Professional Investment Team
G. Dirk Racette, CPA, Chief Executive Officer
Dirk, a Principal of the firm and majority Shareholder, is responsible for the overall financial
management and SEC compliance requirements of the firm. He is a member of both the firm’s
Investment Committee and Executive Committee and serves as a portfolio manager for many
corporate and individual clients. He worked for nearly ten years as a Certified Public
Accountant at Kregel, Raterink, Kingma & Co., which later became The Rehmann Group. While
in public accounting, Dirk was responsible for corporate financial statement auditing and taxes,
small business consulting, and performed audit and tax accounting for many local broker-
dealers in the Grand Rapids area.
Dirk is currently a facilitator for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Financial Roundtable
Group and also a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants as well
as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He also coaches a local, AAU
basketball team.
Dirk graduated from Aquinas College in 1983 with a dual degree in Accounting and Business
Administration.
Robert R. Stark, President
Bob is an owner of the firm. He serves as Chairperson of the firm’s Investment Committee,
and is responsible for the investment policies of the firm. Bob came to Calder Investment
Advisors after many years with the Trust Department of Michigan National Bank where he was a
Portfolio Manager for western Michigan clients in the Personal Trust Department. At the bank,
he was responsible for managing the assets of individuals, foundations, non-profit
corporations and defined benefit pension plans. He also has experience as a stockbroker with
two national firms prior to his time in banking.
Bob is active in the community, most notably with the Feeding America Food Bank of West
Michigan. He has served on its board for over 2 decades, including three years as Treasurer,
and four years as President.
In addition, he is a member of the Downtown Rotary Club in Grand Rapids and a mentor in
their Strive Program to assist a senior student at Ottawa Hills to improve his results and to help
him to get a college scholarship. Bob has also mentored 3 recent immigrants from Africa (
from Somalia, the Sudan and the Congo) in connection with Bethany Christian Services.
Bob is the facilitator for his CEO Roundtable Group, which is a program of the Grand Rapids
Area Chamber of Commerce.
Bob graduated from Michigan State University in 1965.
Thomas Glover, Vice-President of Finance, Portfolio Manager
Tom is responsible for the daily financial management, client billing, computer network, and
company web site. He is also a member of the Investment Committee. Tom joined Calder
Investment Advisors in August 2000 after 14 years as the Director of Business Administration
for Christian Schools International. At CSI, Tom established the Common Trust Fund, a
specialized fund that invested money for private school foundations. Tom was also the Chief
Financial Officer for the Christian Schools International Foundation and a member of the
Finance/Investment Committee. Tom brings to the company a wide range of experience in
finance, accounting, computers, and administration.
Tom is CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional.
Tom serves on the Calvin Christian school board.
Tom graduated from Calvin College with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and received his
Masters in Business Administration from Western Michigan University.
Patrick Newcombe, CFP®, Vice-President, Financial Planning Group
Pat is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional and is responsible for the firm's
extensive financial planning functions. He is also a member of the Investment Committee.
Planning services are available to investment management clients, retirement plan
participants, or on a stand-alone basis. Our financial planning process always begins with
building an in-depth understanding of the client including their current situation, specific goals,
objectives and attitudes, time horizon, and tolerance for investment risk. Financial planning
engagements may address one or several areas, such as retirement planning, education
funding, cash flow analysis, insurance and estate planning, plus any other financial related
goals or objectives.
Pat has been actively engaged in the financial planning and retirement plan administration
fields since 1992. Pat comes to us from TIAA-CREF where he was Wealth Management
Advisor in the East Lansing office since 2005.
Pat is a graduate of Aquinas College with a BA in Psychology. He also completed the CFP
Board-Registered Education Program at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids.
Pat is a proud member of the Financial Planning Association and the West Michigan Estate
Planning Council. He also serves as a Board Member of the St. Alphonsus Parish Foundation
in Grand Rapids and is a member and volunteer at the Community Media Center.
