Diversification

James Damschroder, Founder and Chief of Financial Engineering

Mr. Damschroder is Gravity Investments' founder and chief of Financial Engineering. His responsibilities at Gravity include financial engineering, software design, intellectual property and business strategy.

After completing a finance degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, he began his career on the Futures and Options Trading Floors at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He was a runner, clerk, and then became a member of the exchange.

As an exchange member, he served as a foreign-exchange derivatives specialist. His insight into the foreign exchange markets resulted in programmatic trading where he designed and executed strategies for banks and private clients.

Mr Damschroder subsequently instituted a tactical options campaign with the Spike Trading division of the Rosenthal Collins Group. Through this highly successful campaign, he gained a holistic view of the investment industry in securities and financial planning. He then joined AXA Advisors (AXA) where he used a strategic approach that was complementary to his tactical investment background.

Inspired by the work of Nobel Laureate Harry Markowitz and his efficient frontier, Mr. Damschroder discovered Diversification Optimization in 2000, driving him to devote all of his energies to the development of Gsphere, a platform to measure, manage, and improve diversification. His vision of a more perfect investment management system is at the heart of Gsphere.

• Member Chicago Mercantile Exchange
• ADM Investor Services, RCG, AXA Investment Advisors
• Finance; University of Colorado at Boulder
• Inventor of Three Patents

John Osland, CEO

Mr. Osland is the CEO of Gravity where his responsibilities include strategic planning, leadership and overall operations.

His career highlights include co-founding the Consulting Solutions Division, Corporate Account Group, and the Global Business Partner Program at Intergraph, a Fortune 500 company and the leading global provider of engineering and geospatial software enabling customers to visualize complex data.

More recently he held numerous high level positions including Chairman of Gem Pharmaceuticals, CEO of MadCatz, an Asian based hi- tech video gaming company, and as Co-CEO of LandInfo International, a worldwide leader in digital mapping.

During his career, Mr. Osland has led and facilitated private and institutional capital commitments of $100 million for challenged early-stage companies including equity, mezzanine, senior and subordinate debt, and M&A with economic development subsidies.

He was the lead General Partner in an entrant in the Indianapolis 500 in 1992 and 1993 driven by Johnny Parsons. Mr. Osland earned his MBA in Finance at the Daniels School of Business, which was top 20 in Departmental Distinction according to Forbes.

• Sr. Exec Fortune 500 Intergraph, Chairman Gem Pharmaceuticals, CEO Madcatz
• Created and Built 100 Million Dollar Technology P & L in 36 months
• Raised $100 MM
• Daniels MBA Finance; BA Economics Magna Cum Laude DePauw

W. Gordon Snyder, Chief Distribution Officer Americas

Gordon  has extensive experience in the varied disciplines of business development, executive business management, strategic planning, financial services, investment banking,  information technology, and overall leadership in businesses from developmental to large enterprises.  His decades of business experience include over 30 years of business development expertise, 25 years of managerial leadership,  20 years of Board of Directors experience, and 20 years of P&L responsibility.

Gordon is the founder of Black Diamond Strategies, an executive consulting practice which he started in late 2003 to provide innovative strategic insights to senior management teams.  Prior to that,
from 1986 through 2003, he  helped lead American Century Investments to become a premier global investment management firm.  As the President of American Century Investment Services, he was responsible for all aspects of marketing, sales and service for the business. Snyder also was EVP, Chief Marketing Officer and a member of the Board of Directors for the management and holding company, American Century Companies.  He served as a member of American Century’s Executive Committee which functioned as the “Office of the President” with full P&L responsibility.  Snyder is credited as being one of the key architects for the dramatic growth of American Century’s business from $4 billion in assets under management in 1986 to over $100 billion.  He developed and led the business’ distribution strategy and execution in all customer channels. 

• 30-plus years of business development expertise including over 20 years in financial services.
• Led distribution at American Century Investments resulting in an increase of AUM from $4B to over $100B.
• Former IBM sales management executive.
• MS, Computer Science, Johns Hopkins; and BA, Mathematics, Duke University, magna cum laude.

Donald Trone, Contract Consultant and Industry Advisor

Don Trone is the CEO (Chief Ethos Officer) of 3ethos; a founding Director of the Swiss-based Institute for Wealth Management Standards; and, former Director of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Institute for Leadership.

Don has been named by numerous organizations as “one of the most influential people” in the retirement, financial planning, and investment advisory industries. In 2003, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor to represent the investment counseling industry on the ERISA Advisory Council, and in 2007 he testified before the Senate Finance Committee on fiduciary issues associated with retirement plans investing in hedge funds.

He has authored or coauthored twelve books for the industry. Most noted are:

Freedom from Wealth, which will be released by McGraw Hill in Sept, 2011;
Fiduciary Ethos
401k Ethos
The Management of Investment Decisions
The Management of Native American Investment Decisions
Procedural Prudence

Don graduated as president of his class from the United States Coast Guard Academy, and served on active duty for ten years , including six years as a long-range search and rescue helicopter pilot. Don received his Master’s degree in Financial Services from the American College, and has completed post-graduate studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Trinity Episcopal Seminary.

• Founder of FI 360, Testified US Senate Finance
• Global authority on fiduciary best practices
• Global authority on regulatory compliance
• Class President, US Coast Guard Academy

Alan Lordi, Chief Marketing Officer

Mr. Lordi has 25 years of financial service experience in the areas of investment product and platform marketing, institutional and high net worth investment management, investment product development, and asset allocation.

Alan was the co-founder and President of Financial Tapestry, a leading provider of wealth management and asset allocation software and solutions for financial institutions, financial advisors and non-profit organizations.

He served as Chief Marketing Officer of Curian Capital LLC, a separate account provider. Prior to that, Mr. Lordi has held executive marketing positions with ING Funds, Sefton Capital Management, Furman Selz, First Interstate Bank and the Pacifica Mutual Funds. Mr. Lordi is a graduate of Babson College, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1984 and an MBA in 1991.

• 20 years C level investment management marketing
• Institutional portfolio manager 6 years
• MBA Babson College, magna cum laude

Reinhard Sharnowski, Director Industry Partnerships

Mr. Reinhard Sharnowski is the Director of Industry Partnerships. He has over twenty years of strategic business development, direct sales, and sales management experience involving complex computing systems (including hardware, software, and consulting services).

He has driven strategic partnerships with organizations such as Oracle, KPMG, and ESRI. His extensive experience with enterprise applications involves working directly with top level executives in Fortune 500 companies within utilities, telecom, and Federal and State government agencies, municipalities (including public utility districts or PUD's), and DOD agencies.

His vast business development experience extends worldwide into Canada and Europe. Mr. Sharnowski earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a MBA from the University of Southern California.