Private Wealth

Debbie Robinson oversees Scharf Investments’ Client Relations team. As Director of Client Relations, she schedules and attends regular client reviews and manages day-to-day service requests and questions. A strong advocate for every client, Ms. Robinson takes pride in going the extra mile. She delights in connecting with clients, even if it’s just a quick call to wish someone happy birthday.

Prior to joining Scharf in 2011, Ms. Robinson worked for Mt. Eden Investment Advisors and Telegraph Hill Investment Counsel, which merged with Mt. Eden. Her responsibilities included trading, operations, portfolio accounting, and client administration. Ms. Robinson began her career in the budget and treasury department at Sonoma State University, where she was a treasury analyst/accountant for university investments.

Ms. Robinson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a minor in business administration from Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, CA. She holds a FINRA Series 65 license.

On a Personal Note

A fitness enthusiast, Ms. Robinson enjoys Orangetheory workouts and hiking. She is also an avid photographer who loves spending time with family—and capturing the memories.

Something You Might Not Know

Ms. Robinson is a seasoned traveler. Passionate about exploring the world, she has visited 28 countries so far.

Michael Allard serves private wealth clients as Senior Vice President of Client Relations. He conducts client reviews and handles day-to-day service requests, answering questions and providing solutions. In addition delivering excellent client service with the highest ethical standards, Mr. Allard is proud to act as the face of Scharf in the community, working on business development.

Before joining Scharf Investments in 2006, Mr. Allard worked with Wells Fargo Private Client Services. He was a vice president and regional sales manager, connecting high net worth individuals and families with trust and estate administration, retirement planning, charitable giving, and private banking solutions. Previously, he spent 10 years in various positions at Charles Schwab & Co. As a Schwab regional sales manager, Mr. Allard developed and implemented investment plans for high net worth individuals, families and non-profit organizations. As a branch manager, he organized, opened and managed Schwab’s Soquel/Capitola retail office.

Mr. Allard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from California State University, Chico.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Allard enjoys outdoor activities and athletics. He coaches his sons’ sports teams and joins colleagues in fantasy sports leagues. Mr. Allard also volunteers his time with the Rotary Club of Santa Cruz.

Something You Might Not Know

Mr. Allard’s father was the first Certified Financial Planner™ in the nation—which inspired Mr. Allard to go into finance. His passion for client service was born out of his earlier work experiences in the hospitality industry working at high end resorts in Hawaii and California.

Riley Barr works with private wealth clients. As Vice President of Client Relations, his responsibilities include conducting client portfolio review meetings and calls, day to day service requests and providing solutions. Additionally, Mr. Barr serves in a business development capacity as the interface between the firm and its business partners, including communication of the firm’s investment profile to interested potential clients and referral sources.

Prior to joining Scharf Investments in 2015, Mr. Barr worked as a Registered Associate for Merrill Lynch in San Francisco. His duties included trading, distribution and custody, operations and relationship management working with high net worth individuals and families. Mr. Barr began his career in Merrill Lynch’s wealth management division in Eugene, Oregon in 2010.

Mr. Barr earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics with a minor in business administration and a concentration in finance from the University of Oregon in Eugene. He holds the FINRA Series 65 license and is working towards his Certified Financial Planner™ designation.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Barr likes playing basketball with colleagues. Off the court, he enjoys a good game of golf. Another favorite recreation is Napa Valley wine tasting. An experienced traveler, Mr. Barr loves visiting friends all over the world.

Something You Might Not Know

Before moving to the United States, Mr. Barr lived in Canada—and started playing hockey when he was just four years old. He also lived in Australia.

Samuel Pun is a Client Relations Manager, serving private wealth clients. His responsibilities include meeting with clients during regular reviews, and making sure that operational service needs are met. He helps to smoothly resolve client inquiries.

Before joining Scharf Investments in 2017, Mr. Pun led client services at Sonen Capital in San Francisco. He assisted high net worth individuals, foundations, and family offices in developing socially responsible and impact investing portfolios across public and private asset classes. Previously, he worked for UBS’s International Division, helping overseas clients manage and service their investment portfolios through offshore trusts. Mr. Pun began his career at Bank of America’s International Private Bank as a relationship service manager.

Mr. Pun earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from the University of California at Davis, and a Masters of Science degree in financial analysis from the University of San Francisco.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Pun is an eager traveler and also loves to hike. He recently joined the board of the Family Services Agency of Central Coast, an organization that provides a range of human services and mental health programs.

