Meet the Team

Ben Granger, CFA

Portfolio Manager / Financial Analyst

Ben is a Portfolio Manager at Highland Capital Management with more than two decades of investment experience spanning institutional analysis, equity research and hedge fund management. He joined Highland Capital in August 2024 and has deep expertise in the financial sector and a strong background in both buy- and sell-side research.

A native of Memphis, Ben earned a B.S. in Business Management from Christian Brothers University and an MBA from the University of Memphis. He began his career at First Mercantile Trust where he supported 401(k) platform fund selection and the spent three years as a sell-side analyst covering regional banks before joining WheelisCap Partners in 2006. As a Partner at WheelisCap, he focused on financial sector investments until the firm’s close. Ben holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Outside the office, Ben enjoys biking, fly fishing, traveling and spending time outdoors with his family.

Steve Stack

Portfolio Manager/Quantitative

Steve Stack serves as a Portfolio Manager and Quantitative Analyst at Highland Capital Management. He joined the firm following its merger with ICC Capital Management, where he held the dual roles of Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Operating Officer. After the merger, Steve transitioned to managing assets for high-net-worth individuals, implementing both value and growth investment strategies.

In 2020, Steve joined Highland Capital’s Large Cap Value team, focusing on disciplined portfolio construction and quantitative analysis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Ferris State University and an MBA from Mercer University. Additionally, he is a Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP) through the FINRA Institute at the Wharton School of Business.

Steve is an active speaker with the Florida Public Pension Trustees Association and ACA Verification Service, sharing his expertise on investment management and regulatory best practices.

Bart McMurry

Director of Equity Investments

Bart McMurry serves as Director of Equity Investments at Highland Capital Management. He joined the firm in 2015 following the merger with ICC Capital Management where he held multiple leadership positions including Chief Executive Officer from 1995 to 2007 and Chief Financial Officer/Chief Investment Officer from 2007 to 2015.

At Highland Capital, Bart focuses on research and development of the firm’s quantitative strategies. His work in multifactor modeling and quantitative analysis has been integral to the management of both domestic and international equity portfolios. He developed ICC’s quantitative country allocation model in 1994 and later created the domestic equity modeling processes used in the firm’s Large Cap Value and Large Cap Growth portfolios.

Bart is an instructor for the Florida Public Pension Trustees Association and a frequent speaker for Institutional Investor and other industry organizations. He has been a member of the International Association for Quantitative Finance (IAQF) since 2010.

Bart earned a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts in National Security Policy Studies from George Washington University.

Mike Tindal

Director of Marketing

Prior to joining Highland Capital as Director of Marketing, Mike was an owner and Chairman of the Board of ICC Capital Management. Mike began at ICC in 1995 and was responsible for the client servicing of the Taft-Hartley client base in the Southeast region. In addition to his role in client servicing, Mike works with our Taft Hartley marketing team in the development of new business opportunities across the country. Prior to joining ICC Capital Management, Mike was President of the Mobile, Alabama, Building Trades Union and business manager of the Millwrights Local Union.

Todd Wishnia

Client Services & Portfolio Manager

Todd Wishnia serves as a Client Services and Portfolio Manager at Highland Capital Management where he works closely with clients to support portfolio management and ensure a high standard of service. He joined the firm in May 2015 bringing more than 15 years of experience in sales and marketing.

Todd earned a B.A. in Communication and Marketing from the University of Arizona. His background in relationship management and strategic communication supports Highland Capital’s commitment to delivering personalized investment solutions.

Mark J. Cronin, CFA

Senior Portfolio Manager

Mark Cronin joined Highland Capital Management in January 1999 as a Senior Portfolio Manager. He manages discretionary equity and balanced portfolios for high-net-worth individuals, institutions and foundations, with a focus on complex and customized investment strategies.

Mark is a member of the firm’s Investment Committee and also serves as a senior analyst covering the consumer staples and media sectors. His responsibilities include valuation analysis, forecasting and making buy and sell recommendations.

Mark began his investment career as a Financial Consultant with Merrill Lynch and PaineWebber before moving into equity research and portfolio management roles at Zaske, Sarafa and Associates and First Chicago NBD. He earned his B.A. in business from the University of Washington and has been a CFA charterholder since 1991. Mark is also a member of the CFA Society of Memphis.

Andrew O’Sullivan, CFA

Portfolio Manager / Quantitative Analyst

Andrew O’Sullivan is a Portfolio Manager at Highland Capital Management and a key member of the firm’s Quantitative Strategies Team. He serves as the Lead Portfolio Manager for Highland’s Large Cap Growth and SMIDCap Core Alpha strategies, both of which have received industry recognition for top-tier performance.

Andrew began his investment career at ICC Capital Management after earning a B.A. in Economics from Rollins College. Following Highland Capital’s acquisition of ICC in 2015, he transitioned to Highland where he continued advancing his expertise in quantitative research and strategy development. In 2016, he played a central role in launching the Quantitative SMIDCap Core Alpha strategy.

Andrew joined the Large Cap Growth portfolio management team in 2019 and was promoted to Lead Portfolio Manager in 2020. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and brings a strong analytical foundation to Highland Capital’s disciplined, data-driven investment approach.

Wayne Warren

Trader

Wayne Warren serves as a Trader at Highland Capital Management where he supports trade execution and back-office settlement operations. He began his career with Highland Capital in 1995 working in operations until 2009 before transitioning to his current role in trading in 2010.

Wayne brings deep institutional knowledge and decades of operational and trading experience to the firm. His background provides a strong foundation for ensuring timely, accurate trade processing and settlement support across Highland Capital’s investment strategies.

He earned his B.B.A. in finance and economics from the University of Memphis.

Zelma Newberry – Operations

Zelma has more than four decades of experience in financial services and investment banking with an emphasis on operations and marketing. Before joining Highland Capital, she was with First Tennessee Bank and later First Horizon Bank. Zelma received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration & Business Education from Lane College.

Lori Montgomery

Chief Compliance Officer

Lori Montgomery serves as Chief Compliance Officer at Highland Capital Management, where she is responsible for overseeing regulatory compliance and supporting a strong culture of ethics and integrity across the firm. She joined Highland Capital in February 2023, bringing with her a diverse background in finance, accounting and compliance.

Lori began her career in accounting and finance, holding key roles at Tyson Foods, Morningstar Foods, Compaq and AutoZone. She later transitioned into compliance and fund accounting, serving in officer and leadership positions at CSG, Gavion and CBIZ. Her combined experience across both corporate finance and investment advisory compliance gives her a well-rounded perspective on operational and regulatory matters.

Lori is a graduate of the University of Arkansas.

Hunter Foster

Controller

Hunter joined Highland Capital in 2023 and oversees the firm’s accounting and operations functions. He brings nearly a decade of commercial real estate accounting experience, including managing financial reporting, property-level accounting and corporate payroll for large portfolios.

Prior to joining Highland, Hunter worked at Poag Shopping Centers, which became Jones Lang Lasalle, where he served as Senior Accountant, handling all financial responsibilities for a portfolio of commercial properties and managing payroll operations for the company. Hunter holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Alabama.

Matt Hogle

Equity Trader

Matt brings more than two decades of trading experience to Highland Capital, where he has served as an Equity Trader since 2015. He began his financial career in 2001 with ICC Capital Management, focusing on equity markets and trade execution.

Before entering the financial services industry, Matt served in the United States Air Force from 1988 to 1992 and was stationed at the U.S. Air Force Academy as a Security Police officer. He later earned both his Bachelor’s degree in Finance and MBA from Stetson University.

Debbie Horn

Director of Administrative Services

Debbie Horn is the Director of Administrative Services at Highland Capital Management where she oversees day-to-day operations and ensures seamless administrative support across the firm. With more than 20 years of experience in executive support and office management, Debbie plays a vital role in optimizing workflow, coordinating internal processes and supporting senior leadership.

Prior to joining Highland Capital in 2019, Debbie held key administrative and executive assistant roles at companies including JLL, Union Planters Bank, NHLA, Strategic Behavioral, Fred’s headquarters office in Memphis, and Beau Rivage. Her career reflects a strong foundation in financial services environments, where her organizational expertise, discretion and attention to detail have consistently contributed to operational excellence.

Debbie is known for her dependable leadership, team-first mindset and ability to manage complex tasks with efficiency and professionalism. She is a trusted resource and point of continuity within the firm, helping drive productivity and a positive office culture.

Lelia Coggins

Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager

Lelia Coggins serves as a Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Highland Capital Management, bringing more than 17 years of experience. Prior to joining the firm, she was Head of Portfolio Strategy for the fixed income institutional sales division at SouthState | Duncan Williams.

Lelia previously spent eight years in the fixed income department at Raymond James, where she served as Investment Strategist for the institutional asset management group and later in institutional sales. She began her career in 2008 with FHN Financial as a Financial Analyst in the Structured Finance group and later worked as a Portfolio Strategist and Municipal Credit Strategist, assisting depository accounts across the country.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Louisiana State University.

Jim Klepper

Institutional Sales Director

Jim Klepper is the Institutional Sales Director at Highland Capital Management where he brings more than 30 years of experience in capital markets and institutional relationship management. Based in his hometown of Memphis, Jim is known for his ability to distill complex financial information into clear, actionable strategies tailored to the needs of a diverse client base.

Prior to joining Highland Capital, Jim served as a Managing Director at The Benchmark Company where he led business development efforts across the Mid-Atlantic region. His career reflects a strong track record of building long-term client relationships and delivering strategic investment insights.

Jim holds both a B.S. in Business and an MBA from the University of Mississippi. Outside of work he enjoys fly fishing, duck hunting, water skiing and spending time with his two sons, Jake and Will.

Alan Erickson

Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager

Alan Erickson serves as a Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Highland Capital Management. He joined the firm in July 2025 after more than three decades with Columbia Threadneedle and its predecessor organizations where he was responsible for managing fixed income portfolios.

Alan earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Bates College and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst^® (CFA) designation awarded by the CFA Institute.

Eli Bueno

Account Administrator

Eli joined Highland Capital in 2024 as an Account Administrator. Prior to joining Highland Capital, Eli was with First Horizon where he enhanced customer experience and drove operational efficiency across five project work streams, successfully reducing customer pain points by 20% through streamlined processes and improved service delivery. He is skilled at building and nurturing cross-functional relationships, managing multiple projects, and serving as a pivotal contributor in various roles to ensure project success and departmental cohesion.

Eli earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on International Business from the Fogelman College of Business & Economics at the University of Memphis.

David Luce

Portfolio Manager

David is a portfolio manager for Core Plus Fixed Income strategy at Highland Capital. Prior to joining the firm, David spent almost 20 years working for Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital where he was recognized as one of the top fixed income sales people. David received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Duke University in 1983.