Our Team
Jeff Bishop - Editor
editor@beaconequityresearch.com
Jeff Bishop is a founding partner and overseeing editor of Beacon Equity Research. He has over 10 years experience in investment and research analysis. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and a Master's degree in Economics both from the University of Texas. Previously, he was a real estate analyst for a prominent financial services firm in Dallas. He has owned, or partnered, in several small businesses and has performed consulting for a wide variety of business start-ups. He has also been a writer for several prominent online financial websites over the years. Jeff is also a member of the international MENSA organization.
Michael Pajak, CFA - Senior Analyst
mpajak@beaconequityresearch.com
Michael Pajak is currently controller of Horizon MC Group, a venture capital firm based in Plano, Texas. Prior to his position with Horizon MC Group, Mr. Pajak served from 2001 to 2005 as financial reporting manager for Granite Properties, Inc., a private real estate investment firm in Plano, Texas. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Pajak served as controller of Trim Systems, Inc., a private manufacturing firm in Denton, Texas. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Pajak served as manager of financial planning and analysis for American Industrial Properties, a publicly traded REIT. From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Pajak served as senior financial analyst for Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, a publicly traded brokerage firm. Mr. Pajak is a certified public accountant in the state of Texas as well as a chartered financial analyst charterholder. Mr. Pajak received his MBA in accounting from the University of North Texas in 2002, and his BA in finance from Texas A&M University in 1995. Mr. Pajak is currently a member of the Texas Society of CPA’s, the American Institute of CPA’s, the CFA Institute, and the CFA Society of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Michael Schmidt, CFA - Senior Analyst
mschmidt@beaconequityresearch.com
Mr. Schmidt is currently a Principal with Coastal Asset Management. He holds the CFA Charter and is a member of the South Florida Financial Analysts Society. He is currently a portfolio manager and a securities analyst covering all sectors of fixed income and equity markets. Prior to that he was employed by the following firms as a senior portfolio manager/analyst or a pension consultant. Mellon Bank, Northern Trust, Indata and Mercer Meidinger Hanson.
Shailesh Dhuri, CFA - Senior Analyst
sdhuri@beaconequityresearch.com
Shailesh is co-founder of Advanced Investment Mechanics. Prior to establishing AIM, Mr. Dhuri worked for the treasury team at Credit Agricole Indosuez, where he was responsible for bond trading, ALM and transfer pricing. Before moving to Credit Agricole, Shailesh headed the trading desk of one of the primary dealers of Indian Government Bonds. Shailesh started his career with Unit Trust of India, where he held various assignments, including launch of the first money market mutual fund in India, heading the treasury desk of the fund. Shailesh is holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. In addition, he holds CFA qualification from ICFAI, FRM qualification from GARP, PRM qualification from PRMIA, and Cost Accounting qualification from ICWAI.
Jefferey Lawrence, CFA - Senior Analyst
jlawrence@beaconequityresearch.com
Mr. Lawrence has extensive experience in many aspects of capital markets including analysis and trading of fixed income, equity, and derivative instruments. Currently employed at a major North American financial institution, he sits on various corporate committees including the Economics Committee, Strategic Steering Committee, and Editorial Board. His employment history includes both analyst and management roles at large financial institutions as well as technology start-ups. Jeff has also been a guest lecturer for an MBA finance course and is a CFA charterholder.
Victor Sula, Ph.D. - Senior Analyst
Victor Sula, Ph.D. has held the position of Senior Analyst with several independent investment research firms since 2004. Prior to 2004, Mr. Sula held Senior Financial Consultant positions within the World Bank sponsored Agency for Restructuring and Enterprise Assistance and TACIS sponsored Center for Productivity and Competitiveness of Moldova, where he was involved in corporate reorganization and liquidation. He is also employed as Associate Professor at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova. Mr. Sula earned his Ph.D. degree in 2001 and bachelor's degree in Finance in 1997 from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova. Mr. Sula is currently a level III candidate in the CFA program.
Varsha Chitale, CFA - Senior Analyst
Ms. Chitale is a senior analyst and founding member of independent research firm ValueNotes Database. She holds a Masters in economics from the London School of Economics and is also a qualified CFA. She has over a decade's experience in market research, economic research, industry research and management consulting, and has also lectured in Economics. She has worked with a number of research and consulting organizations including the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore; Vysya Bank and Strategic Management Centre.
Kris Goldcross, CFA - Senior Analyst
Kris completed the Chartered Financial Analyst program from the CFA Institute in August of 2005, and was awarded his CFA Charter in September 2005. Mr. Goldcross holds a bachelors degree in commerce and currently works for an Investment Banking Firm which specializes in a private wealth management. His work profile includes analysis and recommendation of stocks listed on the Indian stock market to clients on the basis of both technical as well as fundamental analysis. Mr. Goldcross primarily concentrates on the metal, banking and FMCG sectors of the Indian capital markets. He also has expertise in analyzing the movement in exchange rates and its likely impact on global commodity prices. In addition he is also responsible for analyzing macro-economic variables including inflation, money supply to forecast movements in interest rates.
Arun Jethmalani - Senior Analyst
Mr. Jethmalani is a senior analyst and founding member of independent research firm ValueNotes Database. He has an engineering degree from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay and an MS from Duke University, Durham. He has 18 years of experience in IT consulting, management consulting, market research, equity research and portfolio advisory services. He has also lectured in Securities Analysis at the Symbiosis Centre for Management & HRD. For the last eight years, he has been a financial columnist with the Economic Times, India's largest financial paper, and has also contributed to various other journals/web sites.
Gaurav Gupta - Analyst
Gaurav is a co-founder of Advanced Investment Mechanics. Prior to this, Gaurav was the Advisory Strategist for Onshore Private Banking, Deutsche Bank. In this capacity, he was involved in development of portfolio strategy for clients. He introduced pioneering structured investment solutions using derivatives for the Bank's clients. He put in place a complete financial advisory platform using strategic and tactical asset allocation. He spearheaded the effort for development of an efficient frontier covering Indian financial asset classes. Prior to Deutsche Bank, he was part of the Investment & advisory team with Private Banking, BNP Paribas. Earlier he has been part of the bond trading team at Unit Trust of India. He started his career researching equity stocks amongst various sectors for portfolios under his responsibility at Unit Trust of India. Gaurav received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Mumbai, and his Masters in Management Studies in Finance from the NMIMS, University of Mumbai.
Bobby Shethia - Analyst
Mr. Shethia is a senior analyst with independent research firm ValueNotes Database. He is an M.B.A. from Rice University Houston, U.S.A., and has 15 years of equity and industry research, including competitor analysis and marketing strategy. He has worked for portfolio management companies, including Venghiattis & Co., Houston; and Indian stock-broking firms, and has also been a portfolio advisor and a fund manager.
Anupama Janardhanan - Analyst
Anupama is an analyst with independent research firm ValueNotes Database, and has a CA (equivalent to CPA) qualification as well as an MBA in Finance. She has worked with leading consulting and audit firms; and has prepared financial feasibility reports, cost estimates for housing schemes, cost benchmarking, statutory and internal audits, valuations, financial structuring, etc.