James E. Nevels Founder & Chairman Mr. Nevels founded The Swarthmore Group in 1991. He has nearly 30 years experience in the securities and investment industry and is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Mr. Nevels presently serves as Non-Executive Chair, The Hershey Company, a Member of the Board, Hershey Trust Company and Board Member, Milton Hershey School; Deputy Chair of The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Board of Directors; and Member of the Board, Pro Football Hall of Fame; President, The Pennsylvania Society. Mr. Nevels was appointed by the President of the United States to the Advisory Committee to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and served a three year term and served as Chairman from 2005-2007. In December 2001, Mr. Nevels was appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania as Chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission and served through September 2007 overseeing the turnaround of the Philadelphia School System, the eighth largest school district in the United States. Mr. Nevels is an honors (cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa) graduate of Bucknell University and holds an A.B. degree in Political Science and Philosophy, and an M.B.A. degree from the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, a Doctor of Public Service degree, honoris causa, from Saint Joseph’s University, and a Doctor of Public Service degree, honoris causa, from Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, and an Honorary Degree from Millersville University.             Paula R. Mandle Chief Executive Office & Chief Compliance Officer Ms. Mandle joined The Swarthmore Group in 1995, and today oversees all day-to-day operations of the firm and ensures compliance with SEC and GIPS® rules and regulations.  She has more than ten years of experience in the investment industry and is a member of both the firm’s Executive Committee and the Investment Policy Committee.  Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Mandle obtained her management experience with positions within the insurance and consulting industries.  Ms. Mandle was appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania to the Public Employees’ Retirement Commission.  As commissioner she oversaw the administration and adequate funding of Pennsylvania government pensions.  She holds a B.S. degree in Physics from Susquehanna University, and a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.             Glenn E. Becker President A member of both the Executive Committee and the firm’s Investment Policy Committee, Mr. Becker joined The Swarthmore Group in 2006.  Prior to joining The Swarthmore Group Mr. Becker was Director of Skippack Investment Advisors.   His professional experience also includes Morgan Stanley Investment Management, where he served as Managing Director and Director of Client Services, Miller, Anderson & Sherrerd, where he was a Partner and served as Director of Client Services, and Provident Capital Management, where he was a Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing and Client Relations.  He currently serves as Trustee and head of the Investment Committee for Germantown Academy and is co-founder and Chairman of Impact Thrift Stores Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for local charitable organizations.  Mr. Becker holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration and an M.B.A. from Drexel University.             Joseph P. Manheim Chief Investment Officer   Mr. Manheim is the Chief Investment Officer and a Managing Director for the firm. He is also portfolio manager for the firm's liquid high yield strategy. A member of the firm's Executive Management Team and Investment Policy Committee, he has over fourteen years of investment and research experience. Prior to joining The Swarthmore Group in 2011, Mr. Manheim was a portfolio manager for Resolution Partners where he managed the same Liquid High Yield strategy as well as being a portfolio manager for the Resolution Partners Distressed Hedge Fund. Prior to Resolution, Mr. Manheim was the head of ING Bank's principal investment department in London, England. Mr. Manheim started his career in 1997 at Salomon Brothers London as a research analyst and portfolio manager on their proprietary trading desk, focusing on High Yield and distressed debt investments. Mr. Manheim has a BA degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from St. John's College, Maryland.             Kurt W. Brunner, CFA Senior Equity Portfolio Manager Mr. Brunner is the senior portfolio manager for the firm’s Core Equity and Large Cap Growth Equity strategies.  A member of the firm’s Investment Policy Committee, he has over twenty-two years of investment and research experience.  Prior to joining The Swarthmore Group in 1998, Mr. Brunner was an analyst and assistant portfolio manager for PNC Equity Advisors Company.  Mr. Brunner holds a B.B.A. degree in Finance from Temple University, and an M.B.A. degree in Finance from Widener University. Mr. Brunner serves as President of the Board of Trustees of Episcopal Community Services.  He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.             