Theodore H. Fuger, Jr., CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager
Ted applies his 40 years of experience as the portfolio manager of the Calder Investment
Advisors Michigan Financial Services Portfolio. He uses his experience as a Certified Financial
Analyst (C.F.A.) to serve the Calder Investment Advisors Investment Committee and to evaluate
investment options for clients. During his career, he has provided investment research at
National Bank of Detroit, served as a portfolio manager at Old Kent Bank, was a bank portfolio
consultant at Robert W. Baird and served as Director of Corporate Finance and Investment
Banking at Buys, McGregor.
Ted received a BA from Yale University and a MBA from the University of Michigan. He earned
his certification as a C.F.A. in 1968 and is currently an adjunct Professor of Finance at Western
Michigan University.
Marcia Force, Portfolio Manager & Operations Manager
Marcia is responsible for the computer-based operations of the client business. She
establishes and audits all client accounts and is responsible for maintaining relationships with
our custodians, particularly with Fidelity Investments. Marcia also customizes our client
reporting software, Morningstar Office, to best fit each client's needs. On a daily basis, Marcia
downloads and imports all prior day activity; reconciles the information; and also monitors
trading activity. She is also responsible for all client money movement and transfer activity.
Marcia is Series 65 certified and is a member of the Investment Committee.
Marcia is a Notary Public serving Kent County since 1998 and this service is available to all
Calder clients.
Marcia graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Business
Administration in Finance.
Charles Schuler, Portfolio Manager
Chuck joined Calder Investment Advisors in the fall of 2007. He has been managing private
equity accounts for the last eight years. Currently, Chuck is working on completing the course
work to become a Charted Market Technician.
Chuck received his Bachelor's Degree from Notre Dame and his Master's Degree from the
University of Michigan. He is also a Master Licensed Social Worker (MLSW).
James L. Stokes, Chairman Emeritus
Jim founded Stokes & Company in 1988 after 25 years as a partner with the Grand Rapids law
firm of Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey. While practicing law, he worked primarily in labor
relations law, representing clients in their union negotiations. Since 1967, Jim, because of his
mathematical and computer background as a graduate engineer, was one of the Miller,
Johnson partners with primary responsibility for the firm’s retirement plans. It was this
experience that led Jim to leave the practice of law and start Stokes & Company.
Jim serves on the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Art Museum and is on the
Investment Committee of the City of Grand Rapids Police & Fire Department’s General
Retirement System.
Jim graduated with honors from the engineering school of Northwestern University, and
received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Kelly Veenstra, Retirement Plan Operations Manager
Kelly joined Calder Investment Advisors in 2005. She coordinates all distributions, loans and
hardship applications for our various retirement plans.
Kelly is a Grand Rapids native and a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor's
Degree in Management & Marketing.
Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) - A person who, for compensation, engages in the business of advising
others as to the value of securities or the advisability of purchasing or selling securities. RIAs are required to
register with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Form ADV - The uniform form for use by investment advisors to register and update registrations with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the jurisdictions that require advisors to register. The form is also
used to comply with SEC Rule 206(4)-4, which obligates investment advisors to disclose relevant financial and
disciplinary information to clients.
Professional Investment Manager - A person who, for a fee, offers professional advice on the development of
an investment plan and buys and sells securities on behalf of the customer to implement that plan. A
professional investment manager may hold qualifications such as Certified Financial Planner, Registered
Investment Adviser and/or Registered Broker.
Dirk, a Principal of the firm and majority Shareholder, is responsible for the overall financial
management and SEC compliance requirements of the firm. He is a member of both the firm’s
Investment Committee and Executive Committee and serves as a portfolio manager for many
corporate and individual clients. He worked for nearly ten years as a Certified Public
Accountant at Kregel, Raterink, Kingma & Co., which later became The Rehmann Group. While
in public accounting, Dirk was responsible for corporate financial statement auditing and taxes,
small business consulting, and performed audit and tax accounting for many local broker-
dealers in the Grand Rapids area.
Dirk is currently a facilitator for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Financial Roundtable
Group and also a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants as well
as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He also coaches a local, AAU
basketball team.
Dirk graduated from Aquinas College in 1983 with a dual degree in Accounting and Business
Administration.