Something You Might Not Know

Mr. Pun speaks both Cantonese and Mandarin.

Ken Vander Kooi serves Scharf Investments’ private wealth clients. As a Client Relations Manager, he is responsible for providing financial planning services and meeting with clients during regular reviews. Additionally, he responds to client requests and makes sure that all operational service needs are met.

Prior to joining Scharf Investments in 2013, Mr. Vander Kooi worked with high net worth individuals and families across a broad range of needs at the Portola Group, a financial planning and investment advisory firm in Menlo Park, CA. His duties included personal financial planning, tax reconciliations, trading, and relationship management. Mr. Vander Kooi began his career at Smith Barney in the operations department of their Palo Alto branch, which specializes in employee stock option transactions and high net worth retail accounts.

Mr. Vander Kooi is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz. He holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in economics and psychology. In addition to his Certified Financial Planner™ designation, Mr. Kooi holds a FINRA Series 65 license.

On a Personal Note

A Bay area native, Mr. Vander Kooi surfs, golfs and gardens—but never all at once.

Something You Might Not Know

Mr. Vander Kooi maintains a collection of more than 200 different cacti and succulent plants.

Lisa Pastushok has a dual role at Scharf Investments. As a Client Relations Manager, she meets with private wealth clients for regular reviews, handles day-to-day service requests, and responds to client inquiries. As a Compliance Analyst, she works with mutual fund compliance, monitoring and testing. Her responsibilities also include assisting with employee training and responding to outside questionnaires for institutional clients.

Before joining Scharf Investments in 2015, Ms. Pastushok worked as an investment analyst for Nicholas Hoffman & Company, a registered investment advisory firm in Atlanta, GA.

Ms. Pastushok earned a master’s degree in finance from Georgia State University in Atlanta, and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and engineering science from Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She holds a FINRA Series 65 license.

On a Personal Note

Ms. Pastushok fulfills her creative side by shooting photographs and making jewelry. She also enjoys cooking.

Something You Might Not Know

Before entering financial services, Ms. Pastushok was a math teacher in Brooklyn. Her first car was an eBay purchase.

Robert O’Quinn works with private wealth clients. As Client Relations Manager, his responsibilities include meeting with clients during regular reviews and fulfilling operational service requests. He handles client calls and ensures questions are effectively resolved. Mr. O’Quinn also works on business development.

Prior to joining Scharf Investments, Mr. O’Quinn worked as a registered associate for Merrill Lynch in Jacksonville, Florida where he served high net worth individuals and small business owners to meet their investment and retirement planning needs. His duties there included the new client onboarding process, and implementation of client financial plans. Mr. O’Quinn began his career with Fidelity Investments, also in Jacksonville, Florida as a registered Investment Solutions Representative specializing in aligning client goals with necessary fixed income and equity solutions. Mr. O’Quinn earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Georgia. In addition to his Certified Financial Planner designation, Mr. O’Quinn also holds a FINRA Series 66 license.

On a Personal Note

Robert enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. He also enjoys cooking, golfing and spending as much time as possible outdoors. He eventually would like to hike the entire Appalachian Trail.

Something You Might Not Know

Robert has been able to trace his ancestral origins back to the mid 1700s when an ancestor came over to the United States from Northern Ireland.

George R. Gallucci has more than 33 years of experience in the financial services industry. As a member of the Client Relations team, Mr. Galluccci conducts client reviews and handles service requests and questions.

Before joining Scharf Investments in 1991, he was President and CEO of both Western Capital Management, a registered investment advisor, and Pacific Trust Company. Each is a subsidiary of Pacific Western Bank. At Western Capital Management, Mr. Gallucci was responsible for the development of investment strategy, portfolio management, selection of individual securities, and all related trading activities. At Pacific Trust Company, he was responsible for all fiduciary activities, account administration and related tax, investment and legal compliance matters.

Mr. Gallucci earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management at San Jose University and graduated from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington in Seattle.

On a Personal Note

A Bay area native, Mr. Gallucci golfs and spends time with his family.

Something You Might Not Know

Mr. Gallucci is a vintage automobile enthusiast.

Debbie McCarroll is Vice President of Business Development. She is responsible for new business relationships with individuals, small businesses, trusts, family foundations, and endowments that are interested in financial planning and investment portfolio management. Dedicated to client service, she provides the highest level of individualized support.

