Biographies

Benjamin Thomas, CFA – Portfolio Manager

Before Waycross Partners, Ben was a portfolio manager and senior equity analyst at INVESCO. During his tenure at INVESCO he was responsible for managing the INVESCO Midcap Growth and Midcap Core portfolios. He was also the firm’s Senior Equity Analyst covering the technology sector as part of team managing $20 billion dollars in assets. Prior to INVESCO, Ben worked for Banc One Securities (now J.P. Morgan Asset Management) and Prudential Securities. Ben graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in Finance and went on to earn his MBA from Indiana University. He served on the board of directors for the CFA Society of Louisville and was a contributor to TheStreet.com.

John Ferreby, CFA – Portfolio Manager

John is a Portfolio Manager for Waycross.  John has over 25 years of investment experience, and prior to Waycross, was the Senior Portfolio Manager at INVESCO in Louisville, Kentucky. As the lead investment professional on INVESCO's $15 Billion Core portfolio, John was responsible for final decisions on all mid and large cap equity trades. He completed his undergraduate studies at Dartmouth College and is a member of the CFA Society of Louisville.

Larry Walker, CFA – Portfolio Manager

Larry is a Portfolio Manager for Waycross. He has over 30 years of investment experience. From 1992 to 2004 he was a principal and portfolio manager at National Asset Management (INVESCO) in Louisville. From 1976 to 1992 he was a principal and investment consultant at Mercer Investment Consulting. Larry graduated from Purdue in 1973 and went on to earn his MBA from the University of Louisville in 1976. He earned the right to use the CFA designation in 1991.

Kevin Ragland, CFA – Analyst

Kevin is an Analyst on the portfolio team.  Prior to joining Waycross Partners, Kevin worked for Aegon as an analyst in the financial reporting, structured products, and stable value divisions.  Prior to Aegon, Kevin worked for INVESCO in various institutional fixed income roles.  Kevin graduated from Indiana University Southeast with a degree in Finance and went on to earn his MBA from there as well.  Since graduation, Kevin has also taught financial management and investment management courses for IUS.  He is a current board memeber and a past president of the CFA Society of Louisville. 

Matt Bevin – Capital Partner / Advisor

Matt was most recently the CEO of Integrity Asset Management, a Louisville based investment management firm that he founded in 2003.  In December of 2010, Integrity became a wholly owned subsidiary of Munder Capital Management.  In his role as capital partner and advisor to Waycross, he helps the firm with strategic input and advises the firm on growing and managing the operations of an investment management firm. Prior to Integrity, Matt worked at INVESCO as the Director of Product Management and was the Marketing Director and Principal at National Asset Management.

Chris Derry – Marketing Director

Chris helps guide the firm’s overall strategic direction with respect to client services and product marketing. He is also Sales Executive in Residence at Western Kentucky University as well as the founder of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, an independent public policy institution. Chris started his career in investments in 1979 and more recently worked as the regional director for INVESCO with responsibility for ten southern states and South America. Chris is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and earned an MBA from Vanderbilt University.

Louis A. Lemos II, CFA – Institutional Marketing Partner

Lou is currently the Director of Portfolio Management at First Kentucky Trust, a private trust and investment management firm.  In his role as Institutional Marketing Partner to Waycross, he assists the firm with institutional marketing and business development initiatives.  Prior to partnering with Waycross, he was a Director at PNC Wealth Management, Director of Research at Variant Research Corporation and a Senior Analyst at INVESCO/NAM.  Lou graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in Finance and went on to earn his MBA from Murray State University.  He currently serves on the board of directors for the CFA Society of Louisville and is senior grader and a curriculum development consultant for the CFA Institute.      

Eva Smith – Business Office Manager

Eva is the Business Office Manager and oversees the firm's business and office support functions, including human resources, accounting, billing, financial reporting, and office services. She has over 20 years of accounting and business office management experience.  Prior to Waycross, Eva worked for Integrity Asset Management as well as INVESCO in similar roles.  Eva and her husband have four children and six grandchildren.