Debra Penan, CPA

CFO, Accounting & Finance

  • Performs management companies' financial reporting, accounting, and payroll

  • Oversees internal controls, accounting policies, and financial procedures across clients and the firm

20 years: Finance and Accounting Industry

Debra is the CFO of Windstream, drawing on 20+ years of driving down the cost of financial operations through multi-dimensional finance expertise. Before joining Windstream, Debra was an accountant at AQR Capital Management for 18 years. She oversaw all aspects of the NAV reconciliation process, provided audit and financial statement support, and assisted with the management company’s books and records. During her tenure at AQR, she was responsible for various aspects of the firm’s accounting value chain, including fund setups, budgeting, expense management, management and performance fee calculations, and fund liquidations.

Debra is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of CPAs. Debra began her career at Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP. She graduated from Binghamton University.

Lee Ehly, CPA

CFO, Accounting & Finance

  • Performs fund and management accounting services

  • Manages comprehensive financial operations and reporting

25 years: Financial Services Industry

Lee is an experienced financial professional, who has been a CFO/controller of billion dollar-plus hedge funds, fund of funds and PE fund of funds for over 20 years. Lee possesses deep experience in all areas of accounting, audit, tax and regulatory filings for funds and management companies.

Lee earned his bachelor's degree from Rutgers School of Business before starting his career in the audit and tax group at Rothstein Kass and the audit group at PwC. Lee is a CPA.

Susan Proctor

Documentation Specialist, Compliance & Legal

  • Manages trading documentation processes

  • Liaises with law firms and regulatory bodies

30 years: Financial Services Industry

Susan is an experienced documentation and contracts specialist spanning multiple facets of the financial industry, both sell side and buy side. Susan spent over a decade at AQR Capital Management, and previous to AQR nearly 20 years in commercial banking and markets at Fuji (Mizuho), Citibank, ABN AMRO, and Bank of America. Susan’s expertise covers trading documentation across capital market areas, focusing on swaps and futures, margin and triparty collateral agreements, records management and Dodd-Frank Protocols.

Susan graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College and holds an MA from NYU.

Laura Latella

CFO, Accounting & Finance

  • Fund and management accounting services

  • Manage implementation of change management directives for products and services

25 years: Asset Management and Financial Services

Laura has extensive experience in financial management, regulatory compliance, and client success strategies across diverse investment vehicles, with a particular emphasis on alternative investments. Throughout her career, Laura has effectively collaborated with key service providers, portfolio managers, and investors to address client needs and cultivate enduring relationships.

She has held significant roles, including Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer for two 40 Act Series Trusts. Laura has also contributed her expertise as a member of Due Diligence, Valuation, and Compliance Committees, and has served on the Board of Directors of Offshore Entities in Bermuda and the BVI.

Laura earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting with a Minor in Psychology from The College of New Jersey and holds an MBA from Rutgers University.

John Murray, CPA

CFO, Accounting & Finance

  • Comprehensive infrastructure and operational oversight

  • Management company and fund accounting services

20 years: Alternative Investment Industry

John is an experienced executive with 20 years of experience in the alternative investment industry across public accounting and private investment firms. John has held executive positions at multiple hedge funds, while leading the launch process of hedge funds. John has extensive experience across all non-investment functions of investments firms, having carried out responsibilities in recruiting, legal and compliance, trading, reporting, investor relations, accounting and operations.

John began his career at Rothstein Kass, where he served clients with various structures and investment strategies on both audit and tax engagements.

John earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University at Albany, and is a CPA.

Steven Hershman

CFO, Accounting & Finance

  • Fund accounting and oversight

  • Management company accounting and finance

23 years: Accounting and Financial Services Industry

Steven is a financial services professional who brings 20+ years of experience in fund administration, investor relations, treasury, SEC reporting and audit. Prior to joining Windstream, Steven served as a Vice President of Fund Administration and Accounting at Citco Fund Services (USA) Inc. and State Street Corporation. He has also held various other positions including Assistant Vice President of Fund Administration and Accounting at SS&C Technologies, Inc., Controller at Sage Investors, LP, and Transfer Pricing Supervisor at AllianceBernstein L.P.

Steven began his career at Deloitte & Touche, LLP and received both his B.S. in Accounting and an MBA from Yeshiva University.

Michael Mazzola

Vice President, Operations & Strategy

  • Process Improvement / Risk Mitigation

  • Middle Office Services

20 years: Financial Services Industry

Michael Mazzola is a seasoned middle office leader with over 20 years of financial services experience. He has worked on several long-term strategic projects, including optimizing settlement readiness and transitioning manual trade booking processes to straight-through processing (STP) procedures. Michael brings a wealth of expertise in problem-solving, relationship management, and operational risk mitigation to his role.

