Regional Director for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Edstrom was the Regional Director at Cadre. Prior to Cadre, Mr. Edstrom was the Vice President of Regional Distribution for Altegris/ Artivest Investments, a leading provider in alternative investments, where he led a team in capital raising efforts to RIAs, Family Offices and Broker Dealers.

Mr. Edstrom received a BS in Business Administration (Finance) from San Diego State University. He holds FINRA 7, 3 & 66 licenses and a CAIA certification.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Celine El Debs is a Managing Director for StepStone Private Wealth and is responsible for managing client relationships.

Prior to joining StepStone, Celine El Debs headed the Quintet Private Bank group offering and distribution of alternative investments, including hedge funds and private markets. Before that, she served as Geneva-based Senior Sales Executive at Muzinich & Co., specializing in alternative strategies and corporate credit. Earlier, Celine served as Head of Alternative Investment Group at HSBC Private Bank. At UBS Global Asset Management, she led the promotion and distribution of the bank’s alternative investment funds in Switzerland, France and the Middle East.

Celine El Debs graduated from The George Washington University with an MBA in Finance and Investments and completed a BS in Economic and Social Sciences and MA in European Studies at the University of Geneva. She speaks English, French and Arabic.

Mr. Fitzgerald is the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for StepStone Private Wealth

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Fitzgerald was an institutional portfolio manager for Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, the $130 billion multi-asset solutions division of Franklin Templeton.  Previously, he has served as a client portfolio manager for QS Investors as well as sales director and vice president for Legg Mason.

Mr. Fitzgerald received his BA from Fairfield University and his MBA from New York University. He is also a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Mr. Hambacher is a Vice President for StepStone Private Wealth’s business development team.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Hambacher was an investment strategist for the Wells Fargo Investment Institute focused on sourcing, due diligence and ongoing monitoring of direct private investment opportunities. Before that he was a member of the investment teams at Corrum Capital and Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Strategic Investments Group focused on private equity, private credit, and hedge fund investments. Prior to BAML, Mr. Hambacher was an analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey focused on originating, underwriting, and syndicating leveraged loans.

Mr. Hambacher received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mr. Huber is the Vice President and Fund Controller for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Huber was a Senior Manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with extensive experience providing professional audit services in the asset and wealth management practice.

Mr. Huber received his BA in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his MS in Accounting from Wake Forest University. He is a licensed CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Ms. Kenska is the West Senior Regional Associate for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone Private Wealth, Ms. Kenska was the Platform Consultant at Artivest, a leading provider in alternative investments, focusing on RIAs, Family Offices, and Broker Dealers. Prior to that, Ms. Kenska was a vice president of investments at Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors where she was responsible for providing investment solutions to T.D. Ameritrade’s Investment Consultants in Southern California. Ms. Kenska started her career with Nuveen Investments. During her 12 year tenure, Shannon started as a Marketing Associate, moved into an Internal Advisor Consultant position and was promoted to an External Advisor Consultant in 2008.

Ms. Kenska holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of Florida. She is also a certified investment management analyst (CIMA®) by the Investment Management Consulting Association and holds Series 6, 7, 63 and 66 licenses.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Mr. King is the South Central Regional Director for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. King served as the South-Central Vice President of Distribution for CION Investments, a leading provider of Private Credit solutions, where he focused on raising capital across all channels. He started as a product marketing associate for Variable Annuity solutions and transitioned to a financial advisor focused on retirement solutions at Equitable (formerly AXA Equitable).

Mr. King received a B.S. from Fordham University and is pursuing his CIMA® Designation. He holds FINRA 7 and 66 licenses.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Mr. Krause is an Analyst for StepStone Private Wealth’s business development team.

Prior to joining Stepstone, Mr. Krause was a Senior Associate at PwC in Deals within their Capital Markets & Accounting Advisory group.

Mr. Krause received his BS in Finance and his MS in Accounting from Smeal College of Business at the Pennsylvania State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Long is the CEO for StepStone Private Wealth

Mr. Long has three decades of experience in the private markets and has led investment teams for global firms in both the general partner and limited partner role. He has served as the CEO of two publicly-traded companies focused on expanding private market access for high net worth investors.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Long was the CEO of OHA Investment Corporation, a publicly-traded specialty finance company. Previously, he co-founded Conversus Capital, the largest publicly traded fund of third-party private equity funds with $3 billion of AUM and served as its CEO. Previously, Mr. Long led Bank of America’s $7 billion strategic capital division. Early in his career, Mr. Long served as the lead in-house counsel for a large portion of Bank of America’s Investment Banking Division and worked as a securities lawyer for a major law firm.

A recognized industry leader, Mr. Long was named one of 50 “GameChangers” by Private Equity International, has been profiled in the WSJ, and hosted CNBC Squawk Box Europe on numerous occasions. He is a founding Director of the Defined Contribution Alternatives Association and chairs its Public Policy Committee.

Mr. Long received his BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his JD from the University of Virginia. Mr. Long has served on board of the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina and is active supporter of adoption organizations.

Mr. Mand is the Southeast Regional Director for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Mand worked for Wells Fargo in various roles, most recently as a Regional Investment Solutions Consultant where he consulted with private bank investment strategists & advisors on how to leverage private capital & hedge funds in client portfolios. Before that he worked as an investment research analyst running analytics for discretionary investment portfolios.