Daniel H. Cook Equity Portfolio Manager   Mr. Cook is an equity portfolio manager for the firm's Core Equity and Large Cap Growth Equity strategies and is a member of the Investment Policy Committee. Mr. Cook has over twenty-two years of investment experience. Prior to joining The Swarthmore Group, he was a Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and founding member of StoneRidge Investment Partners, LLC, where he was responsible for the Information Technology and Communication Services sectors for Large and Small Cap securities. Before StoneRidge, Mr. Cook was a member of the equity portfolio management team with Meridian Investment Company where he performed similar duties in addition to periods of management of fixed income portfolios. Mr. Cook holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from West Chester University.             John B. DeLaney, CFA Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager Mr. DeLaney has over twenty-one years of investment management experience and is a member of the Investment Policy Committee.  Prior to joining The Swarthmore Group in 2005, he spent seven years as a Senior Portfolio Manager with Automatic Data Processing, where he was responsible for $7.5 billion in fixed income assets and investing and funding payroll float balances that periodically would exceed $10 billion.  Mr. DeLaney’s experience also includes being a member of SEI’s Global Fixed Income Management Unit, and serving as portfolio manager with The Fairfield Group, Independence Capital Management Inc. and Parkway Management Corporation.  Types of portfolios managed include: pension, savings bank, insurance company, bond proceeds, money market and mutual fund accounts.  Mr. DeLaney holds a B.A. in Economics from Bucknell University.  He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.             Grace X. Schaffer, CFA Fixed Income Portfolio Manager Ms. Schaffer has over twelve years of investment management experience and is a member of the Investment Policy Committee.  Prior to joining The Swarthmore Group in 2010, she was a Portfolio Manager at Aberdeen Asset Management/Deutsche Asset Management and a key member of the investment team responsible for managing $30 billion in fixed income assets.  She also has previous work experience as a Fixed Income Application Analyst with FNX Limited, now a part of SunGard.  Ms. Schaffer’s investment expertise is in the Corporate asset class.  Types of fixed income products managed include: Core, Core-plus, Global Aggregate, Short Duration, Intermediate Aggregate, Intermediate Government/Credit, Long Government/Credit, Long Credit, and LDI (Liability-driven investments).  Types of portfolios managed include: corporate 401k, endowments and foundations, pension plans for corporations, state and local government, union pension plans, insurance general accounts, institutional and retail mutual funds.  Ms. Schaffer holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of International Relations and an M.B.A. from the University of Delaware.  She has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.             Young M. Ban Analyst and Portfolio Manager   Mr. Ban is an analyst and portfolio manager for the firm’s liquid high yield strategy. Prior to joining The Swarthmore Group in 2012, Mr. Ban was an analyst for Pinebank Asset Management focused on High Yield investments. Mr. Ban was also an analyst at Resolution Partners working with Mr. Manheim on the same Liquid High Yield strategy as well as the main analyst on the Resolution Partners Distressed Hedge Fund. Mr. Ban holds a B.S. in Economics from Boston College and a JD/MBA from New York University. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.             Christina Kowalski Trading and Operations Manager Ms. Kowalski has over nine years of investment experience in trading and operations.  Prior to joining The Swarthmore Group in 2010, Ms. Kowalski served as Senior Equity Trader at StoneRidge Investment Partners and was responsible for all aspects of the trading area.  In addition, she assisted the Chief Equity Strategist with the equity modeling process. Ms. Kowalski received a B.S. degree in Finance from Saint Joseph’s University. She is a member of the Investment Traders Association.             Denise Caruso, CPA Controller Ms. Caruso joined The Swarthmore Group in 2003.  She has over 20 years of public accounting experience.  Ms. Caruso holds a B.S. in Accounting from Widener University and is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in Pennsylvania.             Erin H. Lockard Marketing Manager Ms. Lockard joined The Swarthmore Group in 2003 and serves as Marketing Manager. Ms. Lockard is responsible for assisting with the relationship development of potential clients through the facilitation of introductory meetings and the maintenance of the prospect-to-client process. Ms. Lockard is also responsible for overseeing the organization of the Marketing Group. Ms. Lockard graduated with honors from Wilmington University and holds a B.S. in Business Management.             Gwenn M. Melcher Client Service Manager Ms. Melcher joined The Swarthmore Group in 2003 and is responsible for client and consultant reporting as well as maintaining contracts, investment guidelines and correspondence.  Additionally, Ms. Melcher is responsible for maintaining and updating marketing presentation materials and consultant databases.  Ms. Melcher holds a B.A. degree in Economics and International Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.                   back to top