Prior to joining Scharf, Ms. McCarroll directed business development and marketing at Sequoia Wealth Advisors. Previously, she held senior positions in business development, client relationships, and commercial lending with several independent business banks in Silicon Valley, the Central Coast, and Santa Cruz.

Ms. McCarroll graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in business and finance.

On a Personal Note

Ms. McCarroll has been involved with and served on the boards of many nonprofit organizations in San Jose and Santa Cruz, including Opera San Jose, Silicon Valley Business Forum, Sacred Heart, Hope Rehabilitation Services and the Pacific Autism Center of Education. She is a member of the Santa Cruz Rotary Club.

Something You Might Not Know

Ms. McCarroll is grateful to have lived abroad in mainland Japan and Okinawa. She speaks fluent Japanese. Her hobbies include golfing, cycling, opera, and the sport of purebred Boxers.

Jan Erbe provides administrative support for the entire office as a Client Service, Operations professional. She is also responsible for operational and client service duties, working directly with clients to resolve day-to-day service requests.

Before joining Scharf Investments in 2007, Ms. Erbe worked in customer service and trust departments. She has a 22-year background in the finance industry.

Ms. Erbe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

On a Personal Note

Ms. Erbe enjoys traveling the world. At home, she delights in gardening activities.

Something You Might Not Know

A lover of the Portuguese language, Ms. Erbe has hosted a weekly Portuguese class for the past 24 years.

Annie Blackmun is an Executive Administrative Assistant. She is responsible for providing administrative support, office management assistance, and client service. Ms. Blackmun works directly with clients to determine their needs, and connects with client relations managers to help deliver effective solutions.

Ms. Blackmun has 17 years of experience in administration and office management. Prior to joining Scharf in 2017, she served in administrative and managerial roles for several corporations in the Santa Cruz area.

Ms. Blackmun earned an Associate of Arts degree from Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA. She is a licensed Notary Public.

On a Personal Note

Scrapbooking and craft projects allow Ms. Blackmun to express her creative side. She also enjoys reading.

Something You Might Not Know

Ms. Blackmun organizes volunteers for the flagship food delivery program at Jacob’s Heart, an organization that serves children with cancer and their families.

Brian Krawez is Scharf Investments’ President and Investment Committee Chairman, as well as Portfolio Manager. He began his career more than 20 years ago with Smith Barney in San Francisco. He later moved to their investment banking division in New York City, where he was ranked as a top-rated analyst focused on health care.

Prior to joining Scharf Investments in 2007, Mr. Krawez was a partner and head of research for Belden and Associates Investment Counsel, managing a successful Large Blend portfolio. He has also held research analyst positions at Dodge & Cox, Telegraph Hill Investment Counsel, and SC Fundamental, a successful value oriented hedge fund.

Mr. Krawez earned both a Bachelor of Science with honors in business administration and a Master of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. While at UC Berkeley he worked for Professor Yellen, the former Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Mr. Krawez is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the Security Analysts of San Francisco.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Krawez is an active dad who enjoys playing baseball and basketball.

Something You Might Not Know

A true investment prodigy, Mr. Krawez started trading currencies in 3^rd grade and attended his first shareholder meeting at age eight.

Eric Lynch is a Managing Director and an investment committee member. He manages Scharf Investments’ institutional investment team and handles new business development. Mr. Lynch is a primary analyst on companies in the Core portfolio, and a contributing analyst on the Multi-Asset and Global portfolios. He holds responsibility for new idea generation, research, analysis and valuation. Mr. Lynch also presents recommendations to the investment committee.

Before joining Scharf Investments in 2007, Mr. Lynch contributed research to Scharf Investments while running his own registered investment advisory firm, Lynch Capital Management, LLC. Prior to founding Lynch Capital Management, he was co-chief operating officer, research analyst and portfolio manager at Polen Capital Management, a top-performing money manager. As co-chief operating officer, he led the firm’s institutional channel. Previously, Mr. Lynch spent several years as a management consultant to Fortune 500 companies with Accenture and Price Waterhouse-Japan.

Mr. Lynch graduated magna cum laude from John Carroll University with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a concentration in Japanese. Mr. Lynch earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

On a Personal Note

An outdoor enthusiast, Mr. Lynch enjoys trail running and mountain biking.

Something You Might Not Know

Mr. Lynch speaks Nihongo—known to us as the Japanese language.

