Senior Vice President, Senior Portfolio Strategist | Key Private Bank

Business Background

Christian is currently a Senior Vice President, Senior Portfolio Strategist for Key Private Bank, serving as the investment manager for individuals, trusts, foundations, and endowments. He is responsible for developing client investment policies, security selection, implementation, risk management, compliance, and overall portfolio management. In this role he also provides clients with capital markets views, education, and planning in coordination with private bankers, trust officers, institutional consultants, and other partners. 
Prior to joining Key Bank, Christian served as a Senior Portfolio Manager at MUFG Union Bank for 11 years, where he managed client portfolios. In addition, he covered the Consumer Staples sector for the firm’s equity strategies and served on the Asset Allocation Committee with a focus on Alternatives and Real Assets. Prior to Union Bank, he was Chief Investment Officer for BECU Trust Company and spent a decade at Russell Investments in portfolio management and analyst roles.  
Christian earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, as well as an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analysist (CFA) designation.

Civic and Philanthropy Interests

Christian has lived in Pierce County ever since he arrived to attend college at PLU. He and his wife have been involved in community activities such as church counsel and PTA boards. Christian also enjoys teaching finance as an adjunct instructor. As a long-time YMCA member, he has coached YMCA youth sports teams and valued having his kids take swim lessons and other youth activities at the Y. You’ll find him at the Y just about every day, splitting his time between the Pearl Street Family YMCA and University YMCA Student Center locations.

Retired Laboratory Supervisor, Spectra Laboratories

Business Background

Before retiring in 2016, I was the laboratory supervisor for 29 years at Spectra Laboratories, an environmental and petroleum testing lab in Tacoma. I have not worked professionally in the financial services industry, but have a keen interest in all aspects of investing and financial planning, ever since my first paper route at age 10. What makes this opportunity attractive to me is that it resides at the intersection of investing and Christian stewardship. 

Civic and Philanthropy Interests

"Born and raised in Tacoma, graduate of Stadium High School and the University of Puget Sound, Bachelor of Science degrees in both Mathematics and Physics. I Joined the Pearl Street Family YMCA when it first opened and rejoined the Lakewood Family YMCA upon moving to Lakewood in 1994. I am currently a volunteer leader of an indoor cycling class.  My wife Becky and I are members of the YMCA Legacy Club and serve on the YMCA Legacy Committee.

We were married at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Lakewood in 2002, where we have been active members there since 1993. I am currently involved in several church ministries, including the funeral ministry, counting (weekly collections) team, breakfast team, greeters, and maintenance of the meditation park. I also work with a group of volunteers coordinated by the City of Lakewood to help maintain Fort Steilacoom Park.  Previously, I served as treasurer, and later president, of the Fort Steilacoom Running Club.

Both retired, we are very physically active, which connects us deeply to the Lakewood Y, where we run, ride, swim, and lift weights. Athletic highlights include the Seattle-to-Portland and RAMROD bike rides, and running in both the Boston and London marathons. We have two active dogs, which also keep us busy."
 

Investment Officer, Washington State Investment Board

Business Background

Skylar specializes in institutional portfolio management with a focus on alternative investments, predominantly private equity. Responsible for overseeing Washington State’s pension, Skylar currently sits on or chairs 16 investment advisory boards which govern various investment vehicles, their strategies, and managers. These strategies span North and South America, Western Europe, and Asia Pacific, and vary across industries, company type, size, and security.

Serving public employees, such as teachers, fire fighters, and first responders since 2007, Skylar previously worked at two alternative investment advisory firms assisting many of the U.S.’s public pension funds with customized portfolio solutions, and was also an independent consultant advising new or young businesses seeking growth. Skylar is passionate about the sustainable stewardship of capital for the benefit of countless public servants who teach and protect us every day. In addition, Skylar has been a CFA^® charterholder since 2013.

Civic and Philanthropy Interests

Skylar is enthusiastic about the health of our shared natural environment and providing a helping hand to those in need, having volunteered with Make-A-Wish Foundation, local food banks, and wildlife conservatories.

Founder and Partner, Director of Research | Acuitas Investments

Business Background

Dennis Jensen has been with Acuitas, an investment management firm focused on multi-manager investing in global microcap and small cap markets, since founding the firm in 2011. As the Director of Research, Dennis is responsible for leading the investment manager research effort. Additionally, Dennis has portfolio management responsibilities and plays a leadership role in the day to day management of the firm.  