Robert R. Stark, President
Bob is an owner of the firm. He serves as Chairperson of the firm’s Investment Committee,
and is responsible for the investment policies of the firm. Bob came to Calder Investment
Advisors after many years with the Trust Department of Michigan National Bank where he was a
Portfolio Manager for western Michigan clients in the Personal Trust Department. At the bank,
he was responsible for managing the assets of individuals, foundations, non-profit
corporations and defined benefit pension plans. He also has experience as a stockbroker with
two national firms prior to his time in banking.
Bob is active in the community, most notably with the Feeding America Food Bank of West
Michigan. He has served on its board for over 2 decades, including three years as Treasurer,
and four years as President.
In addition, he is a member of the Downtown Rotary Club in Grand Rapids and a mentor in
their Strive Program to assist a senior student at Ottawa Hills to improve his results and to help
him to get a college scholarship. Bob has also mentored 3 recent immigrants from Africa (
from Somalia, the Sudan and the Congo) in connection with Bethany Christian Services.
Bob is the facilitator for his CEO Roundtable Group, which is a program of the Grand Rapids
Area Chamber of Commerce.
Bob graduated from Michigan State University in 1965.
Thomas Glover, Vice-President of Finance, Portfolio Manager
Tom is responsible for the daily financial management, client billing, computer network, and
company web site. He is also a member of the Investment Committee. Tom joined Calder
Investment Advisors in August 2000 after 14 years as the Director of Business Administration
for Christian Schools International. At CSI, Tom established the Common Trust Fund, a
specialized fund that invested money for private school foundations. Tom was also the Chief
Financial Officer for the Christian Schools International Foundation and a member of the
Finance/Investment Committee. Tom brings to the company a wide range of experience in
finance, accounting, computers, and administration.
Tom is CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional.
Tom serves on the Calvin Christian school board.
Tom graduated from Calvin College with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and received his
Masters in Business Administration from Western Michigan University.
Patrick Newcombe, CFP®, Vice-President, Financial Planning Group
Pat is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional and is responsible for the firm's
extensive financial planning functions. He is also a member of the Investment Committee.
Planning services are available to investment management clients, retirement plan
participants, or on a stand-alone basis. Our financial planning process always begins with
building an in-depth understanding of the client including their current situation, specific goals,
objectives and attitudes, time horizon, and tolerance for investment risk. Financial planning
engagements may address one or several areas, such as retirement planning, education
funding, cash flow analysis, insurance and estate planning, plus any other financial related
goals or objectives.
Pat has been actively engaged in the financial planning and retirement plan administration
fields since 1992. Pat comes to us from TIAA-CREF where he was Wealth Management
Advisor in the East Lansing office since 2005.
Pat is a graduate of Aquinas College with a BA in Psychology. He also completed the CFP
Board-Registered Education Program at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids.
Pat is a proud member of the Financial Planning Association and the West Michigan Estate
Planning Council. He also serves as a Board Member of the St. Alphonsus Parish Foundation
in Grand Rapids and is a member and volunteer at the Community Media Center.
Theodore H. Fuger, Jr., CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager
Ted applies his 40 years of experience as the portfolio manager of the Calder Investment
Advisors Michigan Financial Services Portfolio. He uses his experience as a Certified Financial
Analyst (C.F.A.) to serve the Calder Investment Advisors Investment Committee and to evaluate
investment options for clients. During his career, he has provided investment research at
National Bank of Detroit, served as a portfolio manager at Old Kent Bank, was a bank portfolio
consultant at Robert W. Baird and served as Director of Corporate Finance and Investment
Banking at Buys, McGregor.
Ted received a BA from Yale University and a MBA from the University of Michigan. He earned
his certification as a C.F.A. in 1968 and is currently an adjunct Professor of Finance at Western
Michigan University.
Marcia Force, Portfolio Manager & Operations Manager
Marcia is responsible for the computer-based operations of the client business. She
establishes and audits all client accounts and is responsible for maintaining relationships with
our custodians, particularly with Fidelity Investments. Marcia also customizes our client
reporting software, Morningstar Office, to best fit each client's needs. On a daily basis, Marcia
downloads and imports all prior day activity; reconciles the information; and also monitors
trading activity. She is also responsible for all client money movement and transfer activity.
Marcia is Series 65 certified and is a member of the Investment Committee.
Marcia is a Notary Public serving Kent County since 1998 and this service is available to all
Calder clients.
Marcia graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Business
Administration in Finance.
Charles Schuler, Portfolio Manager
Chuck joined Calder Investment Advisors in the fall of 2007. He has been managing private
equity accounts for the last eight years. Currently, Chuck is working on completing the course
work to become a Charted Market Technician.
Chuck received his Bachelor's Degree from Notre Dame and his Master's Degree from the
University of Michigan. He is also a Master Licensed Social Worker (MLSW).
James L. Stokes, Chairman Emeritus
Jim founded Stokes & Company in 1988 after 25 years as a partner with the Grand Rapids law
firm of Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey. While practicing law, he worked primarily in labor
relations law, representing clients in their union negotiations. Since 1967, Jim, because of his
mathematical and computer background as a graduate engineer, was one of the Miller,
Johnson partners with primary responsibility for the firm’s retirement plans. It was this
experience that led Jim to leave the practice of law and start Stokes & Company.
Jim serves on the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Art Museum and is on the
Investment Committee of the City of Grand Rapids Police & Fire Department’s General
Retirement System.
Jim graduated with honors from the engineering school of Northwestern University, and
received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Kelly Veenstra, Retirement Plan Operations Manager
Kelly joined Calder Investment Advisors in 2005. She coordinates all distributions, loans and
hardship applications for our various retirement plans.
Kelly is a Grand Rapids native and a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor's
Degree in Management & Marketing.
Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) - A person who, for compensation, engages in the business of advising
others as to the value of securities or the advisability of purchasing or selling securities. RIAs are required to
register with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Form ADV - The uniform form for use by investment advisors to register and update registrations with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the jurisdictions that require advisors to register. The form is also
used to comply with SEC Rule 206(4)-4, which obligates investment advisors to disclose relevant financial and
disciplinary information to clients.
Professional Investment Manager - A person who, for a fee, offers professional advice on the development of
an investment plan and buys and sells securities on behalf of the customer to implement that plan. A
professional investment manager may hold qualifications such as Certified Financial Planner, Registered
Investment Adviser and/or Registered Broker.
DISCLAIMER: This web-site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a complete description
of our investment services or performance. This web-site is in no way a solicitation or offer to sell securities or
investment advisory services except, where applicable, in states where we are registered or where an
exemption or exclusion from such registration exists. Information throughout this site, whether stock quotes,
charts, articles, or any other statement or statements regarding market or other financial information, is
obtained from sources which we, and our suppliers believe reliable, but we do not warrant or guarantee the
timeliness or accuracy of this information. Nothing on this web-site should be interpreted to state or imply that
past results are an indication of future performance. Neither we nor our information providers shall be liable
for any errors or inaccuracies, regardless of cause, or the lack of timeliness of, or for any delay or interruption
in the transmission thereof to the user. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO
ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR RESULTS OBTAINED FROM ANY INFORMATION POSTED ON THIS OR
ANY LINKED WEB-SITE.
of our investment services or performance. This web-site is in no way a solicitation or offer to sell securities or
investment advisory services except, where applicable, in states where we are registered or where an
exemption or exclusion from such registration exists. Information throughout this site, whether stock quotes,
charts, articles, or any other statement or statements regarding market or other financial information, is
obtained from sources which we, and our suppliers believe reliable, but we do not warrant or guarantee the
timeliness or accuracy of this information. Nothing on this web-site should be interpreted to state or imply that
past results are an indication of future performance. Neither we nor our information providers shall be liable
for any errors or inaccuracies, regardless of cause, or the lack of timeliness of, or for any delay or interruption
in the transmission thereof to the user. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO
ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR RESULTS OBTAINED FROM ANY INFORMATION POSTED ON THIS OR
ANY LINKED WEB-SITE.
Calder Investment Advisors
Registered Investment Advisor
Registered Investment Advisor
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
©2012, Calder Investment Advisors, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI. (privacy notice)
