NAIC to Honor Former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., Ariel's John Rogers and Others at Conference

News provided by

National Association of Investment Companies

Oct 24, 2018, 09:00 ET

CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) announced today that former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr. and John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman, CEO & Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments, will be among those honored during the NAIC Annual Private Equity & Hedge Fund Conference, the largest gathering of diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds.

Titled The Crossroads of Commerce and Capital, the conference will take place October 24–25, 2018. Demonstrating its commitment to diversity, William Blair will host the conference at its global headquarters in Chicago. The event will bring together leading general partners, chief investment officers, limited partners, and industry decision-makers for networking, identifying opportunities for collaborative investment, and the sharing of ideas. Capital allocators with approximately $1 trillion in assets to invest will be in attendance.

The Hall of Fame Award will be presented to Mr. Jones for his efforts in championing the first emerging manager initiative for Illinois pension plans during his tenure as President of the Illinois Senate. The award is bestowed upon an honored few who have not only remained at the top of their game over the years, but who have also paved the way for others to follow in their footsteps.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, to be awarded to John Rogers, recognizes an individual who has exhibited outstanding, innovative and visionary leadership in their career while demonstrating an understanding of the value of diversity. Mr. Rogers has furthered the cause of diversity and inclusion in the industry through his tireless support of the Diverse Asset Managers Initiative and Financial Services Pipeline Initiative, among others. His work will have a lasting impact and lead to greater diversity in financial services.

Also honored during the conference will be investment management firm Neuberger Berman, which will receive the NAIC Pacesetter Award. This award recognizes those individuals and organizations whose efforts to support diverse investment managers have created new paradigms, accelerated the flow of capital to diverse-owned firms and demonstrated a clear recognition of the talent, leadership, and capabilities in these businesses.

The NAIC will also present its Rising Star Award, which recognizes young professionals who are leading the way in the industry with their talent, dedication, and expertise, to four outstanding new leaders. They are Justine Chiou, Director, Services, Investment Banking, William Blair; William Heard, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer, Heard Capital; José Guzmán, Investment Officer, Office of the New York City Comptroller; and Susan Nichols, Associate, Technology, Investment Banking, William Blair.

About the NAIC: Based in Washington, DC, the National Association of Investment Companies (www.naicpe.com) was founded in 1971. Comprised of more than 50 member firms representing over $100 billion in assets under management, it is the largest network of diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds in the United States.

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Alan Hughes
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SOURCE National Association of Investment Companies