Meet Our Staff
Sonia Kowal
President
As the firm’s president, Sonia brings over two decades of investment experience to managing corporate matters, business practices, and strategic planning. She also oversees marketing, and advisor and client relationships. She is a member of the firm’s Board of Managers and the Investment Committee. She is passionate about the value of integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues into investments and is a frequent speaker on the topic at conferences. She feels particularly strongly about racial equity, wealth inequality, and our disastrous criminal justice system.
She started her career in Scotland as a traditional equity analyst and portfolio manager, specializing in emerging markets, for a very large institutional asset manager. Increasingly disillusioned by the greed in the industry, she decided to align her professional life to her personal interests and values after taking 18 months to travel, volunteer, and work in Asia and the Antipodes. Arriving back in her hometown of Boston after 17 years away, she headed the U.S. office of what is now Vigeo Eiris, a firm dedicated to proving ESG research to investors. She then spent five years as Zevin Asset Management’s director of socially responsible investing where she built out the firm’s shareholder advocacy program, prior to becoming the firm’s president in 2014.
Sonia holds a BS in Zoology from the University of Edinburgh and an MS in Investment Analysis from the University of Stirling, Scotland. She is a board member of ICCR, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a coalition of faith- and values-driven organizations who view the management of their investments as a powerful catalyst for social change. She is also a board member of IAA, the Investor Adviser Association, the leading organization for fiduciary investment advisers which advances the interests of member firms by providing essential expertise, crucial connections, and powerful advocacy tailored to their needs. Sonia is also a member of the Investment Subcommittee of AFSC (American Friends Service Committee), a Quaker organization that challenges unjust systems and promotes lasting peace.
Sonia is energized by young people advocating for a better society and environment than the one they have inherited. When not playing with her young daughter and dog or trailing her husband on the ski slopes, she gets a lot of satisfaction from cooking with ingredients from her year-round CSA, using the library, and teaching Ukrainian egg art (pysanky).
Learn about Sonia’s path to socially responsible investing.
Jennifer Kelley
Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Operations Officer
Jennifer has been managing operations for Zevin Asset Management since 2000. She took over the role of chief compliance officer in 2015, and is also a member of the Board of Managers. Jennifer is responsible for overseeing all operations, including trading, IT, client services, and human resources. She is also responsible for maintaining the compliance program, training employees, conducting reviews and fulfilling SEC requirements. She received her MBA from Salem State College and a BA in Computer Science from St. Anselm College. Jennifer is active in multiple industry groups, as well as serving on the board of The Exchange Network, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to bring financial professionals together for peer-to-peer networking and exchanging ideas on best practices.
Steven Dray, CFA, CFP®
Chief Investment Officer, Senior Portfolio Manager
As our chief investment officer, Steven chairs the Investment Committee and leads our investment team. In this role, he guides a team-led process which cohesively incorporates the macroeconomic outlook, asset allocation strategy, and fundamental ESG security selection to drive portfolio results for all firm clients. He also manages investment portfolios for high net worth and institutional clients and is a member of the firm's Board of Managers. He truly enjoys navigating complex financial markets and successfully creating sustainable portfolio solutions that match clients’ goals.
Before joining Zevin Asset Management, Steven was a senior portfolio manager overseeing separate account portfolios and mutual funds at AlphaOne Capital in Boston. He enjoyed long-tenured relationships with those same clients while previously employed at David L. Babson and OppenheimerFunds. Prior to earning his MBA in Finance at Indiana University, Steven taught English as a Second Language in Costa Rica and worked in the engineering field analyzing fiber optic communications. He received his BS in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University. Steven has proudly achieved the designations of both a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)™ professional, a testament to his commitment to be proficient in both the holistic plan for a client’s portfolio, as well as the critical investment components that contribute to a portfolio’s success. Creatively navigating the financial challenges that his clients face brings Steven great professional satisfaction.
