ACADEMY FOR INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS - Key Persons
Andrea is the Founder, CEO & President of Academy for Institutional Investors, LLC. Andrea has been working as an educator in the financial sector bringing investment professionals together for over 23 years. Prior to entering the investment world, Andrea produced pharmaceutical conferences for 4 years where she first realized her love for running events, connecting senior executives with one another, building networks, and researching hot industry topics to develop high quality content for her audiences. Andrea has decades of experience helping her clients to strengthen bonds with one another in a relaxed, friendly, non-sales type of atmosphere, fostering an environment to learn and connect in a way that promotes lifelong relationships, trust, and friendship among one another. High-caliber investment education, sophisticated investor attendees and in-depth fun networking are the key components of The Academy's mission. At the end of every event, you will leave with a head full of new ideas and a handful of new friends that will feel like your extended family year after year. Academy for Institutional Investors (AII) offers new members into our circle of family friends at each event while striving to keep the community to a small niche group of sophisticated investors with a limited number of managers and service providers. Previously, Andrea was a Principal and Director of Marketing and Branding for Morgan Creek Capital Management from 2006-2016 where she led the branding, public relations, client education, events and marketing efforts for the firm. Andrea currently serves on the Strategic Advisory Board for the CFA Society North Carolina and is also one of the founding members of the North Carolina Chapter of 100 Women in Finance. Prior to joining Morgan Creek, Andrea spent six years managing all aspects of conference production, research and development, sales, marketing and relationship management for a financial conference company. Earlier in Andrea's career she worked at North Shore University Hospital in NY as a vocational rehabilitation job coach. Her first job out of college was at Computer Associates based in Long Island, NY. Andrea received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Albany and continuing credits towards a Master of Arts in Social Work from Adelphi University. Andrea enjoys spending time with her family and friends at the North Carolina beaches or playing golf with her husband. Andrea is an avid music lover and enjoys going to concerts of any kind. She loves heading back to NYC any chance she gets to see as many Broadway Musicals as possible in one trip!
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Engagement
Anna Bickley joined the Academy for Institutional Investors (AII) as Director of Client Engagement in 2022. She was previously with a medical device start-up as Director of Business Operations where she managed the day-to-day customer support, marketing coordination and bookkeeping efforts of the firm. Ms. Bickley has spent most of her career in Client Service within the financial services industry, working at Morgan Creek Capital Management, Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank.
Job Titles:
- Director of Event Operations
Carey joined the Academy for Institutional Investors (AII) in June of 2021. She was previously a Briefing Program Consultant at SAS in the Executive Briefing Center at the company headquarters in Cary, NC. Carey's event planning experience began at the Umstead Hotel & Spa where she was the Senior Conference Services Manager (CSM) for 13+ years. As part of the hotel's pre-opening team in 2006, Carey discovered her love of event management and making new connections. During her tenure at The Umstead Hotel & Spa she worked with high-profile companies in the investment business as well as other sectors as their point of contact for board meetings, client events, conferences, product launches, etc. Carey is a perfect fit as Director of Event Operations for (AII) as she worked with The Investment Institute (AII's former firm name) as their CSM for many years with two of her favorite clients, Andrea Szigethy & Donna Holly! When Carey isn't working, she enjoys quality time with her family and friends and traveling with her husband and two girls.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Accounting
Laura Fisher joined the Academy for Institutional Investors (AII) as Director of Finance and Accounting in 2021. She worked previously in the same role with The Investment Institute (AII's former firm name) from 2016 to 2020. She manages the day-to-day finance and accounting as well as tax efforts of the firm. Ms. Fisher has spent most of her career in accounting within the financial services industry, working at Morgan Creek Capital Management. Prior to joining the financial service industry, she worked in public accounting for ten years performing non-profit audits as well as tax preparation for businesses and high net worth individuals. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and being at the beach with her husband and three children.