100 Women in Hedge Funds and PAAMCO Award 10 Scholarships for CAIA Designation

Press Releases

Scholarships in partnership with the CAIA Foundation

NEW YORK, NY and AMHERST, Mass.—100 Women in Hedge Funds (100WHF), Pacific Alternative Asset Management Company, LLC (PAAMCO), and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Foundation today announced the 10 recipients that comprise the inaugural class of 100 Women in Hedge Funds/CAIA Scholars.

The scholarship program, administered by the CAIA Foundation, was established in collaboration with the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Institute and is underwritten by PAAMCO to support women seeking to earn the CAIA designation, the highest standard of education in alternative investments. The scholarships cover enrollment and registration fees for CAIA Level I and Level II exams, the CAIA Knowledge Series textbooks, the Schweser CAIA Level I PremiumPlus Study Solution, and the CAIA Association membership fee for the first year.

“100WHF is continually looking for ways to make a difference in the alternatives industry through unique, forward-thinking educational programming, and we are pleased to award these scholarships for CAIA certification,” said Anne Popkin, Chair of 100WHF and President, Symphony Asset Management. “We established scholarships for the CAIA designation because it is a globally recognized distinction whose rigorous program serves as a valuable professional development program for our diverse membership. We had a tremendous response from our members this year, and expect the response to be even greater in 2012.”

100 Women in Hedge Funds, a leading non-profit organization for professionals in the alternative investment industry, established the scholarship program in 2011 through the 100WHF Institute to coincide with their yearlong 10th anniversary celebration. 100WHF seeks to enhance the alternatives industry through educational programming, professional leverage and philanthropic initiatives. The CAIA scholarship is open to individuals with an interest in pursuing a career in alternative investment management, with a specific focus on portfolio management. Underwritten by PAAMCO, an independent fund of hedge funds investment firm, the program will award 10 scholarships each year for five years.

“We are very pleased to recognize our scholars, 100WHF, and PAAMCO for their support of the CAIA Foundation’s mission to increase knowledge and talent in the alternative investment industry for the benefit of the investor,” said Thomas A. Porter, President of the CAIA Foundation. “Partners Wiley Publishing and Kaplan Schweser have also provided authoritative support to enhance the scholarship package by providing each scholar with the CAIA Knowledge Series textbook and the Schweser CAIA Level I PremiumPlus Study Solution, respectively.”

To be considered for the 100WHF/CAIA Scholarship, applicants must be full members of 100 Women in Hedge Funds, not be eligible for program reimbursement by their employers, and have one year of professional experience in the alternative investment industry.

“We are pleased that such an accomplished group of women applied for this scholarship,” said Judy Posnikoff, a founding partner of PAAMCO.  "It is a testament to these women that they aspire to obtain an even greater level of expertise via the CAIA program."

The 2011 100WHF/CAIA Scholarship recipients are as follows:

  • Annette Cazenave, Executive Vice President, R.J. O’Brien Alternative Asset Management, USA
  • Indre Dargyte, Associate, Laven Partners, UK
  • Kacy Gambles, Investment Management Specialist, Wells Fargo, USA
  • Deanna Ingram, Public Markets Portfolio Manager, Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund, USA
  • Katherine Kaminski, Senior Investment Research Analyst, RPM Risk & Portfolio Management, Sweden
  • Alana Mee-Hyoe Koo, Analyst, Singapore
  • Akanksha Rawat, Senior Analyst, Deutsche Bank, India
  • Kaoutar Sbiyaa, Analyst, Rothschild & Cie Gestion, France
  • McKenzie Slaughter, President/CEO, Beyond Capital Markets, USA
  • Tenke Zoltani, Investment Manager, Islan Asset Management, Switzerland

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About 100 Women in Hedge Funds

100 Women in Hedge Funds is a global, practitioner-driven non-profit organization serving over 10,000 alternative investment management investors and professionals through educational, professional leverage and philanthropic initiatives. Formed in 2001, 100 Women in Hedge Funds has hosted more than 250 events globally, connected more than 250 senior women through Peer Advisory Groups and raised close to $20 million for philanthropic causes in the areas of women's health, education and mentoring. For more information about 100 Women in Hedge Funds, please visit www.100womeninhedgefunds.org.

About CAIA Association and CAIA Foundation

The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA) is an independent, not-for-profit global organization committed to education and professionalism in the field of alternative investments. Founded in 2002, the Association is the sponsoring body for the CAIA designation. Recognized worldwide, the designation certifies one's mastery of the concepts, tools, and practices essential for understanding alternative investments and promotes adherence to high standards of professional conduct. The CAIA Foundation enables the finance industry to participate in the development and distribution of alternative investment knowledge. Partners of the Foundation participate by funding research and commentary on alternative investments, contributing to the enhancement of alternative investment curriculum standards, and encouraging talent through scholarships and recognition. For more information, please visit foundation.CAIA.org.

About PAAMCO

Pacific Alternative Asset Management Company®, LLC ("PAAMCO®") is a leading independent fund of hedge funds investment firm dedicated to offering strategic alternative investment solutions to the world's preeminent sophisticated investors. PAAMCO's clients include large public and private pension plans, foundations, endowments, and financial institutions. Located in Irvine, California, with a European office in London, Pacific Alternative Asset Management Company Europe®, LLP ("PAAMCO Europe®"), and an Asian office in Singapore, Pacific Alternative Asset Management Company Asia®, Pte. Ltd. ("PAAMCO Asia®"), the firm is committed to meeting the needs and demands of its global institutional client base both now and in the future.

About Kaplan Schweser and Kaplan, Inc.

Kaplan Schweser, a division of Kaplan, Inc., is a leading provider of financial and accounting education for hundreds of thousands of business professionals around the world. For more information, please visit www.schweser.com. Kaplan, Inc. is a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO) and its largest and fastest-growing division. For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.

About Wiley

Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (www.wiley.com), is a valued source of information and understanding, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations with content and services that include the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates. We publish professional/trade books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and Web sites; scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners.