We are engaged in the unending pursuit of improving everything we do, from constantly refining our investment process to delivering incredible customer service to our clients.
OUR TEAM
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH TEAM
Our portfolio managers have six decades of collective experience weathering the upturns and the downturns of the markets; each holds graduate degrees and CFA charters.
Vitaliy N. Katsenelson, CFA
CEO & Chief Investment Officer
Vitaliy Katsenelson joined IMA in 1997 and earned both his BS and MS degrees in finance from the University of Colorado at Denver. Forbes magazine has called him "The New Benjamin Graham."
An award-winning writer, Vitaliy has authored two books on investing and Soul in the Game: The Art of a Meaningful Life, which has been translated internationally and widely acclaimed. His work has appeared in Financial Times, Barron’s, Institutional Investor, The Wall Street Journal, and Foreign Policy. He also reaches a global audience through his newsletter (100K+ subscribers) and The Intellectual Investor Podcast.
Read more
With more than two decades of investment experience, Vitaliy has taught graduate-level finance at the University of Colorado at Denver and spoken to investor organizations across the U.S. and abroad. He is a CFA charterholder and has served on the board of the CFA Society of Colorado.
He lives in Denver with his wife and three children, and in his free time enjoys reading, listening to classical music, playing chess, and writing about the intersections of investing and life.
Michael L. Conn, CFA
Chairman Emeritus & Founder
Michael earned his BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his MBA from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. Michael has more than 40 years of investment experience.
Prior to Investment Management Associates, Michael was a vice-president and portfolio manager for Founders Capital Management and Founders Mutual Depositor Corporation. Earlier in his career he was a securities analyst with Financial Programs, Inc. and Wellington Management Company.
Read more
Michael is a CFA charterholder and has served as president and director of the CFA Society of Colorado.
Max Sirous, CFA
Research Analyst
Max is a research analyst at IMA. Prior to joining the firm, Max was a financial analyst at various investment companies in the UK, the US and Ukraine, where he worked on credit, public equity and venture capital investments.
Read more
Max is a CFA charterholder and has a Master’s degree from Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics.
INVESTMENT RESEARCH NETWORK
Our clients don’t just benefit from our in-depth stock analysis. We have spent several decades nurturing a wide international network of professional investors who help us find new opportunities and gain insights into our existing holdings.
With each investment decision peer-reviewed, we ensure higher quality and safety for our clients’ portfolios.
We also continue to develop this network through our annual conference, The Intellectual Investor Conference
SERVICE & SUPPORT TEAM
We are always there for our clients. You can get in touch by phone or email and we’ll get back to you within one business day.
Cyrus Pearo
Cyrus has experience in multiple aspects of financial services, inclusive of financial/tax planning and investment management with Fortune 100 firms. Prior to working in finance, he raced road bicycles in professional circuits internationally.
Cyrus has a BS from the University of Denver, MS in finance from the University of Colorado at Denver and is a Certified Financial Planner and IRS Enrolled Agent.
Robert Eckart
Robert brings over a decade of operations experience in small and medium-sized business lending. He loves solving puzzles wherever he can find them. When he’s not busy with his one-year-old daughter, you can find him playing a boardgame or reading a book about the financial markets.
Robert has a BS and MBA from the University of Denver, and is currently studying for his CFP® designation.
Barbara Blachowicz
Barbara manages client communications. She has been with IMA since 2017 and works closely with the operations team. She has a passion for travel and has lived overseas. She stays active through rollerblading, tennis, running, yoga, and walking. She also plays guitar and values reading and time with friends and family.
Barbara holds degrees in Interior Design and Landscape Architecture from INTEGRAL Instituto Superior de Diseño.
Nadya Neykova
Nadya is a systems and workflow consultant who supports IMA with tools like Monday.com, Airtable, and Slack. She holds a Bachelor’s in Advertising from New Bulgarian University in Sofia, and has completed numerous trainings in project and process optimization, helping teams work smarter and more collaboratively.
Melissa Tampubolon
Melissa is the Operations Executive Assistant at IMA, supporting CEO Vitaliy Katsenelson and helping drive organizational efficiency. Outside of work, she enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing, and spending time with her dog, Luther.
Melissa holds a BS in Aviation and Aerospace Science with certificates in Space Commercialization and Airport Management from MSU Denver and is a commissioned Colorado State Public Notary.
Dragan Gurinovic
Dragan is responsible for building and maintaining the digital properties under the IMA organization. Outside of work, he trades his keyboard for tools, enjoying the hands-on challenge of renovating his own home. His evenings are spent with his wife, pets, and a good book.
Dragan holds a degree in Informatics Engineering from Subotica Tech – College of Applied Science.
Jonah Katsenelson
Jonah brings strategic insight and a fresh perspective to IMA, leading innovative projects and creative pursuits across the firm. A lifelong student of investing and business, he’s been an “unofficial employee” for 24 years under the close mentorship of Vitaliy. Outside of work, he loves stand-up comedy and Swiss watches.
Jonah graduated with distinction with a BS in Finance from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Larry David
Larry David is a toy poodle and Vitaliy’s beloved “grand dog.” When he’s not napping or requesting treats, he can be found conducting portfolio research (mostly sniff tests), assisting with client relations, and serving as our emotional support dog during tough markets.