Mr. Mand received a BA in Economics from the University of Minnesota. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds FINRA 7 and 66 licenses.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Mr. McKnight is an Accounting Manager for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, he was the Lead Fund Accountant for UMB Fund Services, a company that provides investment administration services for both registered funds and alternative investments. Before that he worked as the Senior Fund Accountant and Fund Accountant for the same company.

Mr. McKnight received his BS in Business Administration from Marquette University

Mr. Menard is the President of Global Distribution for StepStone Private Wealth.

Mr. Menard is a seasoned distribution leader with almost 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Over his career, he has built a broad and deep network within the financial advisor and broker dealer communities.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Menard served as the president of CNL Securities Corporation and CNL Capital Markets where he oversaw the firm’s capital raising efforts. Before that he was a senior vice president at Franklin Square Capital Partners where he was responsible for selling business development companies to registered investment advisors (RIAs). He also sat on Franklin’s management committee. Previously, Mr. Menard was the head of distribution at Steben & Company, a leading provider of managed futures to broker-dealers and RIAs.

Mr. Menard serves on the board of the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives (IPA) which coordinates the resources of its members to create opportunities for the advancement of industry objectives through established regulatory and political processes. The IPA’s mission is to continue to raise awareness of alternatives to legislators and regulatory officials, clearly communicating the distinct attributes alternative products can offer the investing public.

Mr. Menard received a bachelor’s degree from Colby College and serves on the board of the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives. He holds FINRA 7, 24 and 63 licenses. He also serves as the vice chair of the board of the AdventHealth Foundation’s Central Florida Cardiovascular Institute.

Mr. Savoie is the Northeast Regional Associate for StepStone Private Wealth

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Savoie worked for Wellesley Asset Management in a number of roles, most recently as an external wholesaler covering all channels in the southeast.

Mr. Savoie received a BA in Business Finance from the University of Massachusetts – Lowell. He holds FINRA 7 and 66 licenses.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Ms. Scott is the Marketing Manager for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, Ms. Scott was a senior marketing associate for CNL Financial Group, a private investment management firm. In this role, Ms. Scott was responsible for corporate and product marketing and communication efforts.

Ms. Scott obtained a BA in Communications from the University of Central Florida.

Mr. Sevenich is the Midwest Regional Director for StepStone Private Wealth

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Sevenich served as a regional vice president at DWS focusing on delivering investment solutions in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest regions. Before that, Mr. Sevenich also served as an internal sales consultant at DWS and Invesco.

Mr. Sevenich received his bachelors degree from Marquette University.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Mr. Sittema is the Executive Chairman for StepStone Private Wealth

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Sittema served as CEO of CNL Financial Group, a $10 billion asset manager providing access for individual investors to the private markets. Previously, Mr. Sittema enjoyed a 27-year career at Bank of America Merrill Lynch serving in a variety of leadership roles, including the U.S. Head of Real Estate Investment Trusts and Lodging Investment Banking Division.

Mr. Sittema received a BA from Dordt College and an MBA from Indiana University. He is a Director of the Florida Council of 100 and a past board chair of the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives.

Mr. Smith is the COO and CFO for StepStone Private Wealth.

Mr. Smith brings over 25 years of operational experience working in private equity, alternatives distribution and asset management businesses.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Smith co-founded Carolon Capital, a distribution firm that focuses on closed-end funds and long-only strategies. He also co-founded Carolon Investment Funds, which assists US-based asset managers with fund structuring, distribution and regulatory oversight. Previously, he co-founded Conversus Capital, the largest publicly traded fund of third-party private equity funds with $3 billion of AUM and served as its CFO. Mr. Smith has also held senior level roles at Bank of America, Instinet Group and Fidelity Investments.

Mr. Smith received his BS from the University of Virginia and his MBA from the University of Richmond. He is a certified public accountant. He is active with the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Charlottesville, VA and serves on the board of the Emergency Medical Center at the University of Virginia.

Ms. Smith is the Director of Investor Relations for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, Ms. Smith was a consultant for multiple investment companies focusing on due diligence, strategy, financial communication, and investments. For the past 15 years, Ms. Smith has worked in various roles within the finance and securities industry to maximize the effectiveness of companies’ capital investments.

Ms. Smith obtained her undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Florida and her MBA from Rollins College.

Mr. Sphabmixay is the Rocky Mountain Regional Associate for StepStone Private Wealth.

Prior to joining StepStone, Mr. Sphabmixay assisted in managing the Retirement Services department at LPL Financial supporting LPL Advisors nationwide. Prior to that, Mr. Sphabmixay was a Regional Consultant at Altegris/Artivest, a leading provider in alternative investments, focusing on RIAs, Family Offices, and Broker Dealers within the western territory.

Mr. Sphabmixay received a BA in Criminal Justice from California State University Stanislaus. He holds FINRA 7 & 63 licenses and a Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS®) designation through the College for Financial Planning®.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Ms. Stenson is a Senior Associate of Business Development at StepStone Private Wealth.

Ms. Stenson brings 15 years of senior administrative experience working in private equity, asset management and manufacturing.

Prior to joining StepStone, Ms. Stenson was senior executive assistant to the CEO of JELD-WEN, Inc., a global building supply manufacturer. Prior to that, she worked in investor relations for Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., a private equity fund in Boston. Ms. Stenson began her career as executive assistant to the head of private wealth management at Morgan Stanley.

FINRA’s broker check page: https://brokercheck.finra.org/