Gabe Houston serves as a Research Analyst and Head Trader, as well as an investment committee member. He is a primary analyst for companies in the Core portfolio, and a contributing analyst on the Multi-Asset and Global portfolios. He heads the trading team, and provides operations support. Mr. Houston is also responsible for new idea generation, research, analysis and valuation. He presents recommendations to the investment committee, and coordinates with the trading team and the Portfolio Manager on large portfolio moves.

Mr. Houston joined Scharf Investments in 2006, after completing his university degree.

Mr. Houston earned a Bachelor of Arts in business management economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Society of San Francisco. He also holds a FINRA Series 65 license.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Houston enjoys playing outside with his daughter. He is also a basketball player and swimmer.

Something You Might Not Know

A bona fide native son, Mr. Houston has lived in Santa Cruz County his entire life.

Jerry Beyke holds the position of Senior Research Analyst and is an investment committee member. He is a primary analyst on companies in the Core portfolio, and a contributing analyst on the Multi-Asset and Global portfolios. He is responsible for new idea generation, research, analysis and valuation. Mr. Beyke also presents recommendations to the investment committee.

Prior to joining Scharf Investments in 2002, Mr. Beyke was a vice president and portfolio manager at Carson Feltz and First Commerce Investors, where he managed value oriented equity portfolios in discretionary accounts and a commingled fund. He also ran a successful Limited Partnership, Beyke Partners, as general partner and portfolio manager. Mr. Beyke has more than 20 years of financial services experience.

Mr. Beyke earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Nebraska in Omaha. He holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and has been a member of the Association for Investment Management and Research since 1986.

On a Personal Note

A tennis and basketball player, Mr. Beyke is at home on the courts.

Something You Might Not Know

Originally from Omaha, Mr. Beyke admires Warren Buffet and owns a collection of hundreds of investment books.

Byron Penstock is a Senior Research Analyst covering a number of portfolio names and candidates.

Prior to joining Scharf Investments in 2017 , Mr. Penstock was Co-Portfolio Manager and Investment Analyst for each of the four strategies managed by the RS Value Group at RS Investments. Prior to his 12-year tenure at RS Value Group, Mr. Penstock was an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom in New York.

Mr. Penstock holds a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Juris Doctorate degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, Toronto. He is also a CFA charterholder.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Penstock enjoys travel and is an avid reader.

Something You Might Not Know

Mr. Penstock is a former professional hockey player.

Jeff Wilson is a Senior Research Analyst covering a number of portfolio names and candidates.

Prior to joining Scharf Investments in 2013, Mr. Wilson was a Research Analyst with Freestone Capital Management, a $3B AUM registered investment advisory firm in Seattle, WA. Prior to his tenure at Freestone, Mr. Wilson was a Research Analyst at ICM Asset Management, a $1.5B institutional small-cap value firm in Spokane, WA.

Mr. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gonzaga University, majoring in Accounting and Finance. He is also a CFA charterholder, member of the CFA Institute, and served on the CFA Society Seattle Board of Directors.

On a Personal Note

Active in many sports, Mr. Wilson especially enjoys basketball, biking, trail running, golf, and hiking.

Something You Might Not Know

Mr. Wilson earned his way into the Tyee Club of British Columbia by catching a chinook salmon weighing over 30 pounds.

Mr. Warren has responsibility for conducting due diligence and provides supporting research for senior analysts. He assists with ongoing analysis, financial modeling, and formal investment recommendations.

Mr. Warren joined Scharf Investments in 2016, after graduating with first class honors from the University of Warwick. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with Study Abroad at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst Level 3 candidate.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Warren enjoys working out and yoga. He also likes reading, travelling, and exploring the Bay Area.

Something You Might Not Know

From England, Mr. Warren is a life-long Manchester United fan and loves to watch the team when he’s back home.

John Almazan holds a dual role at Scharf Investments, providing both operational and administrative support to the firm. As an Institutional Associate, he assists with institutional business including servicing and marketing requests, attribution analysis, and portfolio reviews covering current performance and future outlook. As a Research Associate, he conducts initial due diligence on companies and provides supporting research on companies for senior analysts. He also assists with earnings reports, financial modeling, and formal investment recommendation presentations.

In 2014, Mr. Almazan joined Scharf Investments after completing his university degree.

Mr. Almazan earned a Bachelor of Arts in applied mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley. He is also a CFA charterholder.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Almazan shares his financial expertise by volunteering to teach financial literacy. For recreation, he spends time boxing and repairing old cars.

Something You Might Not Know

A mechanical whiz kid, Mr. Almazan began learning to fix cars at age five.

