CONNAMARA - Key Persons
Amanda Peterson joined Connamara in early 2023. She oversees the accounting, business support, financial planning, and analysis for Connamara Systems. She brings over 15 years of finance and accounting experience, and she has been instrumental in building and leading successful finance teams. Amanda holds a CPA and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Toledo.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Founder
James C. Downs founded Connamara Systems LLC in 1998 after 17 years as an options market maker on the Chicago Board Options Exchange and a futures trader on the Chicago Board of Trade. Trading was moving rapidly from exchange floors to trading screens, and demand was growing for software engineers who understood the need for speed, reliability, scalability and innovation.
Jim earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and began his professional life as a QA engineer with Honeywell Avionics, building electronic systems for commercial and defense aeronautical platforms. At Honeywell, he worked on the emerging technology of laser gyroscopes, first as a QA engineer and later as an electronics designer. His work in laser gyroscopes ultimately led him to the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia. At the CIA, he managed projects involving the decryption of ICBM telemetry and video enhancement algorithms, all subject to the highest level of security clearance.
Jim came to the floor of the Chicago Board Options Exchange in the early 1980's at the advent of options and futures trading in stock indices. Jim's quantitative background and familiarity with software programming provided a clear advantage as the number and types of index instruments and trading strategies exploded.
By the late 1990s, most derivatives trading and market making relied on sophisticated, proprietary software for trade execution, position tracking and risk management. Some of this software was developed by traders without the benefit of best practices for coding standards, documentation, security, or testing. Other software was developed by programmers without sufficient understanding of market dynamics, liquidity, and the market participants. Jim understood the need to couple the highest quality of engineering with broad market knowledge - and Connamara Systems was born.
Founder Jim Downs combined his time spent on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Board Options Exchange with his early software development and Agile knowledge to form Connamara. Our open outcry trading legacy is something few custom software development companies can claim. Being original capital markets software creators means we speak the language of our customers. We know how technology can bridge the gap between their business goals and today's fast-paced financial world.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Security Officer
Job Titles:
- Director of Engineering
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Connamara Advisory Board
Maureen Downs is a respected industry veteran with over 35 years of experience in derivative financial instruments, holding executive roles at brokerages, trading firms, regulatory bodies, and trade associations. She is Chair of the National Futures Association, the self-regulatory body for the futures and swaps industries. She is also CEO of MC Downs & Co, a business advisory firm. She holds a Bachelor of Business in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University Law School.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Connamara Advisory Board
Peter S. Willmott has enjoyed a storied career in corporate America. He joined Federal Express as Chief Financial Officer in 1973, shortly after FedEx made its first package deliveries. In 1980, he assumed the role of president and chief operating officer as the company grew to $1 billion in annual revenue. Following his successful leadership of FedEx, he also served as chairman, president, and CEO of Carson Pirie Scott, president and CEO of Zenith Electronics, and chairman and CEO of Willmott.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Connamara Advisory Board
Stephen A. Brodsky is a highly regarded capital markets professional with years of experience in senior roles at exchanges, trading firms, brokerages, and investment firms. He has served as President of CHX Holdings, CEO of Spot Trading LLC, Managing Director of Vernon and Park Capital, Vice President of Investment Banking at Mesirow Financial, and Chief Strategy Officer of R.J. O'Brien. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University and his Juris Doctor and MBA from Northwestern University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Connamara Advisory Board
Travis Schwab has worked across a diverse set of companies and asset classes in front-, middle-, and back-office roles. Currently the CEO of Eventus Systems, Inc., a regulatory technology software firm, he has a broad background working in product sales in the financial services industry at firms such as Trading Technologies and Calyon Financial (now Société Générale). Mr. Schwab holds a Bachelor of Finance from Loyola University Chicago.