Michael's career includes operations roles at Citi Bank, Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), Barclays, and Lehman Brothers. Michael graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in Business Administration.

Victor Alves

Vice President, Operations & Strategy

  • Develops operational infrastructure and related control framework

  • Project management

25 years: Finance Industry

Victor oversees operations and develops efficient and effective strategic solutions to optimize operational infrastructure. He is a Subject Matter Expert in portfolio administration, investment management, trade execution, client services and risk management. Victor has spearheaded the transition of legacy systems, integrating data across platforms, and eliminating reconciliation and trade settlement issues to ensure operational efficiency.

For the past 9 years, Victor was at Cardinal Asset Management where he established a comprehensive operational infrastructure, encompassing several system installations, such as portfolio accounting and trading, developing standard operational procedures and reporting. Prior to Cardinal, Victor was the Senior Portfolio Administrator for both, Silvercrest Asset Management for 8 years and ING Investment Management for 9 years managing day-to-day operations and leading operational project development.

Victor graduated from Mercy College with a degree in finance and accounting in 1998.

Dean Marinis

CFO, Accounting & Finance

  • Performs fund and management accounting services

  • Manages comprehensive financial operations and reporting

20 years: Finance and Accounting Industry

Dean is an experienced finance professional who holds over 20 years of industry knowledge and expertise. Being the controller of a multi-billion dollar hedge fund he possesses an array of experience including audit, tax, regulatory filings, treasury functions, operations, and overseeing all aspects of NAV calculations.

Dean earned his bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Marist College.

Partnering for success

Windstream is a disciplined team with leadership skills
and expertise to help managers succeed

EXPERIENCE

Partnering for Success

Step 1 - Tell Us Your Unique Requirements

50+ years of experience building and running world-class investment operations teams at the world's leading asset management firms

Decades of transformation engagements helping managers achieve top-quartile performance in operational efficiency and digital enablement

Next-generation operating models for partnerships, mutual funds, UCITs structures, institutional separately managed accounts, and more

Joe Trentacosta

CEO

Lou Sala

Senior Advisor

Phil Benincasa

Operational Solutions

Isaac Jimenez

Financial Solutions

Ryan Visniski, CFA

Compliance Solutions

Shane Crea

Firmwide Strategies & Product Development

Patricia Moulton

CFO, Accounting and Finance

Nick Thompson

Director, Compliance & Legal

Harris Bogner

Director, Compliance & Legal

Jim Scellato

Vice President, Operations & Strategy

Windstream is supported by the following strategic partners:

EXPERIENCE

Partnering for Success

Our edge is illustrated by our leadership team comprised of C-level senior executives with extensive industry knowledge. Our deep understanding of the asset management industry squarely positions us as the leading managed services provider in the market, by partnering with:

Third-party Administrators

IT Firms

Prime Brokers

Law Firms

Accounting Firms

Banks

Leaders in the industry

Joe Trentacosta

CEO, Founder
  • Oversees strategic initiatives, client relationships, and company growth

  • Ensures the adequate resources and systems for outsourced operational activities firm-wide

Phil Benincasa

President, Founder
  • Expands managed service relationships, contract negotiations, and service design

  • Oversees the service delivery, operations and expansion of all operational support services

Debra Penan, CPA

CFO, Partner
  • Performs management companies' financial reporting, accounting, and payroll

  • Oversees internal controls, accounting policies, and financial procedures across clients and the firm

Providing expert advice

Lou Sala

SeniorAdvisor, Business Development
  • Oversees and supports the development of business initiatives

  • Works with marketing leadership to build relationships and drive growth

Kristen Caccavo

Head of Legal Services
  • Advises managers on the set-up and establishment of investment funds

  • Prepares,revises, and reviews offering and conditional documents

WHY CHOOSE WINDSTREAM?

Windstream can make scalability a reality with a complete end-to-end portfolio of industry-leading solutions.

We bring expert implementation and a relationship-based commitment to optimize operations, increase margins, and bring products to market.

WHY CHOOSE WINDSTREAM?

Windstream can make scalability a reality with a complete end-to-end portfolio of industry-leading solutions.

1

Access to specialized operations and technology skills

The experience to identify architectural gaps, implement tactical and strategic improvements, and uncover cost-savings opportunities

2

Premium technology without investing in a new platform

A scalable technology platform without the associated costs of upgrading and maintaining it

3

Process and people that utilize technology cost-effectively

Longstanding vital relationships that allow us to offer on-demand services and full-service models where all you need to bring is an OMS

4

More flexibility, scalability, and adaptability

Processes and workflows that best meet manager needs and are agnostic to existing in-house capabilities