Meet Our Team

Brooke leads Asterozoa Capital’s Outsourced CIO business, partnering with registered investment advisors to deliver institutional-quality manager research, portfolio construction, and ongoing model maintenance. She began her career at Goldman Sachs in New York, starting in investment banking before gaining experience in consumer banking. She then spent four years at a high-growth technology and manufacturing startup in New York, holding various roles across corporate and strategic finance and leading the company as its ARR scaled 15x. Brooke graduated from Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business with a double major in finance and accounting and a minor in economics.

Joe is the CIO and founder of Asterozoa Capital Management, an alternatives investment manager and advisor. Asterozoa dedicates itself to differentiated products and strategies that are complementary to traditional portfolio investments. Previously, Joe was CIO of an event-driven hedge fund, where he developed and implemented fund strategy. Joe also worked on a high-discretion fixed income trading desk at PIMCO, in structuring trades for $125bn in assets under management (as of August 2018) across varying strategies, asset classes, and investment guidelines. Before PIMCO, Joe worked in portfolio analytics and advisory for institutional clients at BlackRock, serving as a key point of contact to the CIO and CRO of pension funds, central banks, and insurance companies as well as groups internally. Joe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics.

PJ Hegener is the Chief Risk Officer at Asterozoa Capital, where he built and oversees risk management practices. Prior to his departure, PJ was president and chief executive officer of TD Securities (USA) LLC and vice chair of TD Securities, Inc. where he ran the investment bank, the wholesale bank, and all of the investing and trading activities of TD Securities in the U.S., as well as the equity and interest rate derivatives businesses worldwide. PJ oversaw the front office, back office and risk management sectors of each of these businesses.

PJ started with TD in 1995 and held various positions of increasing responsibility in structuring, trading, research and investing. PJ sat on various TD boards as well as the Association of International Banks. PJ is
also a principal with Veraison Asset Management, a California Registered Investment Advisor managing wealth for its high net worth clients. In addition, he is a principal with Veraison Capital Management where he has structured, raised capital, or participated in over 20 private equity transactions.

Kevin works on all aspects of Asterozoa’s investing process, from its advisory services to the private funds. He also contributes to research and writing of the firm’s investment research insights. Prior to joining Asterozoa, Kevin sat on a discretionary fixed income trading desk at PIMCO, where he was entrusted with structuring trades for $125bn in assets under management (as of August 2018) across varying strategies, asset classes, and investment guidelines. Prior to PIMCO, Kevin held various positions in private equity, startup corporate finance, and wealth management. Kevin graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics and is a CFA charterholder.

Charlie focuses on credit research at Asterozoa, covering high yield, distressed, and event-driven opportunities. He is involved in both new idea generation and ongoing analysis of positions across Asterozoa’s funds. Prior to his work with Asterozoa, Charlie was a Managing Director in the Corporate Finance & Restructuring group at FTI Consulting in New York, where he spent close to nine years advising senior management teams, boards of directors, lenders, private equity sponsors, and other stakeholders in companies undergoing financial restructurings and M&A transactions. Charlie is also the founder of Alt Group LLC, an independent investment research firm focused on special situations.

Julia is responsible for Investor Relations, all correspondence and reporting between current and potential investors, as well as Asterozoa’s marketing and business development. She began her account management and marketing career in the Entertainment industry, most recently at The Walt Disney Company where she managed brand marketing and partnerships for various Lucasfilm and National Geographic licensing partners. Prior, Julia held various positions in communications and public relations, including at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Jennifer Rodriguez is Asterozoa’s Chief Compliance Officer. She joined ACA in August 2021 as a Consultant with ACA’s Investment Adviser division. In her career, Jennifer has managed compliance programs for mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and separately managed accounts; managed due diligence with turn-key platforms, registered investment advisers, and broker-dealers; reviewed proprietary software related to adviser education; and managed the implementation of a hedge fund. Before ACA, Jennifer worked with Toews Corporation where she was their Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel. Prior to that, she served as an associate with the law firm Pappas & Richardson, where she conducted research on securities and other matters, managed the litigation calendar and client relationships, represented clients in court, and drafted motions and pleadings. She has spoken on securities-related matters at events held by the NJ and Philadelphia Bar Associations.

Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Houston and her law degree from the Temple University Beasley School of Law. She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), holds the Series 65 license, and is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

John Kaites is a seasoned entrepreneur, attorney, and former Arizona State Senator with a broad range of experience in law, business, government, and ministry. After serving in the Arizona Legislature, where he chaired key committees and authored major legislation, John transitioned into business, founding and investing in over 20 companies across industries including real estate, global security, biotech, and professional sports. He has represented major sports franchises and held leadership roles in organizations such as the Arizona Commerce Authority. A graduate of Duquesne University School of Law, John continues to advise businesses and governments through his law practice and entrepreneurial ventures.

Robert Smith is the executive vice president, general counsel, and chief development officer at Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its primary subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company (APS). With nearly 30 years of experience in the energy industry and law, Smith oversees the company’s legal affairs, governance, and growth strategies. Prior to joining Pinnacle West, he served as senior vice president and general counsel of Columbia Pipeline Group, leading its merger with TransCanada Corporation, and has held leadership roles at NiSource, Inc., Progress Energy, and Mirant Corporation. Smith earned his law degree from The Ohio State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of South Alabama.

Patrick O’Meara is the Founder & CEO of his family office, Patrick Ventures, which owns, operates, and invests in Real Estate, Finance, Technology and Consumer Product companies.  Patrick’s career spans over 25 years in real estate, finance, advisory and investments. Previously, he was a minority owner of the Ann Arbor Acquisition company which owned a short-line railroad, warehouse and distribution facilities in Michigan and Ohio. In his corporate life, he held executive positions at Heller Financial, The Inland Group of Companies and Institutional Property Advisors. Currently, he serves on the Board of Acanthus Senior Living, United Tiny Homes, the Executive Corporate Board of Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Foundation (PCH) and the Advisory Board to Integro Bank. Originally from Chicago, he is a graduate of The University of Arizona with a BSBA in Accounting and Finance.