Prior to founding Acuitas, Dennis spent 16 years at Russell Investments, where he most recently served as Portfolio Manager with responsibility for over $10 billion in the firm's U.S. equity multi-style funds and large cap style funds. Before becoming a Portfolio Manager Dennis was a Senior Research Analyst, leading the firm's research in the large cap value and market-neutral equity areas, as well as having responsibility for the convertible arbitrage and market-neutral equity portions of Russell's hedge funds. 

Dennis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Business Management and a minor in Economics from the University of Puget Sound. He is a member of the Seattle Society of Financial Analysts.

Civic and Philanthropy Interests

Dennis and his wife, Tricia, have been active in the Tacoma community for many years, with particular interest in programs for youth development and providing opportunity for underprivileged youth. While raising their children in Tacoma they each coached many youth sports teams, participated in the PTA, and took leadership positions in various school fund-raising events. Additionally, they each have been mentors for the College Success Foundation. Their family has been members of the YMCA since 1999, and for several years Dennis and Tricia have been team leaders for the Pearl Street Family YMCA Annual Campaign.
 

Retired Owner | Point Defiance Capital Management

Business Background

Brad Lawson is the retired owner of Point Defiance Capital Management. Brad founded Point Defiance Capital Management in 2009 and managed its Point Defiance Microcap Fund until his retirement in 2021. The fund invested in small, US-traded companies. Brad split his investment time between portfolio management and stock research. Prior to Point Defiance, Brad co-founded another investment firm, Kettle Creek Partners, where his primary responsibilities were stock research and risk management.  
Brad moved to the Pacific Northwest to work for Russell Investments, where he initially researched Small Cap and Growth equity managers. Later, Brad was part of the team that launched Russell’s hedge fund of funds and he was individually responsible for its long-short equity and merger arbitrage components. Before Russell, Brad worked at Texaco, first as a financial analyst in the company’s domestic operations and later helping manage the equity assets of the corporate pension plan. He began his career as an actuarial analyst at The Wyatt Company. 
Brad holds a BBA from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Duke University.

Civic and Philanthropy Interests

Brad’s YMCA membership dates to 2009, which pales in comparison to his wife’s more than 30 years at the Y. Their daughter has participated in a wide variety of YMCA youth activities including swimming lessons, gymnastics, and summer camps. Currently, she engages her current passion for dance as a member of the Pearl Street Y’s Junior Dance Company. Brad and his wife are members of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Tacoma. Brad volunteers as an algebra and math tutor for UpChieve, which provides free tutoring to low-income students.

Retired Former President, Panagiotu Pension Advisors

Business Background

Prior to Tony’s retirement he was the founder and President of Panagiotu Pension Advisors (PPA).While running PPA for 30 years, Tony focused his expertise on creating customized retirement plans for clients ranging from small, closely held companies and professional practices to large NYSE companies. Under his tenure PPA served over 1,800 companies with over $3 billion of assets and employed 45 staff.

A lifelong Tacoma resident, Tony graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1981 and UPS Law School in 1984. His first experience with the Y was in Y Indian Guides in first grade. 

Tony was a frequent lecturer and conducted annual professional seminars for CPAs, attorneys, and clients on various topics related to retirement plan law and plan administration.  He is also the 2012 recipient of the University of Washington Milgard School of Business Small Business Leader of the Year award and Distinguished Alumni award from the University of Puget Sound in 2013.

Civic and Philanthropy Interests

YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, former board member, current philanthropic advisory council member, member of the Y since 1977. He has been a Tom Taylor Family YMCA member since 2018 when he relocated to Gig Harbor. He also served as an advisory member to the South Sound Cancer Care Foundation and was formerly on the Milgard Business School Board. He is currently a Board member of Kitsap Bank.

Senior Vice President | Wealth Management
Senior Portfolio Manager, UBS

Business Background

Chris has been a financial advisor since 1995. He is one of the few certified financial planner professionals who also earned a Master of Science in personal financial planning. He provides comprehensive financial planning and asset management. Chris is a graduate of Seattle University.

Chris works with executives, retirees, and families who have created their wealth through owning and managing businesses. Clients retain Chris’s services due to his thorough understanding and commitment to achieving their current and future wealth goals. While every financial situation varies in complexity, straightforward and understandable strategies are typically the best approach. Chris’s focus will be to bring clarity to the client’s financial situation and incorporate strategies that can be implemented efficiently.

Civic and Philanthropy Interests

Chris has many civic and philanthropic interests. These range from organizations that impact the health of community to seeing youth reach their full potential. In the 2010 era, Chris served on the Board of Trustees for the Thurston County YMCA for two years. He is a member of the Y and his family regularly uses the Pearl Street Family and Tacoma Center YMCAs.