About Us

Our Team

Robert J. Herman, Lead Portfolio Manager

Rob began his investment career as a lead equity analyst for Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research. Rob also previously worked as an engagement leader for strategy consultancy Monitor Company and early in his career as a Congressional Communications Director. He has a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. in Finance and Health Services Management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Rob sits on several philanthropic boards and investment committees.

Steven Goode, Portfolio Manager

Steven Goode, CFA, is a Portfolio Manager on the Logix Smart Value team. He joined the firm with investment experience in equity research, portfolio management, corporate finance, and family enterprise strategy. He began his career as an investment banker at Alex. Brown, Smith Barney, and SG Cowen, specialized in Mergers and Acquisitions. Subsequently, he was an equity research analyst and long-short equity portfolio manager at hedge funds and asset management firms, including Newland Capital Management and John A. Levin & Co. Prior to Gries Financial Partners, Steven was managing an equity portfolio, and advising a family with commercial real estate assets and investments in equity, fixed income, and private markets. Steven received his B.A. from Northwestern University, with honors, in Economics. He received his M.A. in International Economics from the John Hopkins University, with honors. Steven has held the Chartered Financial Analyst designation since 2001.

Jeffrey H. Palmer, Co-Portfolio Manager

Jeff was a successful entrepreneur before joining Gries Financial Partners in 1989 and served as an equity analyst and portfolio manager at the firm for a number of years.  Jeff leverages his technology expertise to ensure that the research and data tools used in conjunction with the Logix Smart Value model are optimal.  Jeff has completed the CIPM Principles exam in Global Investment Performance Measurements and has a degree in computer science.  Jeff is actively involved in local educational and community nonprofit boards.

Steve Zimmerman, Research Director

Steve Zimmerman is Research Director of Logix Smart Value.  Steve is a seasoned equity analyst, experienced in traditional fundamental analysis as well as quantitative research.  He was formerly a research analyst at Touchstone Mutual Funds and later served as Director of Research at Robert Leshner & Associates.  He also previously held the role of Managing Director at Quanta Research.  Most recently, Steve was Quantitative Sales Director at Zacks Investment Research.  He has a B.A. from Miami University and an M.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati.

Donald L. Hagan, Investment Committee

Prior to founding Day Hagan Asset Management, Don was Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager for Wells Fargo Bank’s PCS. He also served as one of the members of the Investment Management Committee for Wells Fargo’s flagship equity portfolio, Signature Core. Don has conducted research and developed decision-based asset allocation and individual stock buy/sell programs at the institutional level since 1988. Don has a B.A. in Economics and is a Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Investment Management Consultant.

Shannon Gallagher, Trading and Operations

Shannon Gallagher has served as operations manager of the Logix Smart Value strategy since early 2009, working in increasing levels of responsibility.  Shannon has been a member of the Ohio Security Traders Association since 2010 and was elected as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for 2014-15.  Shannon is actively engaged in the Cleveland community and served as Co-Chair for the Providence House Young Professionals Group from 2014-2017.  She was also the Membership Director for the Western Reserve Historical Society Young Professionals Group from 2014-2016.

Ken Brodkowitz , Investment Committee

Ken Brodkowitz is an experienced investment professional and sits on the investment committee of Logix Smart Value. Earlier in his career, working for Goldman Sachs, Ken worked in institutional sales and later served as co-head of Proprietary Trading. Subsequently, he was a long/short equity portfolio manager for Galleon Group followed by Balyasny Asset Management. Prior to joining Gries Financial, he was co-founder and Managing Partner of Newland Capital Management, a $1.3B long/short and event driven hedge fund. Ken received his B.A. from Johns Hopkins University, where he was a member of the baseball team, and his M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He is currently an adjunct Professor of Finance at the University of Maryland and on the board of crowdjoy, a location proximity internet company; he was previously on the board of So What Else, an organization helping lower income children and families.

DIFFERENTIATING LOGIX

• Industry Buy/Sell discipline based on proprietary valuation model

• Dividend yield valuation: Objective measure of value through money paid to shareholders

• Performance through realized capital appreciation and dividend cash flow; historically low beta

Logix Smart Value has employed a single, focused investment discipline beginning in March 2002.

Logix is a unique dividend strategy that uses yield as an effective, objective valuation metric in making buy, sell, and hold decisions over an industry market cycle.

To ensure risk management is a priority, Logix employs a wide variety of quality screens alongside valuation parameters.