Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer

Thomas A. Porter

Tom oversees the CAIA Association's day-to-day operations and executes initiatives across the organization, providing leadership, management, and vision to ensure that CAIA achieves its strategic priorities. Tom is responsible for managing strategic and process improvements that drive the growth of the Association, optimize its service to candidates and members, and enhance CAIA's effectiveness as the industry's leader in alternative investment education and training delivery.

Tom has served as COO for the membership organization College Parents of America and content syndicator WomensNewsLink.com. Past Treasurer of National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance, and CEO of online training delivery service LearningStream, Tom has consulted to the International Finance Corporation, Sylvan Prometric, Verisign Ventures, Kaplan/Washington Post Co., and Wall $treet Week. With Discovery Channel, Inc. previously, Tom established Discovery's Enterprises unit and served as DCI’s Investment Bank liaison for new venture development.

Tom is married to Lisa Perlbinder, and lives in Amherst with their children David, Carley, Addison, and Emily.

Director, Human
Resources and Legal Affairs

Ruth Carolan

Ruth joined us in September 2007 to manage our day-to-day developmental and administrative operations. She works collaboratively with the Executive Director and the Director of Member Services to establish the global chapters. She handles legal contracts and obligations, acts as liaison between the Association and its various contracted legal teams, and liaises with the off-site technical support team and office staff.

Ruth also provides office support and oversight of the administrative staff, human resources support, and office maintenance. Her more than fifteen years of paralegal experience with law firms and biotechnology companies in the Washington, D.C. area are a great asset. Ruth enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and exploring New England.

Associate Director of Information Technology

Dee Weber

Dee Weber provides a range of operational support service to the CAIA Association with primary responsibilities in accounting, IT support, database oversight, and analysis. In addition, she maintains the bibliography.

Dee has worked with CISDM (Center for International Derivatives and Securities Markets) as a research associate for over ten years overseeing the database and software at the Research Center and providing operational support to the faculty and students. She received a BA in Sociology from Bates College and a Masters Degree in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts.

Jr. Web Developer

Jeff Landfried

Jeff works closely with all departments to help implement web and database-driven projects. He is responsible for scheduling and delivering outward-facing and administrative components of the CAIA Association website. This includes back- and front-end development, optimization, documentation, testing, and deployment.

Jeff received his Bachelor's degree from Fitchburg State University in 2010.

Jr. Web Developer

Alex Hripak

As Jr. Web Developer, Alex writes syntactical markup and PHP code to create stunning and user-friendly interfaces. He also engages in IT support, training, and database administration.

Alex joined CAIA in 2011 as a student intern while pursuing a B.S. degree in Information Systems at Westfield State University. Upon graduation, he will join the CAIA team on a full-time basis.

Receptionist/Administrative Assistant

Regina Diemand

As the Receptionist/Operation Assistant, Regina is on the front line of handling incoming phone calls, overseeing daily operations and maintenance of the CAIA office, assisting the Marketing department in assorted tasks, planning and coordinating office events, and supporting all departments- primarily Human Resources- in various projects.

Regina began working with CAIA in 2011 after previously working as a Manager of Event Marketing and Sales with Feld Entertainment. She graduated in 2006 with a B.S. in Sport Management from UMass Amherst.

Executive Assistant

Diane Feltner

As Executive Assistant, Diane works closely with the Chief Executive Officer, the Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, and the Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs. She graduated in 2009 with an AAB from the University of Phoenix.