Steven is a member of the CFA Society Boston, the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute, and the Boston Estate Planning Council. He has served as a board member of Indiana University’s Reese Investment Fund for over two decades and enjoys engaging in pro-bono financial planning to share his craft and improve financial literacy. Steven is devoted to social justice initiatives, especially around immigration issues. He cherishes time spent with his wife and two adult children, and his life passions are playing soccer and travel to undiscovered corners of the world.
Cate faddis, CFA, CPA (non- practicing)
Senior Portfolio Manager
As a portfolio manager, Cate serves both individual and institutional clients. Cate leverages her enthusiasm for fundamental research and valuation and her depth of knowledge to help her clients meet their financial goals.
Cate has over 20 years of experience in investment management and financial services. Before joining Zevin Asset Management, Cate was a senior portfolio manager at Fernwood Investment. She was also the president and chief investment officer of Grace Capital and managing partner at Mason Capital Partners. Cate started her career as an auditor and CPA at Deloitte, and then became an equity analyst at Putnam Investments. She serves on the executive board of the Boston Economic Club, the board of directors of La Tienda Corp and is a corporator for the Cambridge Savings Bank. She is also on the Board of The Friends of Holly Hill Farm, a Massachusetts based organic farm donating food to area food banks and providing education programs and camps for area public schools with a focus on underserved communities. She has been a frequent guest correspondent on CNBC and Bloomberg Markets. She earned a BBA from the College of William & Mary and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Cate is a CFA charter holder and member of the CFA Institute.
Having lived in Ghana, Pakistan and Spain, Cate is passionate about economic development, youth employment, and the effects of climate on vulnerable population groups. Cate is multilingual, a proud mother of twins, and a beekeeper.
Jane Liou Li
Portfolio Manager, Senior Equity Analyst
As a portfolio manager and an equity analyst, Jane employs fundamental research to select investment opportunities and construct portfolios that meet our clients’ needs. She is particularly excited to align her experience in investing with her desire to make an impact by helping clients express their mission and values through their investments and working with portfolio companies to create a healthy and sustainable future. Jane first became intrigued by the stock market in high school and was inspired by idea that anyone regardless of their educational background, economic status, and career field can be an “owner” of these great businesses and benefit from their financial success. Over the years, she has interacted with hundreds of executives and developed industry knowledge across various sectors around the globe.
Before joining Zevin Asset Management, Jane was a portfolio manager and director of research at Grace Capital in Boston. At Grace Capital, she was integral to the equity and ESG research process as well as management of client portfolios and relationships. Prior to joining Grace Capital, Jane was a founding partner and senior equity analyst at Monarch Partners Asset Management, a fund manager and equity analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an analyst at Goldman Sachs. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Jane is a board trustee and chair of Boston by Foot and an executive director of the Boston Economic Club. Jane is a proud mother of two and enjoys spending quality time and traveling with her family.
CHRIStopher HARRIS
Client Portfolio Manager
In his role as a client portfolio manager, Christopher manages relationships primarily with individual clients for whom he delivers investment portfolio solutions and financial planning services. Christopher is passionate about helping his clients align their financial decisions and resources with their most deeply held values. He strongly believes in Zevin Asset Management’s proven approach to SRI investing to deliver competitive returns for clients in order to achieve their goals, while also enabling them to contribute to positive social and environmental impact in the world.
Christopher has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Zevin Asset Management, he worked as a Wealth Management Advisor at TIAA after beginning his career as an advisor with Morgan Stanley. In both roles, he provided personalized financial planning and investment advice to high net worth clients. In addition to his career in finance, Christopher also worked as a philanthropic advisor at the Boston Foundation for five years. Christopher earned his BA from Wesleyan University.
Outside of his time at Zevin Asset Management, Christopher enjoys staying active through weight training, playing tennis, bicycling, and occasionally hiking in the Blue Hills. He also loves international travel, music, photography, movies, and reading. Christopher serves on the board of the Transformative Culture Project in Boston as Treasurer.
Max El-Sokkary, CFA
Senior Equity Analyst
Max analyzes the financial statements and competitive positioning of public companies in his role as an equity analyst. As a member of the investment team, he performs fundamental equity research across multiple global sectors to support investment decisions for client portfolios. He is especially excited to use his expertise to make an impact that goes beyond investment returns. Prior to joining Zevin Asset Management, Max was a Global and Emerging Market Equity Analyst and Associate Portfolio Manager at Westwood International Advisors in Toronto, Canada. Before that, he led financial and decision-making analysis in support of strategic initiatives and corporate development projects at BMO Financial Group. He started his career working as a project engineer in the energy industry at ENI S.P.A in charge of feasibility studies for development of oil & gas fields. Max holds an MBA from McGill University, an MA in Energy & Environmental Economics from ENI Corporate University in Milan, Italy, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the American University in Cairo. He is a CFA charter holder.
Born and raised in Egypt, with experiences of living in Italy, Canada and the United States, Max has developed a passion for travel and the world cultures. He also loves nature and you can often see him hiking or sailing. However, it is soccer that has been his biggest passion since he was a young boy. Max is married with two young daughters and enjoys sharing his time and passions with his family.
Richard Shih, CFA
Senior Equity Analyst
Richard is a seasoned investment professional who strongly believes in taking a global approach to understanding the market. With a wealth of knowledge in fundamental research, he is adept at selecting promising investment opportunities from across the globe. As a member of the Zevin investment team, Richard is responsible for performing comprehensive equity research across multiple sectors to support informed investment decisions for clients.
Prior to joining Zevin Asset Management, Richard was an Equity Analyst at Loomis, Sayles & Company, where he covered the global Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples sectors. Before that, he was an Equity Analyst in global and emerging market strategies at Tradewinds Global Investors, and a Derivative Specialist at Western Asset Management. Richard holds an MBA and a BA in Business Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.
In his personal life, Richard maintains an active lifestyle by engaging in activities such as tennis, biking, and working out at the gym. He also enjoys attending sports events, tennis tournaments, museums, movies, and exploring new local restaurants.
Philip Hergel
Senior Quantitative Analyst
Since relocating his family from Montreal to join Zevin Asset Management in 2008, Philip has been responsible for guiding the Investment Committee’s asset allocation decisions. He enjoys applying his quantitative background in a team environment to contribute to this very important aspect of the investment process. Philip is responsible for all aspects of the firm’s proprietary asset allocation model and consults regularly with the rest of the investment team throughout the portfolio construction process.
Before coming to our firm, Philip spent 12 years at BCA Research – a longstanding and highly respected independent investment advisory firm. While at BCA, Philip was responsible for global asset allocation and econometric model building. Philip also contributed general economic and financial market research and insights to the global investment team. While working towards his BA in Mathematics and MA in Economics from Concordia University, he spent his spare time driving a Zamboni for a Montreal hockey rink.
When not working, Philip stays active skiing, mountain biking, and bike touring. He loves spending time with his wife and three kids – especially on the slopes and preferably not in the terrain park. Philip has spent many winter days and nights teaching his children’s ski clubs and ski teams. Philip takes advantage of time spent with his young adult children guiding them to be charitable, responsible, and compassionate citizens.
Marcela Pinilla
Director of Sustainable Investing
Marcela brings her background in the integration of environmental, social, and governance risks and impacts into active investing. As Director of Sustainable Investing for Zevin Asset Management, she extends this discipline into her advocacy work, collaborating with investors, NGOs, experts, and fellow advocates to address core business activities that pose deleterious impacts on society or the environment and to stimulate positive change.
Previously, Marcela worked with Mercy Investments as Director of Shareholder Advocacy, CBIS as Director of Sustainable Investing, and Boston Trust Walden leading ESG research. More recently Marcela has, on her own and with BSR, consulted for various Fortune 500 companies. With BSR, she also advised on and supported ESG and impact due diligence for KKR’s Global Impact Fund.