Sam Kanagawa is an Institutional Associate at Scharf Investments. He holds administrative and operational responsibilities related to Scharf’s institutional business. His duties include servicing and marketing requests, attribution analysis, and portfolio reviews covering current performance and future outlook. Mr. Kanagawa also provides research support.

In 2015, Mr. Kanagawa joined Scharf Investments, after completing his university degree.

Mr. Kanagawa earned a Bachelor of Arts in business management economics with a minor in technology information management from the University of California at Santa Cruz. He holds a FINRA Series 65 license, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst Level 3 candidate.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Kanagawa enjoys staying active, working out, and is an avid sports enthusiast. He likes watching football and basketball, and is a die-hard New York Jets fan.

Something You Might Not Know

An accomplished martial artist, Mr. Kanagawa has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Jason Marcus is Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. He is responsible for all operational, administrative, legal, and compliance facets of the company. Mr. Marcus is also involved in business development and strategy.

Prior to joining Scharf Investments in 2010, Mr. Marcus worked for Fairholme Capital Management as the operations and compliance manager.  His previous roles at that firm included execution trader, operations specialist, portfolio accountant, and client administration associate. During his eight years at Fairholme, the firm grew by more than $15 billion.

Mr. Marcus earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in management from the Montclair State University School of Business in Montclair, NJ.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Marcus is a travel buff. He also appreciates spending time with family.

Something You Might Not Know

With an aficionado’s eye for detail, Mr. Marcus enjoys restoring antique automobiles.

Lisa Pastushok has a dual role at Scharf Investments. As a Client Relations Manager, she meets with private wealth clients for regular reviews, handles day-to-day service requests, and responds to client inquiries. As a Compliance Analyst, she works with mutual fund compliance, monitoring and testing. Her responsibilities also include assisting with employee training and responding to outside questionnaires for institutional clients.

Before joining Scharf Investments in 2015, Ms. Pastushok worked as an investment analyst for Nicholas Hoffman & Company, a registered investment advisory firm in Atlanta, GA.

Ms. Pastushok earned a master’s degree in finance from Georgia State University in Atlanta, and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and engineering science from Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She holds a FINRA Series 65 license.

On a Personal Note

Ms. Pastushok fulfills her creative side by shooting photographs and making jewelry. She also enjoys cooking.

Something You Might Not Know

Before entering financial services, Ms. Pastushok was a math teacher in Brooklyn. Her first car was an eBay purchase.

Joel Houston is an Operations Associate. He is responsible for client billing and Information Technology support. He also helps oversee software migration projects.

Mr. Houston joined Scharf Investments in 2013, after completing his university degree.

Mr. Houston earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Houston likes to travel and stay active. He plays sports, works out, and goes on the occasional hike.

Something You Might Not Know

A film major, Mr. Houston writes screenplays in his free time.

Sean Wright is a Trader and Operations Specialist. He works closely with the portfolio manager and is responsible for global trading. Mr. Wright also interfaces with relationship managers concerning account flows.

Before joining Scharf Investments in 2016, Mr. Wright was head trader and performance analyst for Trust & Fiduciary Management Services. He previously worked as director of operations for Suncoast Equity and as head trader for Polen Capital, both in Tampa, FL. He began his career at Smith Barney, Harris Upham and also worked for Salomon Brothers.

Mr. Wright received his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of South Florida in Tampa, and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami. He also served as an arbitrator for FINRA.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Wright likes sporting events. An avid golfer, he directs an annual golf tournament raising funds for needs-based nursing scholarships at a local community college. Since inception it has raised more than $50,000.

Something You Might Not Know

In 1992, Mr. Wright went undercover with the Secret Service to help them catch counterfeiters.

Jim Giblin is an Operations Analyst. He is responsible for back office operations including account reconciliations, portfolio accounting, and mutual fund maintenance. Mr. Giblin also works with outside brokers and custodians to resolve any issues that arise.

Mr. Giblin joined Scharf Investments in 2016. Prior to joining Scharf, he was a senior accountant for Passport Capital. Previously, he worked as a senior manager for Charles Schwab Investment Management. Mr. Giblin began his career at State Street Corporation. 

While in the military, Mr. Giblin held top-secret clearance.

On a Personal Note

An active parent, Mr. Giblin loves spending time with family. He is a golfer and scuba diver. Mr. Giblin also makes time to volunteer with Project Open Hand, feeding the sick in San Francisco.

Something You Might Not Know

During his military service, Mr. Giblin spent time on an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.