Tariffs Could Be a Driving Force Over The Next Few Years

Ben L. O’Brien
Research Analyst

Mr. O’Brien is an Research Analyst at Willis Investment Counsel.  His primary responsibilities include conducting equity research for the Core Equity Strategy and Managed Volatility & Income Strategy, as well as assisting with trading operations.

Mr. O’Brien graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Auburn University’s Honors College with a major concentration in Finance and minor concentration in Entrepreneurship.

Ben L. O’Brien
Investment Research and Trading Associate

Mr. O’Brien is an Investment Research and Trading Associate at Willis Investment Counsel.  His primary responsibilities include conducting equity research for the Core Equity Strategy and Managed Volatility & Income Strategy, as well as assisting with trading operations.

Mr. O’Brien graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Auburn University’s Honors College with a major concentration in Finance and minor concentration in Entrepreneurship.

Henry Bush
Research Analyst

Mr. Bush is a Research Analyst at Willis Investment Counsel. His primary responsibilities include research and evaluation of portfolio holdings and prospective investments, with a focus on the firm’s Small Cap Value and Fixed Income Strategies.

Henry also provides assistance to the broader team with trading and general operations.

Mr. Bush graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Economics with Financial Applications, and a minor in Business from Southern Methodist University.

John M. Lewis, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Mr. Lewis is a portfolio manager and provides support to the firm’s corporate and institutional clients.

Mr. Lewis manages the Fixed Income Strategy and is the lead manager for the Small Cap Value Strategy. He also serves as a member of the firm’s investment committee. In addition to portfolio management, Mr. Lewis specializes in corporate treasury investment management, stress testing, and captive insurance.

Mr. Lewis serves on the board and as treasurer for J’s Place (a local non-profit) and the Olsson Family Foundation.

Mr. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia with a concentration in finance. He is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Atlanta.

Brett M. Slattery, CFA

Mr. Slattery is the Chief Investment Officer, Director of Research, & Portfolio Manager for Willis Investment Counsel.

Mr. Slattery manages the firm’s Core Equity (large-cap), and Managed Volatility and Income Strategy and serves on the firm’s investment committee.

Prior to joining WIC, Mr. Slattery was a senior portfolio manager at Harris SBSB (a unit of BMO Financial Group) for three years, and an equity research analyst at Abingdon Capital Management for seven years.

Mr. Slattery holds an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. He also completed the Post Graduate Programs in Data Science & Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, both from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a member of the CFA Institute.

Alyson Graham is a Trust and Estate Specialist for Willis Investment Counsel.

As part of WIC’s holistic wealth management approach, Ms. Graham partners with clients and their advisors to empower them in navigating and achieving their estate and wealth planning objectives.

With a strong background in trust and estate law and administration, Ms. Graham brings extensive experience to WIC. Before joining, she served as Senior Vice President and Head of Personal Trust Services at Ameris Bank. Prior to that, she spent over 11 years in private practice as a trust, estate and tax attorney working with high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals and their families, first with Gainesville firm Stewart, Melvin and Frost, LLP, followed by Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Atlanta.

While Ms. Graham has transitioned away from private legal practice, she continues to play an active leadership role in the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. She currently serves as Vice Chairperson of the Section and is a member of the Legislative Committee. In addition, she is a member of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar and a graduate of professional programs including Leadership Hall County, Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute, and ACTEC Southeast Fellows Institute.

Ms. Graham earned a Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from Georgia State University College of Law, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from Auburn University.

James J. Kilroy
President and Portfolio Manager

Mr. Kilroy is the President of Willis Investment Counsel, having responsibility in the areas of strategy, client relations, firm operations, and portfolio management. He serves as the portfolio manager for the Small Cap Value Strategy, and is also a member of the firm’s investment committee.

