Team

Kenneth J. Brusda, CFA®, CFP®, is Chairman/Managing Director and a founding principal of North Star Asset Management. Prior to founding NSAM, Ken spent over 22 years in trust investments with Associated Bank. As a Vice President and Trust Investment Officer, he managed the Regional Bank Funds and Equity Income Funds since their inceptions in the early 1980’s. Ken also served as past Chairman of the Associated Bank Asset/Liability Committee. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder, a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) certificant, and a member of the CFA Institute and the Financial Planning Association. Ken graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1974 from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a BBA Degree in Finance and earned an MBA in Finance at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Michael D. Flesch is President/Managing Director and a founding principal of North Star Asset Management. Prior to founding NSAM, Mike was with Associated Bank since 1980 where he had been a Vice President and Trust Investment Officer. In this capacity, Mike co-managed the Common Stock Funds. He also managed Associated Bank’s investment portfolio and served on its Asset/Liability Committee from 1985 to 1996. He is a 1979 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a BBA Degree in Finance.

David W. Risgaard, CFA® is a Managing Director and founding principal of North Star Asset Management. Prior to founding NSAM, Dave was with Associated Bank since 1990 where he had been a Trust Investment Officer. In this capacity, Dave co-managed the Capital Appreciation Funds and managed the Telecommunication Funds. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. Dave graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1990. He received a BBA Degree in Finance and Management and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Geoffry A. Penn, CFA®, is a Managing Director and a founding principal of North Star Asset Management. Geoff had been a Trust Investment Officer at Associated Bank from 1990 to 1996. While at Associated Bank, Geoff managed the Bond Funds and co-managed the Capital Appreciation Funds. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. Geoff is a 1990 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BBA Degree in Finance, Investments and Banking.

Bradley C. Buchanan, CFA®, is a Managing Director, joined NSAM in November 1997 after spending nearly four years in trust investments with Associated Bank as an investment analyst and portfolio manager. In his position as Trust Investment Officer, he co-managed Associated Bank’s Regional Bank Funds and Intermediate-Term Bond Funds. Brad is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. Brad is a 1993 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a BBA Degree in Finance.

Robert S. Huntley, CFA®, CPA, is a Managing Director, joined NSAM in March 2000. Over the prior 15 years, he served as a Senior Auditor at Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP, Vice President of Finance at Enzymatic Therapy, Inc. and as a consultant with Kobielak & Associates. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. Bob is a 1984 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a BBA Degree in Accounting.

Mark P. Reilly, is a Managing Director, joined NSAM in December 2006 after spending the previous 11 years in the investment industry, most recently as a Vice President and Portfolio Manager at M&I Investment Management Corporation. He is currently a candidate for Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) certification. Mark graduated from Michigan State University in 1994 with a BA Degree in Economics.

David L. Hackfort, CFA®,  Managing Director, joined NSAM in June 2007. Dave graduated Cum Laude in January 2007 from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a BBA Degree in Finance. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.

Benjamin D. Van Handel, CFA® Portfolio Manager and Investment Analyst, joined NSAM in June 2013. Ben graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in May 2013 with a BBA Degree in Finance and also earned the University’s Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business Certificate in Investment Management and Real-Estate. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder, a member of the CFA Institute, and the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

Alex J. Brusda, CFA, CFP®, CPA, Portfolio Manager and Investment Analyst, joined NSAM in June 2015. Alex is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a commission as a Notary Public within the state of Wisconsin. Prior to joining NSAM, Alex was an Audit Manager at KPMG LLP in Chicago where he worked for six years. Alex graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BBA Degree in Accounting in 2008 and a Master of Accountancy Degree in 2009.

Emil A.J. Haque, CFA®, Portfolio Manager & Investment Analyst, joined NSAM in June 2019. Prior to joining NSAM, Emil served as an Investment Management Specialist at Wells Fargo Private Bank in Milwaukee, where he focused on building and managing custom portfolio solutions for high-net-worth and institutional clients. Emil, a Swedish native, came to the United States to attend St. Norbert College, he graduated with a BBA Degree in Finance in May 2014. He was a four-time letter winner for the Green Knights’ Men’s Varsity Ice Hockey Team. Emil is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder, and a member of the CFA Institute, CFA Society of Sweden, and CFA Society of Milwaukee.

Drew joined NSAM in September 2019. Drew graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2020, earning a BBA degree in Finance and Economics, including a certificate in Business Analytics. At UW-Oshkosh, he was a Portfolio Manager for the Student Managed Endowment Fund (SMEF), inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, and a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence. Drew is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charterholder, a member of the CFA Institute, and a member of the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

Nathaniel R. Penn, Investment Analyst, joined NSAM in March 2020. He previously worked as a Research Analyst with Heartland Advisors, Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from May 2017 to February 2020, after interning with the firm beginning December 2015. Nathaniel is a 2017 graduate of Marquette University with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration degree in Finance. At Marquette, Nathaniel was a Student Analyst for the university’s Applied Investment Management Program, which enabled a selected group of Finance students to manage a $2M+ portion of the endowment fund through individual equity and fixed income investments. (CFA®) Level II Candidate.

Renee L. Kaufert, IACCP ® , Chief Compliance Officer and Securities Trader, has over 35 years of experience within the financial services industry. Prior to joining NSAM in July 1996, she served as Senior Registered Sales Assistant/Operations Manager with Dain Bosworth, Inc., where she had been employed since 1989. Renee held various securities-related positions with Piper Jaffray & Hopwood and Associated Bank since 1979. She passed the NASD securities examinations Series 7 and Series 63 in 1990 and earned her Investment Advisor Certified Compliance Professional® (IACCP®) designation in 2007. Renee supervises operations, compliance, and securities trading.

Susan C. Beaver, CFP® , Senior Investment Administrator, joined NSAM in July 1996. Her previous employment experience had been in administration and sales. Susan received a BFA Degree from The Rhode Island School of Design in 1978. As Senior Investment Administrator, she oversees portfolio reporting and manages client administration and communications. Susan is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) certificant and has served as President of the Financial Planning Association—Northeast Wisconsin Chapter.

Karen M. Jochman, IACCP, Chief Compliance Officer and Securities Trader, joined NSAM in March 1999 as an Investment Administrator. Karen had previously been employed at Bank One where her 13 years of experience included responsibilities in operations and account administration. Karen’s primary responsibilities include securities trading and compliance. Karen became the Chief of Compliance in April 2022.

Megan J. Batley, Investment Administrator, joined NSAM in 2004. Megan’s responsibilities include portfolio reporting as well as client administration and communications. She also assists with securities training and compliance.

Lisa L. Ehlers, Investment Administrator, joined NSAM in September 2013. Lisa had previously been employed in the investment industry for over 11 years, primarily at Stifel Nicolaus & Company. Lisa’s responsibilities include portfolio reporting and client administration.

Heidi C. Kanieski, Investment Administrator, joined NSAM is August 2015. Her previous employment experience was 17 years in retail management. Heidi received a BFA from the University Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1990. Heidi’s responsibilities include portfolio reporting, litigation and client administration.

Kendra Kamerer, Investment Administrator, joined NSAM in March 2020. Kendra’s responsibilities include portfolio reporting as well as client administration and communications.

Stephanie Sutter, Investment Administrator, joined NSAM in July 2022. Stephanie brings over 10 years of client services experience in the financial industry and 10 years of retail management. Stephanie's responsibilities include portfolio reporting as well as client administration and communications.