Marcela is a born New Yorker from Panamanian and Nicaraguan parents and grew up in Mexico City. She is deeply committed to social and environmental justice, both on the streets of her Brooklyn neighborhood and in her corporate advocacy work serving clients at Zevin Asset Management. Marcela earned an MS in International Health Policy & Management and an MBA with a focus on Sustainable Development, both from Brandeis University. Marcela serves on the ESG Committee for Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management (Mass PRIM), advising the board. She also serves on the advisory board of The Migration and Climate Adaptation & Finance Working Group, committed to enabling a future in which human mobility helps to deliver a just climate adaptation process. Marcela is a board member of the New York Foundation, a philanthropic and non-profit leader in grassroots organizing, advocacy, and grantmaking in service of social justice issues and movements that confront systemic barriers toward a more just and inclusive New York City.
Brian Swope
Back Office Administrator
Brian performs account and system maintenance, assists in the quantitative modeling processes, places trades through brokers, maintains accounts for corporate engagement purposes, collects and produces data for marketing and presentations, and takes on additional projects as they arise. Brian enjoys the diversity of work that his position brings, working on many projects that affect various segments of the business.
Before moving to Boston, Brian attended college at the University of Central Missouri where he received his undergraduate degree in Accounting. After college he worked at Charles Schwab’s Portfolio Services department in the Kansas City area. There he onboarded portfolio managers onto Schwab’s fund accounting platform. In 2015 Brian relocated his family to Boston and found his home at Zevin Asset Management, where he has become a self-described Swiss Army knife around the office.
Brian is a father of two and can be found camping, climbing, and swimming throughout the New England area. He also enjoys catching ‘90s bands and blues guitarists performing in local venues, among other performances.
Michael McHugh
Portfolio Administrator
As portfolio administrator, Mike is responsible for maintaining, updating, and organizing client records and generating internal reports. He also supports client service and operations in their processes by resolving custodian issues and providing backup on operational and administrative tasks.
Mike graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2015, majoring in Economics and Marketing, and has spent his time since then working at financial institutions in client service roles. He is proud to help clients in any way that he can.
Outside the office, you might find Mike out enjoying the beach or local state parks. He has a passion for cooking and for trying new foods and recipes. He enjoys spending time with his family and rooting for Boston sports teams.
Nita Sunder
Senior Client Service Associate
As senior client service associate, Nita is responsible for managing the day-to-day needs for Zevin Asset Management’s clients and responding to client inquiries. She enjoys working with our clients and helping out in any way she can.
Nita graduated from New York University with a BA in Political Science. Prior to joining Zevin Asset Management, she spent several years at Brown Brothers Harriman in various roles, most recently as a Relationship Management Analyst, managing the firm’s institutional client relationships.
When not at work, Nita likes exploring Boston’s food scene and trying out new restaurants. She is also an avid reader and a frequent visitor at the local library.
Ellen Hanlon
Client Service Associate
As a client service associate, Ellen is responsible for handling client requests and supporting portfolio managers in servicing the needs of their clients. She enjoys assisting clients with their financial needs and building long-term working relationships with clients.
Ellen holds a BA in Economics from Mount Holyoke College. Prior to joining Zevin Asset Management, Ellen serviced clients at Acadian Asset Management. She is actively involved with the Boston Early Career Committee of 100 Women in Finance.
In her free time, she enjoys dancing, hiking, reading, travelling, and searching for the best coffee in Boston.
Deidra Beaumont
Communications Specialist, Office Manager
Deidra Beaumont is the Communications Specialist and Office Manager at Zevin Asset Management, where she leads communications and ensures seamless office operations. She excels at crafting compelling narratives that align with the firm's mission of equity and sustainability. Deidra holds a BA in Communications from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and has a proven track record of managing marketing campaigns and brand strategies across diverse industries. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new cities, practicing photography, and curating digital content.