Prior to joining WIC, Mr. Kilroy was an analyst with Abingdon Capital Management, a long/short hedge fund, for seven years. Mr. Kilroy’s tenure at Abingdon Capital Management was preceded by two years as an equity research analyst at Bear, Stearns & Co. covering the multi-industrials sector, and four years as an investment banker with SunTrust Equitable Securities.

Mr. Kilroy has served in leadership positions with several Georgia-based organizations, including Chairing the Board of Trustees for Lakeview Academy, serving on the Investment Committee and Board for the Elachee Nature Science Center. Mr. Kilroy currently serves on the Investment Committee of the Greater Hall County Chamber of Commerce. 

Mr. Kilroy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

RK Whitehead
ERISA/401(k) & Enterprise Risk Management

Mr. Whitehead joins Willis Investment Counsel after 34 years as a small business owner operating a manufacturing company with 70 employees. With his decades of experience in the business world, along with his service as a fiduciary and chair of numerous not-for-profit boards and deep hospital system experience, he brings a broad skill set of knowledge and learning to WIC. He provides a unique perspective to the Willis Investment Counsel team.

Mr. Whitehead holds a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, graduating with High Honor in 1987. In addition, he attended one semester at Wharton Business School in Philadelphia before having to withdraw to run the family business upon the death of his father.

Kaitlyn E. Peppers
Client Service and Operations Specialist

Ms. Peppers is a Client Service and Operations Specialist for Willis Investment Counsel. Her primary responsibilities include client integration, asset movement, client reporting, and other matters in support of the firm’s operations and client service team.

Ms. Peppers holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from Georgia Southern University.

Julia R. Padgham
Firm Administrator

Ms. Padgham is the Firm Administrator for Willis Investment Counsel. Her primary responsibilities include day-to-day firm operations, portfolio administration, client service, and other matters in support of the firm’s operations team.

Ms. Padgham holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Atlanta College of Art.

Suzanne E. Bagwell
Client Service Associate

Ms. Bagwell is a Client Service Associate for Willis Investment Counsel. Her primary responsibilities include portfolio administration and other matters in support of the firm’s operations team.

Giovanna M. Golden
Portfolio Administrator

Ms. Golden is a Portfolio Administrator for Willis Investment Counsel. Her primary responsibilities include client service, portfolio administration, and other matters in support of the firm’s operations team.

Ms. Golden holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University.

Natalie R. Challen
Director of Relationship Management

Ms. Challen is the Director of Relationship Management for Willis Investment Counsel. Her primary responsibilities include supporting the trading operations of Willis Investment Counsel, portfolio analytics, and technology-driven projects. She also serves as secondary support for our operations team in terms of reporting, compliance, and client service.

She is a board member of the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, a tri-chair for the Medical Center Auxiliary’s Marketplace, and is a graduate of Leadership Hall. In addition, she serves on the Board of Trustees for Lakeview Academy.

Ms. Challen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia with a concentration in finance.

Tracey A. Patton
Senior Analyst

Ms. Patton is a senior research analyst for Willis Investment Counsel. Her primary responsibilities include conducting equity research for the WIC Core Equity (large-cap) Strategy and assisting in the day-to-day management of the WIC Managed Volatility and Income Strategy.

She is a member of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County.

Ms. Patton holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from North Georgia College and State University with a concentration in finance and accounting.

Kelli M. Wright
CCO and VP, Operations & Trading

Ms. Wright is the Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President of Operations and Trading for Willis Investment Counsel. She oversees securities trading, the portfolio accounting and client reporting systems, and portfolio monitoring for client specific investment policy compliance. She holds the IACCP® designation (Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional). The IACCP® is a professional program granting the designation to individuals who complete an 18-month program of study of the Investment Advisers Act, pass a certifying examination, and meet certain work experience, ethics and continuing education requirements.

Prior to joining WIC, Ms. Wright served as a financial advisor for the private banking group of Wachovia Bank of Georgia (now Wells Fargo).

Ms. Wright holds a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA degree (concentration in finance) from Auburn University.